Federal Resumes and KSAs

When you apply for a federal internship, apply for a federal job through a recruiting program, or apply for an Honors Program position, you should use a traditional public interest legal resume and job-specific cover letter.  When you apply for a federal position on USA Jobs, you may be asked to provide a federal resume and to answer “KSAs.” Click here for more information.

Federal Resumes – Federal resumes require much more detail than traditional legal resumes; applicants must specify dates and number of hours worked per week, for example.  Candidates should use the key words in the job description, or “Duties,” as labeled in USA Jobs, in their resumes to describe prior experience.  Applicants can save up to five different resumes on USA Jobs to use for varied job announcements, and you should tailor your resume specifically to each job for which you apply.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs) – Applicants to federal jobs are often required to write Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs) or narrative statements addressing the selection factors for the job. Whether the application requires KSAs or narrative statements, applicants should write first-person descriptions of their experiences, with specific examples and quantitative measures when possible.  The Partnership for Public Service provides advice on KSAs, and suggests that candidates use the “CCAR” approach – Context, Challenges, Approach, and Results – to describe experiences and demonstrate skills and success.  See KSA Writing & Federal Resumes and A Guide to KSA Writing for more information from the Partnership for Public Service.

 

For more information about successful cover letters, resumes, and other application materials for public interest job searches, see OPICS’ Guide to Public Sector Legal Job Applications.

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