SELECTION
CRITERIA
Responding to selection criteria
Often when you are applying for a position in the
public sector or in education you will be expected
to address a number of nominated selection
criteria. This method of assessing your application
is also being increasingly used in private sector
organisations and may be specifically requested
by any employer.
Application instructions do not always make clear
what is required or how you should present and
format your responses. If you are unsure, contact
the employer to clarify what their expectations are.
If no format is specified, it is usual to attach a
separate document to your application, usually
entitled ‘Responses to Selection Criteria’ or
‘Selection Criteria Addressed’.
Depending on the number of selection criteria and
the length of your answers, this document may be
three pages or more. While there is no strict guide
to length, perhaps consider a third to half a page
for each response. This can be in full sentence
format or point form, with a combination of
methods often used. The examples below indicate
some appropriate responses and what criteria
may look like.
Example 1 – Point form response
Criteria – Demonstrated high quality oral and
written communication and interpersonal
skills.
My high quality oral communication skills have
been demonstrated by:
• Consulting with members of my team at
CSIRO, representing them at managers
meetings and presenting their concerns and
new ideas.
• Presenting weekly talks on progress and
challenges within my Honours project to
audiences of between two and twenty peers
and academic staff.
My high quality written communication skills have
been developed through:
• Preparing research summaries, updates and
reports for both technical and non-technical
readers throughout my degree.
• Drafting letters and promotional material
during my work as a volunteer for ______.
• Editing and revising articles sent in to the
University magazine prior to publication.
Interpersonal skills have been developed to a high
level through:
• Cooperating with and supervising my
colleagues in part-time employment.
• Approaching and talking to people about the
voluntary cause I support and imparting
information to people with different levels of
understanding.
Example 2 – Paragraph format response
Criteria – Ability to work under pressure, meet
deadlines and work as part of a team in a
dynamic environment with limited supervision.
“ My ability in these areas has been demonstrated
by working in a fast food restaurant over the
past two years and was rewarded with
promotion to team leader. In this role there is
constant pressure to work quickly and efficiently
with a focus on satisfying customer demands.
Food must be served to high hygiene standards
within a time-frame to both drive-through and in-
restaurant customers. In doing so, I oversaw
and worked within a team of eight staff providing
support and encouragement and solving roster
problems. While there was a duty manager
present at all times, I worked autonomously,
requiring little supervision in my role. ”
SELECTION CRITERIA …CONTINUED

You may wish to draw on several experiences to

illustrate how you meet the selection criteria, such
as how your communication skills have been
developed through being a youth group leader, or
writing articles for a music magazine. It may be
appropriate to submit an abridged version of your
resumé when also sending a selection criteria
document. Rather than merely duplicating the
information contained in your resumé, try to add
new information or elaborate more fully on your
experiences to demonstrate attainment of the
criteria outlined.
Along with your cover letter, the selection criteria
document will be vital in displaying your written
communication and language skills. Make sure
you take the time to carefully construct your
responses, check spelling and grammar, and have
someone else read over your entire application.
The book How to Write and Talk to Selection
Criteria by Dr Ann Villiers is available in the
Careers Resource Centre and is essential reading
if you’ve never encountered formal selection
criteria before. Examples of how to tackle
common criteria and tips on structure and
preparation make valuable reading.
From Chapter 8 of How to Write and Talk to
Selection Criteria, here are some techniques to
improve your responses:
• Avoid unsupported self-aggrandisement
• Watch your verbs
• Address all parts of the selection criteria –
don’t leave anything out!
• Use English well
• Support claims with relevant, concrete
examples
• Be results-oriented
• Avoid credibility-reducing words, such as “I
always/ never/ totally/ completely”.

© CAREERS & EMPLOYMENT

Last updated February 2008