Your Guide to the Federal Job Process

Focused KSA Statements are Your Key Success

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.