Selection Criteria

Demonstrate why you’re suitable for the job

Discover how to analyse a job’s key selection criteria and show that you meet the needs of the job.

Selection criteria shows job seekers the required skills for the job

Key Selection Criteria, or Key skills and abilities, form part of the recruitment process for many vacant positions.

The selection criteria described in a job advert and position description specify the personal qualities, skills, abilities, knowledge and qualification a person needs to perform the role effectively.

As part of a job application, you may be asked to formally respond to the selection criteria. This requires you to submit a separate document that displays your ability to perform or meet each of the criteria.

1. Make sure you understand the selection criteria of a job

The first step is to make sure you understand the job selection criteria, so that you can respond to it effectively.

Make sure you:

• review the Key Selection Criteria and Key skills and abilities
• highlight any key words or phrases in the position description and job advert
• research any of the criteria that you are unsure of or unfamiliar with.

2. Find examples that show you meet the job selection criteria

List examples of how you meet each key selection criteria. Make sure you describe your relevant skills, experience, projects, training, personal qualities and expertise.

Once you have examples that demonstrate each criteria, you can look at formally writing your responses into paragraph or dot point format.

3. Formally write up your response

There are two methods that can assist in formalising your examples.

THE STAR MODEL:

The STAR model is one way of presenting information against the section criteria. For each criteria, work through the following and then use these points to form sentences.

Situation - Set the context by describing the circumstances where you used the skills or qualities and gained experience.
Task - What was your role?
Actions - What did you do and how did you do it?
Results - What did you achieve? What was the end result and how does it relate to the job you are applying for?

THE ‘SAO’ APPROACH:

Situations - Where and when did you do something?
Action - What action did you take and how you went about it?
Outcome - What was the result of your action?

By compiling this information, you can form short paragraphs that demonstrate your experience against the requirement of the position.

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