23/07/2013
Completing a Selection Criteria is an art form and answering the criteria accordingly is often a tricky and extremely hard thing to do correctly. In order to successfully complete a Selection Criteria the most important aspect is responding exactly to what the employer is looking for. For example, almost all federal and state government jobs usually require writing selection criteria need to have a strong connection between what the candidates’ demonstrated capacities and what the role requirements are! Without having good writing and reasoning skills, this task can be quite hard but we can assist you to overcome this hurdle.
Two websites are worth reading, if you wish to prepare a meaningful Selection Criteria..
http://jobaccess.gov.au/Jobseekers/Getting_work/How_to_apply_for_a_job/How_to_write_selection_criteria/Pages/home.aspx
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/careers/students/applying/selection-criteria.html
Also, if you find the above link doesn't work, please read the copied contents (from the website above) as below:
How to write Selection Criteria
Selection criteria are statements that describe the qualifications, knowledge, skills, abilities and experience that are required in a job. When you are asked to respond to selection criteria, you are being asked to describe how you meet the requirements of the job, providing examples.
Types of criteria
The kind of responses you will write for selection criteria will depend on the kind of job you are applying for. Different employers will ask different kinds of questions. Selection criteria are commonly used in government and university recruitment exercises.
Some employers will focus on your qualifications or your work skills. Others will be experience-based, and will ask you how you have responded to specific situations. For example, you may simply be asked if you have attained a specific qualification or if you have a licence for a certain kind of vehicle. Or you could be asked to explain how you have met deadlines and prioritised tasks, how you have dealt with difficult people, or how you have demonstrated leadership.
For examples, see the University of Western Australia's guide on 'The written application' in our Related Links.
In many job applications, written selection criteria are broken down into 'essential' and 'desirable' qualities. You must be able to demonstrate the essential qualities to be considered for the position. If you can also demonstrate the desirable qualities, this will strengthen your application.
Keep your answers focused and clearly written
Your aim should be to show how, through your workplace skills and experiences, you have been able to successfully handle key situations similar to those which you will be likely to face in your job. Using specific examples is a good idea.
Remember that you are highlighting your qualities by relating a purpose-driven story. You need to supply enough detail to be clear, but it is essential that you keep focused on answering the specific requests of each criterion. For open-ended criterion, you should aim to write around half a page, or two to three solid paragraphs for each response.
Addressing selection criteria
The Australian Public Service Commission provides the following advice on addressing selection criteria (see our Related Links for their full web page):
The most important aspect of addressing selection criteria is to provide evidence through relevant examples. Support your claims with actual, specific examples of what you have done and how well you did it. One way to do this is to use the STAR model:
1. 1.Situation—Outline a specific circumstance where you developed the particular experience or used the required skills or qualities. Set the context of the situation.
2.Task—What was your role? What did you have to do?
3.Actions—What did you do and how did you do it?
4.Results—What did you achieve? What were the results of what you did?
Example of addressing selection criteria
Here is an example of using the STAR approach to address selection criteria.
Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively
‘My ability to communicate effectively with a range of people was demonstrated in my position as receptionist with the XYZ community organisation. I dealt with members of the general public, officers from the local council and government departments, and representatives from private businesses on a daily basis.
I communicated with these people face to face, over the phone and through use of email. As I was the first point of contact for the organisation it was very important that I was professional, courteous and helpful in my interactions. In recognition of my positive interpersonal skills my temporary position was extended for nine months beyond my initial contract.’
Proof read your responses
As with any written communication to a potential employer, you should carefully proof read your responses before you send them. It is useful to ask a friend or your employment service provider to check your responses for any spelling errors or typing errors before you send them.
Sending your responses
Follow the instructions provided in the job advertisement when sending your responses or ask the employer for more information about how they would like to receive the responses. Generally, your responses should be prepared on A4 white paper, typed in a plain font and bound with a stapler rather than being presented in plastic sleeves or a folder.
Keep your responses for future reference
Selection criteria can be very similar over many jobs so you can use your responses for one job application as a template for others. You should not, however, simply write the same responses each time. To write effective responses, you should read the selection criteria carefully and tailor your responses to meet the demands of each position.
Keeping a copy is also a good way for you remember what you have written if you are selected for an interview and your potential employer asks you to expand on your answers. You will often be asked questions in the interview that related specifically to the selection criteria.
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Addressing key selection criteria
If you see the words ‘Key Selection Criteria’ on the application materials for a position then alarm bells should ring. This is because you will need to prepare another document as well as your resumé and covering letter. These words will always be used for positions in the public sector (government jobs), in the tertiary education sector, often in the health sector and occasionally for private sector positions.
Selection criteria are the skills, attributes, experience and education that the employer has defined as being essential or desirable for satisfying the requirements of the job. How well you fulfil the criteria will determine whether or not you are asked to attend an interview. In fact, your statement addressing the selection criteria is seen as more important than your resumé. Your resumé will become a supporting document and you probably won’t need a ‘Demonstrated Skills’ section as the resumé will be too long and examples you use will be very similar.
Here is what you need to do to respond effectively to Key Selection Criteria:
Create a new document
Start the document with your name, the job title and position number and a heading such as ‘Statement of Claims Against the Selection Criteria’ or “Summary Addressing Selection Criteria”.
Read the criteria carefully
One criterion may ask for ‘experience in’ while another may specify ‘knowledge of’. Make sure that you understand and address these subtle differences.
Address each criterion individually
Use each of the criteria as a separate heading in the document and summarise in the space below how your skills, qualifications, experience and personal attributes are relevant for that particular criterion.
Break the criterion into key points
The criterion may be written in such a way that more than one quality is being assessed. For example a criterion such as ‘Ability to communicate orally and in writing with people from a variety of backgrounds’ could be broken up into the factors of ‘oral communication’, ‘written communication’ and ‘people from a variety of backgrounds’. How often did you communicate? What was your level of responsibility? What sort of communication was required? How often? With whom? How well did you communicate? How do you know?
Support your claims with evidence
Avoid bland unsubstantiated statements such as ‘I have extremely well developed communication skills’. This is your opinion; the employer needs evidence that it is true. You must therefore provide concrete examples that demonstrate your skills and abilities and illustrate the complexity and demands of the task used as an illustration. It may be easier to do this if you use the STAR approach:
Describe the Situation or the Task/problem that needed to be performed/solved
Explain the Action you took and what skills you used
Specify the Results
All aspects of your life can be used to illustrate that you fulfil the criteria.
Use active verbs
Statements such as ‘I negotiated’ or ‘I liaised with’ have more impact than ‘I was involved in’ or ‘I was responsible for’. The use of strong, specific verbs will help you to describe your role more clearly.
Use good English
Your ability to communicate in writing will be assessed by the way in which you address the selection criteria. Ask someone else to proof read your responses for you to avoid make spelling and grammatical mistakes.
Don’t exaggerate or apologise
The use of words like ‘always’ and ‘never’ reduces the credibility of what you are saying. Do not make claims that you cannot substantiate. It is even better if you can give quantifiable evidence although this is not always possible. (e.g. ‘Increased profit by 18% over the last two years by …’) Words such as ‘some’ or ‘limited’ reduce your credibility and weaken your case. You also need to think carefully before you use words such as ‘exceptional' or ‘excellent’. Providing evidence for these claims may be difficult. If you say that you have ‘excellent negotiating skills’, for example, what evidence do you have that your skills are well above ‘very good’?
What to do if you are not strong in a criterion
You could:
Illustrate that you are a fast learner
Indicate your willingness to learn and the reasons for that willingness
Give examples of how the required knowledge/skill/experience is being acquired or will be acquired
Selection criteria competency levels
Generally there are several levels of knowledge/skills that may be required to perform a job. The claims that you make in your letter, resumé or application should reflect the required level. Brief information is provided below to help you describe your knowledge/skills appropriately.
1. Insufficient knowledge/skills/experience to perform the task at this time. Use concrete examples of how knowledge/skills/experience is being or will be acquired.
Awareness of (have heard of)
Interested in/Willing to (keen to)
Some knowledge of
Aptitude for (suitability for task)
Developing knowledge of
Observed task (seen task performed)
Basic knowledge of
Capable of/ Qualified to (able to)
Assisted with (parts of task performed with supervision)
Eg. ‘I have observed X, Y and Z being implemented and have completed theoretical exercises relating to A. I achieved a result of 8/10 on my theoretical exercises, demonstrating my aptitude to…’
2. Have the knowledge/skills/experience to perform the task competently. Use concrete examples that demonstrate competent performance of the task.
Working knowledge of
Skilled at/ Demonstrated ability to
Operational knowledge of
Proven record of/ Track record in
Sound knowledge of
Have performed/ Proficient in
Eg. “I have a working knowledge of Dreamweaver® in web design, having utilised it in completing my own website: www.managecareer.com.au
3. Well-developed skills/knowledge/understanding and ability to analyse and synthesise information. Use concrete examples that demonstrate well-developed breadth, depth and level of knowledge, skills/experience.
Broad/comprehensive knowledge
Well-developed knowledge
Considerable/extensive knowledge
Good/Intimate knowledge
Background in/ Understanding of
Eg. ‘I have extensive knowledge of the Australian political system based on five years work as a volunteer in the electoral office of the Hon. Ms P, MLA, and then the position of Senior Media Adviser to …., Federal Member for …’
