Selection Criteria NEW

SELECTION
CRITERIA
Responding to selection criteria
Often when you are applying for a position in the My high quality written communication skills have
public sector or in education you will be expected been developed through:
to address a number of nominated selection
• Preparing research summaries, updates and
criteria. This method of assessing your application
reports for both technical and non-technical
is also being increasingly used in private sector
readers throughout my degree.
organisations and may be specifically requested
by any employer. • Drafting letters and promotional material
during my work as a volunteer for ______.
Application instructions do not always make clear
what is required or how you should present and • Editing and revising articles sent in to the
format your responses. If you are unsure, contact University magazine prior to publication.
the employer to clarify what their expectations are.
If no format is specified, it is usual to attach a Interpersonal skills have been developed to a high
separate document to your application, usually level through:
entitled ‘Responses to Selection Criteria’ or • Cooperating with and supervising my
‘Selection Criteria Addressed’. colleagues in part-time employment.
Depending on the number of selection criteria and • Approaching and talking to people about the
the length of your answers, this document may be voluntary cause I support and imparting
three pages or more. While there is no strict guide information to people with different levels of
to length, perhaps consider a third to half a page understanding.
for each response. This can be in full sentence
format or point form, with a combination of
methods often used. The examples below indicate Example 2 – Paragraph format response
some appropriate responses and what criteria
may look like. Criteria – Ability to work under pressure, meet
deadlines and work as part of a team in a
Example 1 – Point form response dynamic environment with limited supervision.
Criteria – Demonstrated high quality oral and “ My ability in these areas has been demonstrated
written communication and interpersonal by working in a fast food restaurant over the
skills. past two years and was rewarded with
My high quality oral communication skills have promotion to team leader. In this role there is
been demonstrated by: constant pressure to work quickly and efficiently
with a focus on satisfying customer demands.
• Consulting with members of my team at Food must be served to high hygiene standards
CSIRO, representing them at managers within a time-frame to both drive-through and in-
meetings and presenting their concerns and restaurant customers. In doing so, I oversaw
new ideas. and worked within a team of eight staff providing
• Presenting weekly talks on progress and support and encouragement and solving roster
challenges within my Honours project to problems. While there was a duty manager
audiences of between two and twenty peers present at all times, I worked autonomously,
and academic staff. requiring little supervision in my role. ”
SELECTION CRITERIA …CONTINUED
You may wish to draw on several experiences to

illustrate how you meet the selection criteria, such
as how your communication skills have been
developed through being a youth group leader, or
writing articles for a music magazine. It may be
appropriate to submit an abridged version of your
resumé when also sending a selection criteria
document. Rather than merely duplicating the
information contained in your resumé, try to add
new information or elaborate more fully on your
experiences to demonstrate attainment of the
criteria outlined.
Along with your cover letter, the selection criteria
document will be vital in displaying your written
communication and language skills. Make sure
you take the time to carefully construct your
responses, check spelling and grammar, and have
someone else read over your entire application.
The book How to Write and Talk to Selection
Criteria by Dr Ann Villiers is available in the
Careers Resource Centre and is essential reading
if you’ve never encountered formal selection
criteria before. Examples of how to tackle
common criteria and tips on structure and
preparation make valuable reading.
From Chapter 8 of How to Write and Talk to
Selection Criteria, here are some techniques to
improve your responses:
• Avoid unsupported self-aggrandisement
• Watch your verbs
• Address all parts of the selection criteria –
don’t leave anything out!
• Use English well
• Support claims with relevant, concrete
examples
• Be results-oriented
• Avoid credibility-reducing words, such as “I
always/ never/ totally/ completely”.
© CAREERS & EMPLOYMENT

Last updated February 2008

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SELECTION

You may wish to draw on several experiences to

© CAREERS & EMPLOYMENT

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