Applying for a federal
job is not always the easiest task for many. You need to understand that there
is a lot of competition out there. In hindsight, this is what makes it the most
difficult. When you are writing your KSA, be sure to highlight who you are and
what you can bring to the table. Your experiences are different to those of
others and should be written about. There are also a lot of mistakes people
make when it comes to writing a KSA.
Even if you believe
that you don’t know how much of this you can put down on paper, you are
overthinking it. Stick to the basics of ksa writing and most of the hard work is done. You are
going to have to dig very deep to make this work. Try to think back on some of
those accomplishments that you forgot about. These need to go onto your KSA.
You do have knowledge and skills in some area of your life and you need to
highlight it. There are some common mistakes people make when writing the KSA
and it has detrimental effects.
Incorrect Format
Whenever there is any
type of formal writing, you need to know what the standard format is. If you
get this part wrong, it shows not only disrespect for the process, but also
that you are not taking this seriously. It may not be your intention, but just
be weary of making this mistake. It is as easy as forgetting to put the
specific job you are applying for in the correct space. Look at a few examples before you even start working on your KSA.
No keywords
Some people still do
not understand the importance of keywords when applying for a job. Not everyone lives on the internet and it is
a simple mistake that can be easily avoided. In your KSA, you need to include
relevant keywords. You should even include this in your federal cover letter
when you apply. A lot of applications go through the system and keywords are
usually a huge deciding factor.
Minimal detail
A KSA does require a
lot of information and this is many times missed. You need to go into detail
about what the issue was and how you resolved it. Then you have to talk about
the financial impact, time saved and how it impacted who you are now. Do not
just give the problem and how you fixed it. This is not a true reflection of
the accomplishments and skills that you have under your belt.
Overselling
This is a place where
you want to sell yourself in a positive manner, but overselling just looks
desperate. State the facts and your passion for this particular job. When you
look at ksa examples be sure to notice the passive selling. If you have the
knowledge, skills and ability to take on this job, you are enough. There is no
need to exaggerate any part of what you have achieved. You are simply providing
them with the truth and based on that you want them to make a decision.
Poor writing
One of the worst
mistakes people make when writing a KSA is that not enough attention are paid
to the quality of the writing. Remember that your writing is a reflection of
who you are. Look out for any typos and grammar mistakes. It is so easy to make these mistakes, but it is also easy to
avoid it. If you have to use a spelling and grammar checker, then that is what
you do.
Conclusion
You can write a
convincing KSA without much trouble if you follow the steps. Avoid mistakes
which makes your work seem inadequate. Focus on the facts and do not leave out
important information. After that you simply have to use the correct format and
write a high quality KSA. Also remember that if you do not get the job, there
might have just been a small difference between you and the candidate who got
it. You might be the lucky one the next time
