Secrets to writing selection criteria for an NT Government job

Once upon a time I was convinced that the Northern Territory Government recruitment process was ridiculous.

I couldn’t understand why, with all my skills and experience, I couldn’t get a job.

After working in government, recruiting people to join my teams, and scribing for recruitment panels, I am now sharing what I have learned to help you to put your best foot forward.

What are Selection Criteria in NT government jobs?

Selection criteria allow a panel to determine whether you have the skills, experience, and knowledge to do the job. The panel is looking for evidence or examples of how you demonstrate the criteria.

For example: if a large part of a job is editing and proofreading complex government documents - the applicant needs demonstrated experience writing for government, or other recent, relevant writing experience that could be considered transferable skills. If I was recruiting for this role, I’d be looking for someone that has used a corporate writing guide, has prepared letters, memorandums, and reports in a similarly sized organisation that has a high level of writing, proofreading, and editing experience.

Unfortunately, I think there are many people that could do a job very well, but they do not apply or do not get shortlisted because:

●      they don’t back themselves,

●      they don’t spend enough time on their application, or

●      they really needed help and didn't get it.

Below I will share with you how to write a good response to selection criteria.

10 steps to addressing selection criteria for a government job

Here are my tips on how to write your application and resume to address selection criteria.

1. Identify the skills, knowledge or ability in the criteria

For every job description there are Essential Criteria that must be met. Sometimes there is Desirable Criteria that may put you slightly ahead of someone that can only meet the essential criteria.

You don't need to write responses to desirable criteria if you can’t meet the essential criteria.

2. Think about what the role is

Read the Primary Objective, Context Statement, Primary Duties and Responsibilities on the job description to understand the role.

Is this what you want to be doing? If so, keep working on your application. If not, find a role more suited to your expectations and career aspirations.

3. Think of an example where you demonstrated the selection criteria (or something very comparable that demonstrates your ability to do it in this job).

I recommend talking through this with someone you trust - it is hard to sell yourself sometimes, but with the right prompts, the examples are often there.

4. Consider using the STAR method to demonstrate how your experience matches the selection criteria

A great guide with examples for doing this can be found at: https://cdn.csu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/3130598/Mastering-the-STAR-method.pdf

The STAR method structures a paragraph for each selection criteria as follows:

Situation – explain the “situation” where the relevant example came from

Task – state your role within that situation (you can combine the Situation and Task)

Action – outline the steps and skills you used to perform the task

Result – summarise the outcome of your actions, including measurable results where possible. 

5. Check out the NT Government Capability and Leadership Framework (CLF)

Utilise this document to ensure you are using similar working for the level you are applying for.

6. Polish each example

Wherever possible, use words that match the Selection Criteria and the CLF and cut out any extra words such as adjectives which do not add value to the sentence.

7. Repeat the process for each of the criteria

If you run out of space, consider choosing which will be the most important to the panel. Do not use the same example twice if you can avoid it.

8. Write your resume to demonstrate relevant experience and include criteria you couldn't fit into your cover letter

Make sure that you have addressed ALL the required criteria in either your letter or your resume, even if it is just at a high level or a transferrable example.

NOTE: You don’t want to be excluded at shortlisting if you do not address the requirement for a license or a Working with Children Card - so remember to cover even these basic requirements.

9. Make sure you do not exceed the length requested for your cover letter

At the time of writing this blog - for the NT Government, t is ONLY one (1) page. That’s not much.

I recommend not including an address at the top of the page - just Dear [panel chair name], no subject line and including the job name and the Request to Fill (RTF) number (located at the bottom of the Job Description header) in the first line of the letter.

10. Proofread and polish your letter and your resume BEFORE submitting

Check formatting, spelling, spaces, grammar, and punctuation.

…

Do you have a great proofreader in your family or friend network? If not, have you considered paying someone to do this?

The NT Government recruitment process

The recruitment panel process can be long and difficult for public servants to schedule in between other work.

Considering this, if you want to have the best chance to get through to the interview stage, there are a few questions that you should ask yourself before sending your application off:

Is my application easy to look at and read?

I recommend Arial font at size 10 or 11. Do NOT use size 9 or 8 - ever! It’s almost impossible to read on a screen or when tired from reading lots of applications. Fancy fonts are another no no.

Does my cover letter and first page of my resume answer all the selection criteria?

If it doesn't, there is a chance you won't make it through the first round of selection.

Is my application neat and tidy?

You would be surprised how many people submit applications saying they have a high level of attention to detail but then have spelling errors, typos and formatting errors that are so obvious. I beg you to get it proofread!

Have I chosen the right referees?

Make sure you know what your referees will say about you and that they are recent and relevant. Keep in mind that government prefer your current immediate supervisor and previous supervisor.

Is this job right for me?

If you have tried hard to match your experience to the criteria without success, then you might have to consider whether you are applying for the right role.

Recruiting the wrong person to a role frustrates and potentially damages the recruit, the team, the manager and the people that need to work with the role, so make sure you read the job description and want the job. Also, feel free to make contact to ask questions about the job and the team.

The selection of the right applicant in recruitment

When you are the best applicant for the job, and maybe after an interview, you will be called and offered a job. Congratulations! It feels great when it happens.

If you are not successful, you will receive a copy of the Selection Outcome Advice For All Applicants (SOAFAA) report.

It is disappointing to receive one of these. Each time it happened to me, I felt gutted.

However, once you, like me, are able to move on from the grief, this report is a good tool to use in your next application.

Without hating on the successful applicant (too much), consider the following questions:

●      What skills, knowledge and abilities did they have that you don't or that you didn't sell well enough? Look at the language used - could you learn anything from that?

●      What did their referees say about them that maybe yours forgot to say?

●      What did they demonstrate in an interview (if there was one) that you could look to demonstrate in your next application?

When the recruitment process is unfair

Sometimes, there may be a recruitment process that is not fair.

You may find that there is someone that was selected for a role you applied for that wasn't as qualified or experienced as you are.

In that case, where certain criteria are met, you can appeal the process.

The Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment has published a plain English guide to how this works here: https://ocpe.nt.gov.au/employment-conditions-appeals-grievances/public-sector-appeals-and-grievances/appeals/promotion-appeals

5 quick checks to make sure you have addressed the selection criteria:

●      My cover letter is only one (1) page

●      My letter and resume address all the selection criteria

●      I have looked at my strengths and sold myself as the best applicant

●      I have showed my application to someone that knows my work and they have agreed with what I have included

●      I have proofread my resume or hired a proofreader

Happy application writing and good luck!

Conni

PS: If there is one thing that you absolutely must take out of this - please make sure it is addressing the selection criteria in your cover letter or page 1 of your resume.