Buying your KSAs off the internet

[helpkane]

I saw a Firefighter got hired at West Point by buying his KSA & 612 off the internet.


Name: Mathew Ko..........

New Job: GS-05 FIREFIGHTER
New Agency: West Point
Timing: 3 Mo
Past Job Title: TEMP FIREFIGHTER GETS PERMANENT POSITION
Firm or agency: West Point


Federal Job Search Story or Challenge:
"I was a temp firefighter for a year and a half. This meant that I would have to apply as a external canidate for any permanent postion. I wanted to make the top of the list for the job that opened at my place of employment. By using this company to make my KSA'S and my resume, I came back in the top three for the open postion. Number one and two on the list were veterans!... So by not including their veterans points or depending on their skills, I could of been number one on the list of eligible people by going thru this company. This was the best investment I have ever made. The results were fantastic and it landed me my permanent job!"

Tips for other Federal jobseekers:
If you want proven results..you might want to look into this company's work!
Don't hate the player.. Hate the game....





If you can't write your own KSAs, which are basic fire questions, how can you do the job? ???????????????????????????????????????????????

[engine 142]

I've known alot of good people that cannot land a FED job because of their inability to write a federal resume/ksa. The federal resume take alot more of "imagination" to write. You have a GS-3 in personell about 500 miles from the site grading them on a score card. the front line supervisor never sees all of them only the top few. For some who cannot write well this type of resume agency works. For others you are correct in saying Buying a job.

[engine 142]

My point is that alot of qualified people do not and/or cannot write a resume that is compatible with the government hiring process. In the private sector, whoever is reviewing the resume usually knows at least a little something about the position and/or qualifications needed. In the Federal Government you have a secretary that may or may not be onsite ( i.e. Philly hiring for Carrderock and Abberdeen hiring for Ft. Meade). This person usually "scores" resumes and ksa's on key words. So the less key words, the worse your rating. All I meant was that sometimes good folks need good help. I don't believe at all in Buying a Government job or buying a resume at all for that matter. But I can understand having someone help you polish up an existing resume.

[ThatGuy23]

I'am with you. The key word here is Help with the KSA's, not Make your KSA's


"using this company to make my KSA'S and my resume" he said. :( :(

[firestrike]

Engine142, welcome to the real world of competition.

[Marine12]

You are missing the point. If you can't write your own KSAs, which are basic fire questions, how can you do the job? I am glad that I am not riding on a truck with the KSA's guy.if you have to buy your KSA's you are a JOKE !!!!!!!

[ThatGuy23]

Has he been been fired, if not he should !!!!

[amdffemt]

I know that when I see an announcement that I want to apply for, I print it off, and rewrite my resume for the KSA's, or emphasize on the experience they are looking for. I always read the announcement carefully and make sure that resume reflects the announcement. I found out by an AF Chief that just because you have a resume online doesn't mean you will be considered. He told me to start reading the announcements and to change them so the computer will pick up key words.

[amdffemt]

I just read the first post a bit better and realized what ksa guy said. He acually thinks he is #1 over veterans when he is buying his ksa's. KSA guy better wake up and smell the roses if he thinks he will be ahead of a veteran. He better do some time in uniform(camoflauge) before he thinks that.

[engine 142]

Maybe NAVY Blue would be even better!!

[ThatGuy23]

WHY !! is this guy still a Federal Firefighter ???On the OF-612]"I understand that false of fraudulent information on or attached to the OF 612 may be for firing"Is't buying your KSAs & OF-612 fraufulent Information. How can the Chief at West Point hired this guy with vets on the list.

[WatchinU]

The post said he had the company do his KSA's. It didn't say that they lied on it. Most likely he gave them a list of qualifications and all the other information needed for them to complete this task. They probably review the info he submitted and re-worded his KSA's and resume to make sure "KEY" words were used and that it didn't look like a three year old wrote the KSA's.

There is nothing illegal about having someone write the KSA's for you, only if they use fraudulent information. He should get a pat on the back for wanting the job bad enough to put up the money to better his placement on the list. Quit hating just because he used his head.

As far as hiring him with vet's on the top of the list- well if he was #3 and they hired more than 2 he could get in, OR if either of the top 2 turned down or had some other issue making them unfit for the job then he is in.


Think about it. You keep crying like you were #4 on the list!

[Marine12]

Man I am glad that I am retiring soon. I am getting tired of all this crap. I take issue with several of the points Watchin U made. The government shouldn't be any different than civil service. I know they are separate entities- I'm not an idiot. If you took a civil service test and passed your paper over to the next guy with a list of your ideas and he wrote the answers for you, how do you think that would go over? It is the same thing. Buying anything off the internet isn't a legitimate way to get a job. What happenend to honesty? Don't you think that the individuals who are reading applications and KSAs are under the assumption that the applicant has completed the process him/her self? I believe that if someone wants a job bad enough they should research(should know) the information and write an appropriate KSA. As far as hiring someone to write them so it doesn't sound like a 3 year-old wrote them- would you want someone on your fire department who writes like a 3 year-old? Sure firefighting is a hands on job, but there is plenty of paperwork to go along with a federal FF job. Good luck when they find out the guy writes like a 3 year old after the fact!
Now, having money shouldn't entitle one to a job. If paying for KSAs is the only way to get a job then government jobs have shifted from what they used to be. If one has a complaint about the system and feels cheated by federal hiring then one should contact a local congressman. They are always willing to listen to the problems that occur close to home.

How did this person get hired at West Point? There should be much more to hiring an individual than rating his/her KSAs. Was there an interview? I have a feeling that now that this type of individual is on the job the administration has realized the faulty system.


Perhaps you should stop crying like YOU are a fraud.

[WatchinU]

or maybe I just explained it a little poorly.

Any job (including private sector) has a resume process in a manner of speaking. I am sure you have heard of other resume writing companies or companies that specialize in coaching people in preparing their paperwork to apply. I did not mean that the person just said "I have "A" "B" "C" qualifications and these are the jobs I had". I meant that they most likely write out their qualifications and answers to the KSA's and they are buffed and polished by the Company prior to sending them in to ensure those dreaded "Key Words" are included. Personally I would rather see these "Key words" go away and have a qualified review board outside of the hiring Command to review all applications (without applicant names) to grade the applicants.

I agree with you that their hopefully was an interview process that would weed out the non-qualified (unable to communicate orally which is in most of the PD's I have seen). I know several people that have difficulty writing out exactly what they mean (I guess myself in this case). I know some older federal guys who can still barely read!! Yes it is a shame but the gov't was a little different back then. Also many people have no aspirations of going higher than a firefighter, they enjoy what they do and have no desire to assume more responsibility.

I would hope that someone would be able to get the job on their own by completing the process on their own abilities. I however am familiar with the fact that this is not always the case. How many people do you know that were hired just becuase of who they know or are related to??? Nepotism still runs rampant in the goverment as well as the private sector. I would hope you understand and are aware of this if you plan to move onto another career following your retirement.

[ThatGuy23]

"You keep crying like you were #4 on the list!"


NO I had a 100 ,number 1 on the List ,West Point CPO told me(Used by own KSAs too) So I will be contact a local congressman !

[WatchinU]

I hope you proof read your KSA's, OF-612 and resume better than you do your posts on here.

If you were #1 why didn't you get hired? (Just curious)

As far as I know the only way (if you were #1) that you can get passed over is if someone already in the system puts in for the position.

[Marine12]

This is usually how my department works. We get a list of 3 names. If there are no veterans on the list the 3 names usually have a rating of 100. You could have been one of those names on the chief's list. The chief selects the name out of the 3 candidates that he wants to hire. The guy that bought his KSAs might have called the chief or stood out in some way to him. I applaud you for using your own KSAs and achieving a score of 100. If there is a job you really want and you can score a 100 with your KSAs, I would try and do something that allows you to stand out from the pack. Keep your head up. If you continue to score 100's on your ratings and little or no veterans apply you will have a good chance at getting a job.
It says you have spoken to the WP CPO office. If they told you that your name was on the list you should call back and ask why you weren't selected. Occassionally a CPO will offer that information.
Good luck.

[opie5461]

What is the best way to get a high score on the KSA's? I know they look for key words, but how do you know what those words are?

[Marine12]

Please read this with an open mind because this post has value. As my career winds down I have recognized that times have changed significantly. To the future federal firefighters I just want to say that purchasing KSAs is wrong. Somehow firefighters have segregated themselves from the rest of society. By accepting lower standards in applicants we are lowering the standards of our jobs. In the business world an applicant who cannot write an essay on an application would be considered an unitelligble candidate. Why is it any different here? It is not. I understand that some may feel that reading and writing are not an integral part of a firefighter's job duties but once again I disagree. There has to be accountability for someone who chooses to have someone else do the work them. Healthy competition is being able to compete on a level playing field with intelligent applicants. Compete for the job- don't steal it (especially since you obviously are not overly qualified if you can't even write your own KSAs). People are misreprensenting their abilities by the pure fact that their words and thoughts did not go into the physical writing of the KSA. If someone can't write then they aren't qualified to do firefighting work either. No one else would hire them so the fire service gets stuck with them because of ignorance on the part of those conducting the hiring. This is ridiculous. What would provoke someone to buy KSAs. The topic of key words has been discussed. In an answer to that the government may have a faulty system and anyway who informed the public about the key word issue? How do we as civilians even know this is true? A company markets itself to help firefighters meet the "requirements" of writing a KSA. SO WHAT! That doesn't mean that it is moral or acceptable to use them. What about the companies who market research and term papers or give answers to test? It isn't acceptable to buy from them either- yet some firefighters don't see the correlation. It should be quite obvious. As firefighters who have achieved our positions due to our skills and abilities (in all facets, not just mechanical and technical skills) this is an insult. Stop condoning these acts. Firefighters are just a part of the real world as any other career. I believe that all hiring processes are tainted, but the next generation of firefighters are taking it to a new level by buying their jobs. The United States Military Academy has a federal firefighter who frequently performs helicopter stand-bys for the president. Who knows he may not have a clue what to do if it crashes because he chose to purchase his KSAs. One famous fire captiain had an infamous quote that I will leave you with. "The only people impressed by firefighters, are firefighters." Good luck to future firefighters and be good to each other. Marine 12 out.

[mohegan16]

That is FRAUD !!!!!!

[badabing333]

Hey, Freedom of Speech was established in the 1st. Amendment!!!

[crash_&_smash]

Hey, Freedom of Speech was established in the 1st. Amendment!!!

Maybe it has something to do with mentioning names......

[badabing333]

Feel free to post a rebuttle about this post.
A doctor in NY that works for NY sports teams has come under scrutiny in the last couple of days. His bosses are looking into whether or not to fire him. Why you may ask? He lied about where he went to school, his experience, and his certifications. He said he was a graduate of Stony Brook University but he only went there for a couple of semesters. He did his residency work in Guatamala. Baseball players did steroids and people called this cheating and they are looking to take their records away. But a firefighter can buy his experience and pass it off as his own and it is ok?
You get what you pay for and we are paying for it right now. If the DHPW roads and grounds hired a maintenance worker and he didn't know how to operate a mower and was shown how and continuously performed his job poorly he would be dismissed. Why not this individual? Firefighters need to stop hiding behind their "prestigious" title once they receive it. It has become obvious that not everyone is as noble as firefighters portray themselves to be. Good luck on transferring KSA boy.

[AC302]

What is the best way to get a high score on the KSA's? I know they look for key words, but how do you know what those words are?

If you look at the job duties for the positions you are applying for you will see the general key elements of the job. For example: EMT, structural firefighting, ARFF, aircraft, hazardous materials and emergency medical care. These are the kind of words you want in your resumix. Let's say the job is for a Lead Firefighter you want leading and overseeing functions in there. If you look at the duties for the jobs you want, note the common phrases, put those phrases in your resumix (must be true) and you'll get referred.

[17_Station]

NEED HELP WRITING KSA? (http://www.federaljobguru.com/index.html)

This link was pulled off of this web site on the ads by goooooogle....... :rolleyes:

[Army Brat]

I'm with you marine12. The sh*t has never been deeper. There are classes pertaining to KSA. You just got to know where to look. I doubt you'll find anything at a local 2 year college, but a 4 year may offer it non-credited.