Graduate Careers Australia

Writing Your Application

How To Address Selection Criteria

More and more employers in both the private and public sectors are using your ability to address their selection criteria to assist them to short-list applicants for interviews. Each applicant is rated on how closely he or she meets each of the criteria and then ranked accordingly.

Regardless of the specific position you may be targeting, you will discover that there are a handful of criteria that tend to apply across nearly all graduate vacancies. Examples of these include:

• well-developed communication skills
• teamwork skills
• commitment to the delivery of quality customer service
• flexibility and a willingness to adapt to change
• enthusiasm and a positive attitude.

The employer will not necessarily be able to match information in your résumé (see below) to the criteria. You should address each of them specifically and on an individual basis. All essential criteria must be included and it is recommended that you also address those described as 'desirable' criteria. You can present the information in a separate document that you attach to your résumé. While there are many titles for such a document, the most common ones are 'Evidence in Support of the Selection Criteria' and 'Background Relevant to Selection Criteria'. As an alternative you might choose to use a functional résumé; format using each of the criteria as a heading. Your task is to provide specific examples for each of the criteria to demonstrate that you meet them. Below is an example of how one person addressed a selection criterion specified by a government department: [The successful applicant will have] Sound conceptual, investigative and analytical skills, together with an ability to undertake statistical research methods.

The development of my research ability and understanding of both qualitative and quantitative statistical methods has been refined over these past three years of university study. These skills have been demonstrated by the successful completion of a range of investigative reports which have required an increasingly sophisticated ability to apply computerised statistical analysis packages and business forecasting models to 'real life' business problems. Statistical analysis tools I have used include:

• [example]
• [example]
• [example]

Statistical analysis tools I am aware of include:

• [example]
• [example]
• [example]

One example of where I have applied these skills is a project that I completed in first semester of this year; its title was 'The Impact of High Levels of Unemployment Upon the Development of Small Business in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne'. I analysed a series of statistics which were obtained from the ABS, the Commonwealth Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Business Victoria, the City of Maribyrnong and the Western Region Economic Development Corporation. In addition, I developed a short questionnaire and conducted a small number of interviews with local small businesses for the purposes of testing my results against the reality of small business operators' experience. This project contributed to a Distinction result for the subject of Business Forecasting Methods.

Use examples from your work experience, university and extracurricular activities and other life experiences. Brainstorm as many examples as you can, identifying situations where you might have demonstrated the specific criterion – the more you can think of, the better!

Your résumé can help you to focus on your experiences. You'll have a greater selection to choose from when you put together your final document. As you will note from the above example of a selection criterion, any examples you use should be preceded by a short overview statement which clearly indicates that you meet the criterion, and which reflects your understanding of the relevance/importance of that specific criterion.

The information can be presented in paragraph form, in point form or in a combination of both – that's a personal decision. Here's how you could go about it:

• Read all the information you have about the position: the selection criteria, the job description, information about the employer (eg. from Graduate Opportunities, the job advertisement, the internet).
• List the selection criteria and, referring to the examples you have brainstormed, note in point form all the activities that demonstrate your competence in each area.
• Include all the skills and abilities connected with all your work and non-work activities.
• When you are satisfied you have addressed each of the criteria, write a final draft in your preferred format (sentences, paragraphs or points).
• Proofread it, then have someone else read it and give you feedback.

Don't be too concerned about any overlap of examples you use for the criteria, but try to provide a different slant in each case. When you come across a selection criterion that you cannot satisfy, don't just ignore it - your failure to address it will 'stand out like a sore thumb'! Be prepared to write something about your understanding of the relevance of the criterion – convince the employer that you possess the potential to satisfy it.

Please note that when you first start to write your applications by addressing the selection criteria it will be incredibly time-consuming. So allow yourself plenty of time to get your application together. As is the case with most things, 'practice makes perfect', and you can begin practicing right now by writing something about how your background matches the criteria which are presented at the beginning of this section!

This article is taken from the 2004 edition of Graduate Careers Australia's employer directory Graduate Opportunities .
Author: Susan Oldham, Student Career Development, Victoria University

© 2001-04 Graduate Careers Australia

• Write a winning application...
• How To Address Selection Criteria