If you’re applying for a government position, it’s important to know how to incorporate KSAs into your federal resume. For quicker results, it is of vital importance to have a federal resume that is specifically tailored to the job for which you’re applying. Federal resumes have their own specific requirements, and one of the most important parts of a federal resume is the KSA.

What is a KSA and How to Use it In Your Federal Resume?

KSAs are the attributes required to perform a job. KSA statements show how you applied your Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities to achieve results in your previous positions.

In the past, most government jobs had a list of KSA questions for applicants to answer to determine the candidate’s skill level and qualifications. KSA questions were answered in separate statements that addressed each question, resulting in a very lengthy resume.

Today, many federal jobs still require KSAs, but they aren’t as prevalent as they once were. Now, it’s considered optimal to incorporate KSA points into the federal resume itself, highlighting the skills desired for the job in the summary of achievements and overall work experience that showcase what the potential employer wants to see. This results in a federal/KSA hybrid resume.

At Capstone Resume Services, we offer both approaches, depending on what your future employer is looking for. We still write separate KSA responses for applications that include specific KSA questions, but we also incorporate KSAs into the federal resumes we create, utilizing the federal resume/KSA blend method.

Whether you need separate KSA statements or want to incorporate them into your resume, there are a few important things to consider when thinking about KSAs:

Include Job Description Keywords

If the position you are applying for doesn’t have separate KSA questions, you must read the job posting carefully to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities the organization is looking for. Look for specific keywords that stand out as you read the job post, and then be sure you include those keywords in your own resume, building your KSA statements around them. 

The most important keywords are found in the responsibilities section of the job description. Be vigilant about repeating keywords and ensure you seamlessly incorporate them in your resume naturally. This is an easy and effective way to tailor your resume to a specific position.

And, if you’re looking to apply to similar positions under the same role title, look at a few job descriptions that you really like, and see where there is a keyword overlap. If there are a few specific keywords that stand out in all the descriptions, make sure they are included in your standardized resume for greater success with applicant tracking software and recruiters’ first impressions.  

Keep It Concise

It’s important that your KSAs are short, clear, and concise, emphasizing your accomplishments and highlighting how you use your skillset to get results. If you have specific KSA questions to answer, be sure your response fully answers the question. Likewise, use examples to back up your skills and show how you have tangibly added value to every past position. 

Use Numbers to Present Your Value

When incorporating your KSAs into your federal resume, be sure to use numbers, percentages, or concrete examples of impact to back up your claims and show your value. Include specific dollar amounts, times, and quantities where you can. It’s important to be as specific as possible, as hiring managers want to be sure that you not only can perform certain tasks, but that you can perform them well. By quantifying your accomplishments and providing concrete examples, you’ll signal that you have the skills necessary to excel in the new position and be an asset to their organization.

Don’t be Afraid of Detail

To be rated as “Best Qualified” for the position and have your resume passed on to the selection team, it’s crucial that you provide as much information on your past experiences as possible. Use fewer but more powerful words. Likewise, concentrate on explaining the value created at every position and not on the tasks performed. Better yet, show how the tasks you’ve learned led to value creation, especially if you took leadership initiative. 

If you’re applying for a government position, detail is key. Employers want to know about your past experiences, so providing them with examples of past projects that highlight exactly what you did for a company and how you achieved it will help paint a full picture of the type of employee you are.

Whether you’re in need of traditional KSA statements or are looking to weave your KSAs into your resume, Capstone Resume Services can help! Our experienced professional resume writers have over 75 years of combined experience and know exactly what hiring managers are looking for. We start the resume writing process with a one-on-one personal consultation that allows us to learn about your experience, accomplishments, skills, and goals. From there we will create a professional federal resume that is sure to impress hiring managers and help you land that dream position.

Tips for Writing an Effective Federal Resume

To really stand out as a candidate in addition to your KSA statements, here are a few federal resume tips to consider for even greater leverage:

• Create Two Current Resumes. Given that your public sector resume probably includes details that you don’t usually share when applying for private-sector jobs, you might consider passing the private sector one around when networking, even in government-type environments.
• Be Concise. Even though federal agencies want detailed descriptions of your prior work, they are looking for more than job description language. Quality matters, so be creative about how you showcase your strengths. Develop statements that highlight measurable results from your time on the job. This provides a visual professional journey progression for the reader.
• Include Five References (if possible). The federal format will require a supervisor’s name, contact information, and the job title you’ve held for each of your positions. In terms of best federal resume practices, 5 references are generally desired. If you don’t have five government positions in your work history, you can add non-related references to the bottom of the resume.
• Keywords Matter. However, be tactical about how you use them. Do not simply put a ‘keywords’ section in your resume. Instead, showcase how you utilized the keywords in your experience with actions and results. By highlighting measurable outcomes of your professional experiences, you will let hiring managers know that your skills translated to concrete project outcomes.

Examples of KSA Statements 

If you’re still unsure about how to word and include KSAs within your resume, here are just a few examples that showcase KSAs in action. The best place to include your KSA statements is at the beginning of every role you list. Think of the one-liner as your value proposition – a marketing hook – that helps the reader contextualize the detailed description of your responsibilities that comes after the statement. 

Here are a few concrete examples of how to word your KSA statements:

KSA #1 Demonstrated the ability to manage an additional project within schedule constraints, and ensured it was successfully launched on time. 

KSA #2 While learning new leadership skills within the context of a foreign country, took on new employee training and supervision, which helped the team meet its annual goals. 

KSA #3 Found a way to simplify project management processes that saved the team $30,000 in annual expenses. 

Again, make sure that your KSA statements capture the readers’ curiosity and are impressive. Stay away from showcasing ordinary tasks and regular outcomes that are already assumed to have been performed in your position. You can always delve into more detail within the bullet points that follow. This is your opportunity to ‘wow’ the selection committee and entice them to keep reading. 

Tell Your Story 

When it comes to writing your federal resume and KSAs, always keep in mind that tangible results are the most impressive in the eyes of hiring managers. If you can quantify your impact, you can signal the value you will be able to bring to your new federal position.

And, if you aren’t able to quantify your impact, then tell a great story! Show how your abilities and soft skills improved the team morale, were lauded by your supervisors, and led to others succeeding. All of these are parameters that show what an asset and how irreplaceable you would be in your new position.

Doing it all on your own can be time-consuming and difficult. To take the first step on your government job search with Capstone Resume Services. We have all the skills and expertise in the federal niche to make your resume stand out from the competition and get you the job!

If you’ve been looking for comprehensive tips that can help your federal resume stand out from the crowd, you’ve come to the right place!

Working as a government employee can allow you to have a positive impact on your country and the world. As a civil servant working for the federal government, you are on the front lines of your industry, supporting complex and challenging issues.

Besides the altruistic reasons to work for the federal government, the public sector offers abundant opportunities for work, with more than 2 million jobs in more than 120 federal departments around the world. Federal salaries and benefits are competitive, sometimes even better than those from the private sector. Once employed by the government, salary increases and career advancement can happen quickly.

Whether you choose to apply for a federal position based on your humanitarian ideals or because you like the benefits, getting hired is the biggest hurdle you will face. You aren’t alone, as many job seekers cite the hiring process as bureaucratic and difficult. However, your perseverance and our encouragement are part of the formula to help you get hired.

How to Apply for Government Jobs

The process of getting into a government position can seem daunting. Take the time to consider the different Federal agencies in existence. Don’t only focus on which departments align with your professional goals but also on what type of work really appeals to you. Also, consider local government jobs. State and city positions offer government benefits, including pensions similar to federal government positions, and are ideal career starters since the competition and red tape tend to be lower at local and grassroots levels. 

Another reason to look into your local government openings is that they provide opportunities to truly learn on the field, make a direct impact more quickly, and have access to mentors that are usually not available at state or federal levels. Local government opportunities are also easier to land and provide entry-level employees with more responsibilities early on in their careers. 

Working in government, albeit local or state, can be a great ‘in’ to connect with your community, while also building a career for yourself. Scrub USAJOBS.gov. Government jobs have to be listed on USAJOBs, although agencies might post positions on their own agency websites first. Consider looking at local sites and other job search sites like: beyond.com, indeed.com, and simplyhired.com.

You can also specifically look for staffing agencies that work with the federal government and that are looking to fill many traditionally unlisted positions.

And lastly, we advise that you look for and join government professional groups on LinkedIn, where you can network with like-minded professionals and find opportunities that may not be listed elsewhere online. Another big tip is to optimize your LinkedIn profile to include keywords and hashtags of your desired position, so when a recruiter searches for individuals that fit that specific job title, your profile will pop right up!

Why Is It So Hard To Get a Federal Job?

Many job seekers tend to get discouraged the more time they spend on sending out their federal job applications. Questions such as “Why does it take so long to hear back?”, “Why are there so many steps involved?” and “Why does it take so long to start working after I get hired” are very common and should be addressed. By knowing that the federal hiring process is very different from how most private and public companies hire, you’ll be more prepared to persevere through the process with effective tips and realistic expectations. 

Here are just a few reasons why the federal recruitment process is complex and takes so long:

• Nature of industry (bureaucracy)
• Long candidate application window and lack of urgency
• Multiple steps and background checks due to security clearance levels
• Broken hiring system due to bureaucracy 

Yet, despite the stringent and competitive recruiting process, federal job recruiters admit that many jobs never get staffed. In fact, according to an insider, over 50% of the jobs on USAJOBS are never filled due to the discrepancy between the job skill requirements and the few candidates that meet them.

This showcases the importance of highlighting concrete skills on your federal resume and only applying to the jobs that fit your past work experience and career goals!

13 Federal Resume Tips and Tricks To Get Hired

Read The Job Announcement Thoroughly

Most of the time, it is in following the details that will set an applicant apart from another. In fact, some employers even test the detailed orientation of job applicants by inserting specific prompts within the description to see if the job seekers read it and executed on it. Take your time when you read job descriptions and follow all the directions thoroughly. Make sure to submit all the information in the specified format and be sure that you get a confirmation that your application is accepted.

Resume Keywords Are Important 

However, be subtle. Your keywords should flow naturally in the context of the text. Do not include a separate ‘keywords’ section in your resume where keyword stuffing is apparent. Instead, showcase how you utilized the keywords in your experience with actions and results. 

A great way to find the right keywords is to look for them in the qualifications section of your job description and tie them into how you present your own professional experience. For example, if you are applying for a manager role and have never had one beforehand, speak about your prior leadership experience by using the “manage” keyword in a way that aligns with the skill set the position entails. 

Showcase Specialized Work Experience

If you have prior federal, state or local experiences, chances are you have specialized training in a specific function or field. Make sure to highlight this. Many positions in government tend to be specialized and not generalized, so the more you showcase your technical prowess in a context of problem-solving and competence, the greater the chances that you will land your dream federal job more quickly.

Use USAJOBS Resume Builder

However, have a paper copy of your resume handy, as well as the information that is usually requested by federal jobs, such as the grade level fields, hours worked per week, supervisors’ contact info, as well as the beginning and ending salary history for each position. Having a digital and a paper copy of a resume is truly advantageous when referencing your past work experience for an interview or when networking. Also, seeing all your work experience in one place visually can help you get ideas on how to present yourself more effectively for the type of work you’re seeking.

Don’t Procrastinate

Give yourself plenty of time to get your application in before the deadline. It will take longer than expected. Federal, state, and local government resumes have no page restriction, and government hiring managers expect to get a full picture of your work history and details for each position. Don’t make it a rush job, especially the first time you apply using USAJOBS. Recruiters can tell when candidates take their time and pay attention to details. This shows them that you care and really want the job!

Information Duplication is Normal

Sometimes you have to complete the job application in USAJOBS and then fill out a supplemental application that seems repetitive or a complete duplication of what you just did. Don’t fret – this is normal. It is a good reason why you should copy and paste your answers from the USAJOBS platform on a Word document, so you have them handy whenever you are asked again. 

Keep Two Current Resumes in Private and Public Sector Formats

Since your public sector resume includes details that you don’t usually share when applying for private-sector jobs, you might consider passing the private sector one around when networking, even within government environments. 

Be Concise and Detail-Oriented

Quality matters. Even though federal resumes are built around details, recruiters still want to see more than just job description language. Be creative and showcase your strengths and the value you contributed to every position (include statistics and metrics to make your impact even more tangible). This provides a concrete, visual statement to the reader based on data as opposed to suppositions. 

Additional Information Section is Your Competitive Advantage

Do you volunteer with any local organizations? Are you a leader in your community? Is there another soft skill you possess that can make you stand out as a candidate? Often, it is these commitments outside of secular work that can drive an interview or a hiring decision in your favor. Think about the needs of the position and how your unique personality, perspective, knowledge, or experience can help your organization grow through your role.

Relevant Coursework Section

Many government positions want to see training and additional courses the candidate took that narrow down on their particular specialization. This signals that you were chosen to receive the training and are serious about your career. Any professional courses either through work or school should be included in addition to college degrees and certifications.

Five References If Possible

The federal format will require a supervisor’s name, contact information, and the job title for each position you’ve had. Most of the time, 5 references are generally desired. If you do not have 5 positions in your work history, simply add additional references to the bottom of the resume. **NOTE** This ONLY applies to federal resumes. References are generally not used in private sector resumes in today’s job market.

Add Your PDF/Word Resume

Even if you created your resume in the resume builder on USAJOBS, it is nice for the selection committee to have a printable copy of your resume in a formatted manner for a more streamlined impression of your skillset.

Have Patience 

Again, your federal job search will take time. This process is not meant for those that want to get hired tomorrow. Work on a Plan B and consider taking a technical internship or a private sector position while you work through the hiring process of your dream federal job. However, once you have your foot in the door of the federal government, the process will be easier for every subsequent position you apply for. 

Federal Resume Resources

Inevitably, applying for federal jobs can be a vast time-consuming, and resource-investment process. But don’t feel discouraged! There are many resources out there to help you, and if you do what it takes to stand out, cultivate other applicable skills, and have patience throughout the process, you’ll be way ahead of the competition.

Overall, committing to a bit of help can be a great return on investment that ensures you get hired faster and start investing in your dream career sooner. Here are our top reasons why you should hire a professional resume writer to land your next government job.

And if you would like some additional help in creating a stand-out resume, Capstone Resume Services specializes in federal resume writing. We know what federal hiring managers look for and ask the questions to help you craft a professional federal resume and document your KSAs.

Good luck with the process and keep up the good work!