Writing Selection Criteria Do’s and Dont’s

• An effective response to selection criteria provides the reader with evidence that you meet the requirements of the position. Presenting beliefs, philosophy or knowledge is not evidence of your abilities or experience.

• Use examples of your experience and achievements as a leader. Telling the reader what you know about leadership doesn’t cut it. It does not demonstrate experience, ability or achievement. Telling the reader that you have five years experience as a manager and you must therefore be a good one is not a sufficient response to a criterion about management abilities.

• Providing a vague, loose and generalized comment is not enough. The selection panel wants to know what you have actually done. Context is also important. You need to consider the environment in which the position operates in order to make your own responses relevant.

• Ensure that your consultation is meaningful and consider your selection criteria very carefully.

• Offer all suitable alternatives to those at risk – even if at lower pay and status than their current roles. Ensure you provide full details of all suitable vacancies, including salary details.

• Be prepared. Before doing selection criteria, consider what you’re looking for, where you’re likely to find it, and how you’re going to get it.

• You will need to provide specific details and relevant evidence demonstrating the level of experience you possess. It is important to also provide panel members with clear details regarding strengths, skills in a way that is familiar to them.

The Dont’s when Writing Selection Criteria

• Don’t write a thesis on leadership. Pretend that a role is redundant to ease the process of managing an unsatisfactory performer out of the company that you are applying for.

• Ignore any suggestions the employees may make as to ways of avoiding compulsory redundancies

• Don’t have different fonts and layouts for each criterion. It will only make it look unprofessional.

• Don’t use standard templates for selection criteria. Take the time to format one yourself.

• Don’t undersell yourself. Any experience you have may be worth consideration in an application.

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