Federal resume basics
Federal resumes have their own rules. The biggest recent change is that most federal jobs on USAJOBS now accept resumes of two pages or less. Always check the job announcement, because it's the final word.
1. Two pages, maximum, for most jobs
Since September 27, 2025, USAJOBS has limited resumes to two pages for Title 5 competitive and excepted service jobs. Some positions (for example Title 38 jobs at the VA) are exempt, and the announcement will say so. See OPM's applicant guidance.
2. Include the details federal reviewers need
For each relevant job, list the job title and employer (plus series and grade for federal jobs), start and end dates in month/year format, and hours worked per week. Also list relevant education, certifications and licenses. Leaving these out can make you ineligible.
3. Match the announcement, especially the qualifications
Read the "Qualifications" and "Specialized experience" sections. Your work descriptions should clearly show you've done what they describe, at the level they describe, using similar terms.
4. Use plain language
USAJOBS says reviewers won't assume anything that isn't written. Spell out acronyms and avoid jargon from your current employer.
5. Cut older and unrelated experience
With two pages, focus on recent, relevant work. Old jobs that don't support the qualifications can go.
6. Save as PDF and check the page count
USAJOBS recommends PDF to keep your formatting and page count. Standard letter size, file under 5 MB. See the USAJOBS Help Center.
Fictional sample
Fictional example: "Carl Jensen" isn't a real person. Every name, employer, number and date below is made up to illustrate the advice. It isn't a customer's resume.
Carl is a made-up warehouse supervisor applying for a federal supply technician job.
CARL JENSEN · Ogden, UT · carl.jensen@example.com · (555) 010-0177
Work Experience
Warehouse Shift Supervisor, Wasatch Supply Co. (fictional), Ogden, UT
05/2018 – Present · 40 hours per week
- Supervise 12 receiving and shipping staff; assign daily work and check accuracy of incoming shipments against purchase orders.
- Maintain inventory records in a warehouse management system; lead monthly cycle counts.
Education
Ogden High School diploma, 1993
Sources
- OPM: Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit
- USAJOBS Help Center: How do I write a resume for a federal job?
- VA Careers: What to know about new federal resume requirements
How we can help
We'll fit your experience into two pages with the details federal reviewers require. You still submit the application through USAJOBS yourself. We don't log in for you.
Prices
Flat prices with no add-ons or upsells. You always get a Word file you can edit and a PDF, at no extra charge.
| What you get | Price | Ready in |
|---|---|---|
| Resume refresh We rewrite and reformat your resume for the kind of job you want. Up to 2 rounds of changes. | $59 | 2 business days |
| Resume + cover letter The resume refresh, plus one cover letter for a specific job. | $79 | 2 business days |
| Cover letter only One letter for one job posting. Send us the posting and your resume. | $25 | 1 business day |
We'll email you a draft; pay only after you approve it. If it isn't right, tell us what to change. You owe nothing until you approve it.
An honest note: we use AI to help
We use AI writing tools to help draft and format your resume. A real person reads, checks and edits every page before it reaches you.
- We never make anything up: no invented jobs, dates, degrees, licenses or skills. If something is unclear, we ask you.
- We take out your phone number, email and street address before using any AI tool and put them back at the end.
- You can ask us to delete your information at any time. See our privacy note.
What we won't do
- We will never ask for passwords, PINs, bank or card numbers, or your Social Security number. Please don't send them. Anyone who asks you for these is not us.
- We don't log into job websites or accounts for you.
- We don't give legal, medical, or financial advice, and we don't make those decisions for you.
- We can't promise you'll get a job or an interview. Nobody honestly can.
Related guides: From retail to an office job · Returning to work after caring for family · Veteran to civilian resume
Want us to do it for you?
Email orders@scantoolmatch.com with your old resume (or a phone photo of it) and the kind of job you want. Rough notes are fine. We'll email you a draft within 2 business days; pay only after you approve it.