You must include personal examples of the five ECQs:
- Leading Change
- Leading People
- Results Driven
- Business Acumen
- Building Coalitions
Each ECQ response should be one to two pages in length.
The Senior Executive Service (SES) application process is highly rigorous and competitive. Applicants must demonstrate a range of leadership and management competencies with detailed Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) statements and a comprehensive resume.
When you work with us, our Master Senior Executive Writers and Coaches will ensure your application has all the necessary materials and information. They’ll also make sure your application is submitted in the federal government’s expected format to give you the best chance of success.
There are several documents you’ll need to include in your SES application. Keep in mind that you should tailor your application package to the specific SES position you’re applying for and follow all instructions in the vacancy announcement. Or, you can develop a master SES application and tailor as required to meet vacancy specifications.
You must include personal examples of the five ECQs:
Each ECQ response should be one to two pages in length.
An SES resume must include your work history, certifications and education. It should also highlight leadership accomplishments and achievements.
SES resumes have specific formatting requirements required by the targeted vacancy announcements. If your resume does not meet the federal government’s standards for content and length, it may prevent your application package from being reviewed.
TQs and MTQs highlight your technical abilities and accomplishments. Each qualification should be explained in one to two pages using specific situations you’ve dealt with on the job.
Your cover letter is your opportunity to make a good first impression and establish yourself as a strong candidate. Cover letters are not always required. If they are permitted, your cover letter can help showcase the characteristics that would make you an asset to the organization and position targeted.
Before you apply, it’s essential to understand how the SES selection process works in order to be as prepared as possible.
Once you’ve submitted your application per the vacancy announcement guidelines, Human Resources (HR) specialists will review it to ensure you’ve included the necessary materials and followed all instructions. If you have, and your application outweighs competitors’ applications, it will be passed along for the next level of application review.
If your application passes the initial HR screening, it will be submitted to the hiring agency’s rating panel made up of senior executives with relevant functional, leadership and organizational backgrounds. Each panel member reviews the applications individually. They will evaluate your application based on the qualifications outlined in the vacancy announcement, ensuring that it meets all the ECQ and TQ/MTQ standards. They also set a rating schedule to determine the most qualified candidates.
After each member reviews the applications, the panel will meet to discuss each candidate and decide who should be interviewed.
If your application is in the top 10% of qualified candidates, you’ll be interviewed by the panel. During the interview, the panel will ask you a combination of standard, behavioral and situational questions focused on leadership to determine if you have the competencies for the position.
The panel will recommend the top interviewed candidates to the selecting authority, who chooses one candidate for certification with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
The hiring agency submits the final candidate’s application package to the OPM-administered Qualifications Review Board (QRB) that evaluates your ECQs. There are a few potential outcomes of this review:
The SES hiring process is meticulous, with highly specific standards that you must meet. We’ve worked with thousands of SES candidates, helping them navigate the SES process successfully. We have almost four decades of experience and have worked directly with federal agencies on ECQ development. Our expert services have earned us a 99.6% customer satisfaction rate with our customers.
Your chances of landing your dream job with substantially increase if you come to us for assistance.
Our resume writing services have a proven track record of getting candidates through the SES hiring process with ease. We follow best practices to ensure that your resume meets all formatting requirements and highlights your core competencies and leadership accomplishments.
Developing effective ECQ statements can be one of the most challenging parts of the SES application process. Our Senior Executive Writers are highly skilled and experienced with developing top-notch ECQ packages that fully demonstrate your mastery of each of the five competencies.
We help you develop a complete application package customized to the specific position you’re applying for. We’ll review the vacancy announcement and ensure you have all the correctly formatted materials for submission.
The SES interview process is highly unique. We offer SES interview preparation packages to help you feel confident and deliver clear, effective answers. Our seasoned executive interview coaches evaluate your interview skills, providing suggestions for improvement.
Call us at 800-471-9201 or complete our online contact form for a free consultation. If you’re looking for help with the application process, submit your SES resume and vacancy announcement so that we can better serve you.
