KSA - Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
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The IDP form in Take Charge of Your Federal Career
has a column for training objectives. These are objectives you have for
developing certain knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) in order to
reach a goal. Describing your developmental objectives as KSAs is
important because KSAs provide the basis for the IDP. Once KSAs are
identified, even in rough form, you are in a good position to decide on
just the right combination of formal courses and alternative training
methods to develop the KSAs you need.
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degrees or certificates can lead to promotions and new opportunities
KSAs are also referred to as Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other
Characteristics (KSAOs). The IDP form has a column for training
objectives. These are objectives you have for developing certain knowledge,
skills, and abilities (KSAs) in order to reach a goal. Describing your
developmental objectives as KSAs is important because KSAs provide the basis for
the IDP. Once KSAs are identified, even in rough form, you are in a good
position to decide on just the right combination of formal courses and
alternative training methods to develop the KSAs you need.
KSAOs are attributes needed to perform a specific job function that is
demonstrated through qualifying training, education and experience. The
following definitions will help you understand KSAs and what the selecting
official is looking for when reviewing your application and résumé:
Knowledge — An organized body of information, usually of a
factual or procedural nature, which if applied, makes adequate performance
on the job possible.
- Examples include knowledge of:
- Federal regulations and directives
- Operational systems and procedures
- Budget and accounting principals
- Engineering practices
- Environmental compliance law
- Administrative practices
Skill — The manipulation of data, things, or people through
manual, mental or verbal means. Skills are measurable through testing, can
be observed, and are quantifiable. Often refers to expertise that comes from
training, practice, etc.
- Examples include skill in:
- Keyboard data entry
- Motor vehicle operation
- Computer software proficiency
- Electronic or computer repair
- Carpentry, plumbing and/or HVAC repair
- Second language proficiency
Ability — The capacity to perform a physical or mental activity at the
present time. Typically, abilities are apparent through functions completed
on the job. Abilities and skills are often interchangeable in KSAOs. The
main difference is that ability is the capacity to perform, where a skill is
the actual manipulation of data, things or people. You may have the ability,
but unless observed through actions, that ability may not transfer to a
skill set.
- Examples include the ability to:
- Organize and plan work (observed at work)
- Analyze situations, programs and problems
- Communicate orally and in writing
- Coach and mentor others
Other Characteristics — Mental or physical attributes or
characteristics that don’t fall under the other areas.
- Examples are:
- Proactive — takes initiative to get things done without prompting
- Copes well in stressful environments — handles complex tasks
- Reliability — assigned work is completed ahead of schedule and the
quality of work is exceptional
- Multiple work assignments — capable of successfully handling various
and sundry tasks
A complete guide on how to compile and format KSA for job applications is
included in
The Book of U.S.
Government Jobs.
Search for Federal, State, and Private Sector Jobs at
www.searchfedjobs.com
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