Applications

When applying for roles, you may wish to gain further information on the role opportunity or have application enquiries.

Gaining valuable information about the role

Most roles will provide the hiring managers contact details. To utilise this opportunity to uncover strategic information, see some tips below:

• Identify 2-3 intelligent questions to ask about the role. These can be specific or general such as:

• How do you envision a successful candidate in this role?
• What challenges have occurred in this role previously, or if this is a new role, what challenges do you anticipate the successful candidate experiencing?

These questions show the hiring manager that you are interested in the role. It also allows you to strategically use this information in your cover letter, which can set your application apart from others.

To help determine whether the position is right for you

Sometimes you may question whether a position is right for you after reading the job ad or position description. This is another reason why contacting the Hiring Manager can be beneficial. Common uncertainties can include:

• Clarifying how critical a particular skill is.
• Clarifying whether transferable skills are sufficient to address the role’s requirements.
• Clarifying flexible working arrangements.

Through gaining information on your suitability for the role, this can help determine whether you apply for the role or not.

Having a great resume and cover letter is really important when you are looking for your next opportunity.  Both are your first introduction to a potential new employer and will provide them with a clear and concise summary of your skills, experience and achievements. Your resume is a great way to get noticed and progress through to the next stage of the recruitment process. 

Basic tips

• The best CVs are brief and informative – only 2-3 pages​ 
• Use bold and bullet points to make it easy to see the different sections​ 
• No colour or pictures​ 
• Remember to spell check !​ 
• Use Arial as an easy to read font​ 
• Make sure it’s clear, concise and easy to read​ 
• Add a footer to each page with your name and contact phone number 

Addressing the selection criteria of a job is an essential part of the application process. Here are some steps to effectively address the selection criteria:

1. Understand the Selection Criteria: Thoroughly review the job description and any additional information provided by the employer. Identify the selection criteria or key qualifications they are seeking in a candidate. Pay attention to the specific skills, knowledge, experience, and personal attributes they are looking for.
2. Analyze and Prioritize: Break down each selection criterion into specific components or sub-criteria. Analyze how your qualifications align with each criterion and determine which ones are your strongest matches. Prioritize the criteria based on their relevance to the role and your level of proficiency.
3. Provide Concrete Examples: For each selection criterion, provide specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your competence or achievement in that area. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses. Describe the situation or task, explain the actions you took, and highlight the positive results you achieved.
4. Showcase Transferable Skills: Even if you don't possess direct experience in a particular criterion, emphasize your transferable skills or relevant accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to adapt and learn quickly. Draw connections between your past experiences and how they can be applied to the requirements of the job.
5. Use Clear and Concise Language: Write your responses in a clear, concise, and organized manner. Use bullet points or subheadings to break down your answers, making them easy to read and understand. Avoid jargon or technical terms that may not be familiar to the reader. Instead, use plain language that showcases your communication skills.
6. Quantify Achievements: Whenever possible, quantify your achievements or provide specific metrics to give context and demonstrate the impact of your actions. Numbers, percentages, or tangible outcomes help substantiate your claims and make your responses more compelling.
7. Tailor Responses to the Job: Customize your responses to align with the specific requirements of the job you are applying for. Highlight experiences or accomplishments that directly relate to the organization's needs and demonstrate your suitability for the role. Avoid generic or one-size-fits-all responses.
8. Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your application, carefully proofread your responses to ensure they are free of grammatical errors, typos, or inconsistencies. Edit for clarity, readability, and relevance. It may be helpful to ask someone else to review your responses for feedback and suggestions.

Remember to be honest and provide accurate information in your responses. It's crucial to strike a balance between showcasing your qualifications and remaining authentic. By effectively addressing the selection criteria, you increase your chances of standing out as a strong candidate for the job.

Helpful resources

Careers and Employability | Unpacking the Role Checklist (PDF, 59.8 KB)

Your cover letter should outline the following points: 

• A brief introduction about yourself and the purpose of the letter. Refer to the job you're applying for and your interest in it. 
• An outline of relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the role. Refer to two to three key points in your resume and expand on these in a way that highlights your suitability for the role. 
• Provide examples of your skills or how you've used them - the depth and detail of this will depend on the job ad and their request. 
• Sign off by saying you’d welcome the opportunity to meet to discuss the role, or that you’re happy to provide more information. 

For information on how to tailor and make your cover letter stand out, visit Seek.

More helpful resources

Writing cover letters | SEEK

A cover letter and resume are usually designed to complement each other. While a resume should include detailed information about your educational background and work experience in around two pages, a cover letter is usually shorter and sharper, and expresses your interest in the job you’re applying for. Read more

You might ask what stands before you and the job you are applying to.  Well it is simple, a good Resume. But before you look at drafting OR improving your Resume, you must decide how much information to include in essentially what has been your ‘life’s career journey’.

The best advice is that there is no hard and fast rule for creating a resume for a job, however, there are certain principles that if you follow will help your chances. This includes but is not limited to:

• Providing an opening statement to summarise your profile and intentions
• Listing your most valuable and recent working experience with detailed information about dates, locations, and duties set for all places of work
• Denoting skills and expertise inclusive of platforms, tools and programs
• Providing referees that hiring managers can call upon to verify your credentials.

There are 3 ways you can format your resume:

• Reverse Chronological format – most popular and ideal if you have had either a lengthy career history or a few roles
• Functional/skills-based format – this would be more ideally used when your career history is light OR you are looking to make a career change.
• Combination resume format – this is a good format for job seekers who have a diverse skillset.  When submitting your resume, this will be useful for applying to a job that requires expertise in different fields.

90% of cases we suggest the Reverse Chronological format

When choosing a layout for your resume 

• Keep it as short as possible – ideally communicate your experience in 2-4 pages
• ALWAYS include your name and up-to-date contact details
• Create sections in your resume that clearly reflects:
  • Professional Summary – 50 – 150 words describe your applicable experience
  • Skills summary – List systems, skills and competencies most relevant to the job you are applying to
  • Achievements – List key achievements, supported by facts.  It is a summary to grab interest by demonstrating you can add value to an organisation.
  • Work Experience – Preferably listed in reverse order, beginning with the most recent.  Include employer names, positions, date and primary responsibilities.
  • Education & qualifications – Keep concise by listing the qualification obtained and year of completion.
  • Reference – Include details of two reference/previous employers.  Most valued will be are those you reported to directly
  • Final checks – Spell check your resume – it is the first impression so take time to get it right.

More helpful resources

What is a resume? The essentials you need to know | SEEK

‘Resume’ is a word you’ll hear a lot during the job-hunting process. A resume, sometimes called a CV or curriculum vitae, is a document that lists your work experience, education, skills and achievements. Read more