Selection criteria represent the key qualifications, training, abilities, knowledge, personal attributes, skills and experience a person must have in order to do a job effectively. You must meet the selection criteria in order to be considered for a position.

If you are required to submit a separate response to all the selection criteria, you should ensure the key attributes for the advertised position are documented in your application.

Preparation work

Before you write your statement addressing the selection criteria, it is recommended that you go through the following steps:

1. Read each criterion carefully and highlight the key words. For instance: High level written communication skills, with the ability to write memos and reports for senior staff

2. For each criterion, brainstorm for ideas and write down all your relevant knowledge, skills, abilities, training and experience. Think of specific examples where you have used your skills, abilities, etc., and note these down. 

Consider them in terms of:

• Activity - what happened, what the situation was
• Behaviour - what you/others did
• Consequence - what the outcome was.

3. Focus on your key achievements and note these down, for example:

• reduced costs/time taken to perform tasks
• procedures/processes streamlined
• suggestions you made that were implemented
• satisfied clients/colleagues.

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.

You can provide a mini statement as part of your cover letter giving examples of how you meet the selection criteria. Or you could make it a separate attachment from your resume and cover letter. 

In this case, give the document a heading and include the following details:

• title, such as 'Statement Addressing Selection Criteria'
• name of the position
• position reference number (for example, 42/08).

Address each criterion separately:

• give each a title, using exactly the same wording as appears in the position description, such as 'Highly developed written and verbal communication skills'
• list each criterion in the same order as it appears in the position description
• under each heading write one or two paragraphs explaining how you meet that particular criterion (how to do this is explained below).
• choose the best/most relevant items from the above examples to include in your selection criteria statement.

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 for which you're applying.

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

1. Write a brief introductory statement outlining how/why you meet the criterion.

2. 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 position description. For example:

• 'I have been executive officer to a number of senior level University committees. My responsibilities have included organising meetings, researching background information, taking minutes, and preparing and distributing agendas, reports and minutes.'
• 'In all my previous positions I have performed general office duties such as handling telephone enquiries, greeting visitors, arranging meetings, filing, photocopying, sorting and distributing mail.'

3. Indicate the extent of your experience in relation to a particular criterion, such as the number of years' experience and the number of staff supervised. 

For example:

• 'I have over four years' experience using Microsoft Word on a daily basis to produce letters, memos, reports, tables and course materials. I regularly use advanced features of the program, such as …'
• 'For the past eight years I have worked in libraries, including … '
• 'I am responsible for supervising the day-to-day work of five staff, including …'

This is very useful if you want to emphasise that you have lots of experience. If your experience is limited, you may prefer to be vague about how much you have.

4. Briefly give details of one or two specific things you've done that are good the best/most relevant examples of your ability to meet the criterion.

For example:

• 'I was responsible for organising a large seminar attended by 100 staff. This involved ....'
• 'My ability to work well in a team was demonstrated when ....'

5. Where possible, indicate how successful you were at achieving your tasks.

You could do this by referring to feedback you've received from others, suggestions you have made that have been adopted, changes you have implemented 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 find it easy to use.'

6. 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.

Either at the end of your selection criteria statement, or in your cover letter, 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 you think are important, that haven't been mentioned in the selection criteria, e.g. 'flexibility', 'ability to maintain confidentiality'.
• Knowledge or experience you have that you think is important to the job, for example, knowledge of particular University systems, policies or procedures.

Make sure that any information you include is directly relevant to the position.