Applying To The SES (Senior Executive Service)
Applying To The SES (Senior Executive Service)
When you see that opening in the Senior Executive Service, and you see a door that might be open for you, you will need to have your SES resume package ready. A special Federal resume, called an SES resume, could be your ticket to become one of the leaders in this elite group at the top of the government agencies - right below the Presidential appointees. Here is what you need to do to get your SES resume package ready so you will not miss your chance.
You first will need to have at least 10 years of government service. After that, you need to have at least a rank of GS-13. These things, however, are only just the beginning. The rest will need to be on your SES resume.
The standard parts of your Federal resume for the SES position is pretty much the same for a regular government job. After that, though, there is quite a difference. Instead of having KSAs you will need to fill out 5 ECQs - Executive Core Qualifications. ECQs are longer than KSAs, you will need to provide 1 to 1 1/2 pages of material covering each of 5 issues.
Each of the ECQs cover a slightly different area seeking to have you demonstrate your abilities as a manager / leader. The five areas, which are dictated by the government, are:
- Leading Change;
- Leading People;
- Results Driven;
- Business Acumen; and
- Building Coalitions / Communications.
Under each section, you will provide not just your philosophy, but examples that demonstrate your leadership abilities and how you handled various situations that presented themselves to you during your experiences as a leader. These will need to clearly show what you did, and why you did it - and the results obtained during a particular need or problem you faced.
In addition to the ECQs, though, you will most likely need to fill out some Managerial and Technical Qualification Statements. These are the same length as the ECQs, and will need to follow the same model as them, too. The four areas are the challenge, the context, the action taken, and the result of your actions.
Like any other resume - you also need a cover sheet. This little piece of paper is what makes those who have the final decision to want to read all those other pages. It all has to be equally good - from the first statement to the last, and make you look like the only one who is really qualified.
