In this guide · 6 sections
A federal resume is read twice: first by an HR specialist checking minimum qualifications, then — if you pass — by people rating how well you fit. Both read the same two pages. The format below makes both jobs easy, which is what gets you referred.
011. Header
- Full name, city and state, phone, email.
- Citizenship (e.g. “U.S. Citizen”), because most jobs require it.
- Veterans' preference if you claim it, and your security clearance if you hold one.
- If you are a current or former federal employee: your series and highest grade held, with dates (needed for time-in-grade on merit promotion jobs).
022. A short summary for this job
Three or four lines that make the case for this announcement: your level, your field, and the two or three things the job asks for that you have done. Use the announcement's own terms where they are true for you. Rewrite it for every application.
033. Work experience: the part that decides
Newest first. For every job, the same facts, always:
- Job title and employer, city and state.
- Start and end dates as MM/YYYY (or “Present”).
- Hours per week. Part-time work counts in proportion, so this number matters.
- For federal jobs: series and grade (e.g. 0343, GS-12). Salary and supervisor contact are optional.
- Then 3–8 bullets: what you did and what changed because of it, with numbers where you have them.
044. Education, certifications, training
Degree, field, school and year. GPA only if the announcement uses it (some entry-level jobs do). Certifications and training only when relevant to this job: a long list costs space you need for experience.
055. Skills
One line of tools, systems and methods the announcement names and you can really use. Don't repeat what your bullets already prove.
06What to leave out
- Photo, date of birth, marital status, Social Security number.
- Objectives and generic soft-skill lists.
- References (HR asks if needed).
- Anything more than two pages.
Common questions
Should a federal resume be different for each job?
Yes. The ratings are made against one announcement's specialized experience and duties. A resume written for that announcement shows the match clearly; a generic one makes HR search for it.
Is the USAJOBS resume builder better than uploading a PDF?
Both are accepted and both are limited to two pages. A well-formatted PDF gives you control over layout; make sure it contains real text, not an image.
How far back should I go?
Far enough to show the qualifying experience, usually 10–15 years. Older jobs can be summarised in one line or merged, as long as dates and hours are given for anything you want credited.
Sources
About the editor
Claudio edits the FedResume guides. Every rule we describe is checked against the sources listed above. Found something out of date? Write to [email protected]. How we write these guides.