Applying for a federal job?

You’ll need to submit a federal resume with your application.

And you guessed it – federal resumes are significantly different from the conventional ones.

For starters, federal resumes should contain many more details like GS rating and clearance.

Additionally, they are much longer than the usual 1-2 pages, sometimes reaching 6.

But worry not – it’s not all that complicated.

In this article, we’ll teach you all you need to know about how to make a federal resume, starting with:

What is a Federal Resume

As per its name, a federal resume is the type of resume that you need to submit if you’re applying for a federal job in the US.

In many ways, it’s similar to the conventional resume – they both contain the same mandatory sections and allow you to describe your past professional experiences, education, and skills.

However, there are a few components that make the federal resume differ from the conventional one.

Federal Resume vs Conventional Resume

• Resume length: It is strongly advised that the conventional resume doesn’t exceed 2 pages in length, whereas your federal resume can be between 4-6 pages long.
• Level of detail: When writing a conventional resume, you need to focus on only the most relevant achievements and experiences. E.g. If you’re applying for a job as an accountant, you wouldn’t talk about your experience in marketing 10 years back. In comparison, the federal resume is much more detailed, requiring in-depth information about your background and past roles.
• Documentation: When you submit a conventional resume, you don’t need to provide additional documents. Sometimes you’ll need to provide references, but that’s only if an employer asks for them explicitly. For federal resumes, though, you’ll need to provide school transcripts, military service documents, and contacts of past supervisors as part of your application.
• Requirements: When you apply for civilian positions, you can get hired without meeting each and every job requirement. When it comes to federal positions, however, you must meet all the criteria in the job description.

5+ Tips to Write Your Federal Resume

Does this sound like a lot of information to take in?

Don’t worry. With a little practice, you’ll learn how to create a federal resume in no time!

Follow these 7 tips to get started on the right track:

Tip #1. Choose the Right Format

Out of three typical resume formats you can choose from (reverse-chronological, functional, and a combination of both) you should choose the reverse-chronological format for your federal resume.

Why? In addition to being the most common resume format in the US, it is also recognized by federal recruiters.

In terms of its length, the federal resume can exceed the traditional 1-2 pages because candidates are required to go in much more detail about themselves.

Finally, stick to a PDF format unless otherwise required by the job ad. When you open up a PDF resume, it’s going to look just the same, regardless of which computer you open it on.

The same cannot be said for Microsoft Word, however. Different systems display Word documents differently. So, it’s not guaranteed that an iOS laptop will display your formatting choices the way you intended.

Pro-Tip: Want to skip past all the formatting hassle? Use a Novoresume resume template. Just pick a design you like and start filling in the contents – no need to spend hours tinkering with the layout.

Tip #2. Include These Details in the Information Section

Your federal resume’s contact information section contains more details than the conventional ones.

So, in addition to the typical info (such as your name, job title, phone number, and email address), you should also include the following:

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

Step #3. Write a Compelling Resume Summary

The resume summary is, in a nutshell, the “Hook” of your resume.

It’s the first thing a recruiter sees when they open up your resume, and if done right, it will grab their attention and make sure they read the rest of your resume.

Typically, the summary is a 2-4 sentence paragraph that’s placed right under your contact information section.

The resume summary is used (as the name implies) to provide a snapshot of your application, and it 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