Advice. Addressing selection criteria for job application?

[Cass72]

I updated my post to include the STAR method.

Could you give me a clue on what your job application is for?

The job I just put in an application was an executive assistant. The first selection criteria (SC) was "Demonstrated high-level secretarial and administrative skills". I opened up with:

I pride myself on my first rate secretarial and administrative skills and work to ensure everything can be found and retrieved easily throughout the effectively maintained office.

I am highly motivated, responsive and take personal responsibility for meeting objectives set before me. I apply a methodical approach to ensure the timely completion of my work and that follow up on any outstanding issues occurs within an appropriate timeframe. I work proactively and continuously seek ways to revise or improve procedures to facilitate more productive outcomes.

I then set out an example to display what I have done to "demonstrate" those high-level secretarial & admin skills. I did this with a short paragraph. To keep my whole answer for that SC succinct I basically said that I did "BLAH paragraph". I also provided support by: dot point, dot point, dot point.

I was advised by our HR section to try and keep each answer to half a page (or at least under one page). Remember that the selection panel will most likely read A LOT of applications and honestly .... some people just go on (look at my post for example). Bullet points are a great way of putting things down that you want to include and you can expand on them at interview.

With standard questions like "must have a drivers licence" I would put just a short: I have a current drivers licence - no need to put in the licence number, I'm sure they can get that off you at interview or, on your first day. If you have a sparkly clean drivers licence with no speeding/infringements you might want to mention that.

A lot of applications are lodged on the web now and you have a restricted number of words that you can put in. I always attach a current CV (updated to reflect the position I'm applying for) and a covering letter.

In my covering letter I usually put in something along the lines of:

FIRST PARA I refer the position of BLAH as advertised in/on the WEB/NP on DATE.

SECOND PARA (put in whatever they are asking for here, for example) I am a consistent and reliable worker who is committed to furthering my career as a senior executive assistant. Through past employment, I have gained invaluable experience and knowledge relevant to achieving this goal.

I do like to finish it off with

Submitted for your consideration.
or
I look forward to exanding on my claims at interview.
or
I believe that through self motivation and initiative I can achieve any goals set before me. With my past experience I believe that I would be a valuable asset to XYZ.

With your CV (sorry - this is a marathon post) tailor it to the job. Only include your relevant work experience. On my current CV I have several titles with short paras or bullet points after them. It includes:

• Objective (what you want to be)
• Career summary (a paragraph outlining your relevant experirence)
• Current position (including my current title and duties as per my own job description)
• Key strengths (I'll share these with you because I stole them from someone else: Strong work ethic; Highly motivated; Initiative; Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines; Excellent communication skills; Resilience and commitment; Excellent word processing/computer skills)
• Relevant experience (bullet points of previous job titles)
• Computer packages (duh!)
• Certificates obtained (duh!)
• Referees (two)

My CV is two pages, printed back to back.

Lastly - pay attention to what they want when submitting your application. Too many applications have ended up on the do not read pile by simply not following simple instructions.

GOOD LUCK!!!

[Mildez]

The job is for a child and family health nurse which I am not trained in but the manager called me to let me know about it and said if I were the successful applicant I'd have to do the training. I am a registered nurse and midwife and have worked in that area since 2004 so have not applied for a job since then. This job is also one that has to be submitted online. I haven't gone that far into it but I assume there is a word limit and I'd need to upload my CV with it. This is the first part of the selection criteria below

Demonstrated knowledge of and training certificate in ‘Working in Partnership with Parents–The Parent Advisor Model’ with demonstrated understanding of the stages of helping when working with families or willing to complete the approved training within 12 months of commencement of employment.

My response so far which I need to improve

I currently do not have a training certificate in ‘Working in Partnership with Parents- The Parent Advisor Model. I understand how The Family Partnership Model assists the family health nurse to guide and support families within the community. My understanding is that the Family health nurse’s works in partnership with families to provide family centred care and build on strengths within the family, promoting parenting confidence and building on what the family does well rather than having an authoritarian approach. I also understand that some families are more vulnerable than others and early intervention is necessary to provide these families with services to improve health outcomes for both parents and their children. I am willing to complete the relevant training needed if I were the successful applicant. The graduate certificate in child and family health nursing is something I have been interested in for a few years and I would really look forward to studying if I were the successful applicant.

So I have no idea about the stages in helping when working with families which I would assume would be exceptable seeing as I am not a child and family health nurse. As its a costly course I realise if someone applies that is already trained in the area I'd have very little chance of getting the job. But I can only try and I do really want the job. The manager told me they are after a local which is where I may have a good chance as the usual people that apply travel and then dont usually stay in the area for long.

[Cass72]

No-no-no!!! Never start off with a negative you have so much experience to offer.... turn it into a positive instead and pick out the bits you do have, which is:

I am a registered nurse and midwife and have consistently worked in that area since 2004. As such, I have an in-depth knowledge of the Family Partnership Model which provides assistance to the family health nurse to guide and support families within the community.

The family health nurse works in partnership with families to provide family-centred care and builds on the strengths within the family promoting parenting confidence. This in turn builds on what the family does rather than having an authoritarian approach. From first hand experience I have witnessed the vulnerability of families where early intervention is necessary to provide them with services to improve the health outcomes for both the parent and child.

I am willing to complete the necessary relevant training needed if I were the successful applicant. The graduate certificate in child and family health nursing is something which I have an interest in and believe that it would add to the valuable experience I have gained as a registuered nurse and midwife.

.... anyway, just some thoughts!

I googled the Family Partnerhships Model and found this on the royal children's hospital melbourne site...

The Family Partnerships Model was developed by Professor Hilton Davis and colleagues from the Centre for Parent and Child Support U.K. and has been used to illustrate good practice in a number of national reports in the U.K. and abroad (e.g. Audit Commission, Mental Health Foundation and Sure Start). In the UK it is also known as the Parent Adviser Model.

So I clicked some more and found this... which may be useful.

[Cass72]

I'll leave you alone now... sorry, I do tend to get carried away. Just check out this research paper from the Australian Journal of Advance Nursing

[Starfish]

I currently do not have a training certificate in ‘Working in Partnership with Parents- The Parent Advisor Model. I understand how The Family Partnership Model assists the family health nurse to guide and support families within the community. My understanding is that the Family health nurse’s works in partnership with families to provide family centred care and build on strengths within the family, promoting parenting confidence and building on what the family does well rather than having an authoritarian approach. I also understand that some families are more vulnerable than others and early intervention is necessary to provide these families with services to improve health outcomes for both parents and their children. I am willing to complete the relevant training needed if I were the successful applicant. The graduate certificate in child and family health nursing is something I have been interested in for a few years and I would really look forward to studying if I were the successful applicant.

I wouldn't begin a paragraph with something that you don't have. Maybe you could put it like this:

I understand how The Family Partnership Model assists the family health nurse to guide and support families within the community. My understanding is that the Family health nurse’s works in partnership with families to provide family centred care and build on strengths within the family, promoting parenting confidence and building on what the family does well rather than having an authoritarian approach. I also understand that some families are more vulnerable than others and early intervention is necessary to provide these families with services to improve health outcomes for both parents and their children. I am willing to complete the relevant training needed. I am currently looking into undertaking the training certificate in ‘Working in Partnership with Parents- The Parent Advisor Model. I am also considering undertaking the graduate certificate in child and family health nursing, as is something I have been interested in for a few years and I would really look forward to studying if I were the successful applicant.

[Mildez]

Thank you so much for your advice on my application. The same day as this we had a sudden death in the family and now I only have a few days to submit it. I'm happy with parts of my application but am stuck on a few others. It will be a relief to have it submitted who would have thought it would be so stressful just preparing an application.

[Cass72]

Job applications are such a chore! Which is why I rarely apply for another job unless it's something I really really want! Good luck with the application.

Please accept my sincere condolences for your family's loss

[Mildez]

Thank you all for your input. It helped a lot and I got an interview it's late this week. I hope I get the job