Selection Criteria

It is not necessary for you to have the qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience described by the desirable criteria, but your chances of being shortlisted are better if you do. Where there are several applicants who meet the essential criteria, the selection panel will shortlist on the basis of the desirable criteria.

Selection criteria examples

Apart from qualifications and experience that may be specific to a particular job, there are several selection criteria that are common to many government positions. These include:

• interpersonal skills
• negotiation and conflict resolution
• flexible and adaptable approach to work
• ICT, computer software and keyboard skills
• knowledge of policies and procedures
• organisational/planning skills
• problem-solving ability
• ability to maintain confidentiality
• ability to work as part of a team
• ability to work independently
• supervisory skills
• verbal communication/interpersonal skills
• written communication skills.

Note - most government job applicants do not provide enough evidence to demonstrate they meet the selection criteria!!

Addressing selection criteria - why?

For any government staff vacancy, the selection panel is required to assess each applicant in terms of how well they meet the selection criteria.

However, it is not up to the selection panel, who may have 100 applications to assess, to wade through your résumé and covering letter trying to find the relevant information about you that relates to each criterion.

The onus is on you to summarise the relevant information about yourself and to present it in a form which is easily accessible to the panel. Avoid lengthy paragraphs and generalisations without sufficient specific evidence.

 

TIP - Make sure you include a brief summary at the end of each selection criteria in bullet format.  This makes it easier for panel members to interpret your application.

This will assist the panel to rate your application against the selection criteria and against other applicants, and to decide who to shortlist for interview. Many good applicants are overlooked because they don't clearly address the selection criteria and assume that the panel will be able to read between the lines in their résumé.

Selection Criteria Writer Software guided templates, expert interviews, guides and videos -	Read Full Report

How to address selection criteria

Format and Layout

There are a number of things you can do to make your selection criteria statement effective and easy for the selection panel to read.

• Make it a separate attachment from your résumé and covering letter. 

• Address each criterion separately:
  • give each selection criteria (also called key selection criteria) a title, using exactly the same wording as appears on the selection criteria form, e.g. 'Excellent verbal communication skills'
  • list each criterion in the same order as the job description
  • between three quarters to one page is good length (including your summary bullet list)
  • Ensure your name and the position reference number appears in a footer

Content

Your statement addressing the selection criteria needs to demonstrate how your previous experience, skills, education and training have equipped you to meet the requirements of the position.

Below are some suggestions for what to include in the statement you write for each criterion.

• Highlight your relevant skills and experience by describing your major responsibilities in current or previous employment (this may include relevant non-paid work). Where possible, mention the same kinds of tasks and responsibilities as are listed in the advertised duty statement. For example:

Include principles and processes

• 'When communicating with staff I consistently utilise a range of techniques and principles including active listening, effective verbal and non verbal communication and confirmation of messages through feedback and questioning.'

Include references to procedures and legislation

• 'In my role as data quality officer, I applied principles and guidelines from the public servce act, financial management act and privacy guidelines including........'

• Indicate the extent of your experience in relation to a particular criterion, e.g. number of years' experience, number of staff supervised, etc. For example:

• 'I have over four years' experience using Microsoft Word on a daily basis. I am able to use advanced features of the program, such as ....'

• 'I am responsible for supervising the day-to-day work of five staff ....'

This is very useful if you want to emphasize that you have significant experience.

• Briefly give details of one or two specific tasks and roles you've participated in that are good examples of your ability to meet the criterion. For example:

• 'I was responsible for organising a large workshop attended by 200 staff. This involved ....'

• 'My ability to work well in a team was demonstrated when ....'

• Where possible, indicate how successfully you meet the criterion. You could do this by referring to feedback you've received from others, or things you've set up that are still being used. For example:

• 'A report I wrote about .... was well received by the .... Committee, and circulated as a discussion paper.'

• 'The accounting spreadsheet system I introduced two years ago is working effectively and staff say that they find it easy to use.'

• Mention any relevant qualifications and training you have, particularly if your experience is limited. These might include:

• details of any relevant training courses you've attended, such as 'Effective Communication at Work', or 'Introduction to Microsoft Excel'

• subjects studied as part of award courses, such as bookkeeping, office practice, etc.

Providing Additional Evidence and Information

At the end of your selection criteria statement you may like to add any extra information that you believe is relevant to the job. Examples of things you could mention include:

• skills and abilities which you think are important and which haven't been mentioned in the selection criteria, e.g. 'flexibility', 'ability to maintain confidentiality'

• knowledge or experience you have which you believe is important to the job, e.g. knowledge of particular government systems, policies or procedures.

Selection Criteria Example

An example of a selection criteria statement is outlined below. (note, this example has been modified to enable use as generic template):

SELECTION CRITERIA EXAMPLE SC 4 – Exemplifies personal drive, integrity and resilience under difficult circumstances My career to date involving diverse roles such as training, customer relationship management and team based service delivery models have enabled me to develop excellent personal and professional skills. With a demonstrated record of integrity, consistency and a focus on quality service and outcomes, I possess practical experience and a range of professional skills and strengths based on the principles of government legislation including the Australian Public Service Act and Anti discrimination/Equal Employment Opportunity principles. I possess proven experience and am highly competent in achieving outcomes and demonstrating behaviours consistent with Australian Public Service values and conduct requirements such as: •  Responsiveness and accountability •  Providing service that is fair, effective, courteous, impartial and apolitical •  Focusing on results and outcomes consistent with priorities •  Ensuring compliance with applicable statutory requirements including laws, policies and procedures •  Willing participation in performance management and measurement •  Respect and appreciate diversity of colleagues and clients •  Demonstrating confidentiality •  Providing due care and consideration of decisions and actions being mindful of short and long term consequences •  Establishing professional relationships that build trust and confidence Work Ethics and Integrity The following are examples demonstrating my personal and professional skills in relation to work ethics and integrity:y: • As a Project Manager I undertook a range of processes including the fostering of relationships, effective communication channels, frequent participation in peer and supervisor feedback and evaluation • In the role of Learning and Development Manager I supervised customer service and telemarketing staff providing a hands on leadership approach through example focusing on positive outcomes and proactive problem solving • Example 3 here …… Resilience Under Difficult Circumstances Based on my extensive and diverse customer service experience, I have developed broad skills in relation to delivering high quality customer outcomes. Processes and principles I utilise include:e: • A consistently friendly, professional and impartial service to internal and external customers • Demonstrating a solution focussed approach • Use of verbal and non verbal communication styles that build rapport and confidence • Sensitivity to social and cultural differences (eg: non English speaking background individuals) • Provide clear and concise information regarding options and alternatives • The capacity to diffuse difficult situations through a range of skills including effective questioning, empathy,   paraphrasing, feedback and confirmation Practical Example An example of when I achieved a positive outcome in a difficult situation is where___________. The strategies and steps I implemented to address this situation included________. The outcome of the steps and processes I utilised resulted in _________._. Summary • Demonstrated highly competent skills and ethics consistent with APS requirements • Excellent customer service and proven ability to provide resilient service in difficult and demanding environments