CCAR Method — A Complete Guide

Writing your executive core qualifications (ECQs) can be one of the most challenging parts of an SES application. For federal positions, you’re tasked with writing them for five core competencies — leading change, leading people, results driven, business acumen and building coalitions. By writing the recommended two leadership stories per ECQ, each up to two pages long, you set yourself up for success, but that also means you have a significant amount of work to do.

At SES Resume Writers, our award-winning team prioritizes helping applicants like you deliver your best version of an SES application. We know how to help you present yourself as precisely the type of candidate your dream role is looking for. Learn how to use the CCAR method to your advantage as you work through your ECQ statements today.

What Does CCAR Stand For?

The CCAR method refers to the best way to respond to ECQs — challenge, context, action and result. After providing a brief summary of your executive experience, your ECQ statement should cover each of these areas to align with OPM requirements:

• Challenge: What specific challenge did you encounter during your executive experience that you will go into more detail about? This is what sets the stage for your story.
• Context: Context is crucial in every situation, and your ECQ statement is no different. What brought about this challenge? Why were you tasked with solving it? Who else was involved, and how did you decide on the best actions to take? The more information you can provide about the environment and outside dynamics of your situation, the better your readers will understand you.
• Action: What actions did you take to solve or mitigate the issue? This section should be as detailed as possible. Discuss every step you took and how your role impacted the outcome.
• Result: Once you reach the end of your statement, you can tie everything together by exploring the results and how your work directly impacted them. Provide measurable and quantifiable results where possible. The more accomplished your result, the better — this is where your readers see how effective you are and the quality of your work.