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Sample Selection Criteria

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Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Tips for Finding and Using Sample Selection Criteria

Selection criteria, for most candidates, are those dreaded list of qualifications, experience and personal qualities that are presented in a government job application description. They are essentially measures used to gauge a candidate’s suitability for a position and to choose the best applicant from a pool. On a positive note, however, the written application process can work in your favour and doesn’t have to be the object of anxiety and discomfort. With a little bit of knowledge and the right tools (such as selection criteria samples), you will have the written responses aced and be well on your way to landing that perfect job.

Good quality written examples can demonstrate how you should write a statement, however some may be of poor quality. You can take the guess work out by sourcing good quality written samples and learn by viewing appropriate formatting and styles that are well structured and easy to read. You won’t need to start from scratch when you use good quality samples to guide you.

Writing Effective Responses and Using Selection Criteria Samples

There are, however, many considerations when using selection criteria samples, such as:

• Before you begin the application, make sure you have suitable qualifications, experience and personal qualities for the position. If you don’t, it doesn’t matter how well you write your statement and how much help you have from written samples, you will not proceed any further

• Research the actual position and the organization you will be working for. This can often help you to tailor your criteria even further. Selection criteria samples can show you how to master this skill

• Before you actually start writing, pull apart all the selection criteria and roughly jot down as much as you can about it, such as where you performed the actual criterion and what it involved. Good quality samples can demonstrate this technique

• Once you start to write, present the selection criteria in a coherent structure, preferably the way that it is presented in the job application pack

• Be aware that sourcing written samples of someone else’s work requires editing to accurately reflect your own skills and strengths

Tips For Using Sample Selection Criteria

Tip 1 – Make sure the sample contains good use of language including positive and active keywords

Tip 2 – Compare the sample to the position you are applying for and replace keywords from the position description into the sample

Tip 3 – Be careful to edit the sample to accurately reflect your skills, strengths and experience

Tip 4 – Ensure that you add a bold bullet point summary at the end of the sample to make sure that panel members gain a clear picture of your key strengths and skills

Tip 5 – It is absolutely critical that actual practical examples be added to the sample that relate as closely as possible to each selection criteria statement. Make sure your choice of examples is relevant and provides clear evidence of your skills, experience and the positive outcomes you personally achieved

About The Author

Glenn Ayrton is an Australian nationally accredited workplace trainer and assessor with over 20 years experience in local and state government. He has performed a range of roles including project management, government recruitment and training including interview technique and job application writing.
He is also the designer and creator of Australia’s first software package that assists in writing government job applications called ‘Selection Criteria Writer’. For more information please visit http://www.selectioncriteriawriter.com

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Addressing Selection Criteria

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Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Undeniably, addressing selection criteria effectively is a skill. Much like any other ability, in order to write a job-winning written application, it takes time, patience, hard work and practice to develop.

With this in mind, however, it has to be said that there are ways candidates can shortcut the process of writing and learning the skill of writing job winning and compelling written applications. Applicants can arrive at the results quickly and successfully.

At the outset, addressing selection criteria should be approached from a holistic perspective. Rather than just seeing the writing of government job applications as a frustrating and time-consuming process, recognise that selection criteria are in place for very good reasons.

If you consider the selection panel when creating written responses, you will be able to tailor your writing and have a significant advantage to being shortlisted.

Points to Remember When Addressing Selection Criteria

Selection criteria:

• are used to measure candidates for job suitability and guide the selection
• provide a standardized tool for objectively selecting the right candidate. It is important to realize when addressing criteria that you are competing against other candidates with the same sets of abilities
• benefit both candidate and the selection panel. Your written application is the perfect opportunity to effectively market your skills and abilities
• provide evidence to the selection panel that a candidate can perform the position. You must provide real examples that are compelling
• can be weighted by percentage for importance. The candidate should be aware that weighting demonstrates the relative importance of what is required to successfully perform a role and what will be focused upon when selecting an appropriate candidate

Once you have entered that mind set where you see the process as a marketing tool and guide, there are a number of basics that must be considered when developing written responses. Ignoring some of these basics will potentially discourage panel members from shortlisting you for an interview.

Addressing Selection Criteria: Common Oversights

Some oversights to avoid when developing your written responses during the job application process are:

• Spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes. If the candidate doesn’t get it right when addressing selection criteria, why would they get it right on the job?
• Convoluted written responses. Does this drawn-out waffle reflect the candidate’s job performance?
• A lack of convincing real examples. If the candidate can’t provide examples of claims, does this mean the claims aren’t true?
• Not responding to the actual criterion which surprisingly is very common. Is this an avoidance strategy because the candidate does not possess the criterion?

Listed below are five tips to successfully addressing selection criteria:

Tip 1 Carefully select the top three keyword phrases in each selection criteria statement and use these keywords in your responses

Tip 2 Call the interview panel Chairperson before you begin writing your responses and find out more information regarding the position. Ask a question like: ‘What is the focus of this position over the next twelve months?”

Tip 3 Effectively showcase your personal strengths and professional skills by matching these carefully to each job description statement

Tip 4 Avoid broad non specific language such as ‘I believe’ and ‘I think’. Ensure that your language is specific, clear and confident

Tip 5 Provide panel members measurable facts regarding your skills and experience. When describing timeframes and outcomes, make sure you provide this information in a measurable way so that panel members can gain a clearer picture of the depth of your experience

Addressing Selection Criteria – Is there a better way?

Instead of spending late nights and possibly entire weekends writing job application responses, many applicants have used a fully integrated software system that enables government job applicants to easily create high quality written responses in much less time.

About The Author

He is also the designer and creator of Australia’s first software package that assists in writing government job applications called ‘Selection Criteria Writer’. For more information please visit http://www.selectioncriteriawriter.com

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Selection Criteria Examples

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Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

The Importance of Getting Selection Criteria Examples Right

Landing that dream government job can sometimes feel like it is out of reach. Continual job applications and persistent knock-backs can be disheartening.

Instead of finding the real source of the problem, we often look to ourselves and wonder what is wrong with our abilities. Forget this.

Have you ever considered that you are looking in the wrong place? Perhaps you have all the prerequisites for the role, but the problem likely lies in the writing of your selection criteria examples.

Are your examples letting you down?

Although there can be a number of valid reasons why that ideal job is eluding you, the fact is that often the writing of selection criteria examples may possibly be ruining your chances.

The most common reasons for this are:

1. Poorly worded examples
2. Insufficient written evidence
3. Wording that is unfamiliar with the panel members

As long as you have the skills, qualifications, experience and personal qualities, there is no reason why you aren’t, at least, being shortlisted.

The common reason applicants are not making it to the interview stage is because they’re not writing compelling examples and evidence that directly relates to the position description.

Providing those all-important selection criteria examples are one area that often lets candidates down. Well written examples must achieve the following:

1. Written using language that is familiar to the panel members
2. Provide rich examples that address principles, strategies and benefits
3. Clear description of the step by step strategy that is crystal clear

Well written examples demonstrate to panel members that you are competent and possess the skills and abilities required for the position. In short, the response you want to achieve with all readers of your examples is that ‘this person can do the job’.

Employers want to know candidates have either performed the necessary skills in a prior role; that they’ve the knowledge to do so; or, that they can easily pick up the new skill. This is shown by selection criteria examples.

The Importance of Writing Good Selection Criteria Examples

• Selection criteria examples form a significant part of the STAR (Situation, Task, Actions, Results) method of writing a selection criteria statement. Your selection criteria example should include in which role or situation you performed the skill; what you actually did; how you performed it; and, what the outcome of you performing this skill was.

• The examples you write must support your claims that you meet a certain selection criterion. As such, you need to provide actual examples that you can elaborate upon in the interview.

• Examples can be sourced from almost any aspect of your life – even if not from a similar role as the one you are applying for. Draw selection criteria examples from anywhere you’ve shown these abilities or personal attributes. The key is to use language that panel members are familiar with and talk their language.

• Written examples must clearly describe the positive outcomes and benefits achieved. What was the result of you performing this action?

Here’s a list of top tips to help you write high quality selection criteria examples:

Tip 1 Use their words in your examples

Tip 2 Make sure your language is specific and active

Tip 3 Clearly articulate the benefits achieved at the end of each example

Tip 4 Choose examples that are as closely aligned as possible to the role you are applying for

Tip 5 Research carefully both the department’s webpage and the position description in order to carefully select the most relevant keyword phrases to use in your written examples

Many government job applicants have been relieved to discover that there is a much better solution to spending entire weekends writing selection criteria applications by using software templates that can reduce and simplify the task significantly.

About The Author

Glenn Ayrton is an Australian nationally accredited workplace trainer and assessor with over 20 years experience in local and state government. He has performed a range of roles including project management, government recruitment and training including interview technique and job application writing. He is also the designer and creator of Australia’s first software package that assists in writing government job applications called ‘Selection Criteria Writer’. For more information please visit http://www.selectioncriteriawriter.com

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Deciphering ‘selection criteria’

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Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Article From: CareerOne.com.au

Applying for a job involving selection criteria is something of an art.

CareerOne Editor Kate Southam advises that there are specialist books on the subject that you can buy or ask your local library to get in for you.

The Selection Criteria Toolkit by Dawn Richards and published by Woodslane is a good example. A CareerOne contributor, Dawn’s latest book is Get that Government Job.

Amanda McCarthy of AJM Solutions is another CareerOne contributor. A few years back Amanda kindly wrote a detailed article on selection criteria that you will find below. It is very long but still relevant so take a look.

Background

In the private sector the resume is commonly used to cull and shortlist candidates for jobs. In the public sector, the most important thing is how well a candidate addresses the selection criteria.

If your written responses don’t address the requirements you may not get an interview even if you have the most dazzling resume.

It’s generally a requirement for public sector panels to use at least one “screening” and one “selection” tool to assess candidates against the selection criteria. The most common selection tools used in the public sector include the written application and the interview.

Selection criteria are standards that measure a candidate’s “abilities”, “skills” and “knowledge”. They are generally contained within the job description or may appear in the online advertisement. Both the selection criteria and job duties outline the minimum requirements necessary to do the job.

There are two types of selection criteria “essential” and “desirable”

Read the full article @ CareerOne

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Applying For a Government Job – How to Nail Your Cover Letter For Positions With Selection Criteria

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Sunday, September 6th, 2009

Applying For a Government Job – How to Nail Your Cover Letter For Positions With Selection Criteria
By Dawn Richards

Applying for a government job is a bit like doing a jigsaw puzzle. It’s sometimes difficult to work out how to fit the pieces together to create the right picture. Many organizations require you to complete a Cover Form or Application Form, so do you need to supply a cover letter as well?

YES, you do!

This is because a cover letter provides another opportunity to ’sell’ yourself. It provides the chance to highlight your achievements and show the employer how your experience and skills can help them to achieve their goals.

Here’s an easy step-by-step guide for writing a cover letter for a role that includes selection criteria:

Put the job title and vacancy reference number under the date in bold, e.g. Re position: Customer Service Officer (A03) VRN: 335/06.
Find out the name of the person who will be reading your application and personally address your letter, checking that you have the correct spelling and title. (If you don’t know the person’s name, use ‘Good morning’ as the greeting rather than the deadly dull ‘Dear Sir or Madam’.)
In the first paragraph state where and when you saw the advertisement, the reason for the letter and what you are including in your application. e.g. I wish to apply for the position of ‘Customer Service Officer’ as advertised on the Careerone website on 25 August 2009.
In the second paragraph, state what you are including in your application. e.g. To support my application, I have included my responses to the selection criteria, a copy of my résumé and three referees who can vouch for my work performance.
In the third paragraph, refer to your qualifications, skills and experience to explain how you match the requirements of the position. e.g. I hold a Diploma of Frontline Management and have five years’ experience in customer service roles.
In this paragraph, include a few of your key achievements and use a quote from ’secret sales documents like appraisals and written references to build credibility and ’sell’ your claims. e.g. I am confident that I have the skills and experience to be an asset in this role. In my last appraisal, my manager states: ‘Mary has built strong relationships with our clients, resulting in a 43% increase in sales.’

Finish with a strong close, as if you expect to be selected for an interview. e.g. I look forward to discussing this position with you in an interview.
For hard copy applications, personally sign your letter and type your name below your signature. For online applications, you can use a different font to indicate you’ve signed your letter or use a digital signature.
Add ‘enc.’ at the bottom of your letter. This means ‘enclosure’ and is used if you are adding other documentation such as a résumé and selection criteria statement.
Proofread for errors in spelling, grammar, typos, phone numbers, email addresses, postal addresses, job titles, and so on. Your application must be 100% error- free.
Keep the letter to one page in length.

Dawn Richards is a popular guest speaker at Careers Expos and is the author of best-selling career books, ‘Selection Criteria Toolkit’, ‘Get That Government Job’ and ‘From Fired to Hired’. She uses her background in marketing to teach applicants how to sell themselves in their applications and at the interview. For free articles on all aspects of careers, visit http://www.smartstartmarketing.com.au.

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