Addressing selection criteria

Usually a degree, diploma or other certified training course.

• Example: ‘A minimum four-year degree in Social Work, Psychology or related discipline.’

These can be technical, discipline-specific or transferable skills.

• Technical example: 'Intermediate programming skills, preferably using Python and/or SQL.'
• Discipline specific example: 'Sound research skills including the ability to conduct literature reviews and analyse data.'
• Transferable example: 'Excellent time management skills including an ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.'

This refers to duties or activities that you have performed before. Remember that experience can be gained through a variety of avenues including volunteering and extracurricular activities.

• General example: 'Customer service experience.'
• Specific example: 'Experience in arts administration, preferably within a gallery or museum.'

An understanding of a subject area through exposure, study or experience.

• Example: 'An understanding of marketing principles relevant to the FMCG industry.'

Situation – where, when, and context of your example.

As the event coordinator for the University’s Science in Media Society, I volunteered to organise a fundraising event for a cancer research facility while in the final year of my Communications and Media Studies degree.

Task – the task or problem to be solved.

Our budget was cut during the preliminary planning and I needed to devise a strategy on how to run the event with only half the funds I was anticipating.

Action – how you solved the problem, fulfilled the task or handled the situation. What did you do and how did you do it, that demonstrates the criterion you are addressing?

In the first instance, I calculated which expenses were critical and could be covered by our current budget. Next, I decided to make up the shortfall by approaching local businesses for sponsorship. I created an online flyer to outline the benefits of getting involved, such as positive publicity and the opportunity to raise their profile with high achieving students, and cold called 36 targeted businesses. To ensure a good attendance at the event I utilised my social media skills to activate a network of potential supporters, and advertise an attractive range of lucky door prizes.

Result – the outcome/s achieved as result of your action/s. Quantify the result where possible.

As a result of my actions I convinced 11 businesses to contribute funds which covered all outstanding expenses. The event attracted over a hundred attendees and raised $5000 for the research facility. I was also subsequently invited by the University’s student association to contribute to a development workshop for new student leaders, in recognition of the skills I had displayed in managing this event.

When selecting examples, choose examples that are relevant to the criterion, the employer and the job. Where possible, select more recent examples, and use examples that give you the best opportunity to demonstrate your level of skill.

For most industries, you can choose examples from a range of different activities such as internships, casual work, volunteering, university projects and extracurricular activities.

If you are writing a statement of claims against selection criteria as a Word document, list criteria as headings in bold print, and address each criterion in a couple of paragraphs.

For criteria with more than one part, eg, ‘Effective written and verbal communication skills’, ensure you address each part.

Quantify your experience or outcomes if you can, eg, ‘three years’ experience in creating monthly budgets using Microsoft Excel’.

Use action-oriented words, eg, ‘assessed’, ‘implemented’, ‘organised’, and ‘developed’, that reflect the language used in the job description.  

Where you have extensive relevant experience to draw on, you can start your statement addressing a criterion with a brief summary of that experience and follow with one or two detailed examples.