Comments on: Senators work on a law to eliminate KSAs!

By: Michael Samuels

Michael Samuels — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:09:06 +0000

I can remember standing in long lines back in the 70s at OPM at 17th and E Street in Washington, DC to apply or to take the Civil Service Test to get a GS rating. That was cumbersome along with filling out that Standard 171 Form. They also use to institute it in all high schools across the nation, it allows all American Citizens to elect to work for his/her federal government. It was a very good idea at first when they took away the Civil Service system and replaced it with the KSA system. The KSA system became burdomesome along with the long hiring process that puts a bad taste in the mouths of many Americans who want to give or render service to the federal government. I am glad to see that the federal hiring process is catching up with private industry. I myself, have tons of experience that I can shower down to any government agency, if I was only given a chance.

By: Nikki

Nikki — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:22:38 +0000

I could not agree with you more. The valuable individuals that are being missed because they do not have the time to go through the labor intesive KSA processing is devastating. You also have to make sure that all the agencies MUST follow OPM guidelines, not just as a guideline, but as mandate. Many agencies to not follow time in grade when jobs are advertised whether you are a current federal employee or new to the process. OPM are just not being followed, used as guidelines only. This is absolutely unsatisfactory. Individuals cannot wait 5 to 8 mos to get an answer, we need jobs now, we need to find out what we can write, what keywords are the HR technicians looking for? A real hiring agent does not even see the KSA’s if the right words are not used. Thank goodness someone really is taking this seriously.

By: David Raikow

David Raikow — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:45:39 +0000

HOLY S&#!

No more KSA’s? That would UNBELIEVABLE.

By: ktroutman

ktroutman — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:19:57 +0000

Hi David, I’d like to ask the Senators to keep the questions to under 20. With no more than 2 essays (if they must), and the questionnaire character count recommendation under 2,000. It’s all about metrics, right? Federal HR metrics are out of control. Thanks for your note. Kathryn

By: David Porter

David Porter — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:59:33 +0000

Kathryn, I’m with you on the number of questions that require essay responses on the Questionnaires. I’m applying for a TSA Program Analyst job, and there are more than twenty questions that require essay responses. To make it worse, the questions are clumped 4 and 5 at a time, with a single essay space in which to “provide a short example for each question.”

Yeesh. I’m former Federal trying to get back in, and I’m having bad flashbacks. . .

By: Mark Hoyer

Mark Hoyer — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:25:46 +0000

Good news for federal job seekers. KSAs seem difficult for many people!