Understanding your Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Or “KSAs”)

Job announcements for positions within King County list the essential duties for the position, along with the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) necessary to perform those duties. Here is what you need to know to when you are updating your job application materials:

KSAs are:

• a list of special qualifications and personal attributes needed for a particular job.
• defined as the factors that identify the better candidates from a group of persons basically qualified for a position.
• elements the hiring authority uses to measure the qualities that set one candidate apart from other candidates.

Keep in mind that you want your job application materials to tell the reviewer that you have the required qualifications and experience to be considered for and successful in the position. As you prepare your application materials, you’ll want your cover letter, application, resume, and supplemental questionnaire (if needed) to reflect that your knowledge, skills and abilities match up to the requirements of the position.

Helpful hint:

Carefully read the job announcement (and supplemental questionnaire, if required), and think about the requirements in broad terms. Remember: you may have the KSAs to perform a job in a particular area where you’ve never worked before. In other words, just because you have not worked in a particular area, does not necessarily mean you lack the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the job.

Knowledge Statements: refer to an organized body of information, usually of a factual or procedural nature which, if applied, makes adequate performance on the job possible; a body of information applied directly to the performance of a function (relates to educational experience and work history)

Skill Statements: refer to the proficient manual, verbal or mental manipulation of data or things. Skills can be readily measured by a performance test where quantity and quality of performance are tested, usually within an established time limit. Examples of proficient manipulation of things are skill in typing or skill in operating a vehicle. Examples of proficient manipulation of data are skill in computation using decimals and skill in editing for transposed numbers.

Ability Statements: refer to the power (or competence) to perform an observable activity. This means that abilities have been evidenced through activities or behaviors that are similar to those required on the job, such as the ability to plan and organize work. Abilities are different from aptitudes. Aptitudes are only the potential for performing the activity.