how to make a great federal resume

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Tips for Writing a Federal Resume

Creating a federal resume that brings your qualifications to life and shows that you are a perfect fit for the job can be a challenge. Be sure to demonstrate how your skills, experience, training and education match the employer’s needs. Avoid misspelled words and bad grammar. Following are a few ways to make this easier.

Consider what positions you are interested in and review what qualifications or experience they require by reviewing different types of jobs and job opportunity announcements on USAJOBS . Gather information and begin to build out a description of your knowledge, skills and experience to add to your resume. How you present your skills and experience in your resume will help determine whether or not you are invited to interview for a job.

Attend job assistance training prior to departing the service. Contact your Transition Assistance Center as soon as possible and sign up for a Transition Assistance Program Workshop. If you are not near a Military Transition Center, you may use the services at Transition Assistance Offices operated by the other military services. Use your transition counselors. They have the tools and knowledge you need. If available, get their help in creating your first resume or filling out a draft application. Ask them to critique your work and then make the changes they suggest.

One size never fits all. As you apply for jobs, tailor your resume to the position’s requirements. Study the job opportunity announcement and emphasize the parts of your work history that match the qualification requirements listed there. It is important to portray your knowledge and skills as a match to the requirements of the position and demonstrate the ability to do the job. This is easy to do when you include your results, achievements and accomplishments. Minimize the use of technical jargon or specialized terminology (e.g., military abbreviations) in your resume.

Resumes are generally presented in one of three formats: chronological, functional or a combination of both. Which format you choose will depend, in part, on the type of work you have performed and whether or not you are going to continue in the same field.

• Chronological resumes list work experience according to date, with the current job appearing first. Chronological resumes work well if your career has been progressive and you plan to continue in the same line of work.
• Functional resumes are organized by the skills you have used on the job. Functional resumes work well if you are contemplating a new career, do not have a lengthy work history, or have held a number of different positions because they sell your abilities based on the skills you have acquired throughout your career. Be sure to include relevant volunteer experience.
• Combination resumes both describe your work experience and highlight your skills. Combination resumes usually provide the most comprehensive overview of your career.

Unlike resumes used in the private sector, federal resumes require additional information. For each past job, give the standard information found in most resumes. Your federal resume should include the following:

• Job announcement number, job title , and job grade of the job for which you are applying
• Your full name, mailing address , day and evening phone numbers and home e-mail .
• Country of citizenship , if different from U.S.
• Veterans – Ensure that you attach or upload supporting documentation (e.g., DD214 or Statement of Service if still on Active Duty; SF-15, Application for 10-point preference; and Disability Rating Letter of 30% or more from the VA, if applicable).
• Peace Corps / AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers – If you are a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, you will need to provide your Description of Service (DOS) to claim non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs. AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers
• Persons with Disabilities (Schedule A) – To verify eligibility for employment under the Schedule A hiring authority, you must provide proof of disability issued by a licensed medical professions, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any federal agency, state agency, or an agency of the District of Columbia, or U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. Contact the Department’s Selective Placement Coordinators for help with hiring and accommodation requests.
• Veterans – Keep in mind that your military training may count towards qualifications. Use your Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) document (DD Form 2586) to document your training and education.
• Begin with your current position and list all other positions held in chronological order.
• State the job title, starting and ending dates (including month and year), prior employer's name and address (or write "self-employed," if that applies), and major duties and accomplishments. Include any positions temporarily held.
• Show the average number of hours worked per week or simply state "full-time"; salary or wage earned; supervisor's name, address and telephone number; and whether you’re most recent supervisor may be contacted.
• Veterans - Avoid using military job titles or occupational codes. Instead, look at what you did using your Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) as a starting point. Employers prefer proven performers, so make sure you know what employers are looking for in comparison to your military work experience.
• Indicate if your current supervisor can be contacted
• Job-related training courses (title and year).
• self-management skills refer to the way you manage yourself on the job (e.g., dependable, resourceful, etc.);
• functional skills are the skills you use on the job or have used in previous jobs (e.g., operate equipment, supervise, analyze, etc.); and
• technical skills relate to specific skills required to perform a described task (e.g., computer programming, accounting, sales, etc.)
• Current job-related certificates and licenses - Make sure you understand the licensure and certification requirements for your job objective.
• Job-related honors, awards, special accomplishments , leadership activities, memberships, or publications.

Once you have spell checked your resume, take a good look at its overall appearance. Is it appealing and easy to read? Is there enough white space? Are the margins appropriate? Have the headings, font and formatting style been used effectively? Keep in mind that your resume is an employer's first impression of you. Make sure it makes the best one possible.

• Review the job announcements carefully for key words
• Use verbs and adjectives (e.g., managed, implemented, created) that match key words identified in the job announcement.
• Eliminate military lingo (use words such as personnel instead of squad or platoon).
• Include your accomplishments; do not be shy, be truthful.
• Focus on the mission of the agency and translate your experiences.
• Your positive attitude and genuine enthusiasm goes a long way.

How to Write a Federal Resume in 2024 [3 Free Templates]

Creating a federal resume is a lot trickier than a conventional one.

For starters, you need to make it way more comprehensive (3-4 pages instead of the usual 1-2).

You also have to add very specific details, such as your GS rating, clearance, and more.

Want to learn how to create/build a federal resume the easy way?

• What’s a Federal Resume & How Does It Differ From a Conventional One
• How to Write a Federal Resume in 6 Easy Steps
• How to Look for Federal Jobs

So, let’s get started.

What’s a Federal Resume?

A federal resume, as the name implies, is the type of resume you need to make in order to apply for US federal positions.

It is similar to the conventional resume in the way you describe your experiences. You include all the must-have sections in your resume, and describe your skills and past experiences.

There are, however, some differences from a conventional resume that make creating a federal one a bit trickier.

Federal Resume VS Conventional Resume - Key Differences

The differences between the two types of resumes are as follows:

Sounds a bit complicated, right?

Worry not - once you’ve gotten the hang of it, writing a federal resume becomes a child’s play.

And you’re about to learn just how you can do that!

How to Write a Federal Resume [6 Easy Steps]

Step #1. start with a trusted format.

There are 3 typical resumes formats you can pick from:

• Reverse-chronological: this one’s the standard and it lists your experiences from most recent to the oldest one.
• Functional . This one doesn’t include work experiences and focuses solely on your skills.
• Combination , a mix of the other 2 formats.

Since you’re making a federal resume, though, you need to go with a reverse-chronological format .

It’s the most common format in the US and is recognized by every single federal recruiter.

• How Long Should a Federal Resume Be?

While a traditional resume is 1-2 pages max , the federal resume provides you with a LOT more freedom.

As we highlighted above, a federal resume includes a lot more detail than the conventional one. So, if you aim for 1-2 pages, you’ll just come off as lazy (and most likely unable to list all the information you need to land the job).

• Which Format Should You Use ForYour Federal Resume?

Unless the job ad specifically asks for a specific format, we recommend you stick to PDF.

A PDF resume maintains its original formatting and will look just like you intended regardless of which computer you open it with.

The same, however, can’t be said for a Word resume format. 

• Should I Use a Federal Resume Template?

Yep - if you use a resume template, your resume is going to be a lot more noticeable and at the same time, easier to create.

You can pick one of our hand-crafted CV templates and get started with yours in minutes!

Step #2. Include a Detailed Contact Information Section

Once you’ve picked your federal resume format, you should create a contact information section at the top of your resume.

That's where you include the typical information you’d put on a standard resume:

• Phone Number
• Email Address

For a federal resume, also include the following essentials:

• Citizenship.
• Mailing Address.
• Highest GS Score. You can find yours here .
• Veterans’ Preference (0, 5, or 10). Find yours here .
• Disability. Learn more about this here .
• Clearance (if any)
• Desired Location (if relevant)

202-555-0101

[email protected]

Citizenship: United States

Desired Job Type: Security Specialist

Highest Federal Pay Grade: GS-10

Desired Location: US, Massachusetts

Step #3. Create an Attention-Grabbing Resume Summary

Federal or not, a resume summary is essential.

Picture this: you’re a hiring manager and you’ve got 1,000 resumes to go through for a single position.

Are you going to 1) go through them in detail , one by one, and read them cover to cover?

Or 2) glance through them , find the ones that are relevant and give them in-depth attention.

You’d probably pick #2 (and so do hiring managers).

This is exactly where the resume summary comes in.

A resume summary is a short, 2-4 sentence paragraph that goes right on top of your resume (under contact information). As the name implies, it’s used to quickly summarize your work experience and give the hiring manager a snapshot of your application.

If you get the resume summary right, then you can rest assured that the hiring manager is going to read your resume start-to-end.

Federal Resume Summary Example

A well-written federal resume summary contains the following information:

• Your title & objective (i.e. the job you’re applying for)
• 2-3 of your most noteworthy achievements or key responsibilities
• 2-3 of your top skills
• Your areas of expertise

Here is a real-life federal resume summary example:

• Maintenance and Management professional with 10+ years of experience seeking the role of a Production Planning Manager. Past experience includes equipment maintenance and repair, policy enforcement, transportation coordination, and more. Seeking a GS-10 to a GS-11 position.

Step #4. List Your Past Work Experiences in Detail

Your work experience section is going to make or break your federal resume.

At the end of the day, this is what hiring managers really care about, while the rest of your resume is supposed to “support” this section.

Creating a convincing work experience section for a federal resume is a 2-parter:

First, you need to make sure that you include all the relevant work experience information.

Then, you need to present your path responsibilities and achievements in the most convincing way possible.

Let us teach you how to do both: 

What to Include in a Federal Resume Work Experience Section

For each entry in your work experience section, start off with the employment information. This includes:

• Employer name
• City & State
• Hours Worked Per Week
• GS Rating (If Relevant)
• Supervisor’s Name
• Supervisor’s Contact Information
• Whether It’s OK to Contact Supervisor

Supervisory Security Specialist

National Nuclear Security Administration

04/2015 - Present

Washington, DC

Pay Grade: GS12

Average Hours Per Week: 40

Supervisor: Michelle Doe (202-555-0180)

Yes, you may contact the supervisor.

Then, in plain text or in bullet points, describe all your responsibilities and achievements right underneath each work experience.

If you had several roles for the same employer, bold out each role and put the corresponding responsibilities and achievements underneath.

Here, It’s important to note that you want to be as detailed as possible, compared to when compiling a conventional resume.

For the latter, you’d list out 4-6 bullets of your top achievements and responsibilities and call it a day. With a federal resume, you need to include more information.

• Oversaw the Office of Defense Nuclear Security (DMS). Handled HR processes including classification, recruitment, training, workforce management, and more. Responsible for developing NNSA policies and guidance, as well providing guidance to NSSA headquarters, NNSA field organizations, and NSSA contract organizations.
• Exceeded sales KPIs by 20% for 3 months in a row
• Responsible for outbound cold calling, doing up to 100+ calls per day.

How to Write a Convincing Work Experience Section

Now, let’s talk about part 2:

How do you effectively communicate your past achievements and responsibilities?

The key here is to be as achievement-focused as possible.

Most job seekers, when writing about their past work experiences, tend to talk about their former responsibilities.

While this is OK (and will land you a job here and there), it doesn’t help you stand out much.

The hiring manager can probably figure out what your past responsibilities were - they’re hiring for your role, after all.

What they’re really interested to learn about you is how you excel compared to the rest of the job-seekers.

So, instead of saying:

• Managed 3 projects from start to finish over the last year.
• Helped implement a cutting-edge project management solution organization-wide, improving employee output by 20% for the year.

Step #5. Add Your Educational History

Next up in the federal resume is your educational history.

This one’s pretty straightforward - all you need to do is mention the following:

• College name
• Type of degree
• # of years attended (or semesters completed)

If specifically requested, you might also need to include the same information for your high school or GED.

Here’s what your education section would look like on your federal resume:

Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service

Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States

08/2014 - 05/2018

• Major: International Relations
• Minor: International Business
• Graduated Magna cum laude

Step #6. Top It Off With Optional Sections

If you have space left on your resume, you can add some of the following common resume sections to help you stand out:

• Awards & Accolades

Certifications

• Professional Associations
• Relevant Training
• Volunteer Experience
• Won first place in the Google Code Jam competition.
• Certification of Professional Achievement in Data Science (2019)
• English - Native
• French - Intermediate

Technical Skills

Federal Job Search Resources

There are a ton of useful internet resources to help you get a job in the federal government. Here are some of our top favorites:

• USA Jobs is the official government portal for federal jobs and careers.
• Learn how, exactly, the US government hires candidates .
• Discover the most in-demand government jobs here .
• If you’re a non-citizen, learn everything there’s to know about government jobs .
• If you’re looking for a job in a specific government agency, you can browse through the options here .
• If you’re a student looking for a government job, go here for entry-level positions .
• If you’ve served in the military, check out FedsHireVets.gov - it contains all the information you need about getting a federal job as a veteran.

And finally, in addition to USA Jobs, you can find federal work on the following websites:

• Careers in Government
• GovtJobs.com
• CareerOneStop
• GovernmentJobs.com

Other Federal Resume & Job Search Tips

At this point, your federal resume should be ready.

But before you go and start your job search, here are some of our top tips to help you succeed in landing your next job!

#1. Tailor Your Federal Resume to the Job

If you’re applying to several different types of jobs, make sure to tailor your resume to each of them.

A very common mistake job seekers make is that they create a single resume for dozens of positions.

This is effective at times, but it very rarely works for the type of job you’d LOVE to have.

So how do you tailor the resume? it’s pretty straightforward. Look up a job you’d like to apply for, and read the responsibilities and skills required in great detail.

Then, cross-reference it with your resume.

In many cases, you’ll see that you DO have a lot of the required experiences , you just didn’t mention them because you didn’t have space, or because you thought other types of experiences were more important.

Now all you have to do is add the relevant information to your resume, and you’re good to go!

#2. Mind the Additional Documents

Federal positions will commonly ask you for additional documents other than your resume.

If you miss one, chances are, you’re going to get disqualified (even if you have the most eye-catching federal resume in the world).

So, carefully read about the job you’re applying for and ensure that you have all the right documents.

Some documents required for federal jobs include:

• Cover letter
• Academic transcripts

#3. Are You Still Struggling? Hire a Federal Resume Expert!

If you’re still struggling with building an effective federal resume, you can always hire an expert to give you a helping hand.

Check out some of the best career coaches in 2024 here.

Federal Resume FAQ

Do you still have some lingering questions on how to build an effective federal resume? We’ll answer them here!

1. What should I include in my federal resume?

In your federal resume, include the following sections:

• Contact information
• Resume summary
• Work experience
• Optional sections like skills, languages, etc.

2. What format should my federal resume follow?

Definitely reverse-chronological.

The other 2 resume formats (functional and combination) are nowhere near as popular and are more likely to ruin your chances to land the job if the hiring manager isn’t familiar with them.

3. Should I include my picture on my federal resume?

No , you should not include a picture in your federal resume .

You should also avoid adding any sensitive personal information (age, date of birth, marital status, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.), as well as links to any websites.

4. How long should my federal resume be?

Your federal resume should be around 4 to 6 pages long, as opposed to the conventional resume which is 1-2 pages.

The reason for this is that federal resumes require a lot more background information about you than the traditional ones.

Key Takeaways

Phew, that was a lot to take in!

Now, let’s recap all the key points we’ve covered about creating a federal resume:

• A federal resume should be 4 to 6 pages long.
• It should be very detailed and include all sorts of essential information, such as GS codes, citizenship, hours worked per week, and more.
• In a federal resume, include the following sections: contact information, resume summary, work experience, education.
• If you have additional space left, you can also add things like volunteering experience, certifications, skills, etc.

Related Resume Examples

• Military Resume
• Paralegal Resume
• Career Change Resume

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Writing a federal government resume

This page provides an overview with examples of how to write a federal government resume, which have content and formatting that differ from most private sector resumes.

How to write a federal resume

Written by , external, Amanda Costello , 18F content designer and gummi bear enthusiast, July 2019. (Revised March 2024)

Writing a US federal resume is hard. When I started writing mine, all I wanted was a solid example. What needs to be included, in what order, and what would it look like with real information. This is that example. ( Law and Order chimes )

It can be helpful to think about a federal resume like an academic CV, an overview of your whole career. Also, these are long documents . This is not the place for a 1-2 page resume. When I applied, my resume was 7 pages long; after 5 years at 18F, it’s close to 15 pages.

Below are excerpts from my federal resume, along with details and notes about how it’s written and formatted. I want more awesome folks from all backgrounds and experiences as colleagues. I don’t want the resume formatting or particulars to be a mystery; it’s already a very challenging piece of writing.

General things to keep in mind:

• Pay particular attention to the Specialized Experience section of a federal job posting. These items must be clearly represented on your resume to show you’ve done the work to be qualified.
• New in 2024! Another tactic that’s been successful for me has been making the job posting’s Specialized Experience the headers for duties and responsibilities. Obviously you can’t do this until you’re looking at a specific job, but it can be a good way to organize your work for readability.
• Throw out your formatting. I used CAPS for headers, italics for mission statements, and bullet points. Expect that the bulk of your formatting will be stripped out. No columns, no fanciness. Just write. Hard.
• Speaking of writing: get your words going, and then get more words. I had to submit two writing samples, and that was where I could show off my content strategy particulars. Remember the job of the resume content: clear, straight lines between the requirements and your experience.

Explicit disclaimer: This resume format is what I chose to use in applying to 18F in the US Federal Government’s General Services Administration. It is not the only acceptable format, but is what worked well for me. I currently work as a content designer at 18F, but put this together on my own time, using no government resources to do so. Using this formatting is not a guarantee of consideration. You still gotta do the work.

Want to chat more about this? Shoot me an email at [email protected]

My comments below will all be in text boxes

Resume formatting

AMANDA COSTELLO 123 Lutefisk Street You Betcha, MN 55555

Mobile: 555-555-5555 Email: [email protected]

Availability: April 1, 2024

Job Type: Permanent, Telework Work Schedule: Full-Time

Desired locations:

United States - MN Remote

WORK EXPERIENCE

Workplace name, Unit name if relevant - City, State, Country

Your job title - MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY - Hours per week: xx

Mission statement(s) of the workplace, or summary of the company’s work on a larger scale.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

A paragraph-long description of what the work was overall. Describe your work using a wide scope, leaving the specific details for later.

SPECIFIC TOPIC (e.g. CONTENT STRATEGY)

• Examples are in a bulleted list, each point describing a project or part of a project, or a piece of work that fits the heading, plus matches up with the qualifications/reqs.
• I chose to start each bullet with a past tense verb (Collaborated, Wrote, Managed, Edited), because that’s how I usually write resumes.
• Some of these bullets reference specific things I wrote, and those were included as writing samples with my application.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Software you know, tools you use, best practices and methods. This can’t just be a list, but has to have context in your work overview of how and why they were used. Also, please throw Microsoft Word on there because I was once rejected from a job in 2007 because I put “Microsoft Office” and the listing said “Microsoft Word.” Word matching! Seriously!

SELECTED WORK:

• Another bulleted list, this time of URLs related to work I did.
• They had quick little blurbs underneath about what they were, and what I did.
• Photos won’t come through on this resume, so no screenshots or anything.

Work experience example from my 2018 resume

University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development - Minneapolis, MN

Lead Content Strategist - 07/2012 to Present - Hours per week: 40

The mission of the College of Education and Human Development is to contribute to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of the life span. The college is part of the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, a land-grant high-level research institution, dedicated to generating and preserving knowledge through research, sharing that knowledge through teaching and learning, and apply that knowledge through outreach and public service.

Developed and led college-wide content strategy combining current and prospective student needs with college goals for recruitment and retention. Worked as a member of a cross-functional team including designers, developers, business analysts, marketers, and well as content strategists across 7 academic departments to promote and deliver effective processes and consistent content strategy.

CONTENT STRATEGY:

• Collaborated with college academic departments, research centers, student support offices, and senior leadership to develop a “bottom up” content strategy, prioritizing student needs based on their relationships with academic programs. Assessed content through the lens of recruitment and retention.
• Wrote “Stakeholder’s Guide To Launch,” a two-page reference for the launch of a new college website. By anticipating the top questions stakeholders might field, this guide gave talking points surrounding new features, along with contacts for further questions.
• Served as strategist, editor, and project manager for regular essay series on college diversity and inclusion work, written by academic leadership. This generated authentic, meaningful content and helped stakeholders better understand the time commitment involved in content production.
• Established user-centered college voice and tone guidelines, using “A, but not B” format. This was informed by close work with students in formal and informal usability testing, and brand sort activities with college leadership and key stakeholders.

USER EXPERIENCE (UX) WRITING:

• Combined findings from user research, new graduate student interviews, faculty and researcher focus groups, higher ed industry trends, and analytics to consolidate more than 600 areas of academic research expertise into 111 categories. Categories were deployed across the college for consistent organization and increased findability of research work.
• Developed strategy and standards to categorize and sort 127 academic programs and 111 areas of research expertise. This was incorporated into two web-based tools developed in-house and allowed students to explore college offerings and expertise independent of department. Wrote and edited descriptions for each area, capped at 25 words to promote ease of reading and top-level understanding.
• Planned, edited, and delivered a “Web Writing Best Practices” guide for college content strategists. Formatted as a “one-pager” for printing and pinning up as a reference, this collected links to and recommendations from external tools and guides (Hemingway, 18F, King County Editorial Guide), internal editorial recommendations from the university and college, and voice and tone particulars. Strategists often felt intimidated and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of recommendations connected to good web content; this guide promoted four starting points to improve content: addressing the user (you/your/yours and we/our/ours), employing structured content, concise writing, and using plain language.

USABILITY TESTING AND USER RESEARCH:

• Led and managed annual process of web usability testing, including project kick-offs, stakeholder workshops, scenario development, task analysis, lab and field-based testing, issues analysis, research and recommendation presentations to project team members, key stakeholders and college senior leadership.
• Helped subject-matter expert teams and stakeholders understand their users through research and usability testing methods, defining problems and crafting effective solutions based on both quantitative and qualitative data.

COLLABORATION ON CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAMS:

• Contributed to responsive redesign of college website by conducting a content audit, editing student-facing content for an overall 75% file reduction, and migrating updated content to custom-built CMS. Collaborated with design and development teams to create comprehensive style guides, pattern library interface copy.
• Convened monthly “coworking days” among all college web professionals, bringing us together as a team of peers for a day of training, collaborative problem solving, idea sharing, and camaraderie. Set programming, mentored colleagues on presentations, and collected feedback to regularly adjust how our central content strategy was best supporting the specific work of the departments.

ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH:

• Advocated for content strategy best practices to over 30 University departments by regularly meeting with peers and presenting to leadership stakeholder groups. Promoted clear, consistent, user-centered writing from all contributors, even those who don’t identify as “web people,” and facilitated collaboration across organizational silos to increase efficiency and support.
• Consulted with faculty and staff in academic departments outside the college that frequently contributed to content strategy. Regular guest lecturer and student mentor in the Writing Studies program.
• Contributed as one of four subject matter experts to the University of Minnesota’s Content Strategy Self-Help Guide, recommending resources and structuring process for the centrally-maintained system to help contributors at all levels improve content writing and strategic thinking for the web.
• Frequently presented at local Twin Cities-based tech meetups, translating content strategy best practices to adjacent fields such as front- and back-end development, UX research, accessibility, interactive design, and marketing.

Provided strategic content design with skills in copywriting, style guides, plain language, comprehension/reading levels. Conducted usability evaluations using card sorting (OptimumSort), tree testing (Treejack), direct observation user research methods. Worked on a cross-functional team that used Asana, Trello, Slack, Hemingway, pattern libraries, Google Drive, MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point), and semantic HTML.

• CEHD Academic Programs, www.cehd.umn.edu/programs Developed content and structure for directory/sorting tool
• CEHD Research & Expertise, www.cehd.umn.edu/topics/ Created new content structure around college research, including categories and descriptions
• UMN Content Strategy Self-Help Guide, , external, z.umn.edu/csmap Subject matter expert for update to university-wide guide

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MinneWebCon Annual Conference - Minneapolis, MN - www.minnewebcon.org

Conference Director - 10/2011 - 06/2015

MinneWebCon is a two-day web conference in Minneapolis that encourages inclusive grassroots knowledge-sharing. In addition to keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and half-day workshops, our annual conference is a space for speakers and attendees to collaborate, talk, learn, ask, test, and grow.

• Directed volunteer-run tech conference for 200+ annual attendees, bringing local and national speakers to the Twin Cities web community.
• Oversaw event logistics, speaker recruitment and support, partnerships and sponsorships, promotion, and attendee experience with conference committee support and input.
• Introduced speaker mentoring program, pairing conference speakers with an experienced mentor to review slides, practice presentations, and provide support.
• Expanded conference to two-day event in 2012, adding half-day workshops to meet attendee demand for deeper learning.

SELECTED SPEAKING AND PRESENTATIONS

My resume listed about 15 sessions that I thought were relevant to this job. I also had sections on selected publications and selected podcast guest appearances, because those are cool too! The format I use is:

"Title of the Presentation," what kind of session - MM/YYYY Conference Name - City, State, Country

• “How Silos Learn: Working in the Idea Factory,” closing keynote address - 08/2018 (scheduled) PSEWEB Conference - London, ON, Canada
• “Better Stakeholder Wrangling,” half-day workshop - 10/2018 (scheduled) edUi Conference - Charlottesville, VA
• “Better Stakeholder Wrangling,” half-day workshop - 05/2018 Confab: The Content Strategy Conference - Minneapolis, MN
• “Explain Anything to Your Boss & Grandboss,” closing keynote address - 05/2018 Manage Digital Conference - Minneapolis, MN
• “How Silos Learn,” opening keynote address - 10/2017 Digital Project Management Summit - Las Vegas, NV

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN United States Bachelor's Degree MM/YYYY Major: English Minor: Japanese

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Language: Japanese Spoken Level: Novice Written Level: Novice Reading Level: Novice

Name: Jeff Awesomeboss Employer: University of Minnesota Title: The Best Boss Email: [email protected]

• , external, [email protected]

Handbook.tts.gsa.gov

An official website of the U.S. General Services Administration

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Quick Guide to Preparing a Resume For Federal Government Positions

Due to the volume of applications received for any given vacancy announcement within the website, your resume will most likely be processed through an electronic filtering mechanism before being reviewed by a Human Resources Specialist for a qualification determination. Your resume will also be screened according to certain preferences (e.g., Indian Preference, veterans, disability, etc.) and rated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training described on the vacancy announcement. It is essential that you tailor the experience listed on your federal resume to the specific position to which you are applying.

Once your application is rated, a quality review will be conducted by Office of Human Capital Management staff and/or a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Resumes are forwarded to the Hiring Manager for interview consideration. Once a hiring decision has been made, applicants will be notified.

Resume Writing

Before you begin, it may be helpful to compile all the information you want to include in your resume. The writing process will be much easier and faster.

It is important to thoroughly review the vacancy announcement for the position you are applying. You should tailor your resume to ensure you include the experience and skills that are required for the position.

What Should be Included in a Federal Resume?

A federal resume calls for some information that is not generally required on a standard resume for private industry positions, and not including the required information may immediately disqualify you from consideration. It is extremely important that you carefully read application instructions and include all required information. Below is an example of a resume for Federal employment:

First and Last Name Address City, State and Zip code Email address Phone Numbers

Special Hiring Authority: (Indian Preference, Veteran’s Preference or Person with Disability - Schedule A ) Federal Experience: ( Yes or No and Indicate Military, Federal or State Gov ) Security Clearance: ( Indicate what level and if it's still active ) OBJECTIVE: To obtain a full-time position in public service with ( Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs as a (Indicate the position including announcement Number if there is one )  

SKILLS SUMMARY: ( Has 3 elements: An introductory paragraph, list of skills directly related to the position, and your skills you have acquired throughout your career, that you want to highlight ) (1st Element: The introductory paragraph - Must be specific and highly detailed for each job series and position you're applying to. You need to outline all the specific skills you have that are directly related to the position you are seeking including Key Words identified in the positions description.) Focused and highly motivated management professional, with 12 + years of extensive experience in Strategic Workforce Planning , EEO , OHR and Diversity Mgt . Utilizing my background in Disability, Accommodations, Business Operations, Project Management, and Statistical Analysis to develop comprehensive programs based on the employment needs and mission of the agency. Deploying metric -based solutions and maximizing our ROI . I'm an innovative and energetic team player, relationship builder, and highly effective communicator. (2nd Element: List of skills directly related to the position and the Key Words you identified - Back up your skill summary with specific examples from you career or education. Identify specific accomplishments, length of time, highlight numerical results and awards derived from those duties and skills. This is the most critical area of the resume. You are relating an activity in your career to that of the position you are applying and showcasing your accomplishments.)

• Develop and create a Strategic Workforce Planning program to ensure were accurately utilizing all available resources. Good Example

• Expert in Equal Employment, Labor and Employee Relations assisting managers and staff in identifying and solving EEO Policy questions on Accommodations, for the past 9 yrs. Better Example

• As Diversity manager I trained a staff of 100+ internal and external personnel on diversity rules and regulations. My efforts resulted in a 70% reduction in violations and improved the overall atmosphere at ABC Co. Best Example (3rd Element: Acquired skills - These are skills you want every employer to know you possess and feel they are what defines you as a model employee. Remember you MUST quantify and qualify every statement you make.)

• Analyze, develop, test and incorporated IT business solutions to enhance business process control and tracking. Good Example

• Supervised, motivated, mentored and lead by example, using experience backed judgment, strong work ethic, and irreproachable integrity, derived from my 12yrs as a Department Manager at ABC Co. Better Example

• Developed and implemented a supply inventory program, which tracked our use of production and office materials. This provided us detailed reports of our available inventory at all times. Allowing us to make more informed purchasing decisions. Resulting in ABC Co. to save 500,000 per year. Best Example

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Name of Employer Position & Title GS level or Salary and Years of Service From: Mo/Year to Mo/Year; (Indicate if the work was Full Time, Part Time, or Seasonal; provide number of hours for PT or Seasonal work) Write a brief description of your experience/duties, and identify your major roles and responsibilities. Describe in detail each position you held for at least the last 10 years and quantify and qualify each statement). IP: Describe each duty as if you are describing it to someone for the first time. Agencies are not allowed to assume you can or can't do anything. Ex: Cashier: A cashier can perform numerous duties, if you only list cashier we can only interpret that as someone we collected and distributed money). As Diversity Manager I analyze develop and manage programs and projects related to the successful deployment of our department's initiatives. My duties included ensuring we provided an inclusive work environment, free from discrimination and ensuring we met all federal and state regulations. This was accomplished by collecting, analyzing human capital data and statistics from various sources to get an accurate analysis of the programs and work environment we provided our employees.   • Performed labor market Statistical analysis and employment projections locally and nationally to determine our recruitment strategy to ensure we were recruiting from a diverse population. Good Example • Coordinated with the Office of Human Capital and EEO managers to develop programs to improve our diversity in the workplace. Performed detailed analysis of the current workforce, and developed a strategy to ensure we targeted a broader workforce. This had an immediate impact on community relations and a 20% increase in local sales. Better Example

• Diversity manager for the past 7 yrs I was responsible for a staff of 20 employees. I coordinated with our Office of Human Capital to develop and measure recruiting timelines and efficiency, to determine cost per employee hired and accurate return on investment. Identified various key elements related to recruiting and performed a statistical analysis on reducing cost per hire. This lead to a yearly savings of 15% on recruiting expenses. Best Example

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (Identify any areas of your career you feel an employer will get a better understanding of who you are and your additional activities, to included honors received by organizations, exceeding specific goals on projects, etc.)

• 2011 Supervised and managed the Specialty Hiring Programs, including NonCompetitive Direct Hiring Authorities, Military Spouse Employment and Individuals with Disabilities Programs, at the Department of Defense. • 2008 Liaised with union and management on contract negotiations and labor dispute settlements with global manufacturer. Prevented the loss of 200+ jobs and saving the company 1.3 million dollars.

• 2006 The Minority Entrepreneur Network - Assisted 5 minority startup companies in researching, forecasting, and drafting their business plans and applications for small business loans.

• 2005 Restructured vendor contracts for a gross savings resulting in $375K per quarter.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE (List all software and applications you are experienced in and level. Identify formal training and where you received that training)

ADDITIONAL TRAINING (List any formal or informal training including accreditations and number of hours in the specific field)

• I have attended various seminars on EEO compliance and diversity Good Example

• Extensive EEO Compliance Training: Laws & Discrimination, Diversity in the Workplace, Workplace Relationships, EEO Complaints and Resolutions: (80+ hrs of training) Better Example

• Extensive Project Management Training specializing in large scale projects and developing the project plans and schedule. All training was done at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) 2002 thru 2011 (120 hrs) Best Example

HONORS AND AWARDS

(Any formal awards you would like to share)

VOLUNTEER WORK & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

(Depending on the type of work volunteering can count the same as formal on the job experience if related to the position) (2010 - current) I hold Diversity workshops at the ABC community center in Washington DC, 6 times each month. I provide employers with information on developing an inclusive and diverse workforce. Note: volunteer work must include the total # of hours PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AAPD - American Association of Peoples with Disabilities HAVA - Honored American Veterans Afield NRA - National Rehabilitation Association PMI - Project Management Institute Wounded Warriors Project - Warriors to Work REFERENCES (List at least 3 references including their contact information)

indianaffairs.gov

An official website of the U.S. Department of the Interior

How To Use the Federal Resume Format [Template + Examples]

3 key takeaways

• If you’re applying for a job with the federal government, you need to use the federal resume format.
• A federal resume is similar to a traditional resume, but is longer and offers more detail about your experience and work history.
• Teal’s resume creator can help you write a polished, metric-driven federal resume that impresses potential employers.

If you’re applying for a government job, you’ll need a federal resume.

The good news is that federal resumes have a lot of overlap with traditional resumes. However, they dig even deeper into your skills and experience, qualifications, and work experience. They also include information only applicable for federal jobs.

That information carries a lot of weight. For many federal jobs, there are specific legal reasons why an employer can only consider candidates who meet all of the stated requirements. And if that weren’t enough pressure, it can also impact your pay scale. So, needless to say, it’s crucial to present your qualifications effectively. 

This guide digs into how to use the federal resume format to improve your chances of securing a position with the federal government.

Want to create a standout federal resume that meets all the requirements? Make a resume that meets federal standards with Teal's Resume Builder.

Understanding the federal resume format

Before you get into the details of your education, skills, and accomplishments, it helps to get a general understanding of what federal resumes are, when you need to use them, and what makes them different from other resume formats.

What is a federal resume?

A federal resume is a specific type of resume used to apply for a federal position—whether the role is with the government or another federal agency.

While a typical resume is a marketing tool aimed at helping you impress a recruiter and land an interview, a federal resume is more than a highlight reel or employment summary. It’s a crucial part of the vetting and evaluation process for federal jobs. 

Federal positions often have more strict and rigid requirements than private sector jobs. The hiring manager will use your resume along with the supporting documents submitted to determine whether you have the experience required to fill the open position. This could include transcripts, performance evaluations, self-assessments, military service paperwork, and more.

Who needs a federal resume?

You need a federal resume when applying for a job with the federal government, whether it’s with an intelligence agency like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or another government department.

The easiest way to tell if you need a federal resume is to look where the job announcement is posted. If it’s posted on any of the following sites, you need to apply with a federal resume:

• USAJOBS.gov
• governmentjobs.com
• Any government agency website

What makes a federal resume different?

You’ll recognize a lot of the aspects of a federal resume. What separates it from a more typical resume is the depth. 

A federal resume will provide more context and information about your skills and experience, particularly within each position description. For that reason, it’s often longer than a typical resume that fits on one or two pages.

Federal resumes vs private sector resumes

Here’s a quick look at the key differences between a federal resume and a civilian or private sector resume:

Both approaches default to the reverse-chronological resume format , where your previous positions are listed with the most recent at the top. However, there’s flexibility to adjust to a functional resume or a combination resume format in terms of ordering sections, if that feels like the better fit.

Not sure whether to use a functional or chronological format? This post on functional vs. chronological resumes can help you make your decision. To understand when to use which resume format, check out this guide on the best resume format to have .

What are the key components of a federal resume?

Your federal resume will have all of the standard resume sections you’re accustomed too, albeit with more information and detail included. If you’re completely new to resume writing, review this beginner’s guide on how to make a resume to get the lay of the land first.

A federal resume includes the following sections:

• Resume header

Professional summary

Work experience

You can also add additional sections for other relevant information, such as military experience, volunteer work, or other qualifications pertinent to the role. Here’s a closer look at each of the above sections and how to make the most of them. 

Your header goes directly at the top of your resume and includes basic information such as your:

• Contact information (email address and phone number)
• Location or preferred location (if willing to relocate)
• LinkedIn profile

You’ll need all of that on your federal resume. However, depending on the specific federal job, you might also need to include other details such as:

• Availability: The job type you’re looking for (permanent, temporary, etc.) as well as your desired work schedule (full-time, part-time, shift work, etc.)
• Citizenship: Your country of citizenship (this is especially important if outside the US)
• General Schedule (GS) grade: Level used by the federal government to rank your qualifications and compensation for the position, so always include it if you have one
• Job description: Most federal jobs require you to include the job announcement number, title, series, grade, and any other important information related to the job.
• Security clearance: Required for some government jobs that work with sensitive information, so include this information if applicable
• Veteran status: Indicates whether or not you’re a military veteran

Federal resume header example

Jane M. Doe

[email protected] | 123-456-7890 | linkedin.com/in/janedoe/ | Washington, D.C.

Position: Cybersecurity Analyst, Department of Homeland Security

Announcement: DHS-CYBER-2024-0017, GS 2210-13

Availability: Permanent, full-time work

Citizenship: United States

GS Grade: GS-13

Veteran Status: 5-point preference

Your professional summary (often called your resume summary ) goes directly below your header and is a concise overview of your relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and special accomplishments.

Your summary should call attention to the qualifications that present you as the best applicant for the job. On a federal resume, that usually takes shape as an introductory paragraph of two to four sentences followed by a bulleted list of your related abilities and achievements. 

Remember that hiring managers use federal resumes as vetting tools, so your summary is less about highlighting what you’re most proud of and more about highlighting what's most relevant. 

Struggling to come up with your own? Teal’s Resume Summary Generator pulls keywords, technical skills, soft skills, and other important language from the job description and combines it with details from your work history and experience to create a tailored resume summary statement.

Federal resume summary example

Highly skilled and results-driven Cybersecurity Analyst with over 10 years of experience in the field of information security. Adept at protecting sensitive data and systems by identifying and mitigating cyber threats through advanced security measures. Proven track record of enhancing cybersecurity posture and effectively managing incident response efforts. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

• Incident Response Lead: Spearheaded the incident response team that successfully mitigated a major cyber attack on a federal agency, resulting in zero data loss and saving the agency an estimated $2 million in potential damages.
• Security Assessment Expertise: Conducted over 50 comprehensive security assessments for various government agencies, identifying critical vulnerabilities and providing actionable recommendations that led to a 40% improvement in overall security metrics.
• Cybersecurity Training Program: Developed and implemented a cybersecurity awareness training program for over 1,000 employees, which resulted in a 60% reduction in phishing attack success rates and significantly enhanced the organization's security culture.

Your work history takes up a large portion of your resume. You’ll list your different positions in reverse-chronological order, with your most recent or current position at the top. You’ll include the basic details that go on any resume, like your job title, employer name, employer location, and the dates you worked in that position.

However, your federal resume will include additional information that’s only relevant to federal positions:

• Hours worked per week
• Grade or rank level
• Salary or compensation
• Supervisor name, contact information, and whether they can be contacted

You may not need all of that—it depends on the specifics of the job and your experience. Underneath those basics, you’ll go into detail about your job duties. While you need to explain what you did, you also need to highlight why that work mattered by quantifying your bullet points and accomplishments. 

Remember to keep relevance in mind as well. Take another look at the job description to make note of the responsibilities so you can describe your own experiences in a way that connects directly to those duties. 

Federal resume work experience example

Cybersecurity Analyst | January 2020 - June 2023

Department of Homeland Security | Washington, D.C.

Hours/Week: 40 | Grade Level: GS-13 | Salary: $98,000 per year Supervisor: John Smith | [email protected] | 555-987-6543 | May contact

• Led the incident response team in handling over 200 cybersecurity incidents annually, reducing average resolution time by 30% through efficient processes and strategic planning.
• Implemented advanced security measures, including multi-factor authentication and encryption protocols, resulting in a 50% decrease in unauthorized access incidents.
• Conducted vulnerability assessments and penetration tests on critical systems, identifying and remediating over 300 high-risk vulnerabilities, thereby enhancing system security by 45%.
• Collaborated with other federal agencies and private sector partners to share intelligence and best practices, improving threat detection and response capabilities across the board by 25%.
• Developed and delivered cybersecurity training programs for 1,500+ employees, leading to a 60% reduction in phishing attack success rates and improved overall cybersecurity awareness.
• Ensured compliance with federal cybersecurity regulations and standards, including Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines, achieving a 100% compliance rate during annual audits.
• Led a team in the successful migration of sensitive data to a secure cloud environment, enhancing data protection and reducing the risk of data breaches by 35%.

Writing your own metric-driven achievements can be tough, but Teal’s AI Resume Builder can help. Click to add an achievement to your resume and then select the “Write with AI” button. Teal will automatically generate three bullet point options for you to edit and add to your own resume.

Your skills section is where you’ll provide a list of your most relevant and impressive skills to your federal resume. While your abilities should shine through in your summary and work history, this section is an easy spot to tailor to the job description and swap in skills that show you have the knowledge and experience required for that position. 

Aim to include a mix of technical skills (like expertise with specific programs) as well as soft skills (like teamwork and leadership activities) to give the hiring manager a well-rounded understanding of what you bring to that position.

Federal resume skills example

• Cybersecurity Incident Response
• Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing
• Advanced Threat Detection & Mitigation
• Risk Management Framework (RMF)
• Compliance with Federal Regulations (FISMA, NIST)
• Cybersecurity Training & Awareness Programs
• Analysis & Problem-Solving 
• Communication & Presentation
• Team Leadership & Collaboration
• Strategic Planning & Project Management

Federal resume education

Your education section is similar to what you’d include on a traditional, private sector resume. You’ll list your degrees, the school you attended, and the date you obtained them. You should also include relevant certifications, designations, or specialized training in this section, especially if they’re mentioned in the job description.

If you want to go beyond the basics, you can add your GPA, relevant coursework, special honors, or important presentations, projects, and papers to this section. However, those aren’t required.

Federal resume education example

Master of Science in Cybersecurity

George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

Graduated: May 2012

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

Graduated: May 2010

Certifications

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• CompTIA Security+
• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

The above are the must-have sections to include on your federal resume. However, it’s not a rigid mold. You can add sections and information for your professional organizations, volunteer experiences, special projects, relevant awards and achievements, and any other qualifications that relate to the position.

Federal resume format template

[email protected] | 123-456-7890 | linkedin.com/in/firstnamelastname/ | [City, State]

Position: [Current title]

Announcement: [job announcement number]

Availability: [Full-time, part-time, etc)

Citizenship: [Country]

GS Grade: [General schedule grade]

Veteran Status: [If a veteran, give your status]

Professional Summary

[Summary paragraph]

• [Bullet point achievement 1]
• [Bullet point achievement 2]
• [Bullet point achievement 3]

[Past role 1]

[Past role 2]

[Past role 3]

[University]

[City, State]

[Graduation date]

• Certification 1
• Certification 2
• Certification 3

5 must-know tips for writing a federal resume

Like any other resume, crafting a resume that’s suitable for federal job openings takes some time and finesse. Here are a few federal resume tips to keep in mind when you’re writing and reviewing your document.

1. Read the directions carefully

Federal job openings often include a lot of information about both the job and the application process. Review those closely so your resume and application materials check every box.

2. Lean on existing resources

Federal resumes can seem intimidating, but the government and other organizations offer plenty of resources to guide you. For example, check out:

• Federal resume templates from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
• Federal resume tips from the U.S. Department of the Interior
• Federal resume template from the FBI

When you’re ready to pull all of your information together, Teal’s AI Resume Builder can help you craft a polished and impressive document without the stress and formatting headaches.

3. Spell out acronyms

Government employment comes with plenty of acronyms and jargon. Spell them out so the recruiter doesn’t have to guess.

4. Remember relevance

Employers don’t just want to know your previous responsibilities and accomplishments—they want to know how they’ve made you uniquely prepared to address the duties of that specific job.

So, don’t get so wrapped up in the logistics of writing a federal resume that you forget the importance of relevance. Use the job description as your guide as you look back at your career and decide what information to include.

5. Use a federal format

Consider this your golden rule: If you’re applying for a federal job, you need to use a federal resume format. Don’t create a traditional resume and expect the hiring manager to process and translate that information into the format they need. They won’t take the time to do so.

How to write your best federal resume with Teal

Ready to prepare your resume? Here’s how to make it easy with Teal’s AI Resume Builder : 

1. Import your LinkedIn profile or an existing resume, or start from scratch.

2. Attach a job description to your resume so Teal’s Matching Mode can identify keywords and skills to include.

3. Use the checkboxes in each resume section to decide which information to include and which to remove.

4. Use AI to add metric-driven achievements to your roles.

5. Review Teal’s Analysis to see your resume score and expert suggestions to make your resume even stronger.

6. Visit the Design tab to easily reorder or rename your sections to fit the typical federal resume format

7. On the Design tab, you can also customize your resume format, alignment, font, layout, styling, and more

When you’re completely satisfied with your document, export it as a PDF and submit it with your cover letter ( Teal’s Cover Letter Generator can help with that part too) and other supporting documents.

Applying for a federal job can feel nerve-racking, but Teal’s AI Resume Builder can help you nail the right level of detail—without all of the nail biting.

Ready to write your best federal resume? Get started with Teal’s AI Resume Builder for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the federal resume template format.

A federal resume template includes a detailed header with your contact information, citizenship, and job details, a professional summary, work experience with specific details like hours worked per week and supervisor contact information, skills, and education. It may also include additional sections for military experience, volunteer work, and relevant certifications. Each section is more detailed than a typical resume to meet federal job requirements.

What is the best format for a federal resume?

The best format for a federal resume is a detailed, reverse-chronological structure that includes a comprehensive header, professional summary, work experience, skills, and education sections. This format ensures all necessary information is presented clearly and comprehensively. It helps meet the specific requirements of federal job applications.

How far back should you go on a federal resume?

A federal resume should typically go back at least 10 years in your work history. Include relevant experience beyond 10 years if it directly applies to the job you're seeking. The aim is to provide a complete and detailed account of your work history, emphasizing relevant qualifications as some government employers can only consider candidates that meet 100 percent of the stated requirements.

Kat Boogaard

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We help you find the career dream.

How to Write a Federal Resume and Apply for a Federal Job

Customers Interviewed by:

The US federal government employs over 2 million people, not even counting military service branches. Federal jobs are highly contested thanks to great benefits, role longevity, and social importance. While USAJobs , the prime job board for federal jobs, is a great place to find opportunities, applying for federal jobs and writing a federal resume can be confusing, overwhelming, and counter-intuitive to those job seekers who have only applied in the private sector.

We spoke with federal resume experts for their insights to help first-time federal applicants learn to understand a job vacancy announcement, how to write a federal resume , how to apply through USAJobs, and what to expect from the lengthy federal job application process:

• Lex Levin of Lex Levin LLC
• Nancy Segal of Solutions for the Workplace
• Karol Taylor, co-author of Find Your Federal Job Fit
• What the government wants
• Federal job descriptions vs private sector JDs
• The Occupational Questionnaire
• Federal resumes vs private sector resumes
• Writing your federal resume
• Federal resume tips

The Government wants demonstrated experience

For federal jobs, experience trumps almost everything. Hiring agencies aren’t interested in potential, or as Segal says, “It’s not about your journey. You should have already arrived.” Federal HR wants to see proven success, role mastery, and expertise.

The entire federal job application process is about demonstrating that you are the ideal candidate by showing your experience and success. Experience even outweighs education for most jobs unless an applicant’s education is part of the value proposition, such as scientist or mathematician jobs.

Federal HR will not make any assumptions about your resume. Even things that seem very straightforward need to be explicitly spelled out. Federal hiring practices are highly regulated, so federal HR personnel can’t make those assumptions. Every assumption could risk an EEO complaint or even a call from Congress.

As Segal puts it, “From a federal perspective, if it’s not on the resume, you didn’t do it.”

How is a federal job description different?

When a job is posted on USAJobs, it’s called a ‘job vacancy announcement’ (JVA). This job description contains far more than the basic list of responsibilities and requirements of a private sector job description.

Segal recommends spending at least an hour thoroughly reading through the JVA. Understanding the JVA is key to structuring your resume to not just fit the job but to also demonstrate how you’re perfectly qualified.

You should use the same language that appears on the JVA on your resume to draw those lines even more clearly. Jobscan helps automate this process to make it go faster, letting you identify the most important keywords and skills.

Important sections of the JVA

Who may apply.

Not all JVAs will have this section, but make sure you fit the specifications if you see this section. These specifications usually involve citizenship, protected groups, etc.

How to Apply

Pay close attention to this section. Some jobs will require you to apply through the USAJobs resume builder.

Agency Contact Information

Segal advises that if you have further questions, pick up the phone and call the agency. Taylor explains, “The best times to call an agency are at 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 4:30 PM EST. To really connect with agency employees, you have to target times when they aren’t as busy – first thing in the morning, right after lunch, and just before they head home.”

Score at least 70 on the Occupational Questionnaire

Many federal applications include a very important step called an occupational questionnaire . This questionnaire requires you rate to your knowledge, skills, and abilities that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

While federal resumes are reviewed by humans, the questionnaire is scored by computers. If you don’t score high enough based on your questionnaire, your resume will end up in the ‘no’ pile before anyone has even seen it. A high score (70 at minimum) on the occupational questionnaire is the best way to ensure that a human will see your resume and review it.

However, don’t take that as a reason to lie or exaggerate your self-ranking. If you don’t feel like you can score yourself highly for each question, it’s a good indication the job isn’t a good fit for you. The occupational questionnaire is a likert scale, starting at A and going to the highest ranking of E.

Levin describes how occupational questionnaire questions are valuable to the job seeker: “If you’re looking at the questions and your stomach is sinking because you realize you’re not able to answer most of them at the E level, that should tell you that the job is not a good fit for you.”

Segal adds: “If you do not have what they are looking for, don’t bother to apply, because you’re unlikely to get any traction.”

The occupational questionnaire gives you even more understanding of what the hiring agency is specifically looking for in the role. Take the opportunity to prove your expertise not just by rating yourself E, but by demonstrating how you used the skill to succeed.

What’s the difference between a federal and a non-federal resume?

Writing a resume to apply for a job in the federal government is extremely different from applying in the private sector. Federal HR may look for some of the same things that a private sector recruiter will, but their perspective is completely different.

Taylor likes to tell her clients, “Leave everything you know about resumes at the door.”

How long should a federal resume be?

Federal resumes are much longer than a standard private sector resume. Federal resumes usually range from 6 to 8 pages depending on the applicant’s level of experience and the seniority of the job. Even entry-level applicants should furnish resumes of 4 to 6 pages.

“Federal resumes are so much longer, dense, and complex than private sector resumes,” explains Levin. “This is because federal HR wants to see that you have the actual experience that they’re looking for.”

The length of federal resumes comes from the amount of detail each resume section needs to contain. Since federal HR personnel are precluded from making any assumptions of what your prior work entailed, you’ll need to list out each responsibility and the details associated with it. While a list of responsibilities is important, even more importantly, you’ll have to detail how your skills allowed you to succeed with each of these responsibilities by giving specific examples.

“You specifically have to use the keywords from the federal job announcement to show that you are absolutely the best fit and the right person for this job because you have already done this kind of work before,“ adds Levin.

One way you can find those keywords is by scanning the JVA and your resume with Jobscan .

You don’t need to include information that doesn’t relate to the job you’re applying for. Keep details about prior jobs that don’t relate brief or omit them entirely – the government doesn’t care about employment gaps.

Federal Resume Requirements

Federal resumes have strict requirements, and not following these requirements is a great way to get passed over. While agencies are not required to eliminate candidates who do not follow the rules, they can. As Segal explains, “If I’m sitting there as an HR person facing a thousand resumes and only a few days to go through them, I want to figure out how to winnow my pile. What’s the best way to do that? Eliminate those who didn’t follow all the rules.”

Hours Worked

Federal HR uses hours worked to determine your amount of experience, so federal resumes require your average weekly hours for each job in your work experience section. The government often requires at least 52 weeks of experience in the skills on the JVA.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information

List your immediate supervisor and their contact information for each job you list. Make sure to denote whether your current supervisor can be contacted or not.

To avoid putting yourself in an awkward position at your current job, Taylor suggests requiring you be asked before your supervisor is contacted. If asked, find out if the hiring agency is ready to offer you the job as soon as they contact your current supervisor.

References aren’t always required – it depends on the hiring agency. However, it’s a good idea to include them if you have space.

Despite the controversy over disclosing prior pay in the private sector, salary is commonly included on federal resumes. Whether it’s required in your resume depends on the hiring agency.

‘GS’ or ‘ General Schedule ’ is the pay scale for most of the federal government. If you’re already working in the government, use your GS level instead of your salary.

Writing Your Federal Resume

There are three good methods for creating your federal resume:

• Write it yourself
• Build it with USAJobs’s own federal resume builder
• Hire a federal resume writer

Some JVAs may actually require you to apply through the USAJobs resume builder, but it might not be obvious in the JVA itself. For this reason, among others, both Taylor and Segal suggest applying through the USAJobs resume builder instead of creating a resume from scratch.

No matter what choice you make, do not procrastinate on applying if you find a JVA you’re interested in. The application process is much more time consuming than a private sector job application, and JVAs have a strict close time. There may also be unexpected requirements once you’re finished applying through USAJobs.

Federal Resume Format

Levin recommends building your own resume, because although federal resume formatting is very conservative, there are a few things you can do to make your resume stand out. Additionally, you control the content and don’t have to worry about the character limits of fields on the USAJobs resume builder.

The official font of the US government is Times New Roman, size 12. Some JVAs will actually require you to use this. If it’s not required, you can use different fonts, but nothing too modern. Jobscan’s guide on appropriate resume fonts can help you choose the best fonts. Levin’s favorite font to use on a federal resume is Calibri, with Arial Black used for section headings and contact information.

You can use tables and columns in your resume, but be sparing with them. Bullet points are also acceptable, but avoid other special characters. You can upload multiple documents, so be sure to upload your resume as both a PDF and a DOCX to cover all of your bases.

Using the USAJobs federal resume builder

Using the USAJobs resume builder is a great idea if you’re new to the federal job application process. The resume builder requires all of the important information that could get you disqualified if omitted, so there’s an extra level of safety in using it. There is, however, a lot of information to include in the builder, so it does require a good deal of attention to detail. Make sure you don’t accidentally skip any fields.

The biggest drawback of using the resume builder is that the fields for prior job experience have a 5,000 word character limit. While that seems like a generous limit, it’s something you might hit given the length of federal resumes.

However, Segal keyed us in a great way to deal with that character limit: “There is a section in USAJobs called ‘additional information.’ This is a free form block of 20,000 characters.”

The additional information section is where you should put further details you weren’t able to fit in throughout the rest of the process. It’s also where you should put certifications or awards.

Professional Federal Resume Writers

Your third option is to hire a federal resume writer. Since federal resumes are so complex, having an expert help you can be a great asset. Many experts don’t just write your resume, they’ll teach you how to tailor your resume for each position you’re interested in or even show you the best ways to leverage the USAJobs resume builder.

Do thorough research when selecting resume writers . Levin cautions, “There are a lot of opinions out there about federal resumes. Take them with a grain of salt. Look at that person’s experience. Do they do this professionally or is this just their opinion? Be mindful of who’s telling you what and what their background is.”

Federal Resume Tips

• “Digitized company’s internal microfilm library of more than 5,000 files”
• “Steered company through a complicated re-organization, resulting in a 75% increase in profits with minimal employee turnover.”
• Use the same language as the JVA and occupational questionnaire
• Use Jobscan to match and optimize keywords
• Make your qualifications for the role straightforward and obvious
• Take advantage of how long federal resumes are expected to be (4-8 pages)
• Only list your responsibilities and not show measurable results
• Assume that anything about your prior experience is self-explanatory
• Include personal pictures such as a headshot
• Include personal information such as your SSN or hobbies
• Finally, we asked each expert what they thought some of the most important things federal job seekers should know:

Nancy Segal : “You have to understand the process. If you do the process right, you should consistently get to the hiring manager.”

Lex Levin : “Federal hiring is very much a marathon, not a sprint. It takes on average about a hundred and six days to go from application to onboarding, which is over three months. Many people wait longer than that. If you are getting referred [to the hiring manager], that means the resume is working for you – keep applying!”

Karol Taylor : “Don’t struggle with no results. Invest in your future, invest in yourself. This is your career, it’s your future, it’s worth the time and money.”

Useful Resources:

• USAJob’s resume writing video tutorial
• Pathways – recent grad federal job program
• Free virtual events from USAJobs including resume writing workshops
• AskFedWeek.com
• How to write executive core qualifications

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Home » Career Advice » Resume Tips » How to Write a Federal Resume (Example and Template)

How to Write a Federal Resume (Example and Template)

Last Updated on February 9, 2024 by Career Reload Team

In the competitive landscape of job applications, a resume isn’t merely a list of accomplishments on paper; it’s a pivotal tool that encapsulates your professional essence and sets the tone for your candidacy. When it comes to the federal sector, this significance is magnified even further. A federal resume is not only a representation of your professional journey but also a testament to how you align with the detailed requirements of federal jobs.

Unlike the standard private-sector resumes, which can often be a brief overview of one’s experience, a federal resume demands precision, detail, and a clear alignment with the job in question. It’s your ticket to being noticed, understood, and selected in a highly competitive environment.

You might also be interested to view more  resume examples by profession »

Federal resume example (Word version)

Federal resumes require more detailed information, and specific formats and resume layouts can vary depending on the agency and position. Ensure you follow the guidelines specified in the job announcement when crafting your resume.

Download Resume Example (docx)

Example of federal resume  (text version)

Here’s an example of a federal resume for the hypothetical position of “Executive Secretary” at a federal agency. Customize this copy and paste federal resume example according to your personal and professional experience.

Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Veteran’s Preference: No Security Clearance: N/A

Job Announcement Number: ES-2023-002 Job Title: Executive Secretary

Resume Summary

With over eight years of administrative experience spanning both the federal and private sectors, have consistently showcased proficiency in streamlining operations and fostering team collaboration. As a Senior Administrative Assistant at the Department of Administrative Services, excel in coordinating executive schedules, enhancing communication channels, and orchestrating large-scale departmental events. Previous role as an Office Manager at Bright Tech Solutions further highlighted expertise in driving inter-departmental collaboration, overseeing administrative operations, and crafting cost-effective travel solutions. Noteworthy achievements include the initiation of a digital appointment system and the successful transition to an advanced communication platform. Committed to operational excellence and equipped with a deep understanding of the federal landscape, well-suited for advanced administrative roles within the government.

Work Experience

Senior Administrative Assistant, January 20XX – Present Department of Administrative Services, Washington, D.C. Grade Level: GS-9 Hours per week: 40 Supervisor: John Doe, 561-123 1234, may contact

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Coordinated and managed daily schedules and appointments for a team of six executive members, ensuring efficient time management and meeting preparations.
• Served as the primary liaison for inter-departmental communications, facilitating seamless exchanges between executive members and other departments.
• Oversaw the preparation and distribution of high-level internal and external communications, ensuring clarity, coherence, and confidentiality.
• Assisted in organizing 10+ large-scale departmental events and conferences, managing event logistics, guest lists, and promotional materials.
• Collaborated with IT teams to implement advanced office software, improving workflow efficiency by 25%.

Accomplishments:

• Developed a digital appointment system that reduced scheduling conflicts by 50%.
• Recognized with the “Star Performer Award” in 2019 for exemplary service.

Office Manager, March 20XX – December 20XX Bright Tech Solutions, Virginia Grade Level: N/A (Private Sector) Hours per week: 40 Supervisor: Jane Doe, 561-123 1234, may contact

• Managed administrative operations for a fast-paced office, overseeing a team of five administrative staff and ensuring seamless daily operations.
• Introduced and streamlined communication channels, improving inter-departmental collaboration by 30%, enhancing project completion rates.
• Orchestrated comprehensive travel arrangements for executives, negotiating with vendors, and crafting efficient travel itineraries.
• Supervised the procurement of office supplies and equipment, working within budget constraints and reducing operational costs.
• Conducted monthly team meetings to identify areas of improvement and implement solutions.
• Played a pivotal role in the transition to a new digital communication platform, reducing communication delays and boosting team collaboration.
• Implemented a cost-analysis system that resulted in a 20% reduction in executive travel expenses.

Associate of Arts in Office Management D.C. Community College, 20XX

Professional Development Course in Advanced Office Systems Virginia Training Institute, 20XX

Skills and Abilities

• Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.
• Proficient in managing multi-level executive calendars.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize in a dynamic environment.
• Familiarity with federal government operations and protocols.

Training & Certifications

• Certified Administrative Professional (CAP), IAAP, 20XX
• Advanced Time Management Course, 20XX

Jane Smith Title: Senior Manager Organization: Bright Tech Solutions, Virginia Relationship: Colleague from March 20XX – December 20XX Phone: (555) 765-4321 Email: name@email. com

Format and design considerations

In the diligent world of federal resumes, presentation is paramount. While the content of your resume is king, its design and format are the throne it sits upon. Here’s what you should consider:

• Length and clarity : Unlike private-sector resumes that champion brevity, federal resumes are detailed narratives. Given their length, it’s essential to ensure clarity. Use straightforward layouts, clear headings, and bullet points to enhance readability.
• Recommended fonts, sizes, and formats : Stick to professional fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri in sizes 10-12. PDFs are often preferred as they maintain the resume’s formatting across different platforms. However, always refer to the job announcement for specific instructions.
• Importance of proofreading : An impeccable resume is free from grammatical errors and showcases consistency in format and style. Beyond spelling and grammar, ensure clarity in your descriptions. It’s advisable to have a colleague or mentor review your resume to catch any oversights.

What is a federal job?

A federal job refers to a position of employment within the federal government of a country. In the context of the United States, a federal job is a position within the U.S. federal government’s executive, legislative, or judicial branches, but excludes state and local government positions.

Federal employees work in various agencies and organizations that implement and oversee the policies, mandates, and regulations established by Congress and the President. These positions range from those in defense, healthcare, and law enforcement to science, engineering, education, administration, and many more.

Benefits of federal jobs often include:

• Stable employment : Federal jobs tend to offer more job security than many private-sector jobs.
• Competitive pay : Depending on the position and qualifications, federal salaries can be competitive with the private sector, and there are standardized pay scales.
• Retirement benefits : The federal government provides pension plans and benefits for its employees.
• Health and other insurance : Federal employees receive health benefits and often have access to other insurance options at competitive rates.
• Opportunities for advancement : There are clear paths for career progression and opportunities for training and professional development.
• Vacation and sick leave : Federal jobs offer generous leave policies.

It’s also worth noting that federal jobs can be found not only in Washington, D.C., but all across the country and even overseas, depending on the nature and scope of the position.

The primary portal for finding and applying to federal jobs in the U.S. is USAJobs.gov , where agencies post job vacancies, and applicants can submit their applications.

Understanding the basics of federal resumes

At its core, a federal resume serves a similar purpose to its private-sector counterpart: to chronicle your professional experience, education, and skills in a way that presents you as the best fit for a position. However, its specifics are where the differences lie. A federal resume is uniquely tailored to convey information that federal employers seek. It provides detailed descriptions of duties, accomplishments, and even the context of past roles.

Moreover, it adheres to certain specific formats, often being much longer than private-sector resumes. The driving force behind its distinct nature is its aim: to gauge an applicant’s suitability not just through qualifications, but also through the depth of their experiences and their alignment with the federal job’s requirements.

Getting started: pre-resume preparation

Before you even begin typing up your federal resume, there are essential preparatory steps that can make the difference between a good resume and a great one. First and foremost, research is key. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, each federal resume should be tailored to the specific job announcement you’re targeting. This involves closely reading the job announcement to understand what the federal agency is looking for, and ensuring your resume mirrors those requirements.

Next, ensure that you gather all necessary documentation and information. This goes beyond just previous job titles or educational qualifications. Think performance evaluations, recommendation letters, transcripts, training certificates, and more. The more comprehensive your information at this stage, the easier it will be to write a resume that ticks all the boxes for federal employers. Remember, in the federal world, it’s not just about meeting the qualifications; it’s about demonstrating them in-depth.

Essential components of a federal resume

Navigating the intricacies of a federal resume requires a clear understanding of its fundamental components. While some elements may mirror a conventional resume, the depth and specificity are unparalleled. In crafting your federal resume, each of these sections should be approached with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that you not only meet but also exceed the expectations set by the job announcement.

Here’s a breakdown of these vital sections:

Personal information

• Full name : Present your complete name, ensuring there are no typographical errors.
• Contact details : List an up-to-date phone number and a professional email address. It’s also advisable to include a current address, especially if the job requires locality pay or is location-specific.
• Citizenship : Federal jobs often have strict citizenship requirements, so clarify your status.
• Veteran’s preference : If applicable, denote your veteran’s preference, as this can play a significant role in the selection process, providing certain eligibilities in federal hiring.

Job announcement number and job title

Every federal job announcement comes with a unique identification number, serving as a distinct marker for that specific position. It’s crucial to reference this number accurately in your application. Doing so streamlines the hiring process by allowing managers to swiftly match your resume with the particular role in question.

Furthermore, to emphasize your keen interest and alignment with the role, always replicate the exact job title from the announcement on your resume. This small detail underscores your attention to the exact position you’re pursuing.

Work experience

Unlike conventional resumes, for federal resumes, a thorough job description is necessary, detailing your specific duties and responsibilities in each role. Beyond just listing tasks, spotlight your key achievements, and bring them to life by quantifying them where feasible.

For instance, rather than a vague claim of “managed a team,” be precise and state you “led a team of 15 members.” Additionally, it’s crucial to provide clarity on the duration of each position held, adhering to a month/year format for accuracy and consistency.

It’s essential to list all relevant qualifications, begin with the highest degree you’ve secured. Equally crucial is to prominently showcase any specialized trainings or certifications, especially if they’re explicitly mentioned by the job announcement.

Beyond formal education and certifications, this section can be enriched by mentioning seminars, workshops, or relevant courses you’ve attended. These additions serve to bolster your candidacy, emphasizing your comprehensive fit and preparedness for the desired position.

Skills and abilities

In this part of your resume, make sure it closely matches the job posting. Pull out important words and needs from the job ad and include them in your skills and abilities, showing that you’re really good at those things. Don’t just list out what you can do; show how those skills are directly connected to the job you’re applying for.

Unlike many private-sector resumes, federal resumes usually ask for references. These should be people from your professional life who know your work well and can speak to your skills and qualifications. It’s important to give these folks a heads-up that a federal agency might reach out to them. Also, double-check that you have their most up-to-date contact information before you list them.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

When charting the intricate terrain of federal resumes, applicants must be wary of potential pitfalls that can undermine their efforts. One major misstep is crafting a generic resume. Such a resume not only represents a lost opportunity but also fails to underscore the applicant’s unique fit for a specific role. Given that each federal position comes with its own set of distinct requirements, it’s essential to tailor your resume, reflecting not just your qualifications but also how they align seamlessly with the role’s demands.

Another hazard is missing out on key details or entire sections. The omission of crucial information can be severely detrimental. To counter this, adopt a systematic approach, ideally using a checklist that’s in tandem with the job announcement, ensuring every vital component finds its place in your resume.

Lastly, a common oversight is failing to address specific qualifications highlighted in the job announcement. Instead of providing a broad overview, always tether your qualifications directly to the job’s detailed requirements. When a role stipulates a particular skill or experience, it’s imperative to both highlight and delve into these specifics on your resume, demonstrating a clear understanding of what the position entails.

Staying updated

The landscape of federal hiring is ever-evolving. Engage with websites like USAJobs and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to stay informed. Additionally, consider joining federal job-focused forums or networks where professionals share the latest changes and insights.

Crafting an exemplary federal resume is an investment. It demands time, effort, and an unwavering commitment to precision. However, the dividends it pays—in the form of a fulfilling federal career—are unparalleled. As the federal hiring realm evolves, it’s imperative for applicants to evolve with it. Embrace continuous learning, stay agile, and adapt to the nuanced requirements of federal job applications. Your resume is more than just your professional story; it’s the passport to a world of opportunities in the federal sector.

We’re a team of writers dedicated to providing insights and tips for navigating the professional world. With a collective wealth of experience across various industries and roles, our team understands the challenges and opportunities that come with seeking meaningful work and advancing your career. We help job seekers to better their careers by offering career advice & free resources. Download free Word resume templates and resume templates for Google Docs .

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Federal Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

• Resume Examples
• Resume Text Examples

How To Write a Federal Resume

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

Federal Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Raheem Richardson  (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio 123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY, 12345

A Supply Chain Manager with seven years of experience specializing in supply chain management, logistics, vendor management, and fleet management. A proven track record of identifying cost reductions for multimillion-dollar supply chains both domestically and globally.

Eligibility

Country of Citizenship: United States of America Veterans’ Preference: No VEOA Eligibility: No Availability: December 1st, 2022 Job Type: Permanent Work Schedule: Full Time Target Location: New York, NY

Professional Experience

Supply Chain Manager, Boeing, New York, NY July 2017 – Present

• Manage and prepare 10-15 RFPs and RFQs daily and coordinate all aspects of the procurement process for $15M contracts related to military equipment and aircraft
• Identify opportunities to reduce procurement and delivery costs for contracts by $1.5M-$3M by consolidating customer demand and supply
• Lead a team of 15+ supply chain coordinators, analysts, and procurement specialists to evaluate technical requirements and create scope of work for client RFPs

Supply Chain Manager, NorthEast Logistics Co., New York, NY June 2015 – July 2017

• Managed a fleet of 25+ vehicles valued at $300K, oversaw procurement and fulfillment activities, and ensured a 92% on-time delivery rate for construction materials
• Drove initiatives to enhance fleet management operations, reduce delivery delays, and enhance route planning to reduce fuel and labor costs by $150K per year

Supply Chain Coordinator, Arthur Transportation Inc., New York, NY June 2014 – July 2015

• Provided support to the supply chain manager to identify process gaps, evaluate transportation costs, and evaluate vendor proposals to reduce procurement costs
• Gathered, analyzed, and delivered data to the supply chain team on supplier performance to ensure adherence with contractual agreements and quality standards

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Supply Chain Management University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY September 2010 – June 2014

High School Diploma Brooklyn Central High School, New York, NY September 2006 – June 2010

• Supply Chain Management
• Fleet Management
• Procurement
• RFPs & RFQs

Certifications

• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), 2017
• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), 2015

Kevin Morrison (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio 123 Carpenter Street, Philadelphia PA, 12345

An Operations Manager with nine years of experience specializing in cross-functional leadership, human resources, team management, and process improvement. A strong history of leading diverse teams to ensure operational excellence across high traffic airports.

Country of Citizenship: United States of America Veterans’ Preference: 5-point Preference VEOA Eligibility: Yes Availability: December 1st, 2022 Job Type: Permanent Work Schedule: Full Time Target Location: Philadelphia, PA

General Manager, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA July 2017 – Present

• Oversee daily operations for a high-traffic airport with over 5K passengers, manage over $150M in annual P&L, and ensure the safety of passengers, flight crews, and personnel
• Manage over 200+ personnel across 15 departments, oversee $5M in monthly payroll, and identify opportunities to streamline operations and reduce labor costs by 10%
• Coordinate the delivery of cultural awareness and racial sensitivity to all personnel to promote diversity and prevent discrimination

Operations Manager, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA June 2014 – July 2017

• Coordinated with the general manager and operations team to ensure compliance with safety regulations, import regulations, and export regulations across the airport
• Managed inventory valued at $1.5M, scheduled maintenance for aircrafts, and ensured optimal staffing levels based on flight forecasts and foot traffic

Warehouse Manager, Comcast, Philadelphia, PA May 2012 – July 2014

• Managed operations for seven warehouses across the Greater Philadelphia area and identified opportunities to enhance driver utilization, optimize route planning, and reduce outbound freight costs by 25% over two years

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Operations Management Temple University, Philadelphia, PA September 2008 – May 2012

High School Diploma North Philadelphia High School, Philadelphia, PA September 2003 – June 2008

• Operations Management
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• P&L Management
• Process Improvement
• Organizational Development

Yaling Zhang (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio 123 Congressional Drive, Washington, DC, 12345

A Security Intelligence Analyst with 10+ years of experience analyzing high-level security threats, evaluating political risks, and providing corporate intelligence. A strong history of performing research to gather corporate intelligence across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Security Clearance

Top Secret Level Clearance, Active

Country of Citizenship: United States of America Veterans’ Preference: 5-point Preference VEOA Eligibility: Yes Availability: December 1st, 2022 Job Type: Permanent Work Schedule: Full Time Target Location: Washington, DC

Senior Security Analyst, Cadence Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC July 2016 – Present

• Define global research for a global business intelligence firm delivering high-level insights on political risks and corporate intelligence for government security agencies
• Manage, build, and develop a 20-person intelligence research department conducting due diligence and risk analysis on international markets and sensitive political issues
• Perform analysis on confidential financial data and coordinate with the corporate intelligence team to identify trends and uncover fraudulent activity

Business Intelligence Analyst, Centerline Technologies, Washington, DC October 2013 – July 2016

• Managed business intelligence operations for a premiere technology company, translated complex data sets into business reports, and conducted analysis on long-term market and financial trends to support data-driven decision-making
• Identified opportunities to enhance data visualization for corporate leadership by implementing a new dashboard to consolidate business intelligence insights

Business Intelligence Analyst, Desmond Pharmaceuticals, Washington, DC May 2011 – October 2013

• Coordinated with the business intelligence team to perform data analysis on research findings, financial indicators, and forecasting to identify business trends and risks for five pharmaceutical product lines
• Created business intelligence reports for senior management and business leaders

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Business Intelligence George Washington University, Washington, DC, September 2007 – May 2011

High School Diploma Benjamin Banneker High School, Washington, DC, September 2003 – June 2007

• Corporate Intelligence
• Business Intelligence
• Due Diligence
• Political Risk Analysis
• Security Intelligence

Federal resumes follow a unique structure that differs significantly from resumes in the private sector. To create an impactful federal resume, craft an accomplishment-driven document that highlights your career achievements while maintaining compliance with government requirements. Understanding these requirements is essential for obtaining a federal job. We’ll walk you through the unique aspects of federal resumes and provide expert tips to help you land your next big opportunity .

1. Summarize your federal qualifications in a dynamic profile

Unlike a typical resume, your federal resume must include an eligibility section that provides key information for government agencies. When applying for a federal job, provide important details such as veterans’ benefits, eligibility under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA), preferred location, citizenship status, desired job type, work schedule, and availability. Failing to include this information in your federal resume could result in your job application being rejected without further consideration of your qualifications.

According to expert recruiter Ernestine Council, those who “join the ranks of federal employees shaping the nation’s future with integrity and commitment embark on a path where dedication meets duty, where service transcends self.”

Eligibility Section Example

Country of Citizenship: U.S. Veterans’ Preference: 5-point preference VEOA Eligibility: Yes Availability: December 1, 2024 Job Type: Permanent Work Schedule: Full Time Target Location: Philadelphia, PA

2. Outline your federal experience in a compelling list

When applying for jobs in the private sector, you may opt to leave off older jobs and experiences that aren’t aligned with your current career goals. On a federal resume, you need to provide a comprehensive timeline of your professional experience. Government agencies typically run very thorough background checks on candidates, and it’s important to understand that all of this information will likely be verified. You aren’t subject to length constraints on a federal resume, so including older positions won’t impact your ability to highlight your most recent experience and achievements.

Federal Resume Professional Experience Example

General Manager, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA  July 2017 – present

• Oversee daily operations for a high-traffic airport with over 5,000 passengers, manage over $150 million in annual profit and loss (P&L), and ensure the safety of passengers, flight crews, and personnel
• Manage over 200 personnel across 15 departments, oversee $5 million in monthly payroll, and identify opportunities to streamline operations and reduce labor costs by 10%

Operations Manager, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA  June 2014 – July 2017

• Managed inventory valued at $1.5 million, scheduled maintenance for aircraft, and ensured optimal staffing levels based on flight forecasts and foot traffic

Warehouse Manager, Comcast, Philadelphia, PA  May 2012 – July 2014

3. List any education and certifications relevant to federal roles

Put all of your education on a federal resume, including your high school diploma. Also include your GPA, even if it’s below 3.0. Certifications and credentials should be featured prominently, as these may be requirements for certain types of positions. Showcasing certifications is also a good strategy for highlighting your industry expertise and qualifications for government agencies.

• [Degree Name]
• [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Supply Chain Management
• UNIVERSITY OF SYRACUSE, Syracuse, NY September 2010 – June 2014
• High School Diploma
• BROOKLYN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, New York, NY September 2006 – June 2010
• [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]

4. Outline your most useful federal skills and proficiencies

Government agencies utilize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) just as much as companies in the private sector. Incorporate keywords from the job announcement into your federal resume to achieve ATS compliance. It’s also important to provide specific examples of you using these skill sets and industry knowledge rather than only listing them in your skills section. Below, you’ll find a list of potential keywords across a broad range of industries:

5. Feature volunteerism and community service

On a standard resume for the private sector, you would typically prioritize your industry experience over volunteerism in most instances. Federal resumes are different, however, as community service is important to highlight while applying for government jobs.

Hiring agencies are drawn to candidates with a strong background in public service, so feature relevant volunteer experience on your resume.

How To Pick the Best Federal Resume Template

For federal resumes, select a well-organized, straightforward template that uses minimal color. Although modern templates may seem visually appealing, flashy colors and bulky graphics are often distracting for hiring agencies. This is especially true for federal resumes, as the hiring manager will be reviewing a larger amount of information in comparison to typical resumes.

Frequently Asked Questions: Federal Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for federal resumes -.

It’s easy to run short on action verbs as you build your resume. Often, only a limited number of verbs can describe your professional experience and accomplishments accurately. Using the same verbs repeatedly may cause your bullet points to appear redundant. We’ve compiled a list of action verbs to build your resume:

How do you align your resume with a job announcement? -

Federal jobs offer lucrative salaries and benefits, so carefully align your resume with the job announcement to differentiate yourself from the competition. Each announcement will have a detailed description on usajobs.gov , and include specific keywords and qualifications that match the posting.

It’s also important to remember that each job announcement will have a specific grade that varies depending on the level of experience required for the role. Apply for an opportunity that matches your current grade. A higher-level position may require you to take additional measures to ensure your resume is perfectly tailored to that particular job announcement.

What is the best federal resume format? -

Although federal resumes are unique in many aspects, it is best to still employ a reverse chronological approach as you build your document. This ensures your most recent experience is featured toward the top of the resume. A functional resume format needs to be avoided in this instance, as a federal job application is expected to have much more detail than a standard resume.

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Cover letters can be beneficial for federal job applications. It allows you to showcase other aspects of yourself as a professional that wouldn’t fit in your resume. In the middle paragraphs, mention the government agency and why you’re drawn to apply for the position. This will show hiring managers your vested interest in government programs and initiatives, which may give you an edge over the competition during your job search. For more information, view our cover letter examples .

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

Ernestine Council

Expert Recruiter

Ernestine Council is an accomplished chief recruiting executive with over 20 years of experience leading talent acquisition strategies and building high-performing teams across diverse industries. Council has a proven track record of attracting and retaining top talent through innovative recruitment practices and fostering inclusive workplace cultures. Passionate about building engaged workforces, optimizing processes, and driving recruiting excellence.

Check Out Related Examples

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Federal resume examples & templates

Choosing the right resume format for the federal government 

Include your contact information, make use of a summary or objective, outline your work experience , include the relevant key skills that make you a great federal employee, detail your education & relevant certifications, pick the right resume layout and design for a federal resume, what type of salary you can expect in federal government.

Getting a federal job with the U.S. government can be a great way to start or continue your career. As with any formal job, the first step is to create an organized, powerful resume to land those high salaries and stable positions. 

State organizations are often famous for their formal requirements and bureaucracy, and there are lots of hurdles to clear. According to the official government website USAjobs.gov : “Whether you’re a current federal employee or new to the Federal Government, your resume is the primary way for you to communicate your education, skills and experience.”

Resume guide for a federal resume

Regardless of the type of federal job you’re targeting, you need an outstanding resume—and Resume.io can help. Our resources include resume examples for over 500 professions, and our resume builder makes it easier than ever to create a winning resume, even with the additional requirements from the government. 

This resume guide and corresponding federal resume example will cover the following:

How to write a federal resume

• Choosing the right resume format for federal jobs
• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries to introduce yourself
• Adding your relevant experience
• Listing education and other credentials
• Picking the right resume design/layout
• What the federal job market looks like and what salary you can expect

Regardless of occupation, this is the framework of elements that all resumes should incorporate:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

However, due to the unique requirements of the federal government, your federal resume will likely include more detail in each of these sections than on a standard corporate resume. 

Even with the federal government, a job application is a way of selling your unique value proposition to your future employer. You can do this in the following ways:

• While a federal resume requires you to list your job duties, you can also highlight accomplishments to give your resume more power. Anyone can list the tasks they were given, but what did you specifically accomplish in your past roles? What value did you bring?
• We recommend tailoring your resume to the specific employer, which you’ll be doing when you create a federal resume. Don’t just send your regular corporate resume; you need to follow the specific federal format.
• Ensure the design and layout of your resume are professional and easy to read. Federal resumes contain a lot of information, so make it easy to find what’s important!
• The federal government receives thousands of resumes, so be sure yours is optimized with the right keywords so it won’t be filtered out by ATS screening software .

Optimize for the ATS

ATS stands for applicant tracking system : a system used by companies, including the government, to collect and manage applications. Some advanced systems use algorithms to help scan and filter resumes based on how well they match the defined criteria.

Resumes that contain the desired keywords and phrases are green-lighted for further review. But when resumes fail the test, a human being may not even bother looking at them. And it turns out the official website for U.S. federal hiring actually addresses this issue under the helpful item “ What should I include in my federal resume? ” They suggest using the right terms to address each qualification from the job posting. 

For example, if a job calls for:

• Military experience
• Bachelor’s degree

You want to make sure those terms are covered on your resume. Putting them into the summary, for instance, could look like this: “Experienced project management professional with military background, bachelor’s degree in business administration, and extensive experience with MS Project.”

Federal jobs require a unique resume format. In fact, they have recommended templates and examples online. At its core, the federal resume is similar to a hybrid resume format . This means your resume opens by displaying your skills and competencies and then moves into your work history, presented in reverse chronological order . This work experience should include employer headings with the company name, job title, and dates worked.

When it comes to design, the best federal resumes use a simple layout that is clean, streamlined, and lacking distractions. 

An eye-pleasing resume header helps you stand out in the crowd of other federal government job contenders. Double your impact by making your resume and cover letter show off your personal brand with identical headers. Most important, the prominent placement of your name and contact information makes it that much easier for interested recruiters to get in touch with an interview invitation. 

Because federal resumes are unique, you might need to incorporate extra information into your header compared to other types of resumes:

• Full name & title . List your first and last name and the title of the job you’re pursuing.
• Professional email address . Use a professional email format like [email protected] .
• Phone number . Add the best phone number for them to call, ensuring you have a professional voicemail greeting set up.
• Location . While on most resumes you list only your city and state , federal resumes require a full address.
• LinkedIn . If your LinkedIn profile is active and relevant, feel free to include it.
• Citizenship status . List whether or not you are a US citizen and, if not, include your visa status.
• Special details . Add details like veteran experience, prior federal experience, or any government clearance you hold.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth : Even though federal resumes require more information, you can leave this off; it could potentially lead to age discrimination .
• Personal details : Marital status, passport number , etc. A social security number may be requested, but if it is not, you can leave it off.

Dave Salius

5004 Ingrid Lane, Washington D.C., 20016, United States

(202) 362-7188

[email protected]

Citizenship: US  

Special Hiring Authority: None 

Federal Experience: Yes, Federal

Clearance: None

You may not be running for office, but like any candidate for a government job, you need to make a clear, strong opening pitch on why you’re the right person to fill it. The resume summary—often referred to as an objective on the federal resume—is the first thing employers will see on your resume after your header.

A simple way to create a federal resume objective is to craft a basic statement including the agency and position you’re targeting. These few sentences are your opportunity to introduce yourself as the best person for the job. 

In general, any resume summary should do more than just reiterate the resume content. Instead, use this space to give an overarching narrative of your experience and qualifications. For example, “Professional statistician with 10 years of experience in expert-level research and data mining, as well as writing and information design skills to present results to the public.” 

Need inspiration for your summary? Check out our related resumes: 

• First selectman resume sample
• Correctional officer resume sample
• Federal resume sample
• City manager resume example
• Bank manager resume example
• Government resume example

You can find adaptable federal resume examples summary below:

Dedicated and hardworking HR professional seeking HR Coordinator role within US Health and Human Services. Strong understanding of HR practices and employment laws. Adept at providing optimal support to executives and officials in need. Committed to integrity and constantly securing the privacy of identities and documents. 

HR Generalist with five years of experience ensuring HR systems adequately support federal agencies in recruiting, hiring, and retaining an excellent and diverse workforce. Adept at providing optimal support to executives and officials in need. Committed to integrity and constantly securing the privacy of identities and documents. Proven track record of facilitating excellent workflow in HR departments. 

Experienced and dedicated HR Manager with over ten years of experience ensuring HR systems adequately support federal agencies in recruiting, hiring, and retaining an excellent and diverse workforce. Adept at providing optimal support to executives and officials in need. Committed to integrity and constantly securing the privacy of identities and documents. Proven track record of facilitating excellent workflow in HR departments.

Your resume's employment history section should list current and previous jobs in reverse chronological order. Like most resumes, you should include the company, title, and dates of employment. However, unlike standard resumes, federal resumes also require you to add the number of hours you worked per week, your level or federal grade, and sometimes your salary.

For example, directly from USAJobs :

Program Analyst GS-343-11 January 2009—Present 40 Hours/Week $63,000/Year

• Experience/Accomplishment

Include at least the last 10 years of experience. Don’t just list job duties (although those are important); make sure to list your specific achievements at each job. Avoid saying “Was responsible for” and use strong action verbs to describe what you actually did. Be as specific as possible, ideally citing any numerical evidence (facts and figures) for your accomplishments (alternatively, share project or team-based achievements). 

As an example, vague, duty-based statements might look like this:

• “Assisted in attracting and retaining workers.”
• “Handled HR procedures.”
• “Helped to foster a diverse and inclusive work environment.”
• “Provided optimal administrative support and conducted yearly reviews.”

When you rephrase them to focus more on your specific impact and results , your resume becomes much more compelling:

• “Assisted in attracting and retaining a high performing and diverse workforce, contributing to a 30% increase in retention.”
• “Handled all HR procedures with confidentiality and ethics, leveraging expertise from PHR certification.”
• “Fostered a diverse and inclusive work environment, including execution of three programs that grew employee diversity by 10%”
• “Managed administrative oversight for location, including conducting annual reviews for 15 employees of various levels.”

Take a look at the federal employment history resume sample below:

Federal HR Manager at Federal Government, Washington D.C.  June 2006 - September 2018 

• Assisted in attracting and retaining a high performing and diverse workforce.
• Handled all HR procedures with confidentiality and ethics.
• Helped to foster a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• Provided optimal administrative support and conducted yearly reviews.

Your skills section should include a mix of hard and soft skills to paint the full picture of who you are as an employee.

Hard skills include advanced expertise in your field or technical skills like knowledge of specific systems. On the other hand, soft skills like cross-functional collaboration, communication skills , or problem solving talents are important as well. 

Our resume builder offers a myriad of pre-written skills to choose from, along with proficiency ranges you can set. You can also include your own skills.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our federal resume template. 

• Computer Systems
• Interpersonal Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Positive Work Ethic

However, while a federal resume’s skills section is important, it’s not the only place to show your skill set. Instead, ensure your skills show up throughout your resume—especially in the summary and work history sections. 

For example, you might highlight things like:

• Specific role expertise by describing the knowledge you gained and leveraged in past roles, accomplishments specific to the role at hand, and impacts you’ve made in relevant positions
• Technical skills including any specific systems or software you’ve used. If you’re in a technical role, be sure to list coding languages, databases, or other technologies.
• Interpersonal skills such as leadership experience , cross-functional collaboration, or strong communication skills.

Look to the job description as a guide for what key skills to include.

The federal government hires workers from a broad range of educational backgrounds, from scholars with doctoral degrees to people who never finished high school. Study the requirements of government jobs in your field and make sure you have the required education before you apply. 

In your education section , list your educational credentials in reverse chronological order along with any special certifications in your field. For example:

• Training and certifications . Any courses, workshops, or even webinars that enhance your skills in the job you’re targeting.
• Internships . Include any relevant internships or training programs.
• Professional development . Memberships in related business or trade associations show your interest in your field and desire to continue growing your knowledge.

Be sure to include the name of the institution, your degree or credential, dates attended, and your GPA (if relevant). 

Bachelor of Communications, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.  August 2002 - May 2006 

High School Diploma, St. Rose's High School, Arlington  September 1998 - May 2002

You have likely heard you should keep your resume to one page, but with a federal resume, you should expect to write a longer resume. Don’t get too caught up in the number of pages since a multi-page resume is standard.

Do, however, keep your resume layout and design simple, straightforward, and elegant. Avoid gimmicks, splashy colors , or excessive decoration. Strive for a professional, eye-pleasing look, use a balance of white space and text, and choose a simple font . 

It may feel daunting to write a federal resume, but there are ways to make it easier. Check out our field-tested resume templates and let us handle the heavy lifting. 

Federal text-only resume example

Experienced and dedicated Federal Government HR Manager with over ten years of experience, ensure HR systems support agencies in recruiting, hiring and retaining an excellent and diverse workforce. Adept at providing optimal support to executives and officials in need. Committed to integrity and constantly securing the privacy of identities and documents. Bringing forth a proven track record of facilitating excellent workflow in HR departments. 

Employment history

Federal job market and outlook

Federal jobs remain highly coveted, and with good reason, as they often are some of the most recession-proof opportunities out there (relatively speaking, of course). The federal government is the largest employer in the United States : in 2023, there were 2.95 million employees working for the federal government. 

To a job seeker, these numbers add up to big opportunities. Not only are there lots of jobs, but federal workers generally enjoy exceptional pay and benefits, good hours, and extraordinary job security. Plus, over the long haul, government payrolls are relatively immune to political changes at the top.

• The fastest-growing jobs in the federal government are projected to be statisticians, medical workers, computer and data experts, and analysts.
• However, there is an anticipated decline in overall federal employment, estimated at 2% .
• The locations with the highest average federal salaries are Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey. The lowest-paid are Utah, Wyoming, and South Dakota.

Due to the wide variety of federal jobs, the changing number of jobs, and the varying amounts of pay (all of which are moving targets), estimates differ on average salaries for federal employees. The short answer, however, is that the pay is good. 

According to USAFacts.org, the average annual pay for civilian federal workers exceeds $80,000 in all US states. The highest paid professions include medical officers ($269,735 per year), securities compliance examiners ($210,689), dental officers ($202,333), administrative law judges ($192,546), and ship pilots ($183,500). 

Key takeaways for building a federal resume

There are millions of federal jobs with excellent pay, benefits and job security, and the job outlook for this sector is fairly secure. For anyone seeking federal employment, building an outstanding resume is a crucial first step. Make sure each resume you send out is custom-built to specifically address the requirements of the job you’re seeking.

Spend some time with our online resume builder at Resume.io, choose one of our professional templates, and start crafting a bulletproof resume today. The jobs are there—all they’re waiting for is you.

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

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Federal Resume Workshop - Hosted by FBI Portland

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Hosted by FBI Portland, this virtual information session will go over how to create an effective federal resume. 

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How To Write a Resume for Your First Job

Imagine yourself stumbling across your dream job listing. You’re reading through the responsibilities and job tasks and you find yourself getting more and more excited as the list goes on. Then, it’s time to apply. But you have no real-world job experience. You’re just a student! How will you ever write a resume for your first job when you haven’t had one yet?

Knowing how to write a resume for your first job does not come naturally. In fact, it feels like a daunting task. If you have little applicable experience yet, or you’re just entering the workforce, how can you prove you’re the right fit for the position? 

Resumes are an excellent way to tout your knowledge, training and (if applicable) skills in the field. You can create an attractive resume highlighting your candidacy without any direct experience or prior work history.

We’ll show you how to write a resume for your first job so you can kick off your work experience with preparedness and confidence.

• Do you need a resume?
• What should you put on a resume?

Crafting a resume with no experience

Finalizing your first job resume, quick guide: write your first resume in 6 steps, do you need a resume for your first job.

While a resume may not be required to apply for your first job, it is highly recommended that you do so, and it will undoubtedly set you apart from the other applicants. A resume reflects your professionalism and commitment to the job application process. It showcases your knowledge, skills, training and prior experience in an easy-to-digest and relatively standard format, making it easy for potential employers to decipher between candidates to choose the best person for the job.

Even for entry-level positions, when many applicants don’t have a prior work history, sharing a resume will give you a competitive edge when written persuasively.

The role of a resume in job applications

A resume plays an important role when applying for jobs. It serves as an introduction to potential employers and those in the company who will decide whether or not to move forward with your application. It also provides a summary of what you bring to the table for those who will be interviewing you during the application process.

The resume is essential for showcasing your skills. A well-crafted and persuasive resume can highlight your achievements and knowledge, even if you have limited work experience in the field you’re applying to. Because your resume is the first contact point between you and a potential employer, it’s crucial to understand how to write a resume for your first job – and how to write it well.

What should you put on a resume for your first job?

There are a few things every resume must include – and those are some of the most essential details.

Contact information

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include the most important part of your resume – sharing your contact information. Start by listing your full name, phone number, email address and a link to your LinkedIn profile. Without your contact information, potential employers will have a hard time contacting you, which can prevent you from getting an interview.

Why share a link to your LinkedIn profile ? LinkedIn is now an essential part of the job search market. It serves as a shareable resume in addition to showcasing your network. Employers can see if you have any professionals in common from work or personal life, which may help build your credibility as a candidate.

Be sure to act professionally on LinkedIn. Share relevant news and insights to highlight your interest and knowledge of an industry, but be wary of getting too personal or engaging in inappropriate dialogue. Behave on LinkedIn as you would in an office setting with colleagues.

Educational background and achievements

Start by listing your educational information, such as schools attended, graduation dates and relevant academic achievements or awards. Include your major and minor, field of study and GPA. If you were enrolled in courses, projects or study abroad programs relevant to the job, include details to show your knowledge and interests.

Skills section

While you likely have some combination of hard and soft skills, a skills section will showcase the hard skills you’ve learned to prepare you for the job. Soft skills are best to be included in the bullet points to describe your accomplishments in your experience section.

• Hard skills include specific technical skills you’ve learned along the way. For example, computer proficiency, language skills, lab skills or specific training or certifications.
• Soft skills , or human skills, include job aspects that apply to many (if not all) job roles. These include communication, teamwork and problem-solving. If you’re particularly adept in any of these, showcase them and be prepared to share real examples of these skills in action.

Extracurricular activities and volunteer work

Employers look for candidates who go the extra mile to be involved in extracurricular activities. This demonstrates your commitment to becoming a well-rounded human being. Highlight clubs, sports or volunteer activities that you were involved in, especially emphasizing leadership roles or particular responsibilities you had in these activities. This extracurricular activity showcases your ability to multi-task, prioritize time and develop skills and interests.

Example Resume & Writing Guide

See a real-life example of a strong resume, including tips for gathering your own persuasive experience and skills using our Resume Writing Guide !

As a young adult or new graduate, you may wonder how to write a resume for your first job with no real-world experience. Don’t fear – there have been many in your shoes before you!

What does a resume look like for a first job?

Your resume should be straightforward with a clean and concise design. It should be easy to read with a simple flow highlighting information from most important to nice-to-have details. Do not go overboard with design details, fonts or graphics. 

Furman recommends that you use Microsoft Word to build your resume as it can be easier to make changes to a Word document than it is to change a template. However, you can use free resume builder tools online to build your resume in standard formats.

• Myperfectresume.com
• Resumenerd.com

Using strong action words and job-specific keywords in your resume for your first job will significantly impact you. Describe experiences and achievements using strong action verbs, such as:

• Collaborated
• Volunteered

What to put on a resume with no experience?

You can learn how to write a resume for your first job that impresses potential employers, even without relevant work experience, by emphasizing relevant coursework. Doing this demonstrates skills learned in a classroom or group project setting. Highlight personal or academic projects showcasing your abilities, such as experiences where you took the lead as a group or team leader.

Before submitting your first job resume, review and edit the document for mistakes or improvements.

Proofreading and editing

Attention to detail is critical to potential employers. Check your resume for typos and grammatical errors. Mistakes on your resume may eliminate you as a candidate, especially if grammatical adeptness or attention to detail is essential to the job.

Similarly, ensure a consistent design throughout your resume. Stick to one format, using one legible font and minimal design details. A professional resume appearance can set you apart from other applicants’ resumes that may appear messy or disorganized.

Seeking feedback

Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from friends, mentors or even career services at schools or community centers. A peer review from your fellow students, teachers or mentors can provide invaluable input on skills you may be forgetting, plus the extra set of eyes can help detect errors and typos.

Career services at your school or library also serve as an excellent third-party validation and review resource. Furman’s Malone Center for Career Engagement offers in-depth career preparation services for students, such as resume and cover letter assistance , career fairs and networking , personalized advice from advisors and interview prep – just to name a few.

Webinar: Polishing Your Resume & Preparing Your Pitch

Watch the free Polishing Your Resume & Preparing Your Pitch webinar for an in-depth look at creating your resume and preparing a pitch to potential employers straight from a Furman career advisor.

Now, do you feel ready and excited to write a resume for your first job? We hope you jotted down notes specific to your experience as you read through the post, but in case you didn’t, writing your resume can be simplified to these simple steps.

• Start with your contact information , including full name, phone number and email address. Consider adding a link to your LinkedIn profile.
• List your education experience , including relevant projects, courses and extracurricular activities.
• List both hard skills and soft skills relevant to the job.
• Explain your roles and responsibilities in your projects and extracurricular activities, especially those where you acted in a leadership capacity, using strong action verbs.
• Proofread and gather feedback.

If this is your first time writing a resume for your first job, approach the process with confidence and positivity. Your attitude will shine through the resume, so stay positive!

The perspectives and thoughts shared in the Furman Blog belong solely to the author and may not align with the official stance or policies of Furman University. All referenced sources were accurate as of the date of publication.

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Will the Stock Market Soar If the Fed Cuts Rates in September? Here's What History Shows.

• The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates 28 times so far this century.
• These rate cuts sometimes spurred a rally in the S&P 500 -- but not always.
• Even if the S&P 500 doesn't soar on potential September rate cuts, investors have other good alternatives.
• Motley Fool Issues Rare “All In” Buy Alert

The effect of previous Federal Reserve interest rate cuts on the S&P 500 provides a murky picture.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has mentioned two factors that could lead to interest rate cuts. One was inflation declining to near the Fed's 2% goal. The other was a weakening job market.

Both boxes have now been checked off. The Fed's favorite inflation metric -- the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index -- fell to 2.5% in June. July jobs numbers were weaker than expected.

The probability of a near-term interest rate cut has risen. But will the stock market soar if the Fed cuts rates in September? Here's what history shows.

Image source: Getty Images.

Looking back

The Fed has lowered interest rates 28 times so far this century. These rate cuts came in spurts on six occasions.

In early 2001, the Fed began a series of 11 rate cuts. At first, these cuts were primarily due to the U.S. recession following the dot-com bubble burst. The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 provided another catalyst for Fed action. How did the stock market respond? Not too well.

^SPX data by YCharts.

Although that recession ended in November 2001, the subsequent recovery wasn't very strong. The Fed stepped in with an additional rate cut in November 2002. The S&P 500 didn't respond immediately, and it even fell in the first quarter of 2003. However, the index rebounded strongly in March. The Fed cut rates by 0.25% again in June 2003. Again, stocks didn't move much immediately. However, the uptrend soon resumed.

Four years went by with no changes to interest rates. However, the housing market crash in the second half of 2007 caused the Fed to shift into gear. It lowered rates in September 2007 and then continued to cut rates another six times through April 2008. These actions weren't enough to forestall a significant drop in the S&P 500.

Then came the stock market crash of October 2008. The U.S. economy was in a decline so bad that it became known as the Great Recession . The Fed cut interest rates by 0.5% twice in October, followed by a 1% cut in December. The S&P 500 initially plunged, but bounced back beginning in March 2009.

^SPX data by YCharts

More than a decade came and went. The U.S. economy and the stock market roared back. However, in August 2019, the Fed began what Powell referred to as a "mid-cycle adjustment." It lowered rates by 0.25% three times, with the last cut on Oct. 31, 2019. The initial cut didn't seem to cause any stock market reaction. However, the S&P 500 took off after the Fed's October move.

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred the Fed to cut rates twice in March 2020. Although the S&P 500 still plummeted at first, it quickly rebounded.

Why the mixed results?

As we've seen, there have been mixed results in the stock market when the Fed has cut rates in the past. Why didn't the S&P 500 always jump on what should have been viewed as good news by investors? It's complicated.

In some cases, the Fed's moves simply weren't enough to immediately offset severe economic or geopolitical challenges. For example, rate cuts weren't enough to calm investors after the 9/11 attacks or the stock market crash in 2008.

Other times, investors could have decided to wait and see if the interest rate cuts would make a big enough difference to warrant more optimism.

Also, the Fed often telegraphs its moves well in advance. When investors anticipate rate cuts, they can begin buying before they occur. The actual rate cuts could then become practically a non-event for the stock market.

Good investing ideas if a rate cut is on the way

The history lesson here is straightforward: Don't bet on stocks soaring solely because the Fed cuts rates. They might, but they might not. However, I think there are some good investing ideas if a rate cut is indeed on the way (whether in September or in subsequent months).

Long-term bonds usually increase when interest rates fall. The Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF ( BLV 0.37% ) is a smart way to play this trend. This exchange-traded fund (ETF) owns nearly 3,100 long-term bonds and has a low annual expense ratio of 0.04%.

I also like the Vanguard Small Cap Value ETF ( VBR 0.24% ) . Small-cap stocks often rise when rates are cut. Smaller companies frequently have a higher percentage of debt than larger companies do. Lower rates reduce their interest expenses.

Keith Speights has positions in Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .

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8 million are in student loan forbearance under Biden's SAVE plan. Are you one of them?

Did you wake up to an email on Friday stating your student loans are in forbearance? If so, you are one of eight million Americans.

Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) Plan are currently in forbearance. How long the forbearance goes on remains to be determined.

The student loan relief program, introduced by President Joe Biden's administration in 2023, is now in court where it is being contested. At the end of July, an administrative stay was granted by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit in St. Louis at the request of Missouri and six other Republican led states, per The Tennessean . As a result, the plan has been blocked from continuing.

Here's what to know about the forbearance and the legal battle over SAVE.

What is student loan forbearance?

Student loan forbearance is a temporary postponement or reduction of your student loan payments due to financial difficulty. During this temporary period, you may still make smaller payments toward your loan. Borrowers typically need to apply to receive forbearance. However, the Biden administration has chosen to freeze payments for all SAVE borrowers as the legal battle over the plan continue.

“Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan will be placed in an interest-free forbearance while our administration continues to vigorously defend the SAVE plan in court,” Miguel Cardona, the secretary of education, said in a statement in July. “The Department will be providing regular updates to borrowers affected by these rulings in the coming days.”

Fast facts about the SAVE student loan plan

∎ SAVE is an IDR (Income Driven Repayment) Plan that bases your monthly payment on your income and family size. It replaced the Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Plan. Borrowers who were on the REPAYE plan will automatically get the benefits of the SAVE plan.

∎ The plan lowers payments for almost all borrowers compared to other IDR plans. Payments are based on a smaller portion of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

∎ It has interest benefit: If you make your full monthly payment but it is not enough to cover monthly interest accrued, the government covers the rest of the interest accrued that month. This prevents your balance growing due to unpaid interest.

∎ Borrowers in the plan who originally borrowed $12,000 or less will be granted forgiveness after as few as 10 years.

∎ In the summer of 2024, more elements of SAVE will go into effect, further lowering payments for borrowers with undergraduate loans.

Why is the SAVE plan in court?

When the SAVE plan was first implemented by the Biden administration in 2023, it was met with criticism and pushback from Republicans. Part of the plan was blocked in June by two federal judges in Kansas and Missouri. In July, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and seven state attorneys requested the 8th Circuit to block the plan in its entirety, according to The Tennessean.

For Bailey, the ruling was a win for the Constitution. On the social media platform X , he said, "Congress never gave Biden the authority to saddle working Americans with half-a-trillion dollars in other people's debt."

🚨BREAKING: The Court has granted our motion to BLOCK Joe Biden’s illegal student loan plan. Congress never gave Biden the authority to saddle working Americans with half-a-trillion dollars in other people's debt. A huge win for the Constitution. — Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) June 24, 2024

When will I need to begin paying my student loans?

Currently, there is no set date for when the student loan forbearance will end or when borrowers will resume payment on student loans.

Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at [email protected] .