One of the hardest parts of addressing
selection criteria is coming up
with appropriate examples
to demonstrate
your skills. Below are a
few different tips for coming up with and choosing the best examples to
write about.
Tip 1:
Select which examples to use, based on their relevance to the criterion, the job and their strength.
Remember that you are trying to prove that you are the best person for
the job, not just an acceptable one, so make your examples strong ones!
The examples you choose should obviously not only relate to the
criterion, but also to the job. Choosing an example that shows you will
be able to transfer your skills from your current job to the job your
are applying for, are the best ones. And examples that show a good
depth of skills / understanding, will out perform your competition.
For example, let's assume you
are applying for a middle management
position and addressing a communication skills selection criteria.
Writing in your application that you regularly write reports and briefs
and communicate and negotiate with various levels of staff ... is not
going to cut it. This is an expected skill set at this employment level
and every applicant will be saying something similar. Now is the time
to dig out the extra special things that you do in your current job or
achievements that you have had.
Tip 2:
Consider the following when using examples:
- What was the situation?
- What were you trying to accomplish?
- Was there a problem that you were trying to solve?
- What was your task?
- How did you address the situation or the problem?
- What strategies did you come up with?
- What tools did you use?
- What process did you follow?
- What was the result?
- Can you provide any specific measure of success (e.g. increased
sales figures, quicker turn around times etc.)
The last two points, your results and measures of success are going to be the crucial elements to write about. Make sure your focus is on these points and you use as much evidence as possible to write about your successes. The selection panel don't want to know about your day to day tasks, they want to know what makes you special, what makes you stand out, and what makes you an achiever.
Tip 3:
Keep brainstorming lists and drafts of previous applications, for future applications
Even better, keep a career journal (templates for keeping a career journal are in included in both The Selection Criteria Coach and Get That Job if you have either of these publications). Having a list of your achievements at hand as a point of reference will make your example writing a lot easier than just starting with a blank page.
Why is it So Hard to Write a Job Application?
(And How to Overcome the Difficulties!)
It is natural to see your career as tightly connected to your personal identify. Therefore, searching for a new job is bound to bring about all kinds of anxieties, whether it is your dream job, or just a change.
Add to that the fact that writing a job application requires you to
essentially brag about yourself and your achievements, when society in
general tells us that talking yourself up is not socially acceptable,
and you are bound to have some difficulties when it comes to preparing
a job
application.
It is not a natural process or even one that
we have been taught to navigate. In fact, when you are applying for a
job you are often expected to behave in the opposite manner that you
have been conditioned to behave in the workplace.
The four best ways to overcome any hesitance or anxiety are:
- Remind yourself that “selling yourself” is a normal and expected behaviour when applying for a job.
- Target each application to the job that you are applying for. As you address each individual job’s requirements you can be confident that you are increasing your chances of being selected for an interview. This is a much better approach than the “scatter gun” approach (where you send the same application out for multiple jobs).
- Remain employer centric. Rather than focussing on why you want the job, focus on what you can do for your new employer.
- Ask for help! You can get help from colleagues, friends,
family and professionals. Even if you have to pay for help, it
will be a worthwhile investment in the long run if you end up winning
the job.
Use Our Free Examples
Download our free selection criteria examples below.
More Help With Your Job Application:
How to write selection criteria when you're in a hurry
30 government interview tips
Achieves results selection criteria example