Writing to selection criteria

1
Writing to selection criteria

• Most advertised positions today require
  applicants to systematically address selection
  criteria as outlined in a job advertisement or
  position description.
• Applicants are short-listed by their ability to
  convince an employer that they do or can in fact
  meet actual requirements of the work being
  offered.
• Selection criteria are usually listed as both
  Essential and Desirable

2
Selection criteria

• What are they?
• They are the knowledge, skills, qualifications
  and experience deemed to be essential or
  desirable for an applicant to successfully
  undertake a position and all its duties.
• Why are they used?
• Under Equal Opportunity legislation it is
  illegal to appoint a candidate on the basis of
  anything other than the ability to do the job in
  question. Selection criteria are used as
  benchmarks
• to find the best person for the job
• to focus the selection panel on the task of
  measuring each applicant against the criteria

3
How to address selection criteria

• Support your claims by citing actual evidence
• For instance, communication skills may have been
  gained from your degree studies, previous work
  experiences and work in the community.
• Be as specific as possible
• Describe the activities where you obtained your
  skills and refer to specific experiences.
• Add a measurement or quality dimension
• Indicate the favourable feedback or comments you
  received, the number of people communicated with
  and their evaluation of your efforts.

4
Addressing selection criteria

• A CSU graduate addressed the following
  criterion
• A capacity to work with accuracy and meet strict
  deadlines.
• She wrote
• Through my training as a journalist I am well
  used to meeting strict deadlines. I usually
  design a checklist and work by a series of due
  dates in a planned time frame. My ability for
  detailed work means that I am able to spot
  omissions and inaccuracies before information is
  published or distributed.

5
Tips from a fellow student

• If you are struggling with writing to selection
  criteria
• use the STAR method
• S Situation In my position as Research Officer
• T Task I had to investigate the
  effects of dieting
• A Action I designed a survey, analysed the
  data and
• produced a report using SPSS
  software
• R Result My findings were used as part of
  a bigger
• study conducted by the
  Department of Health
• This method will keep you focused on the answer
  and enable you to fully answer the question.
  Its also useful when going for a job interview.
  You need to have lots of STARs for all the skills
  and abilities needed to perform a job.

6
Writing a covering letter for a resume

• If you are not required to address selection
  criteria you may be writing a covering letter for
  a resume.
• Employers pay attention to covering letters,
  checking out your ability to write and your
  approach to the job being offered
• If your covering letter is good the employer will
  be more inclined to read your resume
• Attached to a resume the covering letter provides
  an ideal opportunity to highlight strengths and
  abilities relevant to a position
• Covering letters for resumes should be brief - no
  more than 5 short paragraphs and no rambling
  sentences
• Dont underestimate the importance of the
  covering letter

7
Covering letters generally

• Covering letters offer opportunities to do some
  or all the following
• Establish the position you are applying for
• Enable you to mention your career goals
• Allow you to request some specific action (NB.
  Important when sending a letter just searching
  for job opportunities or asking for work
  experience)
• Highlight important points in an accompanying
  resume
• Emphasise your suitability and interest in a
  position
• Help to demonstrate that you have done your
  homework and know something about the
  organisation and position being offered.

8
The language and tone of your covering letter

• Use a friendly tone without being familiar
• If you have difficulty putting your thoughts into
  writing, say and record your thoughts onto tape
  first, or get someone to write as you speak. Then
  type what you have said and do some editing and
  redrafting to achieve a more natural style.
• Your letter should be concise, so dont waffle.
• Cover the points you want to make in your own
  language, using words and expressions you feel
  comfortable with, rather than something which
  doesnt match with your character.
• Dont forget to put your contact address on the
  letter, and dont forget to sign it.

9
Covering letter checklist

• Does the letter flow freely from one paragraph to
  the next?
• Is the tone of your letter friendly and
  confident?
• Does your letter look neat and brief?
• Have you avoided mentioning any personal
  problems?
• Have you avoided apologising for insufficient
  experience or qualifications?
• Does it state clearly what action you wish to
  occur as a result of your letter?
• Does it emphasise what you can offer the
  employer?
• Does it highlight your interest in the
  organisation and the position?
• Does your whole letter fit onto one page?
• Have you checked for spelling and grammatical
  mistakes?