SES Articles and News

Five Tips for Strong Executive Core Qualifications

by Barbara Adams
June 28, 2011

Federal law requires that potential new Senior Executive Service (SES) members write a set of Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) narrative statements, which must pass a Qualifications Review Board (QRB) prior to appointment. The QRB consists of three volunteer members and at least two of them must be SES career appointees. This construct allows current SES members to help in selecting new appointees and play a key role in shaping the future of the SES.

The board does not rate or rank candidates' qualifications against other candidates, and it doesn't qualify a candidate for a specific job. Instead, the board evaluates each application individually and determines whether the candidate's experience-as communicated through the ECQs-meets the requirements set forth by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). As a group, the QRB evaluates each candidate's application in terms of overall quality, scope and depth.

While candidates may have the required leadership background and experience, many still do not pass the board's review. Why is that? The ECQs are considered essential qualities and abilities that SES candidates must possess to be successful. Further, because SES members hold such high-level, influential leadership positions, the QRBs are thorough in their evaluations. Moreover, some believe that QRBs have become even more stringent under the new administration.

How can you optimize your own success and avoid some of the mistakes others have made? Based on feedback from QRBs and thousands of SES clients, here are five of the most important things to consider in writing your own ECQs:

1. Use examples that are executive in nature, not simply managerial or project management.
2. Emphasize leadership rather than technical skills and results rather than process.
3. Structure your narratives using OPM's preferred format, which is Challenge-Context-Action-Result.
4. Weave the core competencies for each ECQ throughout your narratives.
5. Avoid philosophical or vague language.

Even the best-qualified candidates are not likely to pass the QRBs if their narratives are not thorough and well crafted. Still, the SES is healthy and dynamic, with many individuals retiring and others stepping up to lead it into the future. If you follow the five tips above, you will greatly increase your chances of being among them.

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