The following provides some basic guidelines to assist you in answering selection criteria.

1. Need to provide supporting evidence

   Make sure every statement about your abilities is supported with evidence. Supporting evidence means achievements and examples of experience. In other words, concrete information that will convince a selection panel that you do possess the required skill or experience, rather than making a bold claim that you have these skills. For example:

   "My effective communication skills are demonstrated by���.." and give examples to support the statement.

2. Always clearly address the important matters of the criterion.

Selection criteria are expressed in terms of key expressions that indicate the type of required skill or ability. In writing to selection criteria you must always identify the key matters to be addressed.

Example selection criteria:

Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels of seniority.

The important matters for this criterion to be addressed are:

• Ability
• Communication
• All levels of seniority

Example response:

"In my position as receptionist at XYX Company, I met on a daily basis with senior managers of that company, suppliers from other companies and members of the general public. Each month the board meet and I arranged their travel arrangements. Most of the communication was face to face and by telephone and I was frequently commended for the professional manner in which I carried out these duties"

1. Understand the meaning of the key terms

   Selection criteria may refer to a number of specific functions and it is important that you understand what they mean so that you can write an intelligent response. Your response not only gives an indication of your claims but also gives a clue to the level of your understanding of work behaviour. A response that suggests an inadequate grasp of these behaviours may cost you an interview. For example:

   Ability to provide quality nursing care for patients and families using a problem solving framework.

   To address this criterion you will need a clear understanding of what defines quality nursing care (Use ANCI competencies as a guide), what is a problem solving framework and how the problem solving framework would assist in providing quality nursing care for patients and families. If you don�t understand the key words or phrases you may need to research the terms before you attempt to address the criterion.

2. Generic Selection Criteria

There are a number of selection criteria that are common to many jobs. These include criteria concerned with government policies such as, Employment Equity, Anti Discrimination and Workplace Health and Safety. To effectively answer this type of criterion you must understand the policies and their underlying rational, their operation and your responsibilities. You must then effectively demonstrate how you might implement these principles or actively participate in a work environment supporting these principles. For example:

"my capacity to actively participate in a working environment supporting these principles and practices is demonstrated by����."

Here you need to provide specific examples of activities relating to these policies that you may have encountered or how you anticipate you will be able to actively participate.

It is also useful to demonstrate your understanding of these policies by identifying where you need to build your skills and experience for this criterion.

Remember evidence can be provided from previous employment, your university study, clinical placements or extracurricular activities. Hospitals will not expect new graduates to have extensive nursing experience, so be sure to promote your transferable skills from other experiences you have had.

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