Job Application Skills For Life

Criterial delivers selection criteria response training services, including job application training, personalised review and interview preparation services.

An absolute master in what he does, incredibly helpful, always punctual and polite. Would recommend him to anyone without hesitation.

Benjamin H

I didn’t realise how off the mark i actually was with my answers until Richard steered me clear into the right direction. His online course for selection criteria is also a hidden gem and it helped me greatly. Thanks for your help mate.

Hayley M

How We Help You Get Your Next Public Service Role

We’ve got a range of services to help you hit your next career milestone. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking at entry-level roles, switching sectors, or building your capabilities – we’ve got the workplace skills training to support you.

Online training courses: Learn from anywhere and gain new skills – upskill and understand how to write an application that wins interviews, or get the knowledge you need to write a competitive selection criteria response.
One-on-one coaching: Get intensive support online or in-person for tailored support that works to your schedule and your individual needs.
Support when you’re free: Online training is always available and our one-on-one services are primarily evenings and weekends.
Group Training: For industry trainers or staff development managers, we'll help you set up a personalised session on the public sector application process. We can also help provide transition services for military and law enforcement personnel, who are looking for job-seeking advice and group training services in their transition to civilian life.
Free Resources: Access expert-created content on a range of topics as diverse as career changes, avoiding age biases in recruitment, interview preparation, internal role applications, soft skills and written selection responses.

Are you looking for career support and employability skills training in the public sector? Criterial offers clear, expert advice on how to land your next role, with tailored training and online learning. No matter if it's your first public service role, or the next step up on the ladder – we're here to help you reach your potential.

Who We Help

We lend a hand throughout your entire career lifecycle, helping you gain the workplace skills you need to succeed in your job search.

What Kinds of Roles Can We Help With?

What kinds of roles could you land with the help of Criterial? We help you prepare for a role anywhere in the public service, from administration, communications, social services, planning, education and beyond. We’ve worked with candidates across both state and federal government public services, so whatever your ambition, we’re here to help.

What You'll Learn

Our courses and tailored training services cover the following areas:

Interviewing Skills

Did you know that government roles often follow unique (and rigorous) interviewing protocols? Did you know most roles you will only get one interview/opportunity to sell yourself? You're much less likely to be intimidated if you know exactly what's coming – we give you all the support you need to feel confident in your interviews.

How to respond to key selection criteria

There is a wrong and a right way to write these – and government recruiters have very specific requirements. Thankfully, it can be taught – we'll give you the skills you need to ace this skill once and for all. How to highlight your own career successes on paper and in person, both in selection criteria writing and in interview.

Career-change tactics

We'll help you build a strategy, navigate the interview questions you might be asked and help you polish your transferrable skills, so that they're clear to any public sector recruiter you engage with.

Overcome unconscious age bias in the workplace

Age bias can subtly influence recruiting dynamics. We offers insights for mitigating these biases so you’re being assessed on your skills alone.

How to successfully navigate job searches through government website

Find what you're looking for, no matter how big the pool is. We'll give you the inside knowledge you need to identify the best role for you.

Soft skills

Often, employers are looking for more than expertise and experience. Workplace fit is an important recruiting principle in many jurisdictions. We help you identify and build on the so-called 'soft skills' that help you get ahead in your role. They're skills that you can use in interviews, in your broader career, and in your day-to-day life.

Our Selection Criteria Writing Training Services

Understand how our selection criteria writing training services can help you stand out. Here’s an overview of what we’ve got on offer.

What is selection criteria writing?

Simply put, this is how you respond to the criteria outlined in the job advertisement. It’s the way you catch the attention of the recruiter: applying for a job is a competitive process and to get an interview you must have a competitive written selection criteria response. There are specific ways, techniques, and strategies that you can learn to make this process easy.

Why is selection criteria writing so important to public sector roles?

For public sector roles, it’s not just interview skills or presenting a clear resume. When you know how to specifically read, interpret and respond to a government job description, you can stand out in the eyes of public sector recruiters in your responses. The public sectors have a unique recruitment process and require candidates to respond in a unique way. Candidates who understand these intricacies will have a distinct advantage over their peers at every stage of the process.

Why Criterial?

Government selection criteria focussed

Our courses focus on government selection criteria writing, the STAR method, government competency frameworks and are applicable to all state, federal and local government positions.

Easy delivery

Training is completed online, at your own pace in your own time. Complete a course in a few hours, when it’s convenient for you.

One time expense

Once you have completed the training, you will be able to write your own applications, now and in the future. You will be able to write an application for any government for any competency framework. This is because you will understand the principles of applying.

Developed from more than 20 years of recruiting experience

Our team has decades of expertise in just government selection criteria and recruitment processes.

How we help: Providing quality training for selection criteria writing

Learning the skills for how to write selection criteria is easy based on the training we provide. We offer both online courses and one-on-one training.

What is selection criteria writing?

Our online courses and services have helped 100s of job seekers write exceptional selection criteria responses and land a job they love.

Gain the knowledge and skills in a couple of hours of training. Choose from the available online courses including how to highlight work experience examples from your career on your resume or we can customise training and interview preparation to suit your needs.

One-on-one training for selection criteria writing

For individuals looking for intensive support in this area, or seeking broader career support can benefit from training with one of our recruitment specialists. We bring you up to speed with all the training you need to stand out and help you gain the confidence you need to perform.
Get in touch with us to discuss an option that works best for you.

Meet the Team

The team has decades of experience in government recruitment, reading selection criteria, interviewing and even writing position descriptions.

We give you all of the knowledge gained for you to use in writing your own selection criteria responses.

Our Employability Skills Training Services

We’re here to support you on your journey to the public service role you’re hoping for: we teach you how to stand out, even before you walk into your first-round interview. Our approach is unique: we give you the knowledge that you can apply over and over again, rather than cutting corners and acting as selection criteria writers ourselves. This way, you get a scalable, lifelong skill that you can apply as your career in the public sector grows and develops.

What People are Saying about Criterial

Highly recommend! Richard is very knowledgeable about the hiring process within Government and especially about selection criteria. He pays attention to details and helps you to present your skills and capabilities in writing the selection criteria and then getting ready for the interview! Thanks Richard for all your help

Richard was very helpful and knowledgeable about the job application process, particularly with the key selection criteria and breaking it down into what the employer was 'really' asking for. He was quick to offer feedback and suggestions, and I went into my interview feeling confident and ready. It worked too - as I got the job. Highly recommended!

I completed his short online course on how to address KSC. Through the completion of the course and Richard's assistance I no longer feel daunted about addressing KSC. This has been an empowering experience. Many thanks.

Highly recommend Richard - he provided quick and valuable feedback on my selection criteria. I completed his two courses he offers online which were quick and very useful - i feel so much more confident in addressing the criteria and even feel more confident about interviews!

What Training Do I Need?

Applying for a government job involves completing a selection criteria response, being shortlisted, attending an interview and sometimes other tests. Our training is customised to the government job application process and covers all aspects you need to know to make sure you are competitive throughout.