Federal resume examples & templates

Hoping to land a federal government job? Don’t be intimidated by the high standards or unique format. Resume.io is here to help with a writing guide and federal resume example to help you get started.

Resume guide for a federal resume

How to write a federal resume
• 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

Federal job market and outlook
• What type of salary you can expect in federal government

Key takeaways for building a federal resume

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:

Once every 2 weeks, our experts gather the best career & resume tips you can read in 15 minutes or less. Straight to your inbox!

Our newsletter is on its way. The best resume & job tips from our career experts will now be sent your inbox every 2 weeks!

• 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

How to write a federal resume

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:

• MS Project
• 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.”

Choosing the right resume format for the federal government

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.

Include your contact information

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.

• 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.

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