Solutions for the Workplace, LLC is a leader in advising on the preparation of Senior Executive Service (SES) resumes and application packages for candidates that get results. Thousands of Senior Executive Service positions will become available in the next several years due to the massive number of current SES members who are eligible to retire or have recently left the federal government. While SES jobs come with a tremendous amount of responsibility, the rewards are great, too. The government needs and wants qualified candidates to fill these positions.
Let us professionally develop your 2-page SES resume and ECQ Structured Interview Outline to help you navigate today’s SES application, interview, and selection process.
Preparing an SES resume that includes powerful accomplishments, impactful metrics to give your work context, and ECQ-aligned language is an art. In addition, effectively matching your career’s work to the new ECQ competencies is paramount to getting your application past the human resources reviewers and in front of the decision makers. Successful applicants will be called upon to discuss their ECQ stories before an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB), before their selection can be finalized.
I just learned that I was selected into the SES and will begin my first assignment in two weeks! I am really jazzed about this opportunity and wanted to thank you for the incredibly helpful service and advice you provided as I went into and through the selection process. Your understanding of the detailed nature of the ECQ interviews, current OPM policies and thinking, and government HR practices were invaluable to me as I worked on my executive resume and ECQ stories, prepared for the panel interviews and updated my case for the ERB and QRB. I feel very fortunate to have had you in my corner and would recommend you to anyone considering entering into the SES. Again, thank you so much for all your help and support. – Steve
Our SES Resume & Executive Interview Preparation
Given the complexity of applying for a Senior Executive Service position, many candidates rely on our resume writing expertise for assistance in navigating this complex and time-consuming process.
Our SES resume services involve a collaborative process in preparing your SES resume. Our incisive techniques for gathering information and prompting you for input will help you put forth your strongest ECQ-related achievements when applying for a Senior Executive Service position. We will work together to develop a presentation that will demonstrate to the agency that you meet the qualifications and bring solid executive accomplishments to further their mission. It is critical that you participate in this process and provide the examples and details needed to craft a thorough and effective package. In return, you will gain not only a well-written and properly formatted SES resume, but also confidence in your application presentation and qualifications.
Understanding the New SES Selection Process
The Senior Executive Service (SES) selection process has changed significantly. Rather than preparing lengthy Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) narratives, candidates are now expected to demonstrate their executive leadership experience through a structured interview process aligned with the ECQs.
Many executives underestimate the preparation required for these interviews. It is not enough to know your accomplishments, you must be able to clearly communicate executive-level leadership, strategic thinking, and measurable results through well-developed examples that align with each ECQ.
To help candidates prepare, Solutions for the Workplace offers an ECQ Structured Interview Outline as part of our SES services.
What Is an ECQ Structured Interview Outline?
An ECQ Structured Interview Outline is a personalized preparation tool that organizes your executive accomplishments into concise leadership stories using the CCAR framework (Challenge, Context, Action, Result).
This is not a script and should not be read during an interview. Rather, it serves as a roadmap that helps you quickly recall relevant examples and communicate them effectively.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recommends that candidates bring an outline to their structured interview. A professionally developed ECQ Structured Interview Outline can help you organize your accomplishments, prepare relevant examples, and communicate your executive leadership experience more effectively.
Hi Nancy! Just to let you know I officially got the promotion and OPM certification qualifying me as an SES. Your help answering, formatting, and thinking through the 5 ECQs was critical to get me started in the process and in answering the Structured Interview QRB. I’ll make sure to continue recommending you in the future. Thanks! A.B.
See a Sample ECQ Structured Interview Outline
Many candidates have difficulty visualizing what an ECQ Structured Interview Outline actually looks like. To help demonstrate the level of preparation involved, we have provided a sample outline based on the Executive Core Qualification: Achieving Results.
Reviewing the sample will give you a better understanding of:
- How executive accomplishments are organized
- The level of detail required
- How CCAR stories are structured
- Why professional guidance can make a significant difference in the process
SES Resume and ECQ Structured Interview Outline Professional Writing Services include:
- Review of SES (or other existing) resume and any prior materials
- Template-based information gathering tools to assist you in assembling your accomplishments, along with customized interview-style questions designed to uncover your executive achievements, leadership strengths, and measurable results
- Development of an ECQ Structured Interview Outline containing 1–2 accomplishments per Executive Core Qualification using OPM’s recommended Challenge-Context-Action-Result (CCAR) format
- Alignment of your accomplishments to the current Executive Core Qualifications, including the 15 associated sub-competencies
- Organization of your accomplishments into interview-ready leadership stories that highlight executive impact, measurable results, and strategic decision-making
- Incorporation of executive leadership language and key words throughout the outline to strengthen alignment with SES requirements
- A polished, professional written first draft that clearly communicates your executive qualifications and readiness for the Senior Executive Service
- Revisions based on your review and input
- Final resume and ECQ Structured Interview Outline documents formatted for compatibility with the required submission method
- Consulting, interview preparation, executive coaching, and strategic guidance throughout the SES selection process, including assistance after selection and preparation for the Qualifications Review Board (QRB)
GREAT NEWS! OPM approved my package, so I’m now a “career” SES. Thank you so much for sticking with me, long after other people would have thrown in the towel. I have really enjoyed working with you, and sincerely appreciate the key role you played in saving me from disaster in my 11th hour in the ECQ process. You are a life saver with a great sense of humor, and for that I will always be grateful. Count me among the legions of professionals you have helped in their own personal journeys through life. – C.B.
SES Structured Interview preparation includes:
Successful Senior Executive Service applicants can expect to be interviewed at both the agency and OPM levels. Under OPM guidance, all agency-selected SES candidates must pass a structured interview process. As a Certified Employment Interview Consultant (CEIC), Nancy has coached applicants at all levels to communicate their achievements clearly, concisely, and in OPM’s preferred CCAR framework. Interview coaching is on an hourly basis.
Most projects require a turnaround time of at least two weeks. Our services are customized based on your needs. Contact us now to help craft your SES resume, ECQ Structured Interview Outline, and interview prep to prepare for Senior Executive Service.
I think my interview went very well! I had 9 scenarios ready to go and used 3 of them completely. The process of writing the 9 down really helped because it allowed me to practice with the framework to organize my thoughts, and I was able to use the framework on scenarios I hadn’t practiced. And I made sure to get my elevator speech in at the end since they dove right into the specifics at the beginning! I felt like I projected well and I felt in command of the room, so to speak. I am completely certain that it would have been a very different experience without your feedback and guidance – S.T.
Learn More with Our SES Process Guide
This resource provides practical information and guidance on today’s SES application and interview process, including structured interviews, ECQ preparation, and other topics affecting executive candidates.
It’s an excellent starting point for professionals who want to better understand the process before investing in individualized SES coaching and writing services.
Click here to learn more about this guide, and be sure to check out all of our other resources in support of you, too.