Advice on how to address selection criteria
All people applying for positions within the Australian Public Service are required to lodge an application that addresses specific selection criteria. Writing to selection criteria can be difficult if you have never had to do it before. The information below is provided to assist you in writing to the above selection criteria and present the best application you can. Applicants will be short-listed for interview based on how well they can demonstrate in writing that they have the capabilities required to perform the role.
How can I effectively address the selection criteria?
The key is to:
• Firstly ensure that you understand what is meant by each selection criteria before you start writing;
• Then demonstrate your capability by providing evidence of how you meet the criteria. This can be done by:
o Giving specific examples; and
o Where possible, include an indicator of success or a result.
An easy way to do this is to use the STAR model:
• SITUATION –provide a brief outline of the situation or setting
• TASK – outline what YOU did
• APPROACH or ACTION – Outline HOW YOU did it
• RESULT – describe the outcomes
The four steps to effectively addressing selection criteria using the STAR model
Step 1 – Understanding the selection criteria
As an example, take the capability “communicates with influence”. What do you think this means? This criterion includes:
• Communicates clearly: Communicates proficiently both orally and in writing in English and Arabic.
• Listens, understands and adapts to audience: Tailors communication to audience and circumstances and ensures common understanding of issues.
This criterion focuses two mediums of communication – written AND oral - and in two languages, in ADDITION to the applicant’s ability to communicate effectively in these mediums with different groups of people/clients. It is not just about the applicant being able to speak English!
Step 2 – The opening sentence
You should begin your statement against each selection criteria with an opening sentence that clearly states your claim to the criterion. For example if you were writing to the above criterion you might begin with something like:
I possess strong written and oral communication skills which I have developed in my role as…..
Step 3 – Support your claim with solid and relevant examples
You need to support your opening sentence with examples of how you demonstrated these skills in the workplace or other parts of your life (for example, charity/volunteer work, university, sporting clubs).
Below are some examples of situations which could illustrate how you “possess strong written and oral communication skills”:
• As a Project Officer at Department XYZ I was required to write reports on project planning methodologies.
• When I was a Research Support Officer at Company ABC I designed and compiled a monthly newsletter.
• As part of completing my Master’s thesis I collated and analysed diverse sets of data and wrote up my results in a 10,000 word academic thesis which was later published.
It is often useful to just brainstorm all the tasks you have performed in previous roles and once you have a list, to then decide which examples best illustrate your abilities against the individual criteria. Ask yourself – “How does each example demonstrate how I meet the different aspects of each criterion?”
Once you have done this, the above STAR method can be used to help you in expanding on your examples to ensure what you write demonstrates convincingly how you meet each criteria.
For example:
Situation – role as Research Officer for Company ABC
Task – Needed to ensure that managers were kept informed of policies and procedures
Approach or action – Initiated monthly newsletter, took responsibility for writing the main articles but with input from other colleagues, emailed newsletter to all managers each month
Result – received very positive feedback from many managers, received an achievement award, create improved lines of communication between managers.
You then need to put the above points into well-written sentences.
Step 4 – Writing tips and checking your work
• Use strong action/doing words
• Use positive and specific language
• Use the language of the criterion
• Address all aspects of the criterion
This advice is sourced from http://www.defence.gov.au/dcr/Advice.html and http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Individual/Jobseeker/Careers/CareerJobSearchTips/All/UnderstandingandConfidentlyAddressingSelectionCriteria.htm