We would like to discuss a brief overview of this process with you as a tutorial primer and then focus on the specific relevance that Federal Career Placement Services, LC can bring to the table for you with this process. The internet is replete and can be considered as saturated with information available regarding KSA preparation. FCPS encourages you to dedicate time to conduct personal research in order to become familiar with this process and the importance KSA responses have in determining an applicant’s success towards employment.
We also would posit that there are dozens, if not hundreds of KSA and resume-builder business available for your consideration. Please proceed with caution with particular care of firms that offer fast-turn replies and their ability to write effectively towards all U.S. Government Agencies. This practice is particularly troubling in principle because it falls within the purview of two longstanding contentions. First, there is truth in the adage “When you want it bad you get it bad” and second, a “Jack of all trades and Master of None” is not your best ally when addressing the difficult and complex process of preparing KSAs. You clearly get what you pay for with this regard.
As we have illustrated within our business strategy and core mission areas, Federal Career Placement Services, LC has expanded its market presence across the entire federal government yet retains focused interest towards one singular entity within the U.S. government. We help our clients prepare KSA write ups that are in reality formal responses that answer 4-5 Mandatory Position-Related Assessment Factors and 2-4 Highly Desired Assessment Factors habitually required for each vacancy announcement. More than simple terminology, this again illustrates the every Agency within the U.S. government has different hiring practices and application criteria which demands specialization and expertise. FCPS representatives have years of experience not only reviewing hundreds of actual applicant submissions in the course of selecting new employees as actual supervisors, but have developed for submission the actual vacancy announcements you are considering to apply for.
Our representatives will conduct a thorough review of all submitted personal information to prepare substantive, comprehensive responses that repeatedly succeed in meeting Agency review criteria. Our applicants routinely clear the first major hurdle within human resource processing that requires submissions to prove the candidate has successfully answered all mandatory assessment factors in a manner that meets or exceeds each requirement. A weak or incomplete response to any factor indicating the candidate does not satisfy the prerequisite will result in a packet’s rejection. FCPS remains confident that individuals writing their own responses and those paying for “clearing-house” style write-ups frequently fall into this category. Remember, most job announcements will generate dozens or frequently hundreds of applications which must immediately be reduced to approximately 10. From there these packets are forwarded to the selecting official who will select about 5 individuals for an interview. Please consider this carefully as you decide how you intend to approach submitting your responses.
The following summary articulates best the significant advantage our clients receive from partnering with FCPS in the course of KSA/assessment factor preparation as it relates to our particular focus. Our representatives will prepare draft responses for each factor ensuring all relevant tasks, responsibilities and mission areas are included. Terminology, linkages and references are incorporated and drawn from language stated within each factor and that contained within the duty position/additional position summaries. With that, we shape each reply individually to reflect known mission areas of the Directorates from which the VA is originating along with knowledge of mission support the organization is currently providing. This process in and of itself is unmatched by competitors and provides our clients an unparalleled advantage over the multitude of competition. Our responses detail a client’s proven strengths, accomplishments and educational/training background to tell a convincing story, not just a sound bite. The relevancy and contextual richness is why our clients frequently succeed in advancing through the difficult screening process and into the interview pool. Remember, “KSA” or in reality assessment factor responses are a means to an end, not the end itself. Your responses must clear a difficult review board screening process and compete effectively to a group of 10 or less applicants. One there, responses must then again be written in a manner that causes a selecting official to place one within the 5 or less individuals called in for an interview.
Knowing now the methodology and level of effort we put forth to each of our clients, we encourage you to consider how you will apply for positions in this agency or throughout the U.S. government. KSA writing is a time consuming process requiring man-days, we repeat, man-days to effectively complete one application. Those who use a cookie-cutter approach to submit multiple responses to dozens of job vacancies [the old “spam” strategy] are easy to recognize during review boards. Applicants frequently cut and paste incorrect information or confuse jobs in their applications. Others submit lengthy yet generic replies that are quickly ruled out as the panel searches for concrete evidence the individual has satisfied the requirement. Notwithstanding, the application is frequently marked with typographical errors and grammatical inconsistencies that make it stand out in a bad sense. This further complicates one’s effort at the critical juncture when screening down from 10 to 5 or so candidates to determine interview selection.