If you’re applying for a job in the public sector, you may come across something called selection criteria. This is often the hardest part of a job application. It can feel unfamiliar if your last job search only needed a quick interview, with no writing at all. This post explains what selection criteria are and shows you how to write answers that give your application the best chance.
What are selection criteria?
Selection criteria set out the skills, knowledge and qualifications a role needs. An employer defines them to select the best person for the job. Your written answers are matched against these standards, and against the answers other candidates give.
You’ll see selection criteria most often in government roles in Australia. The practice turns up in New Zealand from time to time, so it helps to know how it works.
Here’s an example of a criterion for a public sector role:
Well developed interpersonal and communication skills, shown through the ability to work with employers, community groups and agencies on employment matters.
How to structure your answer
A strong answer to a selection criterion has four parts. Work through them in order, for each criterion in the job description.
1. Explain why it matters
Start by showing you understand what the criterion means and why it matters to the role. This sets the context before you get into your own experience.
2. Give an example
Pick a real example from your work, study or life that shows you have this skill. Choose a situation with a bit of challenge to it, since a straightforward example rarely stands out.
Tip: keep a simple record of which example you used for each criterion. If you’re shortlisted, you can use different examples at interview rather than repeating yourself.
3. Walk through the process
Describe what you did, step by step. This is where most applicants run out of detail. The panel wants to see how you think and work, not just what the outcome was.
4. Show the result
Finish with the outcome. What changed because of what you did? How did you know you’d done a good job? Evidence works better than opinion, so mention feedback, figures or results where you can.
Before you start writing, ask yourself a few questions about the criterion:
- What does the employer want to know?
- Which parts of my experience are relevant?
- Have I got a real example, or am I about to pad this out?
A worked example
Here’s a criterion many public sector applicants face:
Well developed interpersonal and communication skills, shown through the ability to work with employers, community groups and agencies on employment matters.
A weak answer
Many applicants write something close to this:
My interpersonal and communication skills have developed through my work in industry and the public sector. As a secretary I have worked for senior management and in typing pools. I have been a member of two school councils and travelled to state-wide conferences. I had to speak publicly.
This tells the panel very little. It lists jobs and duties rather than showing the skill in action, and it gives no evidence that the applicant did the job well.
A stronger answer
Now compare it with an answer that follows the four-part structure:
Communication and interpersonal skills matter because they let you deal with people at every level, both in person and in writing. This means listening well, asking good questions and giving clear feedback. It also means being able to negotiate with people inside and outside your own organisation.
As a secretary I supported senior management. This gave me regular contact with employers and recruitment agencies. One project involved recruiting new staff for our front counter team.
I contacted a recruitment agency and gave them a job description so they understood what we needed. I listened to their questions and gave feedback so they could refine the search. When interviews began, I sat on the selection panel. My role was to ask questions relevant to the job and judge how each candidate would fit the team. Afterwards, I wrote to every applicant to thank them for their time.
I know this worked because the process brought in several strong candidates. My manager mentioned how well I had kept to deadlines and how clear the final letter to applicants was. The recruitment agency told us the brief we gave them made their job much easier, and the team was happy with the person we chose.
The second answer is longer, but every sentence earns its place. It shows the skill through action rather than describing it in general terms.
Practical tips for writing your answers
- Read each criterion and note the specific factors it covers. Some criteria combine two or three separate skills.
- Use positive, specific language. Instead of ‘we produced a newsletter’, say ‘I wrote and edited the newsletter’.
- Keep responses focused. As a guide, aim for one paragraph up to half a page per criterion. Senior or complex roles often need a fuller answer.
- Use bullet points where they help with clarity, but save them for lists rather than the whole answer.
- If your answers run long, put each criterion on its own page with the wording of the criterion at the top.
- Put your name, the vacancy number and the page number on every page.
- Check your answer covers every part of the criterion, and that you haven’t undersold or oversold yourself.
- Proofread for errors, including contact details such as phone numbers and email addresses.
- Stick to a plain, standard font if you’re sending your application by email.
Final thought
Selection criteria feel like an obstacle at first, but they give you a real chance to show what you can do. Take the time to plan your examples before you write, and the process gets easier. A well-structured answer, backed by a genuine example and a clear result, stands out from a list of duties.