How To Write A Federal Resume

As the job market continues to be quite a difficult space to navigate, it feels like the perfect time to remind you or introduce you to federal jobs that meet all the requirements you’re looking for in your next role, while also offering up a bit more job security.

Yes there are federal jobs that are fully 100% remote, pay 6 figures, come with great benefits, and more often than not require one year of experience. This makes federal jobs really great for those looking to transition into a new industry or career from a non traditional background.

ICYMI: How To Prepare For The September Hiring Surge
ICYMI: 3 Steps To Make Your Federal Job Application Stand Out 

But… you can not approach a federal job application the same way you would with a traditional job. Applying for a federal job is a unique process that requires a specialized resume format aka a federal resume.

Unlike the traditional resume that we have come to master (or at the very least understand), federal resumes are FAR more detailed and follow specific guidelines to ensure candidates meet the rigorous requirements of federal positions. 

Whenever I share new remote federal positions on the job board (you can gain access to my free remote job board here) I’m asked:

- How should I prepare my resume for these federal roles?
- How can I stand out when I apply for these roles?

I’ve heard you loud and clear! This is a post you’re going to want to bookmark so you can refer to as a guide through the process of writing your federal resume and getting your application done.

Understanding the Ins and Outs Of A Federal Resume:

A federal resume is going to include and highlight  the same traditional information you’re accustomed to using on your regular resume like: 

• Work history
• Education
• Skills 
• Accomplishments

But,,, you’re going to be going into far more detail. This is why federal resumes tend to be several pages long (think 4-6 pages on average) and must adhere to the specific formatting guidelines set by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

🔑 Major Differences Between Federal and Traditional Resumes

Length and Detail:

• Traditional Resume: A traditional resume is usually 1-2 pages, concise, and focuses on key accomplishments and skills. (I know you’ve heard people say stick to ONE page when it comes to your resume and recruiters)
• Federal Resume: A federal resume is going to be quite the opposite. There’s no time to play coy or be vague. Your federal resume will likely be 4-6 pages filled with  comprehensive details about your past responsibilities, achievements, and qualifications from all of your employers.

Structure:

• Traditional Resume: For the most part when we talk about the traditional resume, we want to avoid writing in paragraph form and instead uses bullet points to list job duties and accomplishments.
• Federal Resume: On your federal resume you’re going to go for more of a narrative description style. This format works best by using paragraphs to describe job responsibilities and how you meet specific qualifications of the role you’re applying to.

Information Required:

• Traditional Resume: Because real estate on a traditional resume is limited, we tend to include basic contact information, job titles, employers, and dates of employment to stay with the 1-2 page parameters.
• Federal Resume: Remember… on the federal resume we’re not being coy or vague when it comes to what we’ve done and all that we’ve accomplished. You will need additional details such as job series, GS (General Schedule) levels, hours worked per week, supervisor’s contact information, and detailed descriptions of job duties. (if you’re unsure what your GS level is you can head to USAjobs.gov to get a general idea/ description) 

KSA (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

• Traditional Resume: On your traditional resume you may include a brief summary of skills or have a skill section that briefly lists / names your skillset in certain areas. 
• Federal Resume: By now you know the vibe, the federal resume is going to require a much more thorough description of your KSAs related to the job announcement / description. 

Format:

• Traditional Resume: Depending on the job, or industry you will tend to have more flexible layout and design options. If you’ve been online at all you’ve probably seen the arguments about using overly designed resumes, Canva resumes or traditional Word templates. 
• Federal Resume: However, on a federal resume you’re not going to have all that wiggle room or need to decide on a look. You will be required to follow a specific format, that is often outlined by the USAJOBS.gov system itself.

Steps to Write a Federal Resume

Now that you’ve got a pretty good handle on what the differences are between the traditional and federal resume, you can start the transformation process. 

Choose a job to apply for: Head to USAJOBS.gov and look through the roles that are “open to the public”. There are certain federal roles that are only available for those who are currently employed by the federal government or have worked a federal job before. If you don’t fall under either of those categories, you’re going to click through the filters on the site and apply for “open to the public” roles in your area or roles that are fully remote. Be sure to carefully read the job announcement – this means paying attention to the deadline as well, as most roles have an opening and closing date listed on the right hand side. Also pay close attention to the qualifications and required KSAs.

Gather Detailed Information: Go to your traditional resume and highlight the relevant information you already have listed. Then you are going to start adding more detailed information about your work history, including job titles, employers, dates of employment, hours worked per week, and supervisor’s contact information. Don’t forget to also include information about your education, certifications, and any relevant training.

Create a Header: You should already have one from your traditional resume that includes your full name, contact information, and any relevant identification numbers. You will then want to add your USAJOBS.gov profile number (you will have to create a profile on USAJOBS.gov to apply!)

Job Information: Additionally you will want to specify the job announcement number listed on the site for the role you’re applying to, as well as the job title, series, and grade for the position. YES… all of that is needed ! 

Work Experience: For each job you’ve had, you’re going to provide the following information ⬇️

• Job title
• Employer’s name and address
• Supervisor’s name and contact information
• Start and end dates (month and year)
• Hours worked per week
• Salary
• Detailed description of job duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments, focusing on how they relate to the KSAs required for the federal job you’re applying to.

Education: Federal jobs are VERY specific and strict about their minimum education requirements for certain roles. Not all roles have an education requirement (some do) but it is important for you to be detailed about your background, work experience and education because it will dictate where you land on the pay scale. Most federal jobs have a wide pay range that is based on general schedule levels. Be sure to include details about your educational background like ⬇️:

• Institution names and addresses
• Degrees obtained
• Dates attended
• Relevant coursework, honors, or awards

Additional Information: Last but certainly not least, add sections for skills, certifications, training, volunteer work, and any other relevant information you think would make you a unique and qualified candidaite. Be specific about how these experiences have prepared you for the federal job.

Transitioning Your Traditional Resume Into A Federal Resume

Here’s an example of how you would transition a traditional resume into a federal resume format.

Traditional Resume:

Marketing Manager, ABC Company

• Managed a team of 10 marketing professionals
• Developed and implemented marketing strategies
• Increased social media engagement by 50%
• Collaborated with sales team to boost revenue

Federal Resume:

Job Title: Marketing Manager
Employer: ABC Company, 123 Main Street, City, State
Supervisor: John Doe, (123) 456-7890
Dates: January 2015 – Present
Hours per week: 40
Salary: $75,000/year

Responsibilities:

As a Marketing Manager at ABC Company, I manage a team of 10 marketing professionals, developing and implementing comprehensive marketing strategies to promote our products and services. My duties include overseeing the creation of marketing materials, coordinating marketing campaigns, and analyzing market trends to adjust strategies accordingly. I am responsible for increasing social media engagement, which I successfully boosted by 50% through targeted content and advertising. Additionally, I collaborate closely with the sales team to align marketing efforts with sales goals, resulting in a 20% increase in revenue over the past year.

Accomplishments:

• Led a successful rebranding campaign that increased brand awareness by 30%.
• Implemented a new CRM system that improved customer retention by 15%.
• Received the Employee of the Year award in 2018 for outstanding performance.

We see just how different those two examples look? That’s how starkly different your federal resume will look in comparison to your traditional resume. And yes... you must do it for each relevant role you will be discussing. So yes… it is going to take some work and not something you can get done in 10 minutes. 

Final Tips To Help You + Your Federal Resume Stand Out:

Before I send you off to land your next major role I want to remind you of a few last things. To wrap up our time together and in case you only skimmed this article 👀 here’s the TLDR; version for you ⬇️

• Be Specific and Detailed: Provide comprehensive details about your job duties, accomplishments, and how they relate to the job you are applying for.
• Use Keywords: Incorporate keywords from the job announcement to ensure your resume aligns with the qualifications and KSAs required for the position.
• Quantify Achievements: Always always always use numbers and metrics to quantify your achievements, demonstrating the impact of your work. Remember, relevancy and specificity are going to be the key factor to helping you move from applicant to hired! 
• Proofread: And after you proofread, let two other people jump in and proofread as well. This will help ensure your resume is free of errors and properly written. 

Be sure to give the process as much time as it needs to help give you the upper hand in your application process. 

Transitioning your traditional resume into the federal format is no easy feat but is a sure fire way to help you get your foot in the federal door. With this transition you will be able to effectively showcase your qualifications and increase your chances of landing your next and first federal job. 

And if you found this helpful, share the wealth with your friends, family and nosey neighbors ! 

Until next time, 

Melissa <3