Writing a Federal Resume

New Federal Resume Guidelines:

Federal resumes must be no longer than two pages in length.

Historically, federal resumes were much longer than a standard resume, averaging 2 – 5 pages for an entry-level candidate.

In 2025, the federal government made several changes to the federal hiring process, including federal resume length. With this change, candidates can focus their resumes on their most relevant experiences and highlight their accomplishments in a more concise way in no more than two pages.

Building a Federal Resume

The best way to create a federal resume is to use the resume builder on the federal government’s jobs website, USAJOBS. The resume builder will guide you through the whole process and let you know when you have reached the maximum length of two pages.

You also have the option of uploading your own federal resume into your application as a Word document or PDF. If you go this route, USAJOBS will scan your resume to ensure that it meets the two-page maximum length. If it does not, it will not let you move onto the next section of the application.

Any applicant who submits a resume over two pages will be marked ineligible.

You can also create more than one resume in your USAJOBS account, each tailored to fit the different positions you apply for, as well as a searchable master resume. This resume enables HR specialists to contact you with opportunities that fit your skills and experience.

Key Components of a Federal Resume

Optional Information

To increase your odds of landing a position, provide as much pertinent information as possible in optional sections of the USAJOBS resume builder, including:

Job–related training – This could include classes, seminars, coursework, certifications or training that relate to the skills and experience the position requires.

References – Consider listing professional or personal references who can vouch for your character, work ethic and dependability—such as colleagues, classmates and mentors.

Language skills – Include the languages you have experience in and your level of proficiency.

Affiliations – Use this to list professional associations, societies, clubs or other organizations you belong to and to highlight your leadership roles and volunteer experiences that relate to the position description.

Professional publications – If applicable, include where your work has been published. Include the title and date of your publication(s).

Additional information – You can add other relevant information, including awards, leadership activities, public speaking engagements, current security clearance or volunteer experience. You can also add your availability, the type of work environment you seek and your desired location. Even if your interests and desires do not match the position’s needs, your resume will stay in the running.

To learn more about federal resumes, visit the Office of Personnel Management’s Applicant Guidance resource.