Resume and Selection Criteria
What is the difference?
What is a Resume?
In a nutshell, a Resume is a factual employment document that highlights your Education, Skills Base, Roles and Responsibilities, Projects, Achievements and possibly voluntary work that is relevant to the field for which you are applying. The key to writing a good Resume is to provide the reader with a detailed yet clear and concise overview of your background, skills and assets.
What is a Selection Criteria?
A Selection Criteria is similar to a Resume in that it is a factual employment documentation that supports your Resume when applying for public sector positions; although it is becoming increasingly common for larger private sector organisations to request a Selection Criteria from employment applicants.
What is the difference between a Resume and a Selection Criteria?
The main difference between the two (2) is that your Resume is a detailed synopsis of your professional background (usually expressed in a clear and concise dot point format) whereas a Selection Criteria is the story behind the facts.
So how do you tell the story?
Great Question!
In a nutshell, there are two (2) key concepts you need to remember in answering a Criterion (each individual point): –
• Where did you learn the skill?
• How have you applied the skill in your current or previous position?
Now all you need to do is expand on the above stated points (Where and How) and provide the reader with one (1) or two (2) practical applications of the skill. This may be an operational responsibility or a specific project or event that you have worked on.
Finally, remember that a good Selection Criteria like a Resume it should never be more than 5 pages in length. Thus as a rough guide each criterion should be no more than 250-300 words. However some criterions will only be a one sentence (or line) response for example must have current drivers licence. In which you confirm that you have a current and valid drivers licence, give the licence number and expiry date and state that evidentiary support will be provided as proof of statement of claim at a mutually convenient interview.
Good Luck with your employment applications!
Blu Ripples – “Helping you through life’s ripples”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (2010 Version)
Katherine Foster is the Founder of Blu Ripples, a Counselling practice in Sydney, NSW. Initially commencing in 2003 as HR Aspects (Career Consulting Practice), Katherine rebranded her business to Blu Ripples in 2009 to incorporate Personal, Career and Workplace Counselling Services into her practice. Katherine is a nationally registered Counsellor and a current Member of the Australian Counselling Association. Before commencing her private practice in 2003, Katherine predominantly worked in Human Resources and Administration.
© 2010 - Katherine Foster T/as Blu Ripples
Reloaded and Reformatted: 15 Feb 2025. Original Version 25 Sept 2010
Katherine's Photograph: 2023
