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...