How to Address Selection Criteria (STAR Method)

Selection criteria can feel daunting, but they follow a predictable pattern: each one asks you to prove a skill or quality with a real example. Once you know how to structure an answer, you can work through them one at a time. The most widely used approach in Australia is the STAR method.

What are selection criteria?

Selection criteria are the specific skills, knowledge and qualities an employer has decided are essential for a role. You'll most often see them in government, public-sector, council, university, healthcare and not-for-profit applications. Instead of just sending a resume, you're asked to respond to each criterion in writing — for example, "Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team" or "Strong written communication skills".

Check the format the employer asks for. Some want a separate response to each criterion (often with a word limit per answer); others ask for a single "statement of claims" or a "pitch" of one to two pages that covers them together. Always follow the instructions in the application pack.

The STAR method

STAR is a simple way to structure each answer so it actually proves your claim with evidence:

• Situation — briefly set the scene: where you were and what was happening.
• Task — what you were responsible for, or the problem you needed to solve.
• Action — what you did, step by step. This is the most important part, so spend the most words here and use "I", not "we".
• Result — what happened, ideally with a measurable outcome.

Each response is usually one tight paragraph (or a short set of points) built around a single, relevant example.

How to structure a response

1. Read the criterion closely and note the key words — these tell you exactly what to prove.
2. Pick one strong example from your work, study or volunteering that clearly shows that skill.
3. Write it using STAR, keeping the Situation and Task short and giving most space to your Action.
4. Finish with a result — a number, an outcome, or a change that happened because of what you did.
5. Check the length against any word limit, and use the same key words the criterion uses.

Worked example 1: working in a team

• Situation: In my role as a customer service officer at XXXX, our team faced a busy end-of-financial-year period with a large backlog of enquiries.
• Task: I needed to help clear the backlog while keeping service quality high, and to support two newer team members who were still learning.
• Action: I suggested we split the enquiries by type so each person handled what they knew best, set up a shared tracker so we could all see progress, and paired with the newer staff to talk through the trickier cases.
• Result: We cleared the backlog within two weeks, kept our customer satisfaction scores steady, and the team kept using the tracker afterwards.

Worked example 2: written communication

• Situation: At XXXX, managers were spending a lot of time answering the same questions by email about a new process.
• Task: I was asked to create clear written guidance that staff could follow on their own.
• Action: I wrote a plain-English, step-by-step guide, then tested it with two colleagues who had never used the process and revised it based on their feedback to remove jargon.
• Result: Questions to managers dropped noticeably, and the guide was adopted as the standard reference for new staff.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Writing "we" instead of "I". Assessors need to see your individual contribution.
• Describing duties, not examples. A specific story with a result is far more convincing than a list of responsibilities.
• Leaving out the result. The outcome is what proves the skill worked.
• Ignoring word limits or the requested format. Follow the application pack exactly.
• Using one example for everything. Vary your examples so you show range.
• Forgetting the key words. Mirror the language of each criterion so the match is clear.

When your criteria responses are ready, make sure the rest of your application is just as strong — see how to write a resume and cover letter in Australia.