Application for Promotion or Assignment
This application provides the review committee and selecting
official a summary of your education, work experience, and
capabilities in specific areas pertinent to the vacant position. List
your education or training and work experience in the spaces
provided. Number your entries consecutively in the Reference
No. columns, e.g., education or training 1-6, postal positions 7-
10, etc.
The vacancy announcement to which you are responding lists a
number of job requirements. In this application you are to provide
your qualifications in reference to those requirements. Your
statement of qualification should include a demonstration of the
required knowledge, skill, or ability (KSA). All of the requirements
should be addressed. Failure to address each requirement
results in an incomplete application which may lead to your being
found unqualified.
Read each of the requirements listed on the vacancy
announcement. Consider carefully achievements which
demonstrate the KSA specified for that requirement.
Achievements may be either a specific instance or sustained
high performance over a period of time. These achievements
may have occurred in all kinds of settings, e.g., paid work in the
Postal Service or any other organization, volunteer work, or
education or training activities. For each requirement try to give
several examples of achievements that demonstrate that you
possess the KSA. Achievements may be best described by
telling of a situation or task which needed to be done; stating
what action you took; and finally, describing the result of that
action. Be sure it is clear to the reader that:
1. What you are describing actually demonstrates the KSA.
2. The situation, action, and result are fully described.
3. You yourself were in some way responsible for the result.
4. If you displayed initiative or innovation, it is explained.
If your achievement was the acquisition of education or training,
then your achievement description should indicate the following:
1. What you learned and how that learning relates to the KSA
specified in the requirement.
2. Details or nature of the course - topics covered, level of
complexity.
3. Evidence of the quality of your performance in the course, if
available. Simply mentioning that you took a course may not
indicate you gained much knowledge from it.
4. Any application of what you learned.
The content of the description you write is much more important
than writing style. You must communicate to the reader how you
have demonstrated the KSA. Be specific about what you
personally did. Merely saying that you possess a KSA is not
adequate.
Write your achievement descriptions as though none of the
review committee members or the selecting official knows
anything about you (it’s very likely the truth). After each
achievement description, indicate the reference person(s) who
could verify your achievements. Your supervisor may also be
contacted to verify any work-related statements you write. Also
indicate for each achievement the reference number of your
education or training, or work experience connected to your
achievements.
When the ability to manage or supervise is listed as a
requirement, applicants should present achievements
(examples) that demonstrate their current ability to undertake the
full range of responsibility for the position being sought. If the
position involves the supervision of lower-level supervisors and
managers, applicants are generally expected to indicate
sustained high performance in a supervisory or managerial
position previously held.
Following are the three components of managerial ability that
should guide the applicant’s demonstration of achievement. Not
all considerations listed here need be addressed. The objective
is for the applicant to demonstrate managerial ability as it applies
to the position being sought.
1. Structuring/Organizing. Identifying problems and their
causes and securing relevant information; developing solutions
to problems and making logical decisions that make effective use
of resources and accomplish organizational goals; making
innovations, investing effort, and keeping high standards to
ensure a product of high quality; and following up on activities to
see that they were on target, on time, and within budget.
2. Establishing Effective Work Relationships. Encouraging
employees to participate in decisions that affect their work and
the quality of their life at work; supporting management’s mission
and representing the unit at the next higher management level;
engaging in teamwork with other managers; maintaining effective
relationships with clients and customers; acting on EEO,
Affirmative Action, EI/QWL, Management by Participation
policies and programs; maintaining cooperative labor-
management relations; providing honest and constructive
feedback and positive recognition; training and developing
subordinates; and handling interpersonal conflicts.
3. Communicating. Communicating information and
instructions in writing and orally to achieve desired results;
presenting technical information at a level appropriate to the
audience; and facilitating information flow within the
organizational unit.
If you are applying for a managerial or supervisory position, read the following:
Detached from PS Form 991, October 1993
NOTES TO APPLICANT AND PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT ARE ON REVERSE
