Selection Criteria For advertised vacancies in the Public Service, statutory bodies, universities, and many organisations in the private sector, applicants are normally required to address the selection criteria. Attached to this JDF are the selection criteria. Generally, a distinction is drawn between essential and desirable criteria.
Essential criteria are the minimum requirements for the position.
Desirable criteria are those skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience that would enhance someone s ability to perform the duties of the position. Selection criteria are used by the selection panel to distinguish between one application and another. Merit selection is based on a belief that the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour. Therefore, selection panels will feel much more confident about predicting your ability to perform a job if they can ascertain how you have performed in similiar circumstances previously. It is not sufficient for you to simply state that you possess certain skills or experience.