How to Prepare a Narrative Statement of KASOC’s
What are KASOC’S?
You have knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics that are valuable to others, marketable for you, and different from every other candidate who applies for a position. Learn how to identify, package, and target your unique skills to the specific requirements for a job.
Remember that the personnel reviewer, the subject-matter experts who review, and the selecting official will all be comparing and contrasting you with others who are also qualified for the position. Never make the mistake of assuming that you are the best qualified for the job or that people should know it from your resume. You must prove you are the best qualified for the job.
As you write, decide whether or not you feel that this job is really what you want and whether you are qualified to perform the KASOC’s you are writing about. Decide how to adapt yourself to the vacant position. Don’t just list experience, adapt it, and relate it to the job. Your task is not just to present yourself, but to rank yourself among the best of others using specific job or education related examples.
What are the Differences Between Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics?
KNOWLEDGE - The learning you have obtained through formal education, training, and experience that relates specifically to the position being sought. For example, knowledge of marketing principles, knowledge of evaluation techniques, knowledge of grammar and punctuation.
Look at the job requirement and determine what knowledge you need to perform a task. If it’s knowledge of grammar and punctuation, then describe in your narrative the ways in which you have performed tasks requiring that knowledge. Don't define it; explain your understanding of how it applies to the job you are seeking.
SKILL - A task that you have performed successfully or that is easily shown by experience/training. For example, skill in developing training materials. Give examples of training materials you have developed. Skill in word processing. Give examples of word processing packages you have used and correspondence or publications you have prepared using them.
ABILITY - The capability to perform a task based upon education and training that may be either directly related or transferable; here’s where you can relate your experience with apples, and use it to express your potential to work with oranges. For example - Ability to function as a team leader could be experience as president of your fraternity or dorm; Ability to speak before groups could be experience in leading campus tours.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS - These are the "intangibles" needed to perform well in a specific work environment. Some examples are the ability to cooperate with others in a team situation and the ability to meet and deal tactfully in controversial situations. Describe specific examples of your experience that shows your capabilities.
What's the Difference Between KASOC’S and My Resume?
Your entire resume (including KASOC’s) will be used to determine minimum qualifications in accordance with Office of Personnel Management qualification standards. Your KASOC’s will determine your relative ranking among other qualified candidates.
What is the Purpose of the Narrative Statement?
Basically, the KASOC is used to focus on just those who are specifically qualified for the position. Reviewers will rely heavily on the narrative statement when reviewing the entire stack of applications received to determine which candidates should be interviewed.
How Should I Address the KASOC's?
You should think of the narrative as a written interview, a chance to speak specifically to the reviewer about your particular qualifications for the vacant position. Use first person, be concise, to the point, and specific. Don’t be modest or self-effacing. This is your chance to tell the perspective employer what you can do for her/him.
Use identifying active verbs, and words or phrases which relate to your KASOC’s:
| Good Identifiers | Poor Identifiers |
|---|---|
designed |
did |
conducted |
handled |
evaluated |
reviewed |
directed |
was |
Use qualifying words or words which describe how much depth and breadth of experience, what level of responsibility of resourcefulness you possess in a particular area:
- How many designed? What types?
- What procedures you followed. Don’t just say I did the mail - tell what you did with it;
- To whom you submitted your work for review;
- How many you supervised;
- How independent you were in performing the task;
- Don’t abbreviate. Don’t use acronyms unless you explain their meaning in the first use.
- Include references to appropriate courses taken.
- Use paragraphs, bold print, headings, or bullets so that points stand out.
- Cover the specifics; summarize. Be brief, but thorough. If you can cover the topic in a paragraph, that’s great. If it takes more, that's fine. Don’t shortchange yourself, but don’t overstate. Don’t submit copies of position descriptions.