How To Use the Government KSA Model To Improve Any Resume

With all the blather in this political election season about how government is broken and the only good comes from the private sector "job creators," one can only ask that if the government is that bad, how did it plop an SUV-sized scientific laboratory (rover) on the planet Mars traveling at the speed of 13,200 mph? Sure, the government isn't perfect and it isn't totally broken yet. And when it comes to resumes, someone in the government created decades ago the Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA) model that can help anyone improve their resume.

While there's no published record of when the KSA model was first created, it has been used until recently in the supplementary statements of US Federal government job applications. I should note here that supplementary statements recently have been phased out to simplify the paperwork (yes, the government is trying to un-break itself) of job applications. But the KSA model can still be used to organize the way you write a resume so it stands out from your competition.

What is the KSA model? It's a rhetorical guide the breaks down a job candidate's skills and accomplishments into 3 categories. They are:

• Knowledge: includes all credentials, degrees, licenses, certifications and other expertise in a specific work discipline.
• Skills: includes all the observable job task duties that are performed to successfully perform the requirements of a job.
• Abilities: includes all the soft skills needed to successfully work on a team in a specific organization.

Developing a resume using the KSA model many times runs counter to how most people think about resume writing. Most people assume resumes should be short, sweet and brief. In many respects a short resume is all that's needed if you can personally hand your resume to a hiring manager and are given a chance to talk about why she should hire you. Unfortunately, this type of retail job seeking is going by the way side; it's been replaced by electronic middlemen -- job boards and social recruiting sites -- that integrate your career information in a database which is then anonymously searched via specific keywords. This type of candidate sourcing requires a job seeker to have a much more detailed resume. The KSA model can help you obtain it.

Let me give an example of how the KSA model can work for you. Due to the limited scope of this blog entry, I'll only discuss the "Summary of Qualifications" section that is on nearly all resumes. A typical summary section usually contains a few bullet points that telegraphs to the reader what the candidate has to offer. Here's a typical example:

Summary of Qualifications (Without the KSA Model)

• Adept at using word processing and spreadsheet software (MS Word, MS Power Point and Excel)
• Fast learner
• Thorough
• Highly adaptable
• Consistently meets job expectations and deadlines
• Fluent in English as a second language, both expressed and written

On first read, this summary seems okay. But, what's really wrong with it? Well, the main problem with this type of summary is that it is all too common. If you were to read 100 resumes, I'd guess over half would have identical summary sections. So, how does a recruiter differentiate between candidates with near-identical information? That's a good question. Whatever the way, it will take longer and time is not what most recruiters have. In the end, someone will be passed over.

Now, let's turn to a Summary of Qualifications that uses the KSA model:

Summary of Qualifications (with the KSA Model)

• Industry Knowledge: Consumer Goods, Transportation, Logistics, Ecommerce, Industrial Automation
• Management: Strong general management and leadership skills with experience in project planning and program management. Ability to organize and drive projects to timely completion, outstanding analytic and problem-solving abilities. Ability to communicate accurately and positively by telephone, e-mail, and other media. Demonstrated excellence in writing, editing and content design abilities.
• Supporting Skills: Gifted team builder and communicator who can interact effectively with individuals and departments at all levels within an organization. Can manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a high-pressure environment. Integrity and ability to establish credibility amongst peers. A strong work ethic and attention to detail.

This example is from an experienced project manager who has worked in many different industries. While this summary section takes some liberties with the KSA model, it generally follows the format. This candidate started with his industry knowledge. While he could have included his degree or certifications, he felt his vast industry knowledge was the best way to brief the reader on his employment value. Since he is a manager, his job-task skills are focused around his management skills. Finally, his abilities are describe in what he calls "supporting skills." Clearly, this a very detailed snapshot of the job candidate. It had immense market differentiation. It is so immediate that a busy recruiter would likely pick this candidate's resume over many others.

Here is another example taken from a resume of a military veteran. He also has taken some liberties with the KSA model. He has renamed the summary section "Key Attributes." No matter what the name, the  section is very effective at making the resume reader stop to read more. Here it is:

KEY ATTRIBUTES:

• Leadership/Team Building: Built a mission-focused, cohesive unit from one that previously had a severe morale problem.
• Problem Solving/Interpersonal Skills: Overcame the sub-standard leadership styles of supervisors that were detrimental to mission success through teaching and training these mid-level leaders on effective personnel management and appropriate corrective actions for minor infractions.
• Security Planning: Ensured the physical security on a military base for an open-to-the-public event of over 10,000 people. Months in advance planned security procedures with different sections (security, medical, fire department and police) to ensure a secure event and safety for all attendees.
• Management: Improved the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Inspector General office. Provided customer service training through better communication.
• Policies and Procedures: Established an efficient, 24/7, information call center with quick resolution of issues and consistency of information. 

He also does one thing more. He merges the KSA model and the core competencies that are stipulated in the Federal hiring requirements for the position he is applying for (Security Manager). These bolded-subheads make this section more skimmable. He is indeed a candidate with hiring appeal.

Download sample KSA statements at KSAdoctor.com.