Your Guide to Federal Resumes

A federal resume is a type of resume that is specific to federal or government jobs. This resume includes anywhere from two the seven pages of your credentials, work experience, education, and other relevant information that makes you a good candidate for the position you’re applying for.

While more traditional resumes also include this type of information, a government resume goes much more in depth. For example, most government organizations want to see not only your previous job positions and duties but also the salary you earned in each position, how many hours you worked each week, and the contact information of your immediate manager or supervisor. Any position within a federal or government organization typically requires candidates to submit a federal resume to be considered.

The following is a basic format you can follow when creating a government resume:

[First and last name]

[Current job title]

[Phone number]

[Email address]

[Mailing address]

[Citizenship]

[Social security number]

[Highest GS grade to-date if applicable]

[Veterans’ preference]

[Disability if applicable]

[Clearance if applicable]

[Availability and preference of full- or part-time work]

[Resume objective: Use two to three sentences to discuss your current job title, your experience, areas of expertise, most relevant skills, and any achievements you wish you highlight.]

[Work experience]

[Name of employer]

[Address of employer]

[Title]

[Month and year you worked here]

[Salary]

[Hours worked]

[First and last name of your direct supervisor]

[Phone number of your direct supervisor]

[Bulleted list of duties you held in this position with examples]

[Name of employer]

[Address of employer]

[Title]

[Month and year you worked here]

[Salary]

[Hours worked]

[First and last name of your direct supervisor]

[Phone number of your direct supervisor]

[Bulleted list of duties you held in this position with examples]

[Name of employer]

[Address of employer]

[Title]

[Month and year you worked here]

[Salary]

[Hours worked]

[First and last name of your direct supervisor]

[Phone number of your direct supervisor]

[Bulleted list of duties you held in this position with examples]

[Education]

[Name of university or college attended]

[Month and year you graduated]

[Degree obtained]

[Minors if applicable]

[GPA and any honors you graduated with]

[Relevant coursework: Include one or two sentences about coursework you completed that directly relates to the position being applied for]

[Other qualifications]

[Use this section to include a bulleted list of any other relevant qualifications that make you suitable for the position]

The following is an example of a good personal information section on a government resume:

Jane Pope

154 Countryway Lane, Washington, DC 20009

FBI Agent

Phone number: (987) 564-6859

Email address: janepope@email.com

Citizenship: U.S.

Veteran’s preference: None

Highest grade: GS-0435-5

Social security #: 547-34-7968

Federal civilian status: N/A

The following is an example of an incomplete personal information section on a government resume:

Jane Pope

154 Countryway Lane, Washington, DC 20009

FBI Agent

Phone number: (987) 564-6859

Email address: janepope@email.com

The following is a good example of work history details on a government resume:

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington D.C. Division

Washington, DC

FBI Agent

September 2010 – present

Salary: $60,000 per year

Hours worked per week: 40-50

Supervisor name: Fred Baker

Phone number: (987) 573-0987

Employer may be contacted

The following is an example of an incomplete work history details section:

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington D.C. Division

Washington, DC

FBI Agent

September 2010 – present

The following is a good example of educational information on a government resume:

The University of Iowa, Iowa, 48930

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Law

Graduation date: September 2010

Minor: Psychology

Honor society membership: Phi Kappa Omega

GPA: 3.9/4.0, magna cum laude

Relevant coursework: Introduction to criminal law; Crime prevention; Criminal psychology; Forensic psychology

The following is a bad example of an education section on a government resume:

The University of Iowa

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Law

Graduation date: September 2010

The following are a few tips to keep in mind when crafting your government resume:

• Consider using a resume builder tool. There are several resume builder tools that can help you write a stellar federal resume. Because this type of resume is lengthy and time-consuming, using a tool can keep you on track and ensure all necessary information is included.
• Don’t worry about length. Many federal resumes are upwards of seven pages in length, so don’t stress if you find your resume is several pages long. The more information you include the better, and it’s vital to include even minute details as they relate to your experience and qualifications.
• Include key points in your resume. Before you start writing your government resume, take some time to get familiar with the job listing and the key points it mentions. A good place to incorporate keywords from the job post is in your work experience section and in the qualifications section of your resume.
• Use bullet points when possible. Bullet points can help streamline your resume and make it easier for the reader to quickly see what you have to offer. Use them wherever possible, such as in your work history section, in your qualifications section, and even in your objective if it makes sense.
• Edit your resume. Before you submit your resume, be sure to edit it thoroughly. Because federal resumes are much longer than traditional professional resumes, it can be easy to overlook minor errors. Consider asking someone else to also review your resume and ask for feedback on any improvements they feel you could make.