To ask a question re. selection criteria?I'm applying for a job.

[HennyPennyHorror]

I'm sending my application tomorrow. Question is, should I add a document addressing the selection criteria separately from my CV and cover letter?

The criteria is quite vast! I can't cover it in my letter without making the letter ridiculously long...I've heard you should always address the criteria...?

No, I wouldn’t, no one wants to read more than they have to. How you meet the criteria should be obvious from the combination of your cv and cover letter. If something is clearly stated in your cv, you don’t necessarily have to say it again in the cover letter, unless it’s really important. Elaborate on the elements of the selection criteria where your application really stands out. I would almost certainly want to just bin applications that come with extra attachments that weren’t asked for.

Mind thank you....I did once get feedback from a job I applied for where they said I hadn't clearly indicated where I met the criteria...and there's an awful lot of very specific things in this one.

So I should just choose the areas where I really do fit the criteria in the strongest ways and outline them in the cover?

Presumably your cv will show that you fit many of the criteria anyway. If not, then re-word it so that it does.

Then you won't have to ramble on in the covering letter. Don't try to second-guess which criteria you think are the most important and concentrate on those though, because you can get it spectacularly wrong.

In the public sector it's quite normal to attach a document detailing how you meet the selection criteria. Recruiters haven't got time to go through your cv picking out the relevant information, it's much more helpful if you do that for them.

The CV that you draft for this application should be structured so as to make it clear how you meet the selection criteria, ideally in concise bullet points that draw the recruiter's eye to the relevant section(s) rather than lengthy paragraphs.

Elaborate on the elements of the selection criteria where your application really stands out.

No, don't do this. If you have a list of (for example) ten essential criteria, then you need to specify how you meet each one. If you focus on five of them then you're only going to get five points, however well you explain those five.

You need to cover the selection criteria somewhere, preferably in the cv and cover letter, if you can't do it there then yes use a seperate document. I worked in the public sector and when we sifted for interview we would score the application against the key criteria.

I'd make sure it was clear on cv where I meet the criteria and then do a lengthy cover letter stating briefly how you meet it.

In the public sector it's quite normal to attach a document detailing how you meet the selection criteria.

Most public sector organisations (in the UK at least) use standardised application forms these days and refuse to consider CVs and covering letters full stop.

I would have a separate document detailing the criteria and giving examples of how you meet each one.
Keep your actual CV very brief and don't go into huge detail with each job but where possible refer back to that job when describing how you meet the criteria.
The interviewer is more interested in how you can do their job than all the details of your previous work

This is a public sector position. My CV is complex owing to the nature of the work...as is the criteria on the job advert. So I am going to go with the people who agree that a separate doc is the way to go.

I can't adjust my CV to suit the criteria...it's well put together and very specific. It would be ridiculous to alter it for every job application!

There are at least 17 criteria to meet.

I know it's probably not a teaching job, but have a search for 'executive summary' in the TES forum - sounds like what you need.

You need to provide exactly what they’ve asked for - if they’ve said just CV and letter, that’s all they will be looking at when they shortlist. Is the selection criteria under headings? Is it divided into essential and desirable? If not I still think it’s possible to cover it in a CV and covering letter (qualifications, IT, work experience in CV; ‘partnership working’ etc in the letter). I absolutely altered my CV to fit the job with every job application. If you’re lucky enough to not have to complete an application form it’s the least you can do!

Are the 17 criteria under 3 or 4 headings? If so, set out the cover letter under the headings and write how you meet the criteria under each heading. 17 points isn’t really too much. You can fill in a page. In my experience, your cover letter should only be about how you meet the criteria, and you should never attach extra documents if they’ve not been asked for.

You shouldn’t have to change your cv for every job. It should set out all the experience you have and what you did in your previous jobs in a paragraph and education, qualifications. Your CV is like a portfolio of the things you have done, solely about you. The support letter is specific to the job you’re applying for.

Vashta it is divided into desirable and essential yes.

Persmmonn not under headings no....just a big list of essentials and two desirable.

Youre supposed to target your cv for every job application.

Ex public sector HR here (university). We asked for a cover letter that outlined how they met the selection criteria plus a CV. If people didn't submit a document outlining how they met the criteria then we would contact them for the document giving them a secondary deadline.

Definitely say how you meet the criteria. When you write it, link it back to the duties too. Eg they want someone who can put a budget together but in the selection criteria they want someone with good attention to detail, so bring the two points together in your example.

Maverick thanks....so by bringing two examples together, I'm shortening the letter?

Are these real criteria like skills or hype word criteria like "can do attitude"? If they are 'real' skills then I'd try to integrate them shortly to CV or Cover letter. Some must also be implied by your previous experience so I wouldn't add them necessarily.

You absolutely should tailor your CV to every individual job application. There is rarely a “one size fits all” CV. Each time you should emphasise the specific skills (out of the presumably many more you have) that are being sought for that particular vacancy.

17 criteria isn’t that many TBH so should be eminently doable within the documentation requested. The last few jobs I’ve applied for have all had 20+.

I can't adjust my CV to suit the criteria...it's well put together and very specific. It would be ridiculous to alter it for every job application!

This is exactly what you should be doing. Don't completely rewrite it, but highlight key achievements for the criteria. Also, a lot of the criteria can be grouped. Project management, experience managing a team, leadership skills, etc. can all be addressed with one point.

Remember this: A CV isn't a comprehensive list of things you have done. It is a Marketing document. You cannot be subtle, you need to explicitly state why you have the skills/ experience so you can market yourself for the job.

You need to address every single point in your covering letter with examples of how you meet the criteria. I do this for every job and it’s rare I don’t get an interview. You should also adapt your CV as necessary and save various versions of it

I would jot down a brief sentence beneath each criteria, to say how you meet each one with an example. Once you’ve done this you then have your ‘draft’ copy. Then go through and rewrite it into paragraphs that flow, and you can combine 2 or 3 points that are similar/or generic into one. It won’t feel too long then - you might find you can use one example to clearly demonstrate several points.

I always write cover letters in PEE paragraphs, it helps me keep it succinct and only include relevant info (I have a tendency to waffle on and struggle with structure so keeping this format in mind helps loads)

Zoe literally highlight them?

Apple wouldn't it make my letter really long or is that OK?