Applications: writing to win
skills, experience, strengths, capabilities and
Selection criteria
achievements, and referee contact details.
Employers use selection criteria to assist them
Your presentation should be reader-friendly,
to quickly and effectively short list candidates.
with an easy-to-read font and a good balance of
Each applicant is rated on how closely he/she
t!
meets the criteria and is ranked accordingly.
o
r i
white paper to text. Structure your information
clearly, making sure key points are prominent.
Although criteria will vary from job to job, there GO f
are a handful of key qualities that tend to apply
There are a range of résumé styles, the most
across nearly all graduate positions, such as
common being chronological, functional and
communication and team-working skills.
targeted.
A chronological résumé
You should address all of the items in the
presents the
selection criteria and provide individual
information under a series of key headings
responses for each (i.e. do not cut and paste).
(typically personal details, education etc.). Dates
For each criterion you should provide a specific
are prominent and are used to order information,
example that demonstrates the required
with the most recent listed first.
competency. The key is using evidence to show
the employer you have the skill, rather than just
claiming that you do.
It is important your application
The statement addressing the selection criteria
clearly highlights and
should be presented in a separate document but
attached to your résume.
demonstrates all your strengths,
accomplishments and experience.
A functional résumé focuses on skills and
capabilities rather than history per se. Although
the standard categories may be used, the
information is set out differently. For example,
top tips
work experience would be organised according
1. Ask someone to read over your
to type of work (e.g. project administration)
application to check for grammar,
rather than chronologically.
spelling and consistency.
A targeted résumé is also focused on skills
2. If you are emailing your application
and capabilities rather than history, but it is convert it into “pdf” format to minimize
directed towards a particular job. It is designed formatting problems at the receiver’s
to demonstrate how you can meet the specific
end.
job requirements, with information grouped
3. If you are sending a hardcopy, print on a
according to the skills and qualities relevant to
quality printer, if possible, and use clean,
the specific position.
white paper.
4. Seek the assistance of your university
careers service. Staff can assist you to
craft a high-quality application.
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