Addressing Selections Criteria

Bernard Lewis

Pathways to Work Counselor

EPU, NAVITAS English

Parramatta, NSW

Application process

• Advertisement

• Résumé

• Cover letter

• Selection Criteria

• Interview

Selection Criteria

What is Selection Criteria?

A list of the essential and desirable skills, attributes, experience, and qualification which an organisation

decides is necessary for a position.

Why Selection Criteria?

To help select the most capable, effective, suited, skilled, experienced, qualified, person for the job.

Expression of Interest

• An alternative to writing a fully-fledged selection-criteria response

• Generally used for non-ongoing positions

• With a maximum length specified

• Based on a short job description

• Results-focused not just a statement

Types of Selection Criteria

Desirable Criteria: Gives you an advantage over the other applicants Specific skills or qualities that may help you perform better in the roleEg: Driving license and reliable transport Multiculturalism or Indigenous background

Types of Selection Criteria

Essential Criteria: Really necessary for the job Very important to fulfil the duties of the position advertisedEg: Effective communication and interpersonal skills Ability to offer reliable customer service

Addressing selection Criteria

• Read the Job application carefully

• Underline the Selection criteria

• Highlight the prompts - understand the key words and phrases

• Use a new page for each Criterion

• Apply the STAR method

• Prove your ability to meet each criterion

• Review and proof read

STAR – model

S = Situation – brief outline of the setting; position you held

T = Task – description of what you did, not just information

A = Approach or Action you took – how you did it

R = Result – outline any outcomes

Situation

S = Give a brief outline of the Situation (setting)

Set the context of the situation - specific circumstancewhere you developed the particular experience or used the required skills or qualities.

Eg: I possess effective communication skills which I havedeveloped throughout my working career. In particular, asHuman Resource Officer at XZY Agency.

Task

T = Mention the tasks that were done which are relevant to the criterion.

Briefly give details of one or two specific things you’ve done that are relevant to both - the criterion for the job and the skills/ abilities that you possess.

Eg: I had to liaise with the Human Resources and the Operations managers on a daily basis.

Actions

A = Write the actions or duties that you did which arerelevant to the Task and Situation.

Don’t stop with just a list. Describe the actions, usingaction words and the active voice, giving specific details toclarify ability

Eg: As receptionist, I had to deal with customers on a dailybasis. This included answering telephone queries andclarifying things via email. But, most of the interaction wasface-to-face at the front office.

Result

R = Mention result or outcome of the actions

Briefly sum up your ability related to the criterion, byhighlighting any commendation or appreciation that youreceived.

Eg: My involvement and my remarkable performance in the project was acknowledge in the July 2010 issue of the office newsletter. I was also awarded ‘employee of the month’ for the achievement.

An example

I possess excelent oral and written comunication skills

which I have utilised throughout my entire employment

career.

At XZY Corporation I was required to liaise regularly with

many people at many levels ranging from senior managers

to staff, on a range of recruitment and procedural matters.

I have written a large number of documents including

memos and articles in an office newsletter

Communication

• 360o – manager, peers, clients or customers and external agents

• SLRW – Speaking, Listening, Reading & Writing

• Media – face-to-face, telephone, email, postal

• Letters, discussions, formal meetings, 1-on-1 interaction, memos & reports, records, articles for journals/ newsletter, giving/ receiving instructions/ information

• Can include various kinds interaction – verbal, non-verbal, listening, negotiation, questioning, feedback, etc.