Well Written and Focused KSA Statements are Your Key to the Locked Interview Door

If you feel that the interview door is locked when it comes to applying for a coveted Federal position, well-written and focused KSA statements are your key to opening that door.

A KSA statement actually stands for Knowledge, Skills and Abilities and outlines the qualities you possess that make you an ideal candidate for a certain Federal job.  KSA statements are not questions but each one posed requires an answer because that lets a prospective employer know if you are a viable candidate for the position.  Because your KSA statements show what you can do, well-written statements can get you the interview while poorly constructed responses will disqualify you immediately.

To write great KSA statements, you need to:

• respond completely to the statements, relating in detail how your skills relate to what is needed for the job;
• give specific examples of how and where you gained relevant experience;
• respond simply and in understandable language incorporating the keywords used in the job posting;
• incorporate all your pertinent experiences into your KSAs to maximize your potential and sell your best qualities; and
• make sure to proofread your KSAs so they are free of errors.

Hiring a professional resume writer who is familiar with Federal specifications can help you to construct effective KSA statements that mean the difference between opening doors or keeping them closed.

The Top 5 Mistakes Most Federal Applicants Make When Writing Their Own Government Resume

Writing a federal resume is much different than preparing a resume for submission to the private sector. Consider the top 5 mistakes most federal applicants make then they try to write their own government resume:

1. Your resume is not the proper length and fails to provide sufficient details – a federal resume is 2-3 pages long while most private industry resumes are crowded onto 1 page;
2. Your resume does not include the right keywords to be considered for the position – it is essential to carefully review the job vacancy announcement for the keywords that describe the position you are applying for so you can use those keywords throughout your application;
3. Your resume does not contain necessary compliance details such as your social security number, citizenship information, military experience, federal government experience or pertinent background about your work experience;
4. Your resume is grammatically incorrect or contains spelling errors; and
5. Your resume fails to comply with the requirement for Federal submission as detailed in the job vacancy announcement.

If the Federal job application process seems overwhelming, you can make a solid investment in your future by hiring an experienced resume writer. A professional Federal resume can mean the difference between landing your dream government job or continuing to rewrite your resume to try to get it right.

A Reader Asks: The Federal Job Announcement I am Interested in is Asking me to Answer a Technical Qualification. What is it?

A technical qualification is answered much like KSA (knowledge, skill and abilities) statements. Your specific qualifications are required and certain Federal job announcements may also have multiple choice questions that will need to be answered. If you are using USAJOBS, the question may not be in the job announcement itself but it may be found during the application process. In other words, to find out a technical qualification question, you may have to start applying for the job first.

You must answer technical qualification questions because they are required according to the Federal specifications for applying for the position. If you do not answer the technical questions, your Federal application will not be considered. Usually t he statements are written in a context, challenge, action and result format and require examples of your qualifications, such as the actions you took with regard to a particular challenge and the results achieved. Always include pertinent training, certifications and awards. Consider making a solid investment in your future by hiring a professional resume writer who is familiar with Federal specifications to prepare your application. Giving your Federal application a professional touch can mean the difference between landing that desirable position – or not getting it at all.

What Happens if I Exceed the Character Limits on my Federal Resume?

Q.  What happens if I exceed the characters limits on my Federal resume?

A.  Remember that your Federal resume is the first impression your prospective employers get of you and your qualifications.  Federal resumes and job applications follow a specific format and you must follow the guidelines provided for applying.  When your Federal gov resume or job application exceeds the designated character limit, the Federal system will recognize you did not follow the instructions right away.

When you are applying online, if your Federal resume or job application goes over the character limit, in some cases, you will be prohibited from completing the online job application process or at the very least only parts of your resume will make it into their database because the application will prompt you to reduce the character limit for each section.  You will not be able to move onto other sections of the Federal job application if your required document exceeds the stated character limit.  When you consider character limit, you need to remember that spaces count because certain Federal systems do not have the feature that counts your characters meaning you will have to keep track of this on your own.  Also, each Federal job you apply for will have their own unique requirements and a different number of characters allowed on your application and resume.  Therefore, it is necessary to carefully review the specifications and character limits for each Federal job before you apply so you can comply with the guidelines for submission.  If these requirements seems tough to comply with, consider hiring a professional resume writer who is familiar with Federal specifications to prepare and submit your resume.  Having the right resume and job application in the competitive Federal job arena can mean the difference between landing a coveted Federal position and just dreaming about it.

Have a Plain Text Version of your Federal Resume Ready for Some Online Application Sites

Are you trying to attain a coveted Federal position?  Along with following the various guidelines that apply to Federal resumes and applications, you should also have a plain text version of your Federal resume ready for certain online application websites.

If you are applying online, it is necessary to have a resume formatted in plain text.  Although a resume prepared in a standard work processing program such as Word Perfect or Microsoft word may look cleaner and neater, there are also other programs for word processing and there is actually no particular standard that is used by everybody.  Because of this, the majority of online Federal job application websites require that you post your resume in .txt format, commonly referred to as plain text.  Your KSA (knowledge, skills and abilities) statements should also be submitted online in plain text format, whenever it is asked or required.

To convert your Federal application documents into plain text in Microsoft word, go to “file”, select “save as” and then select “plain text”, then go into the file and verify the formatting was updated and delete any odd spaces or characters that may appear.  If you want to ensure your resume is properly formatted and submitted, hire a professional resume writer to take care of it.  Having a resume writer prepare your Federal application can mean the difference between getting the job you want or not even getting an interview.

What Happens When You Exceed Character Limits on a Federal Job Application or Resume

Federal job applications and resumes must follow a certain format and comply with the guidelines.  What happens when you exceed the character limits on a Federal job application or resume?  The Federal system immediately recognizes you did not follow the guidelines.

If your Federal job resume or application exceeds the character limit, you will not be able to complete the online application process.  You cannot advance to other sections of the Federal job application or resume if your document exceeds the character limit.  Spaces count and some systems do not have a character counting feature so you need to keep track of this yourself as you prepare your Federal job application and resume according to the specified guidelines.

Each federal job you apply for has different requirements and a different number of characters you can use on your application and resume.  You need to carefully review these character limits so you can progress properly with your Federal job application and submit your resume.  If these Federal job application and resume requirements are overwhelming, consider hiring a professional resume writer to prepare your employment documents.  A resume writer who is familiar with Federal specifications can craft a resume that will get you noticed rather than rejected.

Use Keywords in the Vacancy Announcement to Enrich a Federal Resume and KSAO

Your federal resume and KSAO outlining your knowledge, skills and abilities by using relevant keywords are the most important documents required to start or advance your career with the federal government.

Federal resumes are much different from those used to apply for positions in private industry. Most federal resumes are longer than private sector resumes because they contain basic compliance information that is required for consideration by government personnel. A federal resume and accompanying KSAO are actually critical marketing tools that summarize your career and make an overall personal presentation of what you have to offer as a prospective federal employee. Organized in a reverse chronological format, a federal resume can encompass anywhere from two to ten pages.

The best way to get your federal resume and KSAO noticed by government personnel is to use the keywords and core competencies listed in the job announcement itself. The strategic development of your federal resume and KSAO to include keywords used in the job announcement will get your resume noticed and put it at the top of the qualification selection.

If the federal resume process presents a challenge, consider hiring a professional resume writer who is familiar with federal specifications to prepare your resume and KSAO. Having a federal resume and KSAO that follows federal guidelines and incorporates essential keywords may mean the difference between attaining a coveted federal position or waiting for a telephone call that never comes.

Most People Cannot Write Effectively About Themselves: That is Where Federal Resume Writers Come In

If you find it difficult to write about yourself and your qualifications when applying for a federal position, you are not alone.  Often it is almost impossible to effectively write about your own assets to appropriately highlight them on a federal application.  This is where federal resume writers come in because they are skilled professionals who can properly write about your unique qualities to grab the attention of federal employers.

Federal positions are highly coveted because of the outstanding salary and benefits government employees enjoy.  As a result, it is extremely competitive to even get a federal job interview.  Applying for a federal position is a specific process that requires you to follow certain rules to submit information.  This regulations can get confusing and a federal resume writer is completely aware of these detailed requirements.  If you fail to properly submit your federal application and resume, you will never be called for an interview and will lose the opportunity to apply for a federal job.

Hiring a federal resume writer is a solid investment in your future.  By having a resume writer prepare your federal resume, you will assured that your qualifications are properly highlighted for a prospective employer to appreciate.  Additionally, your resume will be properly structured according to federal guidelines so your application doesn’t get thrown out.  Having a professional federal resume writer prepare your resume could mean the difference between getting a terrific federal position – or never even getting a call for an interview.

Black is Back: Keep Your Resume Fonts Crisp, Clean and Professional

Certain truisms apply to resumes regardless of the position for which you are applying.  One of the most prominent of these is that clean, crisp, black and white resumes written using standard professional fonts such as those found in the Times and  Georgia font families.

Why these two in particular? Because they are the most widely used in newspapers. Newspapers use these fonts because they are easy on the eye and easily understood. The advantage in using them on a resume is that the people who will read your resume are already accustomed to reading in these font formats and can therefore concentrate on content rather than form.

Using crisp, clean, professional fonts is good advice even if  you are applying for a position as art director at an ad agency noted for its Bohemian flair. The purpose of a resume is to impart information about you: Your name, contact information, schooling, honors, special skills and work experience in order to enable hiring personnel to make a good hiring decision. So keep your artier work in your portfolio and take it along to your job —the interview you got because your resume looked so professional!

Taking Your Career to the Next Level: Hiring a Professional Resume Writer

Hiring a professional resume writer can be a solid business decision in many prospective employment situations. Having a weak resume can ensure you get passed over for that dream job or great promotions. When a professional resume writer prepares your resume, employers are sure to take notice of your assets.

A professional resume writer knows exactly what employers are looking for in a competitive job market. When they analyze your skills and improve your resume, they can incorporate the necessary keywords to get you noticed for the position you want. Professional resume writers can even put your resume in various formats so it can be submitted to anyone in any forum or program.

It is particularly advantageous to have a resume writer prepare your resume when you are experiencing major career changes, such as graduating from school, applying for an executive position or seeking federal employment. Each type of position requires a different form of resume and a professional resume writer can make sure you are well-prepared for all your job interviews.

Spending the money to hire a professional resume writer is a solid investment in your professional future. Remember, your resume is the first thing prospective employers see about you and it should effectively sell you for the job.