How to avoid misreading application instructions

One way to ensure your job application doesn’t succeed is to misread the instructions on what to put in your application.

If you’re accustomed to writing to selection criteria, you may assume this is still what to do even when the instructions say otherwise. While government jobs may list selection criteria, capabilities, or what an ideal candidate looks like, this doesn’t mean that these are the sole focus of the application.

Typical examples of what APS application requirements say are:

Example 1

A one-page Applicant Response, outlining:

How your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role
Why you are interested in the role and what you can offer us
Any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

Example 2

A pitch, of no more than 500 words, describing how your skills and experience would contribute to the work of the branch.

Your pitch is an opportunity to tell us why you want to work in the department, why you are interested in the opportunities and what you can offer. Make sure to frame your pitch around the selection criteria and use relevant examples and accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

Example 3

Applicants are required to submit a current CV/resume and a statement of claims (750 words maximum) outlining why you are interested in this position and why you believe that you have the skills, capabilities, knowledge and experience to be considered for this role. Please provide examples which demonstrate your ability to perform the duties of the position… it is essential that you provide examples from your current or past role(s) which demonstrate how you meet each of the key areas or points. You should focus on how your experience, achievements and capabilities will enable you to successfully undertake the responsibilities of the role(s).

Three points to notice

While there is some minor variations amongst these three examples, there are important details to notice.

There is a word or page limit which means every word must count towards making your case.
They each ask about your motivation (why you are interested), what difference you will make to delivering outcomes (what you offer) and examples to prove your case.
They refer to skills, capabilities, knowledge, experience, and may also refer to responsibilities, the Work Level Standards, and the Integrated Leadership System.

What this means for your application is that:

You can’t cover everything in the space available.
Writing to selection criteria is neither the appropriate structure nor possible within the space limits.
Using words to identify the criterion, skill or capability that you are talking about is a waste of space.
You need to research the role so that you understand the context and can craft a response tailored to that context.
Using words to write what is in your CV/resume is a waste of space.

Suggested structure

The structure of your application may need an overhaul from what you are accustomed to doing. One way to go about writing your response is to use a three-part approach.

Opening paragraph: start by summarising your experience, knowledge, and strengths relevant to the role. State why you are interested in the role and what difference you hope to make, linked to outcomes.
Bulk of application: write several paragraphs about specific examples that demonstrate multiple job requirements, using the STAR or CAR structure.
Closing paragraph: if there is space, you could include a short closing sentence that refers to another detail about your relevance and your desire to expand on the details at interview.

In How to Write and Talk to Selection Criteria (7th edn.) I provide an example to demonstrate this approach. The role is a fictitious job in Queensland health, a Senior Project Officer in rural telehealth services at the AO8 level. Lee Koudbee, a fictitious applicant, opens with this paragraph:

“A results-delivering project manager with ten years cross-jurisdiction public sector experience, including a dedicated focus on health and wellbeing, I bring to this role a portfolio of skills, knowledge and experience that will enable me to strengthen the Central West HSS as a leader in telehealth service delivery. Informed by strategic plans for Queensland Health, Central West HSS, ICT and health workforce development, I present my case for strategically managing this significant project.”

Notice that this is an information-dense paragraph that highlights what is relevant to the role, pitched at the level of seniority.

This paragraph is followed by selected examples demonstrating multiple skills. The final paragraph highlights what difference will be made, linked to current issues and desired outcomes.

“During this project I will use my skills and experience to shift thinking on the value of telehealth services, remove practical barriers, foster collaboration, engage clinicians, build their IT understanding, and establish partnerships to improve service integration, so as to revitalise services to patients.

I welcome the opportunity to explore this legacy in person.”

Selection Criteria