Any Tips to Address Selection Criteria Required for Job Applications

AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 13:40
Last edited 16/06/2021 - 16:41 by 1 other user

Hi, I work in education and I’m trying to find another job.

Most jobs require selection criteria and I’m not getting anywhere. I’ve addressed selection criteria and paid for two to be written on my behalf. Most will know how long they take to write and that after a while or in my case two rejections so far and no other responses I’m getting despondent and starting to think my skills aren’t transferable. Does anyone have any tips to address selection criteria that doesn’t take hours or days? I also tweak the personal statement on my CV each time. I have registered with an agency and again I haven’t heard anything. I’ve had my cv checked and proofread.

Please help :(

Education & Work

Comments

  • jjjaar on 16/06/2021 - 13:46
    +5

    In the education field in Victoria at least, you’re allowed to contact the hiring manager two weeks after the role is filled to ask for feedback (though I’m not sure if you need to have been interviewed or just applied). Have you tried this? It might be useful to talk to people who are on the receiving end.

  • Muzeeb on 16/06/2021 - 13:58
    +1

    You grammar seems great but perhaps improve on punctuation.

    I suggest you write your own as it will all be exposed at interview that your work is plagiarised.

    • djkelly69 on 16/06/2021 - 14:25
      +13

      You grammar seems great

      Youse to

    • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 14:25

      Thanks for the feedback. The two selection criteria cover letters have not been plagiarised. I’ll carefully check my cv and letters for punctuation and spelling.

      • stirlo on 16/06/2021 - 16:13
        +2

        I'm a tad concerned that you didn't make the effort to write these yourself?

        Hopefully you paid someone because you thought they could make a higher quality product and not because you were not willing to put in the work…

        • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 19:20

          Apart from two applications I wrote the others myself. I sought assistance from a resume writing firm due to time constraints. I had to write 25 school reports that took every minute I had, never mind planning and data stuff. I had to get my applications in before the deadlines.

          • peteru on 17/06/2021 - 12:17

            @AussieDolphin: Writing 25 reports? Are you working for an essay mill?

            • AussieDolphin on 17/06/2021 - 12:22
              +2

              @peteru: No, but it feels like it sometimes. Individual student reports take a very long time.

    • Big Lenny on 16/06/2021 - 14:39
      +3

      you grammar doesn't seem too great either, MS.

      • Muzeeb on 16/06/2021 - 14:41
        +3

        I see what I did there.

  • iNeed2Pee on 16/06/2021 - 14:14
    +4

    Is this where I disclose to the community that I am a teacher myself?
    I too am actually looking at changing careers after teaching for about 5 years. My biggest concern has been the transferable skills aspect as well, so I am going to keep a close eye on these forum responses.

    The best part of teaching is exactly that. Teaching. Everything else that comes with it is another story.

    • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 14:21
      +4

      I’m a teacher too. I agree with every word you’ve said. I can’t work 60 hours a week anymore.

      • brendanm on 16/06/2021 - 14:31
        +1

        Is it really 60 hours a week? Makes the pay look a bit rubbish then. So you get any time off in the holidays?

        • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 14:38
          +3

          Yes and you’re never done. During holidays we’re expected to complete professional development and write programs. I work 3-4 hours every night and a whole day every weekend. The pay looks attractive but it really isn’t not for the hours required and the stress. I love teaching and I’ve been told I’m excellent educator. It isn’t just about the kids. There’s data, assessment, programs, differentiation, IEP’s, politics, feeling guilty for taking a day off when sick, going back to more work, observations, complaints etc.

          • teacherer on 16/06/2021 - 14:46
            +3

            @AussieDolphin: I'm one year into an allied health degree while working as supply.
            Get out while you're young.

          • brendanm on 16/06/2021 - 16:15
            +3

            @AussieDolphin: Wow, that ends up being a poor rate per hour for someone doing a very important job. I wouldn't be able to deal with the parents, I bet they are something else these days.

            • Muzeeb on 16/06/2021 - 16:28
              +3

              @brendanm: You would soon work out who the Karen's are.

            • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 16:38

              @brendanm: I have lovely parents this year. In previous years I’ve had shocking parents.

              • brendanm on 16/06/2021 - 16:39
                +1

                @AussieDolphin: That's good at least. You public or private?

                • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 17:05

                  @brendanm: I moved to the private system last year.

                  • brendanm on 16/06/2021 - 17:08
                    +1

                    @AussieDolphin: What area are you wanting to move into?

                    • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 22:27

                      @brendanm: Probably the Australian Public Service/SESO position/Admin at this stage. In the future I’d like to resume my masters of social work studies.

                      • brendanm on 17/06/2021 - 07:28
                        +1

                        @AussieDolphin: Why not go into social work now? There is a big call for it.

                        • AussieDolphin on 17/06/2021 - 12:24

                          @brendanm: I started my masters of social work but had to put it aside as my work load doubled. I need to complete the qualification before I can be considered for positions.

                          • brendanm on 17/06/2021 - 13:15
                            +3

                            @AussieDolphin: If you were in Qld I know there are positions in mental health, outpatient support roles and possibly social work, while still studying.

                            • AussieDolphin on 17/06/2021 - 15:27

                              @brendanm: I’m trying to relocate to QLD as well. That’s about 12-18 months away. In the meantime I need a new job here until I can get there.

        • iNeed2Pee on 16/06/2021 - 20:57
          +2

          It really is.
          You have to deal with the obvious lesson planning and teaching (Which is the job and are the best parts imo), pastoral care, discipline, professional development, report writing, inter school sport which sometimes means you don't get back to school until 4:30 5, parent teacher interviews, marking assessments and exams etc etc.

          School holidays are often spent lesson planning if you're teaching team are useless at input of unit guides.
          On top of that you get a starting salary of 72k and at the end of the year you have to fight for an extension the following year. (Which adds immense pressure to your own situation)

          Worst of all, schools have garbage teachers who have been on the books for 20 years because they were given "ongoing" positions and not cannot remove them.

          What is even worse is that if you are an ex student of the school or your best mates with a principal you will get a job easily.
          Same for every workplace possibly but I had a burning fire out of uni, only to be disappointed and undermined by other staff.

          I was even told at one stage I had too much of a good rapport with my students. I am now a CRT and I am ok with it tbh.

          Thats my rant 😂

    • SF3 on 16/06/2021 - 17:05
      +2

      Is this where I disclose to the community that I am a teacher myself?

      you got your username from students wanting to be excused from class!! :D

      • iNeed2Pee on 16/06/2021 - 20:48
        +1

        They still do it. I even love the fact that 2 or 3 students will want to go at the same time like as if I am a dumbass and not know they want to bludge. I know, because I used to do it!

        I have fantastic rapport with my students because I do not treat them as inferior like some teachers do.

      • Skinnerr on 23/06/2021 - 21:15

        Issa joke, but if you look at their avatar it's from Forest Gump.

  • netjock on 16/06/2021 - 14:23
    +1

    Definitely contact the hiring manager / HR to figure out what you are missing. No point speculating. Then find a mentor in the area of expertise to see if they got advice / connections to help you close the gap.

  • brad1-8tsi on 16/06/2021 - 15:35
    +6

    Only 2 rejections and you are getting despondent?

    When I was applying for jobs in 2007 within my field of expertise I had 20+ rejections over 7 months and I assume it would be harder these days.

    All you can do is keep applying. My applications took 2-5 hours of work. Getting a new job is a job in itself.

    Good luck. Keep at it. I was continually rejected or ignored and then I was offered 2 good roles within a week.

    edit: Sorry, misread the # of rejections. As above, keep at it. What's your network like?

    You do have transferable skills

    • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 15:54

      I’ve had 2 written rejections. I haven’t had a response from several other applications.

      • brad1-8tsi on 16/06/2021 - 15:58
        +5

        Companies seem to like wasting your time these days. You just have to invest your time in the process.

        What field are you aiming at? Can you make an incremental crossover or find short term contract work? I did my last skills transition from aircraft engineering to dams/pipelines via a few subcontracting jobs and getting to know the contract managers on site and letting them know I was after full time work.

        • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 18:07

          I’m trying to get a job in the Australian Public Service/Border Force/Support worker/administration roles or even as a special education support officer. Short term contracts is a problem as I have kids and rely on my income to support us.

          • ms_caz on 16/06/2021 - 20:09
            +1

            @AussieDolphin: It looks like entry to Border Force is via a traineeship, which I don't think would suit your circumstances as it requires shift work, amy require relocation, and the entry level wage would be less than what you would be on now as a teacher.
            Border Force Traineeship

          • brad1-8tsi on 17/06/2021 - 08:45
            +2

            @AussieDolphin: You appear to be targeting quite specific sectors. (maybe I have read it wrong again).

            Why aren't you also applying for state and local government positions? Even the private sector (which do have educator roles).

            Consider roles in the mining, industrial and indigenous sectors. You might have to learn new subject matter such as CPR, Building Emergency Procedures, Personal Development but you have the teaching techniques.

            Also, your skills should be transferable enough to break away from the educator field.

            My cubicle buddy across the partition was our Senior Training Programs Coordinator (NSW state government bulk water supply) and she got there via the Super Retail Group (Supercheap Auto, BCF, Etc) and other private enterprise training roles. It was her first government job after 20 years in the workforce. Last year she moved up to an education managerial role in the Qld government.

            Sometimes to get from A to B you have to go via X, Y, Z.

            When I was retrenched with 500 other "engineers" from Qantas many were crying (really crying) because they thought their skills were only applicable to aircraft. Personally, I did an audit of what skills I used in my daily work and applied for many different roles including roles with ANSTO (some type of quality assurance role), Dept of Defence (hands on fixing torpedoes), RAN (Maintenance Planning), WorkCover (accident investigator) and Bulk water Storage (contract manager & maintenance coordination ) and several private comapanies. You've got to spray it out there and get your foot in the door.

            • AussieDolphin on 17/06/2021 - 12:27

              @brad1-8tsi: Very helpful advice. I’ve applied for 2 local government jobs but I haven’t heard a thing and the closing dates have long gone.

  • mskeggs on 16/06/2021 - 17:30
    +1

    I trained as a science teacher and found that degree and an education master’s degree very useful in the jobs I’ve had.
    The skills of communicating complex information and synthesising data plus broad English, Maths and other skills were really useful. Also the ability to present effectively etc.

    So I personally think teaching skills are extremely transferable.

    As for public service selection criteria, I’ll make a couple of comments:
    - often, there will be a candidate in mind for positions. Good to ask if there is somebody acting in the role, or if it is vacant.
    - PS hiring is pretty conservative. I didn’t get one PS role I was interviewed for because they felt I was over qualified and would get bored. So you might need to overcome some closed minds when it comes to a career shift.
    - Higher level roles can sometimes be easier, if there is a wish to put “ a new broom” through an area where they might favour an outside appointment.

    Like any job, you probably want to narrow down your scope and research your target roles, including networking with current employees in that role. Asking a friend of a friend in that department if they have 10mins for a coffee because you are interested in working there almost always works.

    • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 18:10

      I tried your last suggestion and I received a rejection for a position at a charity even though I had the skills and had completed certificates relevant to the role. This employer also wanted someone with a social work background. I’m still working towards my masters.

  • ms_caz on 16/06/2021 - 17:40
    +3

    Aussie Dolphin, I am a secondary school teacher with recent success in transferring from one school to another. I am also a career practitioner so part of my stock in trade is working on applications, as well as teaching about transferable skills. I'm located in Melbourne and pubic system but might be able to assist - please PM me - I'd be happy to take a look/discuss with you.

    • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 18:01

      That’s amazing! I’ll PM you shortly. Thank you!

    • ms_caz on 16/06/2021 - 18:03
      +2

      OMG typing skills ms_caz! I meant PUBLIC of course

      • highon2str on 16/06/2021 - 18:32
        +1

        🤣 made me smile.. all good :)

  • Ughhh on 16/06/2021 - 18:07
    +1

    I’ve addressed selection criteria and paid for two to be written on my behalf

    Who did you go with? How much did it cost? Do you think it was worth it?

    • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 18:15
      +1

      So far I haven’t had success so I would say it wasn’t worth it. I went with a reputable resume and cover letter writing business in my area. I spent close to $300 so I’m doing it on my own now.

  • morse on 16/06/2021 - 19:56
    +1

    You’re definitely right, these applications do take a long time and it’s easy to miss the mark. Unfortunately it’s something to get used to until you’re permanent and beyond, looking for higher level roles.

    I’m a healthcare public servant so have done many of these job applications - happy for you to send me (via dm) your de-identified application and cv for general feedback. Bearing in mind I’m in health not education.

    Other advice like others have said is to reach out to the contact person and/or anyone else you know in education and have a chat about your aspirations - it helps to have a passion or interest in something relevant.

    • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 21:04

      Thank you, morse. I'm about to start working on a 600-word response for 11 different dot points. I still can't see how it is even possible to address the key criteria in the word limit.

      • morse on 17/06/2021 - 02:49
        +1

        I generally break the criteria down into categories and try and hit a few criteria with one example. I’m not sure what those would be for education but for health they might be things like ‘clinical’ ‘quality improvement’ ‘communication/team work’. Maybe things like ‘curriculum’ ‘pedagogical approach’ etc but honestly as a non-teacher I’m not sure. I also try and use some of their words back in my response.

        • AussieDolphin on 17/06/2021 - 06:51

          I might have to cut out their words though because of the tiny word count.

          • morse on 17/06/2021 - 07:45
            +1

            @AussieDolphin: Yeah, it is a tiny word count. I kinda just make sure I include some of the key words in my own sentences, if that makes sense. Also try to include anything unique or impressive about you so you stand out, this could be special interests or working somewhere rural/remote, awards, research you’ve done.

  • CheapskateQueen on 16/06/2021 - 20:51
    +2

    I'm not sure about eduction system, but public service generally requires selection criteria in STAR method, so hopefully you're at least doing that.

    Selection criteria in the public service is an art. It takes a long time to get the perfect application. You need to write out. Fix it. Then edit it. if your word limit is 700 words, you'd be writing around 1000 words, then editing it down to make it super concise, squeezing on as much valuable content as possible.

    • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 21:01

      Thank you. I found another job I'd like to apply for today. They want no more than 600 words to address 11 dot points. I have absolutely no idea how I'm going to be able to do that. I also realise I might be competing with applications in the hundreds.

      • CheapskateQueen on 16/06/2021 - 21:09
        +2

        yes, it's preposterous sometimes. the criteria is basically as long as the word limit.

        11 is a lot. you'd maybe need 2 or 3 examples that address 2 or 3 points at a time.

        I tend to use each 1 or 2 criteria as headings and write my example under it, to make sure I've dealt with it.

        In all honesty, I usually end up with almost twice as the word limit and pain staking edit down. Turn a two sentence into a tight one sentence etc.

        make sure you're not wasting words simply restating the criteria. you need to get straight into the substance of it and use a few trigger/key words that shouts to the assessor "hey buddy, I'm addressing criteria x on the list".

        • AussieDolphin on 16/06/2021 - 21:54

          Thank you, I need to start the next letter tomorrow.

          • stirlo on 17/06/2021 - 09:17
            +1

            @AussieDolphin:

            600 words to address 11 dot points

            Make sure you are addressing the selection criteria not the duties/responsibilities in the position description. Normally there's only around half a dozen fairly generic selection criteria and longer more detailed position description. Obviously you want to use examples that reflect what's required on the position description but it is essential that you address the selection criteria (which are generally more vague) as the priority.

  • OzHunterNSW on 17/06/2021 - 10:33
    -4

    What do you mean by "education"? If you are a registered teacher, you simply apply directly to any school you choose, for casual/term work as your application for full-time is processed.

    • AussieDolphin on 17/06/2021 - 12:29

      I am a registered teacher trying to move into another career.

      • Yola on 17/06/2021 - 16:05

        Most people understood you.

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