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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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Categories : Selection criteria tips, Uncategorized

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Key Selection Criteria

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Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Writing selection criteria

How to Write Effective Written Responses

Key selection criteria (commonly referred to as KSC) are essentially road signs to guide both job applicant and the selection panel. They are core characteristics and qualities considered essential for carrying out the position competently.

These requirements also allow the selection panel to objectively choose the right candidate for the job. That is, the candidate that fulfils the position requirements the best is selected.

Types of Key Selection Criteria

There are a number of different types of KSCs that a candidate will come across in a job application summary. Those key selection criteria that relate to experience refer to the actual performance of a task.

You will need to provide specific details and relevant evidence demonstrating the level of experience you possess. It is important to also provide panel members with clear details regarding strengths, skills in a way that is familiar to them.

To achieve this level of impact it is essential that the keywords and phrases from the position description feature in written responses.

Knowledge and understanding are also common position requirements. In support of this claim, a candidate should provide concrete examples of when these skills were demonstrated. Skills and abilities should also be supported via the use of examples.

It is not enough to write that you possess these talents; you also need to show when and how they have been demonstrated. Once again, you can’t simply state you are honest or fair, you need to prop up your claims with compelling practical examples.

A Common Misconception: The Importance of Desirable Key Selection Criteria

Key selection criteria also come in two different types – essential and desirable. There is a common misconception that desirable key selection criteria are not all that important to the overall success of the application.

As such, candidates don’t often spend as much time writing and thinking about these requirements. This, actually could be the reason why a candidate misses out on their dream job.

Well written desirable key selection criteria are vital to the success of the statement and being awarded the job.

Although a candidate could still be considered if they lack desirable key selection criteria, it is misleading to believe that the strength of your essential key selection criteria will get you past that winning post.

That is, if the interview panel is having difficulties choosing between two candidates, it could very well be the desirable key selection criteria that makes all the difference.

Tips When Preparing Written Responses

Tip 1 Don’t have different fonts and layouts for each criterion. It will only make it look unprofessional

Tip 2 Key selection criteria statement should incorporate a heading that includes: the job name; position reference number and your name featured in the footer

Tip 3 Preferred font styles are Arial, Times New Roman, Tahoma and Verdana. The most common font size is 11 points. Written responses should feature minimum font size of 9.5 points

Tip 4 Carefully select the top 3 or four keyword phrases in the key selection criteria statement and ensure you use these phrases at least once in your written response

Is There An Easier Way?

There in no questioning that writing compelling written responses is tricky. There is a lot to remember; the actual writing process is time consuming; and, it can take frequent writing attempts to develop the required skills to write that job-winning statement.

Many government job seekers have discovered a much more effective and efficient way using software that guides job applicants with easy to use templates that make the job much easier.

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 click Here

Categories : Key Selection Criteria

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Selection Criteria – How to Write Effective Selection Criteria Responses

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Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Selection Criteria – The Australian Government Recruitment Process

Selection criteria are the list of requirements that are seen when reading through a job advertisement. Whether it is for a high-level government position or an entry level role in a private organisation, more than likely a number of criteria will be included in the advertisement.

The Importance of Effective Marketing

Candidates are required to describe their skills and experience and make claims about their skills, qualifications, experience and personal attributes that are required for the role. This is often called a selection criteria statement and is unquestionably the most important aspect of the recruitment process. It gets you noticed and assists in getting your foot in the door. A good or poorly written response can certainly be the difference between realising your dream job and losing out to a less qualified candidate.

Job specific criteria are used by both the employer and the candidate. An employer will use the criteria to guide their decision-making process when it comes to choosing or short-listing candidates. It provides an objective tool for employers to gauge a candidate’s suitability and their competitiveness against other applicants. It is essentially a tool for measuring how suitable one is for the position.

In addition to this, written responses are the perfect opportunity for a candidate to showcase their abilities and talents. It is one of the crucial times in the job application process where they can market themselves. Every successful product needs an effective marketing campaign. You are the product and the individual written responses are your marketing tools. A significant part of your marketing is providing sufficient evidence of your skills and abilities when addressing the specific requirements of the role.

TIP: Ensure you use clear active language when writing examples of your skills and experience.

The Categories of Selection Criteria

Sometimes these lists are quite lengthy and sometimes they are short. There are also different types of position related criteria, including:

• Previous Experience. This selection criterion often relates to past experience in a similar role or one aspect of the position. In this situation, the candidate can refer to prior roles in a dissimilar job. As long as the applicant performed similar duties and responsibilities, a reference to it is acceptable.

• Education and Qualifications. This type of selection criterion relates to the candidate’s level and type of education. Any professional recognition is relevant in this criteria type as well.

• Skills and Expertise. This denotes the actual level and type of abilities an applicant possesses. Candidates should include their proficiencies in both current roles and those that they have performed in the past.

• Personal Qualities. This criterion relates to the applicant’s own characteristics.

TIP: When describing your previous experience, ensure you use words from the position description you are applying for

The Importance of an Effective Selection Criteria Statement

In terms of applying for and landing that dream job, you can’t go past recognising the importance of a well written selection criteria statement. The good news is that there are resources available to help you write that job-winning statement such as templates, guides and actual examples.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Glenn_Ayrton

Categories : Uncategorized