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KSA Online Builder

Welcome to our KSA Builder with the CCAR

This builder was used for more than 4,500 KSAs in 2009-2010
Write the best KSA Accomplishments with the CCAR formula!
Use the KSA Accomplishments for your Federal Resume,
any required narratives and for your Behavior-Based Interview!

KSA Builder
KSA Help | KSA Sample

Welcome to Resume Place's builder for writing KSA examples!

You will find fields to fill in for writing an interesting and compliant KSA statement supported by specific examples of how you have demonstrated a particular knowledge, skill or ability.

A popular and approved format - the CCAR "story": The form will guide you through writing your KSA with the Context, Challenge, Action, Result (CCAR) Model recommended by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).  Federal personnel officers and hiring managers want to read specific examples that demonstrate your knowledge, skill or ability. Remember, a good KSA tells your story in an interesting and compelling way.

Develop your outline: The model serves as an outline; you will still need to edit your KSA to make it read in an interesting and fluid way.

Note that KSAs can be called other names such as Supplemental Qualifications, Evaluation Factors, Quality Ranking Factors, Mandatory Technical Factors and other similar variations; however, regardless of what they are called, the CCAR Model can be used to prepare your responses.

What Goes Into the CCAR Model?

  • Context - title of your job or role you are playing in this example; the context sets the stage for your story.
  • Challenge - what was the challenge of this example or project? Why is this a good example for this particular KSA?
  • Action - what were your specific actions in this case? How do they show your mastery of this specific KSA?
  • Results - what happened? Again, how does this relate to the specific KSA?
  • Awards - did you get an award for this example? If so, that should be part of your results.
  • Specialized Training - what training do you have that supports this KSA? This is great to add, in addition to your story.

One or Two CCAR "stories": You should write two examples for each KSA. After you provide your input to this KSA, hit SEND. The content you have written will be emailed to you. Then go back to the builder and start providing input your next KSA. The content will also be emailed to Resume Place if you have selected our editorial services.

Sample KSA CCAR: Please review and print the sample KSA (click here); also read the instructions.

Almost a Test: The KSAs are a very important component of the federal application. This is just like a test. Please take it seriously and give your answers and examples thought before submitting.

If you cannot come up with an example of how you demonstrated a particular KSA, you should go back and read the specialized experience requirements of the announcement to decide whether this is the job for you.

Note: * indicates a required field.

* Your Email:

Agency Name:

Department Name:

Position Title:

    Series:

    Grade:

Announcement Number:

* Candidate (your name):

Title of Document:

Knowledge, Skill or Ability:
Write the entire factor as stated in the vacancy announcement here.

optional introductory paragraph summarizing your experience which supports this KSA.
Be sure to use the language of the KSA to the extent possible.

Example:
Please fill in the following fields to give the human resources staff examples of your experience which supports this particular KSA. You will see a new format for writing KSAs called the CCAR Model, "Context, Challenge, Action, Results." The federal personnel officers and hiring managers would like to read examples that demonstrate your knowledge, skill or ability. If you have trouble determining the Challenge, skip that section and write the Actions. You can go back to the Challenge later. Or, if necessary, skip it. Be sure to include RESULTS if you can.

Context: Your title and office and dates where you demonstrated the particular knowledge, skill or ability.

Challenge: What was the challenge? Be sure to relate the challenge to the particular KSA. Was it the first time this had been done? Were there very tight deadlines? Was there a shortage of staff?

Action: What specific action(s) did you take to address the challenge? Did you research something? Did you answer difficult questions before a hostile audience? Did you figure out how to do more with less?
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Results: What happened? (quantify with numbers if possible) Was the problem solved? Did you save money? Did you reduce processing time; if so by how much? Did you receive an award? Did your supervisor or customers make positive comments to you? Is there a performance evaluation comment which discusses your success?

Relevant Awards or Honors:

Name of Award:

Organization:
Date:

Reason for Award:

Supervisor or Other Quote Supporting this KSA:

Statement or Quote:

In addition to your specific work experience, did you also take training that relates to the particular knowledge, skill or ability?

Relevant Training Courses or Degrees:

Congratulations, you have just completed a 1st draft of ONE of your KSA Statements!

What’s next?

Your KSA content will be sent by email to the address you gave in the "Your email:" text box.

Copy and paste the content into your favorite word processing format. Now that you have the basic input for your KSA, you must now edit it so that it reads like a good essay. Make sure that you use the word .I. in your KSA; your example should be about what YOU did. Double check to make sure that your KSA flows well and is interesting to the reader. And, don.t forget to review your KSA for grammatical or spelling errors! You do not want to undercut all your experience by having a document which does not look professional!!

Edit, spell check and format the KSA so that it looks like the sample given.

Need more help?

If you would like an estimate for editing, writing and focusing your KSAs, send your draft to resume@resume-place.com for an estimate for professional services. Tell us your deadline!

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Thank you for using the KSA Builder to draft your KSA statement! If you have questions, write Kathryn Troutman at Kathryn@resume-place.com

Telephone calls: (888) 480 8265 in Baltimore, MD 9 to 5 pm