Staying on track with your selection criteria is Key to your success! If you can harness your excitement just a little bit longer you will find that creating and submitting your selection criteria applications will be far easier than if you allow yourself to become negative about the application process.

Understand that the selection criteria process is there to assist the government to place the best people in our tax paying jobs as possible. If you consider this whilst chipping away at your selection criteria I believe your attitude will flow through your writing.

Good luck with your selection criteria applications! I wish you ultimate success.

Luckily the Selection criteria Writer package does come with a Free Keyword and phrase list that is categorized by position, so if you’re considering submitting an application you will find that using these keywords within your application will give you a substantial advantage over your fellow applicant competitors.

The Keyword/Phrases categories include:

• Teamwork/Team building
• Deadlines/Time lines/Prioritisation/Work flow management
• Financial/Accounting
• Project management
• Quality assurance
• Written/Interpersonal skills
• Negotiation/Liaison/Communication
• Use of Computers/Software
• Analytical/conceptual skills
• Management/Supervisor/Team Leader
• Continuous Improvement/Qulaity Framework
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Goal setting
• Change Management/Change Environment
• Records Management
• Benefits Management

Within the report you will find a surprisingly large list of trigger keywords and phrases that the panelists are looking for. If you are unaware of these “trigger” keywords then I suggest you consider purchasing the selection criteria writer package. At a nominal $77 the training you will receive plus the wealth of information you will recieve listening to the interviews with selection criteria panelists is priceless.

the Selection Criteria Writer this software solution walks you through your Government application step by step, it also includes selection criteria templates and video tutorials…not bad for a measly $77 especially if you get the job.
My advice to you is to take a good look around the site and study as much about selection criteria applications as you can so you are fully capable when applying for government jobs NSW.

There’s lots of information out there, just make sure your taking in the right information! One of the reasons why I decided to start this website in the beginning was because my mother applied for a job and went to a so called “selection criteria professional” who told her that her application needed to be brief and she completely summarised my mums responses. Well when she spoke with the lady who was processing the applications she was told that her application was too brief and that you should at least address each key criterion with one page. There goes $250 out the window and the job.

I only mention this as a warning, there are some fantastic professionals out there who can help you, but if you would like to learn the skills yourself then the Selection Criteria Writer is Gold, and it comes with a  60 day money back guarantee plus if you don’t get this job you’ll still own the software and have the knowledge to pass onto your friends.

Good luck with your Job application, go get those Government Jobs NSW

You will be assessed against the following selection criteria throughout the application process.  You do not need to address these criterion specifically. The on-ine application includes questions directly relating to the criteria and allows you to demonstrate your skills and experience in your written response.

1. Qualifications

You must have completed (or be completing by 31 December 2009) at least a three year undergraduate degree from an Australian tertiary institution. If you have a degree from an overseas tertiary institution it must be recognised as being equivalent to a three year Australian degree by the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) by 31 December 2009.

Assessment method: Application & sighting of official academic transcripts at interview

2. Knowing the environment

Everyone in DVA works in an often complex environment. It is important for graduates to have a general understanding of the role of DVA, and an appreciation of the needs of its broad range of clients and stakeholders.

Assessment method: Application / interview

3. Building our skills

We have a talented, experienced and skilled workforce and continuing to develop our organisations talent is an important part of the way we operate. Graduates will need to identify and pursue opportunities to learn and apply their skills and capabilities in the working environment.

Assessment method: Application / interview

4. Connecting with clients and collaborating with colleagues

The ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people of all ages, levels, backgrounds etc and contribute in a small team environment is key to the graduate role.

Assessment method: Written skills – application and written testing at interview / Oral & interpersonal communication skills – application and interview

5. Searching for solutions

You will be working in a variety of roles which focus on the development and delivery of solutions and services to internal and external clients. Well developed research and analysis skills are required along with the ability to show initiative and flexibility in a changing environment.

Assessment method: Application / interview

Article source: www.dva.gov.au

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

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

Many Jobs are posted on smaller websites that cater for niche’s, specific categories, professional associations etc.
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Try typing your title or area of expertise into Google and moving beyond the payed ads and first page results, be specific for example “local government jobs” will return a page called LGJobs this site specifically caters for council jobs available within the local government sector.

You’ll find that there will be much less competition within these sites as most people will follow the masses and go straight to the big guys.

If you need help with your Resume check out Selection Criteria Writer

Good Luck job hunting !

Wishing you Ultimate success

Dustin
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So you should know the different types and why you should choose them. For an easy to use software solution check out the Selection Criteria Writer which generates Cover letters as well as your resume.

There are three different types of Resume

• Functional
• Chronological
• Combination or Hybrid

Function Resume – A functional resume groups your work experiences by skills and abilities rather than specific positions. This is the type of Resume you would go for if you have been a job hopper or been out of work like back to work mums.

The reason for this is because you are highlighting your skills and abilities rather than your employment record, this makes it harder for your prospective employer to find gaps in your employment. Further down the page is an example of a Functional Resume and a template you can download, if you use the template please let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

Chronological Resume – This is the preferred Style of resume as it presents your employment history in reverse chronological order, with your most recent job being first. This makes it easier for the panel or potential employer to see a natural progression in your career.  This is the best format for you to use if you feel that there are a good natural progression, don’t use this format if you are over qualified or have employment gaps. There is also an example and download for the Chronological Resume template further down the page.
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Combination or Hybrid Resume – As the name suggests this style if a combination of both Chronological and functional styles. This format highlights your strengths by presenting your skills, abilities and experiences at the beginning and towards the end you finish with your chronological list.

Functional

FIRSTNAME LASTNAME

Street address | suburb state postcode | phone number | mobile number | email address

OBJECTIVE/

Write a paragraph or two that summarises your career objective.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Outline a summary of your key qualifications
• That relate specifically to the position you are applying for
• This is where you focus on the key skills
• That will be of benefit to the position
• And organisation that is offering the position

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Field or area of accomplishment e.g sales and marketing

• Duty / responsibility / achievement
• Duty / responsibility / achievement
• Duty / responsibility / achievement

Field or area of accomplishment e.g leadership and management

• Duty / responsibility / achievement
• Duty / responsibility / achievement
• Duty / responsibility / achievement

Field or area of accomplishment e.g financial budgeting

• Duty / responsibility / achievement
• Duty / responsibility / achievement
• Duty / responsibility / achievement

Chronological

COMPANY NAME Dates of Employment

Position Title

Brief 1-2 sentence description of your role including why you were recruited / what your main priority or goal was / what your main achievement was.

Responsible for ….(introduce responsibilities):

• Responsibility / achievement
• Responsibility / achievement
• Responsibility / achievement

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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

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:

1. Put the job title and vacancy reference number under the date in bold, e.g. Re position: Customer Service Officer (A03) VRN: 335/06.
2. 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’.)
3. 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.[ad#Google Adsense]
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.’

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7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dawn_Richards
http://EzineArticles.com/?Applying-For-a-Government-Job—How-to-Nail-Your-Cover-Letter-For-Positions-With-Selection-Criteria&id=2492501rel=”nofollow

One way to address the Criteria is by using the STAR Method (Situation-Task-Action-Results)

Situation
What was the situation? This is a brief outline of the situation faced and your role.

Task
What were the main issues involve with the situation?
What needed to be done?
What task/s needed to be achieved and what was the desired outcome?
What obstacles had to be overcome?

Action
What were the steps you took to complete the task?
This will include allocation of resources, people involved etc.

Results
What was the outcome?
How did it change things at work?
What lessons did you learn from this event?

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Using STAR for interviews

A GUIDE ON ADDRESSING SELECTION CRITERIA FOR APPLICANTS – This is a great article form the Australian Government Bureau Of Meteorology which touches base on the STAR method as well as offering some valuable tips for Selection Criteria.