Addressing Selection Criteria
- What are key Selection Criteria?
- What if I don’t address the Selection Criteria?
- How will this information be used by the selection panel?
- Where do I find out about the key Selection Criteria?
- How do I address the Selection Criteria?
What are Key Selection Criteria?
Keyselection criteria are the skills, attributes, knowledge and qualificationsthat the employer has defined as being essential for satisfying therequirements of the job and can be found in every Position Description.
Whenapplying for a job you are required to write a short statement against eachcriterion, which outlines how your current skills, attributes, knowledge orqualifications satisfy this criterion.
Includingselection criteria in the application process assists the Selection Panel inassessing all applicants fairly and consistently.
Applicantsare also benefited by the selection criteria, as it gives you a betterunderstanding of what the job requires and you will be able to assess your owncapabilities against the requirements of the job.
Describinghow you meet the selection criteria will make sure that all the informationabout your fittingness for the position is acknowledged. Therefore, increasing your chances in theselection process.
Key selection criteria may be drawn from the University's Competency Index.You should review this when addressing the selection criteria.
Whatif I don’t address the Selection Criteria?
An application that fails to address the stated keyselection criteria may not be considered. All applications must address the key selectioncriteria. Directlyaddressing each key selection criteria provides the opportunity to show theselection panel that you are the best person for the job.
How will this information be used by the selectionpanel?
The panel will use all theinformation provided in the application and the attachments provided, to assesshow well an applicant meets the selection criteria.
Where do Ifind out about the Key Selection Criteria?
The key selection criteria are found in the PositionDescription. It clearly documents thequalifications, skills, attributes and knowledge a person must possess toproperly perform the duties of the position.
How do I address the Selection Criteria?
When addressing Selection Criteria it is important to consider the following steps:
1. Create a new document
Start the document with your name, the job title and position number and a headingsuch as Statement of Claims against the Key Selection Criteria or Summary Addressing Key Selection Criteria.
2. Read the Selection Criteria carefully
One capability may ask for ‘experience in’ while another may specify ‘knowledge of’. Make surethat you understand and address these subtle differences.
Ifyou have questions regarding the selection criteria, contact the contact personindicated on the front of the position description before submitting yourapplication.
Indigenous applicants are invited tocontact the Indigenous Employment Coordinator on 03 8344 9978 for advice andsupport with your application.
3. Address each Selection Criteria individually
Useeach of the keyselection criteria as a separate heading in the document andsummarise in the space below how your skills, qualifications,experience and personal attributes are relevant for that particular criteria.
4. Breakthe Key Selection Criteria into key points
Theselection criteriamay be written in such a way that more than one quality is being assessed. Underlinekey words and determine what the employer is asking for.
Forexample a capability such as Ability to communicate with people from a varietyof backgrounds could be broken up into the factors of ability, communication and people from a variety of backgrounds. How often did youcommunicate? What was your level of responsibility? What sort of communicationwas required? How often? With whom? How well did you communicate? How do youknow?
5. Support your claims with evidence
Avoidblank unsubstantiated statements such as ‘I have extremely well developedcommunication skills’. This is your opinion; the employer needs evidence that it is true. You need toprovide concrete examples that demonstrate your skills and abilities andillustrate the complexity and demands of the task used as an illustration. Itmay be easier to do this if you use the CAR approach:
- Context - Describe the situation.
- Action - Explain your actions. What were your actions? What did you do?
- Results - Detail the result of the actions which you took.
6. Use active verbs
Statementssuch as I negotiated or I liaised with have more impact than I wasinvolved in or I was responsible for. The use of strong, specific verbs willhelp you to describe your role more clearly.
7. Use good English
Yourability to communicate in writing will be assessed by the way in which youaddress the key selection Criteria. Ask someone else to proofread yourresponses for you as it is easy to make spelling and grammatical mistakeswithout realising!
8. Ask yourself the 'so what?' question
Whenattempting to provide appropriate evidence to support your claims it is usefulto ask yourself the ‘So What?’ question.
Forexample:
Leadership, change management andteamwork skills:
In myrole(s) as ________________ and _______________ I was responsible formanaging/supervising a team of ___ staff. In this/these roles my keyresponsibilities extended from orientation, induction and training to guidanceand direction in day-to-day operations as well as performance review andworkforce planning.
Applying the ‘So What?’ question: So what? Why did you dothis? What did you accomplish?
I have beenable to demonstrate sound and appropriate judgement in a wide range of (staffing/supervisory/management)situations during a time of significant change in my (Faculty/business unit/team/area). Additionally I have formed strongworking relationships with senior managers/academic, colleagues and staffreporting to me.
Additionally,I have contributed to (special projects,working groups, committees?) to illustrate my abilities to workindependently and as part of a team.
