Checklist to Entering the Senior Executive Service

Have you been thinking about the SES, but still have not prepared your application materials?

If so, what are you waiting for? The federal government needs you to help shepherd it into the future, but you must put yourself out there.

These 10 steps will give you some momentum to apply for SES positions:

1. Make a decision to apply for SES positions, then pretend you are planning the rest of these steps for one of your colleagues, or maybe a subordinate manager. Thinking in this way, how much time would you realistically give this individual to complete each step? A week, a month, a quarter?
2. Search USAJobs for one or two sample SES positions.
3. Develop the first draft of your SES resume, using the sample positions as a guide.
4. Develop your ECQs. (Learn about our online ECQ Writing course here)
5. Armed with these documents, and preferably AFTER you complete the ECQs, start targeting specific SES announcements.
6. Select one announcement at a time, paying close attention to the duties, qualifications, and application instructions.
7. Tailor your resume to ensure it demonstrates as many of the duties and qualifications (or at least your relevant/related skills and potential) as possible from the job announcement.
8. Develop any required Technical Qualifications.
9. Ask someone you trust—such as a colleague or even a member of the SES—to review your application materials and provide honest feedback.
10. Complete any final edits and apply with confidence!

Yes, this list makes a sometimes-daunting process sound a bit easier than it is. However, without a plan of action and commitment, it may never get done.

If you break down your plan into bite-sized chunks, and you write your ECQs without the pressure of a job closing, you will most likely produce stronger documents.

Some people accomplish all of this on their own, but that takes a great deal of discipline, time, and dedication. CareerPro Global’s team has helped over 5,000 executives from corporate America, the federal government, and the various military branches to develop their SES application packages. They still each needed their own commitment to the process, and they still needed to put in some time to provide information and dig deep for their top career stories, but with an executive coach and writer in their corner, the whole experience became a lot easier and simpler to manage.

In fact, many of our clients describe the process as very meaningful and empowering, and they feel more confident in applying for that long-imagined SES position.

So, whether you are going to go it alone or seek some professional help, make this your time!

Here at CareerPro Plus, we have many Master Senior Executive Writers standing by to assist you.