How to write a Working Together statement
A step-by-step guide to writing a strong Working Together behaviour statement using the STAR method. Follow these steps, avoid common mistakes, and use the checklist before you submit.
What Working Together means
Working Together means building positive relationships, respecting diversity, and collaborating effectively to achieve shared goals. Assessors want to see that you contribute to a team and value what others bring.
What assessors look for: Evidence that you collaborate effectively, respect different perspectives, share information, and resolve conflicts constructively.
Step 1: Choose your example
Pick one specific situation from your work, volunteering, or education. The best examples for Working Together often involve:
- Team member who helped resolve a conflict between two colleagues with different working styles.
- A situation where you had to think beyond your immediate responsibilities
- A challenge that required you to building good relationships and working effectively with others.
You do not need a dramatic story. A well-told ordinary example scores better than an extraordinary one told badly. Assessors look for clarity and evidence, not grandeur.
Step 2: Write the Situation (2 sentences)
Set the scene quickly. The assessor needs enough context to understand what was at stake, but not every detail.
For example: "Two colleagues in my team had developed a tense working relationship due to conflicting approaches to case prioritisation. One preferred to tackle urgent cases first; the other focused on complex cases regardless of deadline. The tension was affecting team morale and causing delays."
Step 3: Write the Task (1 sentence)
State your specific responsibility. What did you need to achieve?
For example: "I needed to help restore effective collaboration without taking sides or escalating unnecessarily to management."
Step 4: Write the Action (60% of your words)
This is the most important part. Describe what you did, step by step. Use "I" not "we". Be specific about your contribution.
For example: "I suggested a brief team discussion about how we prioritise cases, framing it as a process improvement rather than a conflict resolution. I prepared a simple matrix showing how both approaches had mer..."
Spending too long on Situation and not enough on Action. The assessor wants to know what you did, not every detail of the context.
Step 5: Write the Result (1–2 sentences)
End with a clear outcome. Include a number if you can — it makes your result concrete and memorable.
For example: "The team adopted the hybrid approach within a week. Case turnaround times improved by 20% and the two colleagues began collaborating on a shared sprea..."
Full example
Here is the complete example, annotated with STAR markers:
[S] Two colleagues in my team had developed a tense working relationship due to conflicting approaches to case prioritisation. One preferred to tackle urgent cases first; the other focused on complex cases regardless of deadline. The tension was affecting team morale and causing delays.
[T] I needed to help restore effective collaboration without taking sides or escalating unnecessarily to management.
[A] I suggested a brief team discussion about how we prioritise cases, framing it as a process improvement rather than a conflict resolution. I prepared a simple matrix showing how both approaches had merit depending on the case type. During the meeting, I ensured both colleagues had equal time to explain their reasoning, and I summarised the common ground: both wanted the best outcome for the client. I proposed a hybrid approach where urgent cases were flagged by 10am and complex cases were scheduled for afternoons. Both colleagues contributed refinements.
[R] The team adopted the hybrid approach within a week. Case turnaround times improved by 20% and the two colleagues began collaborating on a shared spreadsheet to track priorities. My manager noted the improvement in team dynamics at the next one-to-one.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Describing a team project where you only mention what "we" did, with no evidence of your individual contribution.
- Claiming you "work well with everyone" without a specific example.
- Confusing this with Leadership — Working Together is about collaboration, not direction.
Checklist before you submit
- Is the example specific and real?
- Do I use "I" not "we" in the Action section?
- Is the word count within the limit (check the job advert)?
- Does the Result include a number or measurable outcome?
- Have I adapted this example to focus on Working Together, not another behaviour?
- Have I removed filler words and phrases?
- Have I checked for spelling and grammar errors?