KSA stands for Knowledge, Skills and Abilities, and is a section on the resume which is designed to tell potential employers about your capabilities which make you the right fit for the job offered. It is a section generally included in Federal resumes; it is much more detailed than what you would typically find on resumes meant for the private sector; and it lists a unique set of qualifications and personal attributes that is required for a particular job. Hence, the purpose of a KSA is to measure these special qualities in order that it differentiates one candidate from another. The extent to which an applicant matches the position’s defined KSAs, will eventually determine whether he or she will be considered for the post.
Knowledge statements refer to information which is generally factual or procedural, and that which allows for adequate performance and contribution on the job, if applied.
Skill statements are those which refer to proficiency in verbally, mentally, or manually manipulating data or things (and can be measured by a performance test). For instance, typing skills.
Ability statements refer to the power to execute an apparent activity. They differ from aptitudes which are only the potential to execute the activity.
KSAs simply cannot be ignored and must always be given prime attention while crafting your Federal resume. Sometimes relative importance is given to each KSA and at other times specific KSAs are focused on as Desirable (D) or Mandatory (M) for a particular position. However, you need to assume that each one is equally important and must address them adequately if no distinguishing factor is indicated. Each job posting will have its own requirements and it is absolutely necessary to read the job advertisement very carefully in order to write a satisfactory KSA.
Federal government jobs require resumes which are in stark contrast to those used for the private sector. While writing your KSA, you need to adhere to certain rules established by the government. One of the main factors that gets you selected for a Federal position is the mere fact that you possess much more than what is requested in the job announcement. However, if you excel in KSA writing, it will definitely get you a higher grade and demonstrate that you are a perfect match for the job. Keep visiting our website and we will be back next week with tips on writing an effective KSA. We would appreciate your feedback and suggestions which you could provide on feedback@preferredresumes.com
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