What document is a list of your skills education and traits which make you suitable for a specific job?

Addressing Selection Criteria

• What are key Selection Criteria?
• What if I don’t address the Selection Criteria?
• How will this information be used by the selection panel?
• Where do I find out about the key Selection Criteria?
• How do I address the Selection Criteria?

What are Key Selection Criteria?

Key  selection criteria are the skills, attributes, knowledge and qualifications  that the employer has defined as being essential for satisfying the  requirements of the job and can be found in every Position Description.

When  applying for a job you are required to write a short statement against each  criterion, which outlines how your current skills, attributes, knowledge or  qualifications satisfy this criterion.

Including  selection criteria in the application process assists the Selection Panel in  assessing all applicants fairly and consistently.

Applicants  are also benefited by the selection criteria, as it gives you a better  understanding of what the job requires and you will be able to assess your own  capabilities against the requirements of the job.

Describing  how you meet the selection criteria will make sure that all the information  about your fittingness for the position is acknowledged. Therefore, increasing your chances in the  selection process.

Key selection criteria may be drawn from the University's Competency Index.  You should review this when addressing the selection criteria.

What  if I don’t address the Selection Criteria?

An application that fails to address the stated key  selection criteria may not be considered. All applications must address the key selection  criteria. Directly  addressing each key selection criteria provides the opportunity to show the  selection panel that you are the best person for the job.

How will this information be used by the selection  panel?

The panel will use all the  information provided in the application and the attachments provided, to assess  how well an applicant meets the selection criteria.

Where do I  find out about the Key Selection Criteria?

The key selection criteria are found in the Position  Description. It clearly documents the  qualifications, skills, attributes and knowledge a person must possess to  properly perform the duties of the position.

How do I address the Selection Criteria?

When addressing Selection Criteria it is important to consider the following steps:

1. Create a new document

Start the document with your name, the job title and position number and a heading  such as Statement of Claims against the Key Selection Criteria or Summary Addressing Key Selection Criteria.

2. Read the Selection Criteria carefully

One capability may ask for ‘experience in’ while another may specify ‘knowledge of’. Make sure  that you understand and address these subtle differences.

If  you have questions regarding the selection criteria, contact the contact person  indicated on the front of the position description before submitting your  application.

Indigenous applicants are invited to  contact the Indigenous Employment Coordinator on 03 8344 9978 for advice and  support with your application.

3. Address each Selection Criteria individually

Use  each of the key  selection criteria as a separate heading in the document and  summarise in the space below how your skills, qualifications,  experience and personal attributes are relevant for that particular criteria.

4. Break  the Key Selection Criteria into key points

The  selection criteria  may be written in such a way that more than one quality is being assessed. Underline  key words and determine what the employer is asking for.

For  example a capability such as Ability to communicate with people from a variety  of backgrounds could be broken up into the factors of ability, communication and people from a variety of backgrounds. How often did you  communicate? What was your level of responsibility? What sort of communication  was required? How often? With whom? How well did you communicate? How do you  know?

5. Support your claims with evidence

Avoid  blank unsubstantiated statements such as ‘I have extremely well developed  communication skills’. This is your opinion; the employer needs evidence that it is true. You need to  provide concrete examples that demonstrate your skills and abilities and  illustrate the complexity and demands of the task used as an illustration. It  may be easier to do this if you use the CAR approach:

• Context - Describe the situation.
• Action - Explain your actions. What were your actions? What did you do?
• Results - Detail the result of the actions which you took.

6. Use active verbs

Statements  such as I negotiated or I liaised with have more impact than I was  involved in or I was responsible for. The use of strong, specific verbs will  help you to describe your role more clearly.

7. Use good English

Your  ability to communicate in writing will be assessed by the way in which you  address the key selection Criteria. Ask someone else to proofread your  responses for you as it is easy to make spelling and grammatical mistakes  without realising!

8. Ask yourself the 'so what?' question

When  attempting to provide appropriate evidence to support your claims it is useful  to ask yourself the ‘So What?’ question.

For  example:

Leadership, change management and  teamwork skills:
In my  role(s) as ________________ and _______________ I was responsible for  managing/supervising a team of ___ staff. In this/these roles my key  responsibilities extended from orientation, induction and training to guidance  and direction in day-to-day operations as well as performance review and  workforce planning.

Applying the ‘So What?’ question: So what? Why did you do  this? What did you accomplish?

I have been  able to demonstrate sound and appropriate judgement in a wide range of (staffing/supervisory/management)  situations during a time of significant change in my (Faculty/business unit/team/area). Additionally I have formed strong  working relationships with senior managers/academic, colleagues and staff  reporting to me.

Additionally,  I have contributed to (special projects,  working groups, committees?) to illustrate my abilities to work  independently and as part of a team.

What types of skills and traits are employers looking for that you also possess?

What are the skills suited to your job preference?

What skills and abilities do you have that will make you successful in this program and in your future career?

What type of skills and personal traits are needed?