Just keep these in mind as you write KSAs (From OPM's MOSAIC which is the Multipurpose Survey-based Occupational Systems Analysis Inventory.)
Classification Standards:
Project Manager:
Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Oral
Communication, Organizational Awareness, Problem Solving, Reasoning, Team Building, and
Writing. Business Process Reengineering, Capital Planning and Investment Assessment,
Contracting/Procurement, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Financial Management, Planning and Evaluating,
Project Management, Quality Assurance, Requirements Analysis, and Risk Management.
IT Project Manager:
In addition to the knowledge, skills, and abilities/competencies required of all project managers, IT
project managers also require specific knowledge, skills, and abilities/competencies in applying most of these:
Configuration Management, Data Management, Information Management, Information Resources
Strategy and Planning, Information Systems/Network Security, Information Technology
Architecture, Information Technology Performance Assessment, Infrastructure Design, Systems
Integration, Systems Life Cycle, and Technology Awareness.
The top ten competencies for Supervisory positions are: Integrity, Written Communication,
Accountability, Flexibility, Financial Management, Strategic Thinking, Workforce Management,
Verbal Communication, Decisiveness, Computer Literacy and Mentoring (tied);
The top ten competencies for Managerial positions are: Integrity, Team Work, Accountability, Selfdirection, Mentoring, Problem-solving, Workforce Management, Decisiveness, Flexibility, Verbal
Communication;
The top ten competencies for Executive positions are: Technical Knowledge, Creative Thinking,
Verbal Communication, Decisiveness, Mediating, Mentoring, Problem Solving, Perceptiveness,
Self-direction, Flexibility and Influencing and Teamwork (tied);
If you find a KSA that you cannot answer at least 75 percent of the questions, or that is so specific
that you would have had to be in the agency or department to get that experience, you need to avoid
that job. You cannot ignore responding to KSAs. Either you have the knowledge, skill or ability or
you don't.
Always use personal “Iâ€
Always use the active vs. passive voice
Bad: The formal establishment of a revised organizational structure consisting of new self-directed
teams essentially reduced the previous requirement for six supervisory positions. (22 words-passive,
stilted)
Good: I established a new team structure which abolished six supervisory jobs. (11 words-active,
concise)
Follow this formula in writing your KSAs:
CHALLENGE. Describe a specific problem or goal.
CONTEXT. Talk about the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in
which you worked, to tackle a particular challenge (e.g., clients, co-workers, shrinking budget, low
morale).
ACTION. Discuss the specific actions you took to address a challenge or problem.
OUTCOME. Give specific examples of the results of your actions. These accomplishments
demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.
Good Luck!
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