Job Application Tips - How to Survive Writing Selection Criteria to Achieve a Quality Result

The arduous task of preparing job applications involving selection criteria requires an emotionally intelligent strategy. It is critical that the moment you decide to apply for a job that requires developing Selection Criteria statements - start the application IMMEDIATELY. This allows time for day long breaks essential to re-energize and regain your objectivity. If, at any time you feel yourself becoming disillusioned or ready to give up, reread this article. It will help you pinpoint what you are doing or not doing, to refocus, and start taking action to regain your momentum.

SET YOURSELF UP 

• Read every page of the job application information pack.
• As you read, jot down any ideas that come to mind about your work history that could be used in the application on a piece of paper.
• Highlight any essential elements or restrictions specified for the application, for example some employers request resumes to be no more than 3 pages in length.
• Note the submission date and documents needed for your application on your calendar.
• Create a draft document using either pen and paper or a computer generated document.
• Write one selection criteria statement at the top of its own page e.g. "Ability to work within a team."
• Under each Selection Criteria heading write the following section titles leaving space for notes underneath:
  • Positive Opening Statement e.g. 1 or 2 sentences that links you to the competency being specified by an employer.
  • Scoping Statement e.g. 1 or 2 paragraphs to provide an overview your method of using this skill or how you approach a situation, for example "handling a client's complaint."
  • Relevant Employment Examples e.g. short narratives to demonstrate how you used this skill or competency in a work situation to achieve a good result.

• MAINTAIN GOOD PSYCHOLOGY & PHYSIOLOGY 
  • Take massive action when you start this process - this is the time when you have the most objectivity - the words and ideas are still fresh, and you are not feeling so pressured by the submission deadline.
  • Ignore negative thoughts, doubts or beliefs about your abilities to create a good application; just allow the process to unfold - make it a work of discovery.
  • Accept that the first few drafts will to look terrible and inadequate - the same way as you would accept that the making of a clay pot begins with an undifferentiated misshapen lump of clay.
  • Commit yourself to staying creative during the initial information collection phase.
  • Tell your internal critical editor to take an indefinite coffee break until called - This is important.
  • Use different environments to work on your application documents; if you are using a computer, do a session using paper or a whiteboard, play some music you like, or choose a different location, maybe somewhere you have never been before, or an unusual one like a cafe or a park to stimulate your brain into different ways of thinking, to generate new ideas about how you look at or could describe different aspects of your work history.
  • Keep your application documents handy, so it takes less than a minute to set yourself up for an editing or creative session - using the old adage 'strike while the iron is hot.'
  • Get up and move often, if necessary set a timer to go off every 20-minutes to remind you - to stretch, dance, jog, do push-ups or sit-ups - anything that gets the pulse rate up and oxygenated blood flowing to your brain.
  • Stay hydrated, sip water often, particularly whenever you feel "stuck" and avoid short hit stimulate drinks that high amounts of caffeine, like coffee.
  • For the duration of the application process, always have paper and a pen handy. Ideas for your application can arise at any time, even in the middle of the night, be disciplined to record them immediately otherwise you risk forgetting them.
  • Catch yourself procrastinating, for example, non-essential chores like cleaning the kitchen cupboards which is as close to a near death experience as one can get, suddenly has this amazing enticing allure. If you do find yourself becoming distracted, interrupt the procrastination (read avoidance) behaviour pattern by immediately setting the timer for 15 minutes and working on your application. Even if you only write one point during this period that is OK - this action is to reinforce to yourself that your No. 1 Priority Action is to give time to completing this job application.
  
  
  
  GENERATING IDEAS & WRITING THE FIRST DRAFT(S) 
  • In the first few sessions concentrate only on the generating and capturing ideas.
  • Jot whatever comes to mind in any section under any Selection Criteria - accept it unconditionally - you never know it may become useful later.
  • Treat each section within each selection criteria page like a cell within a larger framework, feel free to move between different sections and pages as this allows the ideas to flow and helps avoids you becoming stuck or worse, disillusioned about your progress.
  • If you are unable to think of anything within a reasonable space of time, move to another section or page before you can indulge in negative thoughts about how pathetic you are doing job applications.
  • Jot down only enough information to remember the idea, avoid in the first drafts creating or spending time of crafting whole sentences.
  • If working on a computer avoid the distraction of doing excessive text formatting, at this stage limit it to simple dot points and paragraphs separated by a blank line.
  • Use your employment history to generate ideas. For example under the Selection Criteria heading "Ability to work in a team", start with your current or most recent job then work backwards, ask for each company "Did I work with a team at this company?" If yes, write down the details, using the Keyword Framework - who, what, how, where, when and why.
  • Don't worry if the same company and example comes up for more than one selection criteria, the editing process will determine where and when this example can be used; often it can be used multiple times, however be sure to write it each time from different viewpoint and/or using a different style of narrative to maintain the interest of the reader.
  • Read through the job advertisement - copy any information or instructions on how to respond into your document.
  • Read the Job Position Description - copy any information that can guide your responses to your document.
  • Review company and careers information on their website for information or ideas that may be useful in your application.
  
  
  

EDITING 

• Choose to either to CREATE or EDIT your document in a session - DO NOT DO BOTH.
• Be aware that your amazing mind has photocopied what you have previously written and it is often difficult to identify text with spelling, grammatical, syntax, structural or formatting errors, for example your brain just assumes the word is spelled correctly. This is the reason you need to take day-long breaks - it allows your brain some space and distance to forget, so the next time you view the document, the text can be assessed objectively based on its own merits. Have you ever noticed that when you read text written by someone else, the spelling mistakes leap out at you. Whereas even though you have checked your own document multiple times, only when its published do you realise it has an insanely silly spelling mistake - which others will without hesitation point out.
• Choose different locations to edit your document, one of my favourites is a busy cafe, as it forces your brain to operate in a different way, and you may be surprised how well you can concentration on your work.
• For each editing session, alternate between starting at the beginning of the document and at the end where you need to work backwards section by section. This will avoid the quality of your responses dropping off at the end of the document due to editing fatigue, it keeps you and the content fresh and interesting.
• For final editing, print your documents and use a pen to mark any corrections.

PRE-SUBMISSION CHECK 

• Reread all job application material supplied by the prospective employer.
• Verify that you have created all documents specified for the submission e.g. resume, cover letter, selection criteria responses, application form, declarations, academic certificates (if requested), copies of licences, etc.
• Run a spell check.
• View the pages in preprint (preview) mode (two pages fill the screen where the text appears only as a shadowed block) to check the overall presentation of the document, ensuring there is a balance of white and black which makes the document look appealing and that no sections have inadvertently crept over onto the next page. NOTE: Large blocks of dense text immediately sucks energy from a reader, a phenomena that they may not even be aware of, but it does have an impact on how they "feel" about your application.
• Always print the final copy and check it line by line.
• If you edit any part of the document, rerun the spell check and review the document layout again using the on-screen preview function.
• No matter what your time imperatives are, do not hurry this process, it is an essential part of ensuring your document achieves a high quality standard - many mistakes are overlooked or generated if this final check is rushed.
• During this final phase take frequent short 2 to 5 minute refresher breaks to help you remain alert and attentive.

There is no easy way or short cuts to creating high quality selection criteria responses. Even professionals find it hard work. The key to surviving and creating selection criteria for the best outcome is to start early, use strategies described in this article to sustain your creativity, maintain endurance and focus, and take lots of breaks.

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