Selection criteria that give you the best chance of an interview.
Selection criteria are the most technically demanding part of any government or public sector application. We write them from scratch, with you, using the STAR framework and the language assessors are trained to look for.
★★★★★4.9/5 from 737 Trustpilot reviews60,000+ careers since 2011Who uses our selection criteria writing service?
Selection criteria responses are required for most government, public sector and not-for-profit roles in Australia. They're assessed against specific standards and need a different approach from a cover letter. Our consultants specialise in what assessors look for and write to meet the standard.
Australian Public Service (APS)
APS 3 to EL2 applications, including roles assessed against the APS Work Level Standards and Integrated Leadership System.
State and local government
NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and ACT government roles, including health, education, justice and infrastructure agencies, and local councils.
Not-for-profit and community sector
Responses that meet each organisation's own values and capability frameworks.
Every type of selection criteria response.
Capability-based criteria
Leadership, communication, analytical thinking, stakeholder management and technical skills, matched to the framework the agency uses.
Behavioural criteria (STAR)
Situation, Task, Action, Result. We draw the right examples from your experience and structure them to meet the word count and assessment standard.
Technical and professional criteria
Role-specific requirements, qualifications, regulatory knowledge and sector experience - depth without padding.
Values-based criteria
Integrity, collaboration, diversity and community commitment, common in health, NFP and local government. Genuine and specific, not generic.
Graduate and entry-level criteria
Graduate programs, traineeships and entry-level roles. We draw on academic projects, placements, volunteering and transferable skills.
University professional staff
Higher education roles with their own specific criteria, pitched at the right level for the panel.
Applying for an SES or equivalent senior role? Careers Expert Group specialises in executive resumes, branding and transitions.
Four steps to a submission-ready application.
Send us the job ad
Share the job advertisement and selection criteria document. Your consultant reviews them before your call.
One-to-one Zoom consultation
A focused call to find the strongest evidence for each criterion and map your career history to the role.
Written and delivered
Every response written from scratch, properly structured and within the word limit. Delivered within 3 business days of your call.
Revisions until it's ready
Unlimited revisions. Most clients are ready to submit after one round of feedback.
Written by a selection criteria specialist, to the panel's standard.
Everything from your first consultation call to your final submission-ready document. No per-criterion add-ons.
What our selection criteria clients say.
★★★★★4.9/5 from 737 reviews"I worked with Sarah and had an amazing experience, very happy with the results! She understood my background and current transition to another sector perfectly, and quickly transformed my CV, cover letter, and LI profile for my new goals."
"Lorraine has been professional, patient and amazing in transforming my CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn. Upon first couple of changes, I have seen positive changes to my job applications."
"The consultation questions really pulled out abilities and achievements I had been diminishing. The finished CV has given me confidence as I seek to transition out of my current industry after a career break."
"Diana listened to my feedback and also had excellent suggestions to help me create a great resume. We exchanged several emails to refine my cover letter and she has the patience of a saint."
"She literally helped transformed my Resume and ensured I was extremely satisfied with my Resume, Cover letter and LinkedIn optimization."
"Starting my second career, I had no idea how to tie in my previous working life with a very different second career. Kerri succeeded in reflecting me perfectly on paper and making my previous experience seem indispensable to my new career path."
Frequently asked questions.
How many criteria can you cover?
The service covers a response document of up to 2 pages. How many criteria that fits depends on the word limits in the job ad - most roles with 4-6 criteria fit comfortably. If your role has more criteria or longer limits, contact us first and we'll advise.
What does the consultation call involve?
A focused Zoom call with your consultant, who will have reviewed the job ad and criteria beforehand. Together you find the right examples from your career, match them to each criterion and map them to the STAR framework.
Do I need a resume to use this service?
No. A current resume is helpful context, but the consultation provides everything needed to write your responses.
How quickly can you turn it around?
Within 3 business days of your consultation call. Tight deadline? Tell us when you request your quote and we'll advise on expedited turnaround.
Can you also write my resume for the same application?
Yes. Your consultant can work across both documents so the story is consistent. See our resume writing service.
Get a free resume review. Same day. No obligation.
A public sector specialist will review your resume personally and tell you exactly what needs to change. Or book a free consultation to talk through your application.