Selection CriteriaSelection CriteriaCareer Workshop #4Career Workshop #4

Careers ServicesCareers ServicesUniversity of CanberraUniversity of Canberra

www.canberra.edu.au/careerswww.canberra.edu.au/careers

Selection CriteriaSelection Criteria

CriterionCriterion - singular - singular

CriteriaCriteria - plural - plural

What are they?What are they?

Selection criteria are the requirements that Selection criteria are the requirements that

applicants must have to be considered for anapplicants must have to be considered for an

interview. These requirements will include:interview. These requirements will include:

Qualifications/EducationQualifications/Education ExperienceExperience SkillsSkills Personal AttributesPersonal Attributes

Who uses them?Who uses them? Selection criteria are a part of most job Selection criteria are a part of most job

descriptions today. They are part of every descriptions today. They are part of every government job description and are used widely government job description and are used widely in the private sector too.in the private sector too.

If the job description includes selection criteria, If the job description includes selection criteria, you MUST answer each one for your application to you MUST answer each one for your application to be accepted. Otherwise it will go in the bin.be accepted. Otherwise it will go in the bin.

The employer will rely on your answers to the The employer will rely on your answers to the selection criteria to decide if he/she wants to selection criteria to decide if he/she wants to interview you.interview you.

What to do first ..What to do first .. Read the selection criteria carefully!!!Read the selection criteria carefully!!!

Decide if you can meet Decide if you can meet mostmost of the criteria or not. If you of the criteria or not. If you cannot meet most of the criteria, do not bother to apply for cannot meet most of the criteria, do not bother to apply for the job. The first criterion is usually the most important.the job. The first criterion is usually the most important.

A degree in information technology with a focus on software A degree in information technology with a focus on software engineeringengineering..

Two years’ experience in a management role in retail.Two years’ experience in a management role in retail.

High-level writing and editing skills and experience.High-level writing and editing skills and experience.

Types of selection criteriaTypes of selection criteria

Often, there are two categories ofOften, there are two categories of

criteria in a job description:criteria in a job description:

Essential Essential – you MUST have these– you MUST have these

qualifications or skills or this experience. qualifications or skills or this experience.

Desirable Desirable – the employer would value– the employer would value

these, but they are not essential.these, but they are not essential.

Where do I start?Where do I start?

… … with a new document and a heading ….with a new document and a heading ….

Response to the Selection CriteriaResponse to the Selection Criteria

oror

Statement Against the Selection CriteriaStatement Against the Selection Criteria

Heading …Heading …

Response to the Selection CriteriaResponse to the Selection Criteria

Public Affairs OfficerPublic Affairs Officer

Media Liaison UnitMedia Liaison Unit

Department of Trade and CommerceDepartment of Trade and Commerce

Position Ref: 234/2009Position Ref: 234/2009

Essential CriteriaEssential Criteria

Essential CriteriaEssential Criteria

A degree in communications, with a focus onA degree in communications, with a focus on

public relations, journalism or marketing.public relations, journalism or marketing.

I hold a Bachelor of Communication (Public I hold a Bachelor of Communication (Public

Relations) from the University of Canberra, gained Relations) from the University of Canberra, gained

in 2008.in 2008.

Criteria - examplesCriteria - examples

Good research and analytical skillsGood research and analytical skills

High-level oral and written communication skillsHigh-level oral and written communication skills

Good customer service and interpersonal skillsGood customer service and interpersonal skills

Ability to work well in a teamAbility to work well in a team

Understanding of OH&S principles at work and a Understanding of OH&S principles at work and a commitment to workplace diversity and equity.commitment to workplace diversity and equity.

Criteria - responsesCriteria - responses

First, for each criterion, state that youFirst, for each criterion, state that you

possess this skill or this experience. possess this skill or this experience.

Good analytical and research skillsGood analytical and research skills

(Statement)(Statement)

I have good analytical and research skills gained I have good analytical and research skills gained

from three years of tertiary study in communicationfrom three years of tertiary study in communication

at the University of Canberra.at the University of Canberra.

STAR methodSTAR method

SituationSituation – – what was your situation or what was your situation or context?context?

TaskTask – – what did you have to do?what did you have to do?

ActionAction – – what action did you take, and in what what action did you take, and in what order? order?

ResultResult – – what was the result or outcome? what was the result or outcome?

Good research and analytical skillsGood research and analytical skills ( (cont.)cont.)

(Examples using STAR method)(Examples using STAR method)

During this time, I researched a number of topics inDuring this time, I researched a number of topics incommunication and analysed data to complete communication and analysed data to complete assignments. For one assignment, I carried out research onassignments. For one assignment, I carried out research onmedia audiences in the 12-15 year age group. I analysed datamedia audiences in the 12-15 year age group. I analysed datafrom a variety of sources including data from the Australianfrom a variety of sources including data from the AustralianBureau of Statistics. I compared the Australian data with Bureau of Statistics. I compared the Australian data with similar data from Canada and New Zealand and presented my similar data from Canada and New Zealand and presented my findings in a report. findings in a report.

I took the subject I took the subject Communication Research MethodsCommunication Research Methods as a as arequired unit in the course and gained a Distinction grade. required unit in the course and gained a Distinction grade. Completing this unit increased my research and analyticalCompleting this unit increased my research and analyticalability, including statistical skills and report writing skills.ability, including statistical skills and report writing skills.

Good research and analytical skillsGood research and analytical skills

(Final version)(Final version)

I have good analytical and research skills gained from three years ofI have good analytical and research skills gained from three years ofTertiary study in communication at the University of Canberra. Tertiary study in communication at the University of Canberra.

During this time, I researched a number of topics in communicationDuring this time, I researched a number of topics in communicationand analysed data to complete assignments. For one assignment, I and analysed data to complete assignments. For one assignment, I carried out research on media audiences in the 12-15 year agecarried out research on media audiences in the 12-15 year agegroup. I obtained and analysed data from a variety of sources group. I obtained and analysed data from a variety of sources Including the Australian Bureau of Statistics. I compared theIncluding the Australian Bureau of Statistics. I compared theAustralian data with similar data from Canada and New Zealand andAustralian data with similar data from Canada and New Zealand andpresented my findings in a report. presented my findings in a report.

I took the subject I took the subject Communication Research MethodsCommunication Research Methods as a required as a requiredunit in the course and gained a Distinction grade. Completing thisunit in the course and gained a Distinction grade. Completing thisunit increased my research and analytical ability, including statisticalunit increased my research and analytical ability, including statisticalskills and report writing skills.skills and report writing skills.

Ability to work well in a teamAbility to work well in a team

(Statement)(Statement)

I am able to work well with others to achieve teamI am able to work well with others to achieve team

goals. I have gained this experience at universitygoals. I have gained this experience at university

and in volunteer work in the community.and in volunteer work in the community.

Ability to work well in a team Ability to work well in a team (cont.)(cont.)

(Examples using STAR method)(Examples using STAR method)

At university, I worked in a group to prepare a third-year research assignment. Each At university, I worked in a group to prepare a third-year research assignment. Each member of the group had a different role. My role was to collate the contributions of the member of the group had a different role. My role was to collate the contributions of the other members into a final written assignment. We agreed on a timeline to enable us to other members into a final written assignment. We agreed on a timeline to enable us to keep track of our work. Other members forwarded their work to me on a regular basis keep track of our work. Other members forwarded their work to me on a regular basis and I assembled it and collated it into the final report. We then met to discuss the report and I assembled it and collated it into the final report. We then met to discuss the report and make last-minute suggestions for improvements. This was a positive experience and and make last-minute suggestions for improvements. This was a positive experience and we gained a good mark for our collaborative work.we gained a good mark for our collaborative work.

In my volunteer work for the Cancer Council fo the ACT, I worked with a group of other In my volunteer work for the Cancer Council fo the ACT, I worked with a group of other volunteers to design posters for Daffodil Day. One of the group had good design skills, volunteers to design posters for Daffodil Day. One of the group had good design skills, another person with art experience suggested a colour scheme and my role was to write another person with art experience suggested a colour scheme and my role was to write the text for the poster and the flyer. We met twice a week to combine our skills and at the text for the poster and the flyer. We met twice a week to combine our skills and at the end of a month, we completed a design we were happy with. We submitted our the end of a month, we completed a design we were happy with. We submitted our design to the Council’s Media Manager who was pleased with our work and accepted our design to the Council’s Media Manager who was pleased with our work and accepted our design. design.

Ability to work well in a teamAbility to work well in a team

((Final)Final)

I am able to work well with others to achieve team goals. I have gained this experience I am able to work well with others to achieve team goals. I have gained this experience at university and in volunteer work in the community.at university and in volunteer work in the community.

At university, I worked in a group to prepare a third-year research assignment. Each At university, I worked in a group to prepare a third-year research assignment. Each member of the group had a different role. My role was to collate the contributions of the member of the group had a different role. My role was to collate the contributions of the other members into a final written assignment. We agreed on a timeline to enable us to other members into a final written assignment. We agreed on a timeline to enable us to keep track of our work. Other members forwarded their work to me on a regular basis keep track of our work. Other members forwarded their work to me on a regular basis and I assembled it and collated it into the final report. We then met to discuss the report and I assembled it and collated it into the final report. We then met to discuss the report and make last-minute suggestions for improvements. This was a positive experience and make last-minute suggestions for improvements. This was a positive experience and we gained a good mark for our collaborative work.and we gained a good mark for our collaborative work.

In my volunteer work for the Cancer Council fo the ACT, I worked with a group of other In my volunteer work for the Cancer Council fo the ACT, I worked with a group of other volunteers to design posters for Daffodil Day. One of the group had good design skills, volunteers to design posters for Daffodil Day. One of the group had good design skills, another person with art experience suggested a colour scheme and my role was to write another person with art experience suggested a colour scheme and my role was to write the text for the poster and the flyer. We met twice a week to combine our skills and at the text for the poster and the flyer. We met twice a week to combine our skills and at the end of a month, we completed a design we were happy with. We submitted our the end of a month, we completed a design we were happy with. We submitted our design to the Council’s Media Manager who was pleased with our work and accepted our design to the Council’s Media Manager who was pleased with our work and accepted our design. design.

OH & S, Workplace Diversity, Equity, OH & S, Workplace Diversity, Equity, Industrial DemocracyIndustrial Democracy

Difficult criterion to answer.Difficult criterion to answer.

This criterion is about government legislation so every This criterion is about government legislation so every government job description will include several of these government job description will include several of these concepts.concepts.

You need to know what these concepts mean!You need to know what these concepts mean!

Every workplace will have policies about these concepts. Go Every workplace will have policies about these concepts. Go to the website of the department or company and find to the website of the department or company and find them. Read them.them. Read them.

(More information on Careers website – (More information on Careers website – Resumes and Resumes and Job Applications)Job Applications)

Desirable CriteriaDesirable Criteria

Desirable Criteria Desirable Criteria (examples)(examples)

Experience working in a university or TAFEExperience working in a university or TAFE

collegecollege..

Understanding of current government mediaUnderstanding of current government media

and broadcasting policy.and broadcasting policy.

Able to work at weekends to attend corporateAble to work at weekends to attend corporate

functions as required.functions as required.

Some experience with statistical packages.Some experience with statistical packages.

Some final points .. Some final points .. LanguageLanguage – this is not an academic assignment. Your language should be – this is not an academic assignment. Your language should be

clear and in the active voice. clear and in the active voice.

Do not write: ‘Do not write: ‘I was required to prepare a monthly reportI was required to prepare a monthly report ..’. ..’.

Write: ‘Write: ‘I prepared a monthly reportI prepared a monthly report ..’ ..’

FormatFormat – make the selection criteria easy for the recruitment manager to – make the selection criteria easy for the recruitment manager to read. Bold the headings. Use 12point font. Use Times New Roman or Arial.read. Bold the headings. Use 12point font. Use Times New Roman or Arial.

PresentationPresentation – white paper. Do not use tables, do not use graphics. Line – white paper. Do not use tables, do not use graphics. Line spacing either single or 1.5 spacing. Do not use double spacing. spacing either single or 1.5 spacing. Do not use double spacing.

Spelling/Grammar Spelling/Grammar – check your spelling and your grammar! Ask a friend – check your spelling and your grammar! Ask a friend to read your document for spelling mistakes or unclear sentences.to read your document for spelling mistakes or unclear sentences.