• Each KSA statement should be one to one and one-half pages in length
• Each KSA should have one or two examples which demonstrate your knowledge, skill or ability
• KSAs can be written in first person such as: I designed the new system which increased …
• KSAs are graded by a personnel staffing specialist. You could get a grade from 0 (for nothing written) to possibly 25 points depending on how important this element is to the job.
• The KSAs are based on the knowledge, skills and abilities needed in the job.
• Your KSAs will demonstrate your ability to perform this job.
• KSAs are a written, informal "test." If the KSAs are well written, the hiring manager will enjoy reading your KSAs and they will go a long way to helping you win over other applicants.
• KSAs can make a difference between being qualified or not qualified
• The average amount of time spent on each set of KSAs is 3 hours.

Acutal Screen Capture

• Most people keep a base of KSA statements in a file and re-use them based on the KSA statement.
• KSAs should be based on accomplishments or critical incidents that demonstrate your knowledge, skill or ability.
• KSA examples should be specific, not general. Use details like dollar amounts, man-hours, percentages, numbers and volume to describe your accomplishments. How much time or money did your improvements save over the old way of doing things? What’s the percentage of improvement? What’s the volume (number) of applications, cases, contracts, etc. that you or your office handles per day, per week, per month? Is this an improvement? If so, how much?
• Use KSAs to paint a specific picture in the reader’s mind of the size and scope of your accomplishment. For example, managing a computer network in a single office with one server and 10 clients (end-users) is very different than managing a network spread across several buildings or states with dozens of servers and hundreds of end-users.

KSAs can include:

Paid and unpaid experiences
Education: degrees, courses and research projects
Awards and recognitions
Quotes from letters written by people who think you are great

WHY KSAs?

KSAs are critical to the Federal government’s application process. As you could see from the last page, "failure to complete will result in non-consideration for the job." That means the KSAs must be written in order to be considered.

The federal resume or application is the information that tells the decision-maker if you are qualified for the job and KSAs describe your skills so that the hiring manager can determine if you can perform their job. The application review is a three-step consideration process.

Acutal Screen Capture

Here is the Human Resources Review Process for determining your qualifications and for rating and ranking your KSAs:

Your total application will be sent to the federal agency. This will include your federal-style resume and KSAs for a specific announcement. The announcement might ask for other information as well; you have to read the instructions to determine what they want, i.e., college transcripts, DD-215, your last supervisory evaluation, etc.

Step 1
APPLICATION REVIEW: A Personnel Staffing Specialist will review your package to make sure you have completed the application correctly (lots of people don’t make it past this point). If the application is correct, they will review your resume to decide if you have the basic qualifications for the position.

Step 2
RESUME REVIEW: The staffing specialist will then review your application to determine if you meet the qualifications for the job. You can find this qualification information on every vacancy announcement. If you are qualified for the position they will usually decide if you are QUALIFIED or HIGHLY-QUALIFIED. If, you are either of these, then the KSAs are reviewed.

Step 3
KSA RATING AND RANKING: Each KSA will be graded from 5 to 20 points. They call this a "crediting plan." You will not be able to find out how many points are assigned to each KSA; you just need to write them knowing they will be graded. If your KSAs are well-written with examples, then you will be "certified" or placed on a Best Qualified list. This group of Best Qualified Candidates will go forward to the hiring manager or hiring panel for consideration. Sometimes a subject-matter expert (rather than the personnel generalist) will do the first review if your position is scientific or technical in nature. Your KSAs will demonstrate if you can write, if your experience and training fits their needs, and if you can follow directions.

Understanding the personnel review process and the importance of good KSAs is critical to your success in being hired by the federal government.

Read our FAQ