Your application

Addressing the criteria for the role

As part of your application for jobs with NSW Health you will be asked to write a statement addressing each of the requirements outlined for the role. These are generally referred to as the selection criteria or the role capabilities and will be outlined in the role description. This is the most important part of your application.

Examples of criteria may include:

• High level written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated analytical, research and problem solving skills with the capacity to analyse and interpret complex information
• Ability to work unsupervised and use initiative to resolve issues of complex nature

• In writing your responses to the selection criteria, make a separate heading for each criterion, and provide examples that demonstrate your ability to meet that criterion.
  

• Essentially, you are trying to show the panel, who will do an initial assessment of your application, that you meet the criteria and are a good contender for the job.  If you haven't had relevant work experience, relate your real life experience to the criteria for example you could demonstrate your organisation skills to managing a household and children's activities.
  

Show examples of previous experience

It is important that you show how you address each criteria by also using of examples of your previous work. 

For example, as part of your current job you may have been required to write a report and then run a series of consultation workshops with stakeholders to discuss the outcomes of the report. You could use aspects of this experience in your application to demonstrate your high level written and verbal communication skills. This particular example could also be used to show how you meet other criteria for the job. 

Be mindful that if you are going to use the same or just a couple of examples to show how you meet multiple criteria you still need to address each criteria separately. You should also try to write each instance a bit differently so that the panel do not have to read the same information over and over.

Selection Criteria

When addressing the Selection Criteria, you will need to provide examples of how you meet each one. Simply answering "Yes" will not tell the recruiter about you, and you are unlikely to be offered an interview.

Treat the Selection Criteria like a set of questions, for example:

• SAMPLE CRITERIA: Must have qualification, registration and experience as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner specialising in Palliative Care.
  
• SAMPLE ANSWER: I have completed the Certificate IV Aboriginal Primary Health Care (Practice), am Registered with Ahpra and have worked in Palliative Care for 4 years, providing services to the Aboriginal community in central Sydney.

Write up your responses to Selection Criteria in a word document so you can revise your answers and save them for later. This is important in case you want to use the answers or some parts of your answers for other job applications.

Completing your response in the webpage is best done with your selection criteria written up separately before your start.

You will need to get your personal profile loaded to the site first, this can take a little time and note that the system times out after 60 minutes (1 hour).

Important

• You need to address all the selection criteria to improve your chance of being short listed for the next stage of the recruitment proces
• A separate application must be submitted for each position you wish to apply for
  
• Any statement in your application which is found to be deliberately misleading may result in your removal from the recruitment process
  

Preparing your responses

• Your responses to each criterion should not be more than the character limit stated in the online recruitment system (usually 3000-4000 characters or 500-600 words)
  
• As part of your answer you can include dots points in your responses if they are clear and concise
  
• Keep your application to the point and only provide the information that is requested