Selection Criteria - How much do I need to write?

Responding to selection criteria is of the utmost importance. Hiring managers will review your statements addressing their criteria, possibly more so than they will read your resume.

Most employers are looking for particular traits, skills or experience when they request a response to selection criteria, so it's imperative that you follow their instructions and give your 'answers' in a clear, succinct and methodical manner.

One of the first things you should check in the employer's instructions is whether they have placed a word limit on the responses. Sometimes they will indicate a word or page limit for each response or for the total application. You must adhere to this.

If they have not specified a length, you could always call the company and speak to the HR department who will give you a rough idea of what they expect. Usually 1-2 typed A4 pages per response is appropriate. If you can include everything you need in one page, it is probably preferable, however for higher level jobs or more detailed criteria, you might find you need the extra space to respond sufficiently.