Hw t Address Key Selectin Criteria Yu've seen an jb pprtunity that yu're interested in, n a jbs bard r in the press and want t apply, but where d yu start? A key requirement fr jbs in Gvernment is t respnd t the Key Selectin Criteria (KSC). Yu need t knw hw t address the criteria. Our experience als shws that peple wh d sme basic research abut the jb befre submitting their applicatins achieve the best results. Befre yu apply, we suggest that yu think abut the jb requirements and gather sme infrmatin, s that yu can fcus yur jb applicatin better. Here are sme basic pinters: Understand the jb and Key Selectin Criteria Find ut abut the emplyer Decide whether yu are qualified t d the jb Understand the jb and Key Selectin Criteria If yu dn't fully understand the jb requirements yu may have difficulty demnstrating that yu are the best persn fr the jb. Study the Psitin Descriptin, including Key Selectin Criteria, alng with any ther relevant infrmatin yu have cllected. If yu are unsure abut any aspects f the jb, call the Cntact Officer (the name and telephne number will be in the jb details) during nrmal business hurs. They'll be happy t answer yur questins. There are fur main parts t lk at and review in a Psitin Descriptin: Values: These tell yu abut the way the rganisatin wrks and what it expects f its emplyees. Check that yu are cmfrtable these values fit with the way yu want t wrk. Accuntabilities : This is a list f the day-t-day respnsibilities and tasks f the jb. Each jb has a key fcus - fr example sme rles supervise staff, sme manage resurces r prvide plicy advice; thers deliver supprt services. Yur career backgrund and interests shuld match the requirements f the jb. Yu will need t be able t demnstrate that yu have the capabilities - persnal qualities, knwledge and skills t d the jb. Perhaps yu have wrked in a related field r industry r have private interests that are relevant. Key Selectin Criteria : The Key Selectin Criteria utline the qualities, knwledge and skills needed t d the jb. Yu will need t write shrt statements that sell yur specific capabilities fr each f the criterin. It is imprtant t include specific examples r situatins
where yu have demnstrated the behaviur, knwledge, skills and persnal qualities asked fr in the KSC. Writing a gd KSC respnse statement is invaluable in preparing yu fr the interview stage f the selectin prcess. Nw that yu have specific examples yu will be better prepared t answer questins abut yur ability t d the jb. Make sure yu check yur KSC statement fr spelling and grammar. By law, we must assess all candidates fr ur jbs fairly and cnsistently- t select n merit. We d this by using the Key Selectin Criteria given t all candidates t assess their ability t d a jb. When yu g fr a jb, KSC are clearly described in the Psitin Descriptin - s yu knw what s required. See jbs advertised n this career web site fr the srt f things we lk fr. Describing hw yu meet KSC ensures we capture all infrmatin abut yur suitability fr a jb. Yu can type in the spaces n yur nline applicatin r cut and paste text frm a dcument yu ve prepared. KSC vary amng emplyers and jbs. Traditinally, they are statements cmbining skills, knwledge, experience and persnal qualities, e.g. "Ability t develp and maintain systems and prcesses fr mail distributin and strage f publicatins and brchures" "Ability t wrk under pressure, priritise tasks, meet deadlines and remain tlerant" Increasingly, KSC are based n key capabilities e.g. Resilience - Perseveres t achieve gals, even in the face f bstacles. Cpes with setbacks. Stays calm under pressure. Accepts cnstructive criticism withut becming defensive. Prblem Slving - Seeks all relevant facts. Liaises with stakehlders. Analyses issues frm different perspectives and draws sund inferences frm available data. Identifies and prpses wrkable slutins. N matter hw KSC appear, yu respnd t them the same way: 1. Read and reread the advertisement, KSC and Psitin Descriptin. 2. Print r save the Jb Details, Psitin Descriptin, s yu can easily refer t it later. 3. Highlight key wrds in the first KSC and think abut what the emplyer is asking fr. 4. List examples f hw yu meet the KSC. Describe relevant skills, experience, incidents, training, persnal qualities, expertise and things yu culdn t have dne withut all these. 5. Review yur list and summarise, in 60-120 wrds, hw yu demnstrated the KSC. 6. Repeat Steps 3 t 5 fr the remaining KSC.
The SAO apprach can help: Situatin - Where and when did yu d it? Actin - What did yu d and hw did yu d it? Outcme - What was the result f yur actins? A wrd f encuragement, this may seem unfamiliar and a bit awkward t begin with, but arund 60% f gvernment jbs are filled by peple nt currently wrking in gvernment rganisatins. And ding it this way ensures yu re cnsidered fairly alng with all ther candidates. See belw fr three examples f KSC respnses. Hw I Demnstrated I Met the KSC Prblem Slving - Seeks all relevant facts. Liaises with stakehlders. Analyses issues frm different perspectives and draws sund inferences frm available data. Identifies and prpses wrkable slutins. "Prblem slving has been a critical part f my rles ver the past five years. While wrking as Custmer Cmplaints Officer at Acme Department Stres, I dealt with a variety f prblems. While many culd be reslved easily, 2-3 per week were mre cmplex and required a detailed prcess t reslve. I had t investigate what had happened frm the staff and custmer s pints f view, clarify the facts and wrk ut what had gne wrng and why. I then had t prpse suitable slutins and negtiate a mutually satisfactry utcme. I was ften cmmended by my manager fr my sensitive handling and speedy reslutin f these prblems. Less than 1% f cmplaints had t be escalated" Advanced Cmputer Skills - Uses a wide range f sftware features fr wrd prcessing, spreadsheets, etc. Helps thers slve prblems with sftware. "As Persnal Assistant t the Marketing Manager at SYZ Enterprises, abut half my time was spent preparing letters and reprts fr clients using Wrd. I used detailed infrmatin in Excel spreadsheets t prepare graphs and tables t demnstrate the results f ur market research and t analyse client cmpany perfrmance. I ften prepared majr PwerPint presentatins fr my manager and maintained a database f her cntacts. I als managed many daily emails and searched fr infrmatin n the Internet t answer questins" Sund cmmunicatin, interpersnal and negtiating skills, including well-develped written and ral skills and the ability t develp and deliver interpretatin and educatin services. "In my 5 years as a teacher, strng cmmunicatin, negtiatin and interpersnal skills have been essential. I have dealt with a wide range f peple, including parents, clleagues and students. I was invlved in a cmmunity prject where I c-wrte a bklet n helping child learn and have fun. As part f this prject, I led successful negtiatins with the Lcal Cuncil and three schls in the area wh agreed t run a series f weekend family science prgrams fr kids in the area" Qualificatins: In many cases qualificatins are either nt required r are an added advantagedesirable. Hwever, sme rles need frmal r mandatry qualificatins, such as a University Degree.
Yu must be able t prduce dcumentary evidence f these qualificatins t be appinted t the jb. Find ut abut the emplyer The Gvernment is the largest emplyer in each State. Each department and agency has different bjectives, functins and prgrams and may deliver services in a variety f ways t the cmmunity. S it's imprtant that yu find ut what the emplying agency des - its' bjectives and functins and hw the jb yu are applying fr fits in. A gd starting pint is t lk at the agency's crprate website r visit a public library t find ut abut: The agency - lk at Annual Reprts, Business and Crprate Plans. There may well be a questin asked at the jb interview t explre yur understanding f the agency's rle. If yu've dne yur hmewrk, yu will be able t impress yur ptential emplyer by describing what yu understand the rganisatin des; The rganisatin structure - an rganisatin chart sets ut the reprting arrangements and may tell yu where the advertised jb fits in. Usually the rganisatinal cntext will be stated in the Psitin Descriptin. Agency values - these vary fr each agency. Public sectr values are respnsiveness; integrity; impartiality; accuntability; respect and leadership. Decide if yu are yu qualified t d the jb Ask yurself these questins: D I meet all r mst f the Key Selectin Criteria f the jb? Culd I d the jb with sme training - frmal r n-the-jb? D I have skills gained in ther fields f wrk that may be transferable? If s, then yu are ready t apply. But befre yu start yur nline applicatin, make a few ntes n all the infrmatin yu have gathered: - Summarise the backgrund and skills yu can ffer - Highlight yur strengths and relevant experiences, achievements and capabilities. - Highlight relevant achievements frm past jbs. - Address any bvius weaknesses and what training yu are willing t d t address these. - Address each Key Selectin Criterin fr the jb.
- Prepare r update yur resume r CV. Talk t yur referees abut the jb yu are applying fr and what they will say abut yu t a prspective emplyer.