This article points out some great points about which examples you should use and when to use them for you out of work experience, this question comes up a lot and Vanessa Jordan explains below.
Choosing and Preparing Examples For Your Written Application – Selection Criteria & KSAs
By Vanessa Jordan
One of the hardest parts of addressing selection criteria is coming up with appropriate examples to demonstrate your skills. Below are a few different pointers for coming up with and choosing the best examples to write about.
· Keep brainstorming lists and drafts of previous applications for future applications. Even better, keep a career journal (templates for keeping a career journal are in included in rthe ebooks The Selection Criteria Coach, The KSA Coach and Get That Job if you have these publications). Having a point of reference will make your example writing a lot easier than just starting with a blank page.
· Examples should not extend to more than five years in the past. The more recent the example the better, because the selection panel will see this is a current capability. Examples of events that have occurred within the past two years will provide more credibility.
· Only where you do not have relevant work related examples should you use examples from different aspects of your life, for example university, clubs, community organisations. It is acceptable to talk about volunteer work. But remember, you work examples should always come first.
· Select which examples to use, based on their relevance to the criterion and their strength. Remember that you are trying to prove that you are the best person for the job, not just an acceptable one, so make your examples strong ones!
Consider the following when using examples:
· What was the situation?
· What were you trying to accomplish?
· Was there a problem that you were trying to solve?
· What was your task?
· How did you address the situation or the problem?
· What strategies did you come up with?
· What tools did you use?
· What process did you follow?
· What was the result?
· Can you provide any specific measure of success (e.g. increased sales figures, quicker turn around times etc.)
· Ensure your example is pitched at the right level. Higher level jobs require complex skill sets and therefore high level examples. Every day tasks do not demonstrate great skills or consistent performance. Even the worst worker in the organisation can come up with one basic example, so try to establish that you have experience carrying out complex tasks or bringing about major changes or initiatives.
· Avoid examples that cannot be verified or claims that are not supported.
· It is acceptable to use one experience or example to satisfy the requirements of more than one selection criterion. However, it is important that you specifically mention this. Ensure that you still title each criterion separately and cite your example separately for each selection criterion, tailoring it to that criterion. Do not refer your reader to another part of your application.
Vanessa Jordan is the Director of Review Consulting, an HR consulting organisation based in Melbourne, Australia. Her qualifications are in organisational psychology, and her passion is recruitment.
For more valuable resources for applying for a government job, visit http://www.selection-criteria.com.au
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