How to stand out from the crowd when applying for work It can be a challenge to stand out from the crowd when applying for a job, especially during our current economic situation. This can feel the case as there is more competition than ever with fewer jobs and more applicants. However, fixating on this will not help you, instead focus on doing what you need to do to separate yourself from the pack.   Five tips that can help you stand out from the crowd are:   1. Make a personal connection. Personally, address your documents, as this immediately portrays you as a dedicated and resourceful applicant. 2. Improve your application documents. A resume that’s riddled with typos and grammatical errors. A cover letter that contains the wrong company name. This will surely make the hiring manager remember you, but not necessarily in a positive light. Also, ensure that you include quantifiable achievements in your resume that don’t only tell how great you are at what yo...

What is selection criteria and what is it used for? You may have come across a position and as part of the job application process, they have asked you to address a set of key selection criteria in addition to attaching a copy of your resume and cover letter. So, you may ask, what is selection criteria and what is it used for? According to the University of Melbourne , they define selection criteria as: Key  selection criteria are the skills, attributes, knowledge and qualifications  that the employer has defined as being essential for satisfying the  requirements of the job and can be found in every Position Description.  So that the employer has some level of surety that who they interview can meet the requirements of the position, they use a set of selection criteria , which can be anywhere from 5 criteria to 15 criteria. Candidates who do not address each criterion run the risk of not being shortlisted for the role. A risk, that many wil...