ADDRESSING SELECTION CRITERIA

No matter how Selection Criteria appear, you respond to them the same way:
1. Read and reread the advertisement, Selection Criteria and Position Description and print or save the Position Description, so you
can easily refer to it later.
2. Highlight key words in the first Selection Criteria and think about what the employer is asking for.
3. List examples of how you meet the Selection Criteria. Describe relevant skills, experience, incidents, projects, circumstances,
situations, training, personal qualities, expertise and things you couldn’t have done without all these skills and attributes, or where
you really felt these attributes were demonstrated at work.
4. Review your list and summarise, in 60-120 words, how you demonstrated the Selection Criteria.
5. Repeat Steps 3 to 5 for the remaining Selection Criteria.

SAMPLE SELECTION CRITERIA RESPONSE STATEMENTS

SC1: Problem solving - Seeks all relevant facts. Liaises with stakeholders. Analyses issues from different perspectives and draws
sound inferences from available data. Identifies and proposes workable solutions.
Problem solving has been a critical part of my roles over the past five years. While working as Customer Complaints Officer at Acme
Department Stores, I dealt with a variety of problems. While many could be resolved easily, two to three per week were more complex and
required a detailed process to resolve. As an example, I had to investigate what had happened from the staff member’s
perspective and the customer's point of view in relation to a product quality complaint, clarify the facts, and work out what had gone wrong
and why. I then proposed a suitable solution and negotiated a mutually satisfactory outcome to ensure high level customer satisfaction was
maintained. In this example I arranged to replace the product immediately, assuring the client, that the replacement product met the
required standard. I was often commended by my manager for my sensitive handling and speedy resolution of these problems. Less than
one per cent of complaints had to be escalated.

SC2: Advanced computer skills - Uses a wide range of software features for word processing, spreadsheets, etc. Helps others
solve problems with software.
As Personal Assistant to the Marketing Manager at SYZ Enterprises, about half my time was spent preparing letters and reports for clients
using Word. I also used detailed information in Excel spreadsheets to prepare graphs and tables, to demonstrate the results of our market
research and to analyse client company performance. I often prepared major PowerPoint presentations for my manager and maintained a
database of her contacts. I also managed many daily emails and searched for information on the Internet to answer questions.

SC3: Sound communication, interpersonal and negotiating skills, including well-developed written and oral skills, and the ability to
develop and deliver interpretation and education services.
In my five years as a teacher, strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills have been essential. I have dealt with a wide
range of people, including parents, colleagues, and students. I was involved in a community project where I co-wrote a booklet on helping
children learn and have fun. As part of this project, I led successful negotiations with the local council and three schools in the area who
agreed to run a series of weekend family science programs for kids in the area.

Recommend you now use the SOAR approach to create concise answers of 60 to 120 words. Think about the:
Situation - where and when your example refers to.
Obstacles - what was the issue or problem you were trying to resolve and why.
Actions - what steps you took and your approach.
Result - what was the result and/or outcome of your actions.

In constructing your response, in a concise paragraph consider:

Making a statement (sentence 1): “Problem solving has been a critical part of my roles over the past five years. While working as
Customer Complaints Officer at Acme Department Stores,

Then move into Situation (state the situation that demonstrates your skill and aptitude):
“While working as Customer Complaints Officer at Acme Department Stores, I dealt with a variety of problems. While many could be
resolved easily, two to three per week were more complex and required a detailed process to resolve. As an example, I had to investigate
what had happened from the staff member’s perspective and the customer's point of view in relation to a product quality complaint, clarify
the facts, and work out what had gone wrong and why.”

Then move into Obstacles: (state any challenges or obstacles that were encountered in addressing the situation if they are not
covered off in the brief description of the Situation)

Then move into Actions:” I then proposed a suitable solution and negotiated a mutually satisfactory outcome to ensure high level customer
satisfaction was maintained. In this example I arranged to replace the product immediately, assuring the client, that the replacement product
met the required standard”

Then move into Results (state the business outcomes and results that you achieved by the actions that you took).
I arranged to replace the product immediately, assuring the client, that the replacement product met the required standard. I was often
commended by my manager for my sensitive handling and speedy resolution of these problems. Less than one per cent of complaints had to
be escalated.