Getting Selection Criteria Right: An interview with Dr Ann Villiers – Australia’s only Mental Nutritionist

Anyone who has been in the job market in the last few years knows that it’s been getting harder and harder to secure a job in Australia. This is backed up by a report by finder.com.au, which found that the hardest thing about living in Australia is landing a job.

Now that the Australian Public Service requires most departments to go through a selection criteria process for job applicants, knowing how to respond has become crucial. With the right information and preparation, the selection criteria process can be a way for you to stand out from other applicants and secure the job you’ve been dreaming about. This is where Dr Villiers steps in to help.

Dr Ann Villiers is Australia’s only Mental Nutritionist®, specialising in helping people to think more flexibly and speak more confidently by mastering mind and language sense-making processes. She is nationally known for her work in demystifying selection criteria, including her bestselling eBook How to Write and Talk to Selection Criteria.

 

Q: So what exactly is a Mental Nutritionist?

A: A Mental Nutritionist is a person who understands that how we get along with people depends on how we interpret what is happening and how we make sense of things. For example, a job applicant needs to make sense of the job, the organisation and the selection process, and then interpret their history to match that context.

 

Q:What are selection criteria and why do people find them difficult to respond to?

A: Selection criteria as used in job descriptions set out the qualifications, skills, experience and qualities needed in order to perform the duties of the job. People find them difficult to respond to because they don’t understand what they are, don’t know how they should respond, or haven’t mastered the writing skills to present their case for the role.

 

Q:What is the most important thing employers are looking for when reading selection criteria responses?

A: As selection criteria form the basis for deciding who is offered a job, employers are looking to see who has the strongest case in demonstrating they meet those requirements.

 

Q:What are the biggest mistakes that you’ve seen in SC responses?

A: There are many mistakes people make. A critical one is not realising that the selection criteria need to be responded to. Another is talking in generalities rather than giving specific evidence of how you have applied the skills referred to in the criteria.

 

Q: Is there any help available for people struggling with writing responses?

A: People can find help from several sources. These include websites, such as MyFuture, books, or seeking professional help from a career development practitioner. Qualified practitioners can be found by using the Find a Practitioner function on www.cdaa.org.au.

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