Sharing Knowledge & Tips

Selection Criteria

When responding, either in writing or orally, to selection criteria a good guide is to use the following STAR methodology to ensure it is logical and sequential.

• Situation – briefly explain the context eg. where you were working; what you were studying
• Task – briefly describe the task you were required to perform in this situation
• Action – describe the steps you took in performing the task, but don’t go on and on!
• Result – explain what happened as a result. Concentrate on positive outcomes and focus on the benefits to your employer.

Choosing Referees

So important, as these days your referees are often rung before you are placed on the interview list.

• Best choice is your current or recent manager/employer; or
• A client you have been dealing with consistently representing your company; or
• A colleague you have worked very closely with – this can be a peer or a direct report.

These days it is vital to provide the name and full contact details of at least two referees in your resume/CV.

Communication skills

Many companies do telephone screening as a first step in the recruitment process.  Be aware that this conversation is about assessing your verbal communication skills.

Your written communication skills are assessed in your resume/CV and in statements responding to selection criteria or questions asked on application forms.

And finally, your communication skills are assessed in the way you respond to each and every question in interview.

Resume Writing

Under no circumstances use this:
“I am a self-motivated, ambitious person who thrives in dynamic challenging environments…”

This Generic Statement makes you the same as all the other applicants who have written this sentence and makes recruiters cringe, as they know you have copied it from some template, or someone else’s resume and it is not conveying who you really are, which is what they want.

Do NOT tell the potential employer how their company has to measure up to your standards, or what type of company you are looking for, a huge mistake, in a written resume or cover letter of application.

Focus on what value you can add to their company aligning with and using the Job Description specifications. This is your pitch, your chance to sell YOU, as it is what you must do.