How to Write Job Applications for Government Selection Criteria
As of December 2009, the federal government was the second-largest employer in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of May 2010, there were more than 12,000 job openings with the U.S. government. Writing job applications for federal government selection criteria can be a challenge. The essay questions and the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) are different for each position. There are commonalities between many of the position selection criteria, however, and knowing how to write your job application responses will increase your chances of being hired.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Review your resume and think of your paid (and unpaid) experience in terms of broad skills rather than individual tasks or duties. Create a separate document to serve as a skills worksheet. Create a table in the skills worksheet with columns being the jobs you have held and rows being the skills used in each position.
For example, columns may read "file clerk," "administrative assistant," "project assistant," "project manager" and "volunteer community outreach." Rows may read "organization," "administrative activities," "process improvement," "prioritization," "compose and edit correspondence," "customer service," "identify stakeholders," "assign resources," "communication," "independent action," "problem resolution," "marketing," "publishing," etc.
-
2
Mark the skills you have acquired throughout your work and volunteer life. For example, under "file clerk" you may be able to place a check mark next to "organization," "process improvement "and "communication." Under the "volunteer community outreach," you may be able to mark "organization," "data input," "compose and edit correspondence," "communication," "marketing" and "publishing."
-
-
3
Compose several paragraphs for each skill, including a description illustrating how you gained the experience and used the skill. For example, under the broad skill of "organization," demonstrate how you gained and used organization skills in each job with a check mark.
-
4
Find the government position for which you wish to apply on the USAJobs website. Focus special attention on the Qualifications and Evaluations section of the job announcement. Preview the questions on the application, if a link exists allowing you to do so.
-
5
Answer the government job application selection criteria by using the paragraphs you have composed on your skills worksheet.
For example, the selection criteria question may be, "Describe your specialized experience in detail as it relates to your ability to independently organize, coordinate and prioritize a variety of administrative activities." Refer to your skills worksheet under "organization," "prioritization," "work independently" and "administrative activities" to respond to the selection criteria.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Save your selection criteria responses for review when preparing for your interview.
Answer all government job application questions honestly and without inflating your experience or knowledge.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit man with computer image by Bionic Media from Fotolia.com
