Working Together AO Example — 250-Word Statement
At AO, assessors want to see that you work well with the people around you: you listen, you help colleagues, you share information and you deal with disagreements politely. Your example can be small and everyday. What matters is showing your own part in a shared effort and a clear, positive result.
Example statement
SLast year I worked nights as a warehouse operative for a large grocery distributor. Our shift and the day shift blamed each other for misplaced stock, and handover notes were routinely ignored.
TAs the most experienced nights operative, I took responsibility for fixing the handover so both shifts could trust each other's information.
AI started by asking colleagues on my shift what frustrated them, then stayed behind on two mornings to listen to the day team do the same. I wrote both lists side by side and spotted that most friction came from three problems: unclear notes, missing scanner counts and clashing priority lists. I drafted a one-page handover sheet covering those three points and tested it with two volunteers from each shift for a fortnight. I asked them what worked, cut two sections they ignored and added a photo option for damaged pallets. I proposed a five-minute overlap chat between the shift leads, which I facilitated for the first two weeks until it became a habit. When one day lead dismissed the idea, I met him separately, heard his worries about time pressure and cut the chat to three fixed questions. Finally, I presented the sheet at the monthly briefing and asked our supervisor to make it routine.
RWithin two months, stock discrepancies between shifts fell by 60 per cent and misdirected pallets dropped from nine a week to two. Both shifts now use the sheet, and my manager now asks me to train new starters on it.
Use this as a model, not a script. This is an original example written for this site. Adapt the structure to your own experience — copying it word for word risks plagiarism and will not reflect your evidence.
Why this scores well
- Shows personal initiative at AO level: they spotted the friction, consulted both shifts and built the fix themselves rather than waiting for a supervisor.
- The actions show what assessors want at this grade: listening to colleagues, involving the other shift and handling the resistant lead constructively.
- The result is concrete and owned: discrepancies down 60 per cent, plus being trusted to train new starters on the sheet.
What AO level requires
| Grade | What assessors expect |
|---|---|
| AO ← this page | At AO level, Working Together means being a helpful, reliable member of the team: treating colleagues with respect, sharing information and pitching in to get shared work done. |
| EO | At EO level, Working Together means building constructive relationships beyond your immediate desk: coordinating with other teams, sharing information proactively and sorting out friction before it escalates. |
| HEO | At HEO level, Working Together means taking the lead in making collaboration happen: organising people across teams, valuing different perspectives and resolving disagreements so shared goals are met. |
Common mistakes at this level
- Writing 'we' throughout, so the assessor cannot tell what you personally did
- Describing the team's achievement but none of the relationships behind it
- Choosing an example where you mostly worked alone and calling it teamwork
Frequently asked questions
No. Volunteering, education, caring responsibilities, sports clubs and community groups all count. Assessors score the behaviour, not the setting. A clear example from a Saturday job or a community group, told with specific actions and a result, will outscore a vague office story every time.
Yes, but sparingly. Assessors score what you did, so the Action section should mostly say 'I'. Use 'we' for the team's result if you like, but make your own contribution unmistakable: what you suggested, organised, agreed or fixed, and who you worked with to do it.
Yes. Handled well, these score highly at AO because they show respect under pressure. Show that you listened, stayed polite and focused on the shared task. Never criticise the colleague personally or describe them in insulting terms; describe the situation and your constructive response instead.
Next step
Get the free AO statement template pack — the same STAR structure used in this example.
Download the template pack