Prioritising Job Advertisements and Selection Criteria

Step One

Have a look at a job advertisement you would like to apply for.

Then answer the following questions:

1. What is the title of the position?

2. What is the name of the organisation?

3. What is the classification and/or salary?

4. What are the activities/duties of the position?

5. What are the key selection criteria for the position?

Step Two

Make an assessment of the level of importance the employer assigns to each selection criterion of the job and prioritise them, from most important to least important.

To do this you may need to read and re-read the essential and desirable criteria for the position, the description of the role, the job advertisement and any additional information. You may also need to talk to the contact person listed in the advertisement to clarify further.

Step Three

For each priority, identify what skills, experience and qualifications you have that address each priority area and jot them down. 

Think broadly and deeply. Identify skills and experiences from voluntary work, work experience, university projects, extracurricular activities etc. If you don’t have direct experience in the area, think about your transferable skills. (For further help with transferable skills go to Module 1 Unit 2: Preparing your Resume).

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