Selection Criteria Response: Displays Personal Drive and Integrity

If you have applied for your fair share of government jobs, there’s no doubt that you would have heard this line before: “displays personal drive and integrity.” Here’s how to answer it!

You would have seen this selection criterion come up across dozens of different job applications. This is because the Australian Public Service (APS) is expected to meet a certain standard across all government departments. To be sure of consistency, the Integrated Leadership System (ILS) determines the code of conduct and establishes what common language should be used in the job application process. This is so your state government can guarantee a certain standard that’s consistent across the Australian public service, and that all applications are written with levels and qualifications kept in mind. So, in order to keep APS values consistent, the selection criteria have to stay consistent, meaning that the same prompts come up all the time.

Since that’s the case, you’re probably wondering – if the public service is expected to meet a certain standard, how can I make sure that my job application meets their expectations? And how can I make sure that I’m not getting repetitive each time this selection criterion comes up?

The best way to tackle both of these concerns is to personalise your response according to the job you’re applying for. While you might be answering this question time and time again, your response should always be tailored to each individual job application. By looking at the job description closely, you can determine what your employer is seeking out, and create your response accordingly. To determine you display personal drive and integrity overall, your response should prove that you are someone that:

• Seeks out new tasks proactively, within efficient timeframes
• Personally invests in your workplace through productive working relationships with team members
• Commits to your own personal development by prioritising a well-balanced and positive approach
• Ethically and professionally shows judgement when necessary
• Effectively harnesses information and steers clear of crises through strategic thinking

To prove that you display personal drive and integrity in your workplace, your answer should explore all of these key qualities. To organically incorporate this into your response, delve into your previous work experience. Relate your work history to these qualities by discussing things like:

• A work scenario you were faced with that required your proactive action, proving that you’re someone that takes responsibility
• How your effective communication skills have helped you develop productive working relationships, proving that you work effectively as part of a team or as a team leader, with the ability to put individual differences aside
• Your ability to maintain self-awareness in high-stress working environments through your well-balanced approach
• An example of a difficult situation in a work environment, like a conflict of interest, that required your ethical and professional judgement
• Informed action you have taken in the past to avoid crises, proving that you have someone with personal courage that supports the strategic direction

Relating your previous experience in the workplace to your personal drive and integrity demonstrates how effective your skillset has proven to be, in real circumstances. You need to show the employer that you know personal drive and integrity come down to more than just buzzwords; it comes down to your real, honest commitment to the workplace. Show your employer that you see difficult work tasks you have faced in the past as learning opportunities for personal growth.

Once you have established what you want to discuss in your response, all you have to do is incorporate the job you’re applying for into what you plan to say. Prove that your previous experience relates to APS values and expectations. The best way to make sure you have ticked all the right boxes is to follow the STAR method: situation, task, action, result. Following the STAR method will help you organically incorporate the job criteria into your response so that you can meet expectations from every angle. Make sure that your cover letter isn’t your only stand-out by making your selection criteria response shine.

Answering Selection Criteria: Templates and Examples

Need to answer selection criteria for a job application? We’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide to addressing selection criteria with honesty and originality.