Executive Core Competancies:


The ECQ essays are required for entry into the SES and are used by many departments and agencies in selection, performance management and leadership development for management and executive positions. The ECQs define the competencies to build a Federal corporate culture to drive for results, serve customers and build successful teams and coalitions with and outside the organization. Typically these essays are 1-2 pages each. FederalResumePros writes ECQ statements using examples to show how you uniquely add value.

There are 5 ECQ essays to be written:

ECQ 1 - Leading Change
ECQ 2 - Leading People
ECQ 3 - Results Driven
ECQ 4 - Business Acumen
ECQ 5 - Building coalitions

Each ECQ must address the subject of the ECQ and the competencies under each ECQ. In addition, SES candidates must show the following Fundamental Competencies:

Competencies are the personal and professional attributes that are critical to successful performance in the SES. The fundamental competencies are the attributes that serve as the foundation for each of the Executive Core Qualifications. Experience and training that strengthen and demonstrate the competencies will enhance a candidate's overall qualifications for the SES.

Definition: These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications.
 
Competencies
 
Interpersonal Skills: Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
 
Oral Communication:  Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.
 
Integrity/Honesty:  Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.
 
Written Communication: Writes in a clear, concise, organized and convincing manner for the intended audience.

Continual Learning:  Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development.

Public Service Motivation: Shows a commitment to serve the public. Ensures that actions meet public needs; aligns organizational objectives and practices with public interests.

More information on each ECQ is below. The competencies under each ECQ need to be addressed in the ECQ essays:

Definition: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

Creativity and Innovation: Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting edge programs/processes.

External Awareness: Understands and keeps up-to-date on local, national and international policies and trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholders' views; is aware of the organization's impact on the external environment.

Flexibility: Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.

Resilience: Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.

Strategic Thinking: Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes on opportunities and manages risks.

Vision: Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others; acts as a catalyst for organizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action.

Definition: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

Conflict Management: Encourages creative tension and differences of opinions. Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.

Leveraging Diversity: Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.

Developing Others: Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.

Team Building: Inspires and fosters team commitment, spirit, pride and trust. Facilitates cooperation and motivates team members to accomplish group goals.

Definition: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

Competencies

Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
Customer Service: Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.
Decisiveness: Makes well-informed, effective and timely decisions, even when data are limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; perceives the impact and implications of decisions.
Entrepreneurship: Positions the organization for future success by identifying new opportunities; builds the organization by developing or improving products or services. Takes calculated risks to accomplish organizational objectives.
Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.
Technical Credibility: Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations and policies related to specialized expertise.

Definition: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

Financial Management: Understands the organization's financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities.

Human Capital Management: Builds and manages workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs. Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, and rewarded; takes action to address performance problems. Manages a multi-sector workforce and a variety of work situations.

Technology Management: Keeps up-to-date on technological developments. Makes effective use of technology to achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems.

Definition: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

Partnering: Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.

Political Savvy: Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly.

Influencing/Negotiating: Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.

 

I am posting this alert - based on a warning from the USA Jobs Website. For further thoughts, you can contact info@federalresumepros.com.

Recently, malicious software, known as Infostealer.Monstres, was used to gain unauthorized access to the Monster.com resume database to steal the contact information of job seekers. Monster Worldwide is the technology provider for the USAJOBS website and regrettably, some of the contact information captured came from USAJOBS job seekers.

The information captured included name, address, telephone number, and email address. Monster Worldwide has assured the U.S. Office of Personnel Management that Social Security Numbers were NOT compromised because of IT security shields USAJOBS has in place.

Access to the data was obtained through the use of a private sector Monster customer’s computer using legitimate employer credentials. OPM is working closely with Monster to quickly protect the USAJOBS data. Monster Worldwide already has identified and shut down a rogue server that was accessing and collecting the job seeker contact information. Further safeguards are being put into place.

We ask you to remain alert for counterfeit "phishing" emails that may appear to come from Monster.com asking you to click on a link. USAJOBS will NEVER request personal information via unsolicited email (i.e. not a response to an email sent by you). Monster has also assured us THEY will NEVER ask any site users to download any software, "tool" or "access agreement."

Please also be on the alert for fraudulent email that advertises positions managing financial transactions, or cashing checks. These emails are attempting to engage job seekers in a money laundering or bad check scam.

If you receive a suspicious email regarding your USAJOBS search, email it, with the full "header" information intact, to us at: mayday@fedjobs.gov. Instructions on obtaining header information can be found at: http://www.spamcop.com/help_with_headers/.

"Phishing" and Internet fraud is an issue that, from time to time, can affect any Internet user or business. We remain committed to safeguarding the integrity of the information provided by job seekers. If you have any questions, please contact mayday@fedjobs.gov.

Avoiding Email Fraud

Spam email is such a common occurrence, you may think you know what to look for. But there are two types of email scams that can be more difficult to identify, and that can be especially harmful if you fail to notice the warning signs — phishing and spoofing. Both practices concern fraudulent email where the 'from address' has been forged to make it appear as if it came from somewhere, or someone, other than the actual source.

Phishing emails are used to fraudulently obtain personal identification and account information. They can also be used to lure the recipient into downloading malicious spyware or malware programs. The message will often suggest there are issues with the recipient's account that requires immediate attention. A link will also be provided to a spoof website where the recipient will be asked to provide personal/account information or download malicious software.

Spoof emails often include a fraudulent offer of employment and/or the invitation to serve as a go-between for payment processing or money transfers. In most cases, the sender uses a program to auto-generate an email list using random email addresses. Like with phishing emails, the sender's address is often disguised.

Reporting Fraud

The USAJOBS Team wants to remind you that we NEVER request personal information via unsolicited mail (i.e. not a response to an email sent by you). If you ever receive an email message that appears to be from USAJOBS, but you suspect that it is not legitimate, we request that you take the following actions:

• DO NOT respond to the e-mail
  
• DO NOT click on any links within the email
  
• Forward the e-mail in its entirety to: mayday@fedjobs.gov
  
• Delete the e-mail upon forwarding to USAJOBS

For more information on reporting fraud read our Federal Job Scam Information Sheet