how to make a resume for a government job

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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

Writing a Federal Resume

Is your resume one page? That’s fine for a private sector job. Your government resume, however, will need to have more detail, and it’s likely to grow to about two to five pages.

Key Components of a Federal Resume

The best way to create a federal resume is to use the resume builder on the federal government’s jobs website, USAJOBS. The resume builder will guide you through the whole process. And you don’t have to stick with one. You can create a resume tailored to fit different positions you apply for. You can also create a searchable, master resume, so HR specialists can contact you if there’s an opportunity that fits your skills and experience.

Building a Federal Resume

Candidate Information A federal resume will ask your citizenship status and most, but not all, positions require you to be a U.S. citizen. You’re also asked if you’ve worked for the federal government before and if you qualify for veterans preference —that is, you’ve served on active duty in the Armed Forces.

Work experience Your resume should list all the relevant jobs you’ve held.

Required : Employer, location, title, start and end date, average hours worked per week, responsibilities and accomplishments for each job you list.

Optional : A supervisor(s) as a reference and salary, although not listing salary doesn’t exclude resumes from consideration.

Education Include information on the schools you attended and the relevant coursework you completed. Only list degrees from accredited schools, or programs that meet the Office of Personnel Management’s standards . Provide as much information as possible to support your case that you’re the best person for the job.

Required : Schools attended and degrees obtained.

Optional : Grade-point averages, relevant coursework, academic papers or projects, key presentations, honors received, other important accomplishments.

Optional Information

For the best shot at a position, provide as much pertinent information as possible in optional sections, including:

Job–related training 

This could include classes, seminars, coursework, certifications or training that relates to the skills and experience the position requires.

References 

Consider listing professional or personal references who can vouch for your character, work ethic and dependability—such as colleagues, classmates and mentors.

Language skills 

Include the languages you have experience in, and your level of proficiency.

Affiliations 

Use this to list professional associations, societies, clubs or other organizations you belong to and to highlight leadership roles and volunteer experiences you’ve had that relate to the position description.

Professional publications

If you’ve been published, include the outlets you’ve contributed to, the publication names and the date your submissions were published.

Additional information 

You can add other relevant information, including awards, leadership activities, public speaking engagements or volunteer experience. You can also add your availability, the type of work environment you seek and your desired location. Even if your interests and desires don’t match the position’s needs, your resume will stay in the running.

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How To Write A Federal Resume (With Tips & Examples)

Find a Job You Really Want In

Usually, resume advice is pretty universal. When you’re applying for a federal job, however, your resume will often serve as your entire application, so you’ll need to make a few adjustments to it.

In this article, we’ll go over how to write a federal resume, tips on how to make it shine, and what makes it different from a regular resume. We’ll also share an example federal resume, as well as information on what kinds of federal jobs you can find and the benefits of working for the federal government.

Key Takeaways

A federal resume should include your personal information, work experience, education, and any other applicable skills, achievements, and qualifications.

Federal resumes are usually longer and more detailed than private sector resumes.

The federal government has job opportunities in almost every field.

Steps for Writing a Federal Resume

Example federal resume, tips for writing a federal resume, what makes a federal resume unique, federal job opportunities, benefits of working for the federal government, final thoughts.

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Read the entire job description carefully. Pay special attention to the “Duties Qualifications,” “How To Apply,” and “How You Will be Evaluated” sections. You need to make sure you meet every one of these requirements and then show that you do in your resume.

Add your basic personal information. This should include:

Your phone number(s)

Your personal email address

Your mailing address

Your citizenship status

Your status as a veteran

Your disability status, if applicable

Your status as a Peace Corps/ AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer , if applicable

Your highest pay level in a previous federal job (GS grade)

List your work experience . You should include details about your responsibilities and accomplishments for each of your past positions. Be specific about numbers and results whenever possible to show the impact you had there.

You’ll also need to include the start and end dates you worked in a position, how many hours you worked each week, and the location of the company you worked for, including the ZIP code.

You can also include your salary and your supervisor ’s name, contact information, and a note that it’s okay to contact them if you’d like. Try to include as much of this information as possible, as it will only help flesh you out as a candidate, and you won’t be disqualified based on this information if you include it.

Talk about your education . Some people like to put this section before their work experience, especially if they’ve recently graduated , and either way is acceptable.

If you are looking to make your educational background more prominent than your work history, make sure you provide your relevant coursework to demonstrate your skills and experience further. You don’t need to list every class you ever took, but if there are any that are especially unique or directly relate to the job, be sure to mention them.

No matter how much emphasis you’re trying to put on your educational background, you should always include the schools you attended and the degrees (including minors) you obtained there, as well as the dates you attended.

If you have a concentration or were on your way toward a minor, list what that was and how many credit hours you put toward it.

Including your GPA is optional, but it can be helpful (especially if it’s good).

Here is some additional optional information you can include if you think it’ll help increase your chances of getting the position:

Honors received

Academic papers and projects

Notable presentations

Add any additional information that will help sell you as the best candidate for the position. While you aren’t required to include any of this information, you should if it’s at all relevant to the job you’re applying for. This is true even if it simply shows your initiative and leadership skills .

Here are some of the categories you can add:

Job-related training

Language skills

Additional technical skills

Professional or academic affiliations

Professional publications

Leadership roles

Public speaking engagements

Security clearance level

Schedule availability

Preferred location

Double-check your resume. If you can, have someone else who is good at checking for grammatical, spelling, and formatting errors proofread your resume for you. Making sure that it’s error-free is vital to getting through to the next round of the application process.

You should also comb through the job posting to ensure that you’ve clearly mentioned all of your qualifications that match those listed in the job description.

32545 Mechanical Engineer — GS-07 Martina Short 2222 W Main Street Denver, CO 80001 Cell: 333-222-4444 Email: [email protected] Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Veterans’ Preference: No Highest GS Grade: 05 Security Clearance: Secret Desired Location: Buckley AFB, CO EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Mechanical Engineer 07/25/18 – Present , 40 hrs./week The Boeing Company | 3333 S Western Ave. | Denver, CO 80001 Manager: David Wallace | 333-444-5555 | May contact. Responsibilities Facilitated meetings between design engineers and inspection techs to make sure everything was operating smoothly. Checked and finalized all part inspection reports for design division. Worked with design team to troubleshoot design flaws with old and newly released parts. Edited and optimized part plans before release to machine technicians for prototype creation. Inspected prototypes for consistency with plans. Accomplishments Created and implemented code for streamlining inspection reports processes, saving 75 man hours per week and decreasing errors by 10%. Received corporate recognition award for improved processes in January 2020. Assisted with redesign of inspection process to decrease errors in prototype machining process by 15%. Engineering Intern 08/15/17 – 05/25/18 , 20 hrs./week Lockheed Martin | 8877 NW Oak St. | Wichita, KS 33001 Manager: Ashley Thorpe | 111-444-9999 | May contact. Responsibilities Assisted main design team with engine design project. Created 30 AutoCAD plans for design team’s designs. Peer-reviewed other interns’ AutoCAD designs and edited as needed. Gave four tours a week to prospective interns. Wrote biweekly reports on project statuses for design team. Accomplishments Received recognition from CEO for fast and accurate work in April 2018. Created peer-review system within intern team of six that increased intern team’s speed of plan creation by 15% and accuracy by 8%. EDUCATION Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 33001 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Aerospace Engineering Summa Cum Laude, May 2018 GPA: 4.0 Relevant Coursework: Jet Engine Design, Statics and Dynamics, Fluids and Mechanics, Heat and Thermodynamics, Airplane Structures Projects and Presentations Senior project team of four successfully built and raced turbo engine-powered model plane that won first place for speed and reliability out of 25 teams. Presented senior project at AIAA conference in January 2018. Wichita State University Tech, Wichita, KS 33002 August 2013 – May 2014 Certifications Earned: AutoCAD Certification, NIMS Machine Technician Certification, AWS Welding Certification John Brown High School, Wichita, KS 33003 High School Diploma With Honors, May 2014 GPA: 4.0 ADDITIONAL TRAINING Improving Workplace Communication, Wichita State University, 2017 Jet Engine Design: Best Practices, AIAA Conference, 2017 ADDITIONAL SKILLS JavaScript (Proficient) C++ (Proficient) Microsoft Office Suite (Intermediate) VOLUNTEER WORK Wichita Food Bank. Wichita, KS, 33295, 2014-2018 Wichita State University humanitarian project in Kenya where we serviced, installed, and improved water wells and irrigation systems for nine rural communities. Nairobi, Kenya, May-July 2017 Kumon Math and Reading Center. Wichita, KS, 33563, 2013-2016 AFFILIATIONS American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2014-present American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2016-present ADDITIONAL REFERENCES Professional References Dr. Clark Jones, Dean of the College of Engineering Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 34578 [email protected] 222-555-7890 Dr. Mary Albright, Professor of Aerospace Engineering Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 34578 [email protected] 222-789-2345 Personal References Timothy Williams, Head Engineer, Lockheed Martin, Wichita, KS 33001 [email protected] 222-567-9898 Amelia Wright, Coach, John Brown High School, Wichita, KS 33003 [email protected] 222-333-8901

Tailor your resume for different positions. This advice is applicable for any resume you write, but it’s especially important for a federal resume since you often won’t be submitting a separate application.

Be detailed, yet concise. Show that you understand the job and what the hiring managers are looking for in a candidate by including only information that speaks to why you’re the best person for the job.

Every word in your resume should serve a purpose, so avoid bogging it down with every project you’ve ever done.

Instead, go through each qualification listed on the job description and make sure you’ve demonstrated how you meet each one. Include details that will paint a clear picture of your credentials, and then delete any other fluff .

For example, saying that you have experience working with Microsoft Word is one thing, but sharing that you wrote and formatted weekly newsletters for the company on Microsoft Word gives hiring managers a much better idea of what you actually did.

Create a basic resume to work from. While you should adjust your resume to reflect the particular job you’re applying for, that doesn’t mean you have to start from scratch every time.

While federal resumes are similar to private sector resumes, there are a few key differences between the two.

Federal resumes are longer than private sector resumes. Because your resume often serves as your application for a federal job and because the federal hiring processes are generally more stringent than private sector hiring processes, a federal resume is going to contain more information than you would usually put on a resume .

As a result, most federal resumes are about two to five pages long instead of one to two. They include more detailed information about your skills and accomplishments, as well as details about your past jobs.

Often, hiring managers will look at your resume to see who your supervisor was, how many hours you worked, and even what your salary was.

Federal resumes include more information than private sector resumes. You’ll need to include more detailed information about yourself, such as the location you’d like to work and your citizenship status than you would in a resume for a private sector job.

This information is used to determine whether or not you meet all of the often rigid qualifications for the federal job.

Federal resumes often include reference sections. While it isn’t generally advised to include your references on a regular resume , it is a good thing to do on a federal resume.

When you think of jobs that may require a federal resume, you may think of positions at the Capitol or in a high-profile organization such as the FBI or CIA. While it’s true that these jobs will require a federal resume, there are many more opportunities to work for the federal government than you might think:

Mathematics. From accounting to statistics, there are plenty of jobs available for mathematicians and computer scientists in the federal government.

Engineering. The federal government needs all kinds of engineers to work on and improve processes, infrastructures, and even military ships and planes. This includes computer and electronics engineers as well.

Human Resources . Yes, even the federal government needs HR reps. You could work as a civilian for the military or for another area that may interest you, such as the Department of Agriculture.

Business. If you’re skilled in negotiating and creating contracts, there is a place for you in nearly every department of the federal government, as they make purchases with contracts all the time.

Finance. The government needs plenty of auditors to make sure each department uses its resources wisely and ethically, so there are a wide variety of positions looking for your skill set.

Economics. Another position that nearly every department of the federal government needs to fill, economists are important for tracking the economy and creating solutions to address problems caused by its fluctuations.

Medicine. The federal government hires doctors and nurses to practice at locations such as Native American and veteran health centers and educate and advise government officials and the public.

Science. There are a wide variety of roles available to scientists of all kinds in the federal government. Whether you prefer to conduct research in a lab or to find the best ways to manage and protect our natural resources, the federal government relies on scientists in many ways.

Information Technology and Cybersecurity. Whether you’re simply helping an office or department keep their network running or are actively looking for ways to keep the country’s computer systems safe, there are a plethora of opportunities to work in IT and cybersecurity in the federal government.

Law and Law Enforcement. The federal government needs plenty of judges, public attorneys, police officers, and security officials. Even though these positions often have unique application processes, you’ll still need a federal resume.

International Relations. From interpreters to diplomats, there are several federal job opportunities available in this field.

There are many reasons why people seek out federal jobs, including:

Consistency. From high job security to regular hours, many people seek out federal jobs when they’re looking for consistent, reliable employment.

Good benefits. Federal employees receive health benefits, and many receive pensions as well. These perks make federal jobs all the more appealing for many people.

Opportunities for advancement. Usually, federal jobs come with plenty of chances to advance your career by getting a promotion or moving into a different role.

The chance to help people. The work you do in a federal job often directly affects people, whether that’s by delivering their mail or creating safer infrastructure for them to use. Many people find this type of work fulfilling, attracting them to federal positions.

Most of the time, you can apply the rules of resume writing to nearly every job and every industry. You might need to tweak it a bit to best fit your work experience and the position you’re applying for. Generally, a resume is a one-to- two-page overview of your professional history and skills to go alongside an application.

This isn’t always the case when you’re writing a resume for a federal position , however. Instead of fleshing out the information on your application, your federal resume often serves as most, if not all, of your application for these types of jobs. As a result, you’ll need to go about the writing process for this document differently than you normally would.

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Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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• How To Write A Federal Resume

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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Federal Resume Tips

Federal and private sector resumes.

Federal resumes differ from resumes used in the private sector with regard to both content and purpose.

• multiple pages long
• detailed description of work experience and qualifications
• used to determine if you meet requirements/qualifications for a job announcement. Be sure to list all your experiences (including non-paid).
• generally limited to two pages 
• brief summary of work history
• used as a marketing tool to get an interview

In the Federal Government, your resume is your application. There may be an additional component called an assessment questionnaire . The assessment questionnaire asks you to rank yourself on your qualities necessary to do the job being advertised. It must support the experiences listed in your resume.

Curriculum Vitaes

An academic curriculum vitae does not provide enough information to determine if you meet eligibility requirements. If you use one, please be sure to add the information listed below.

Resume Content

Resumes must thoroughly describe how your skills and experiences align to the criteria in the job announcement. It must also support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. To do this, be sure to include detailed examples in your resume.   

Why? We operate under various federal employment laws, rules, and regulations. We are prohibited from drawing conclusions or making assumptions regarding your experience or qualifications.

Resume Checklist

We encourage you to use the  USAJobs online Resume Builder . If you use your own resume, you must include the following information:

• Contact information . This includes your name, address, day and evening telephone numbers, and email address
• Citizenship (if other than the U.S.)
• Relevant work experience . This includes paid and unpaid experiences. For instance, volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social)

For each employment listed, include the following information:

• Dates of employment . Include beginning and end dates in the following format: month/day/year
• Hours per week . We assume fulltime unless otherwise stated. Employment will be prorated in crediting experience.
• Include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable). This information helps determine if you meet minimum eligibility requirements for the position.
• Review the qualifications section in the job announcement closely and directly address the education, skills, and experience required in your resume.
• Series and grade or equivalent (if a Federal position)

Education R equirement

If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, include the following:

• Education history .  Specify the type of degree and major of study. 
• Relevant courses . This information is needed if the position requires credit hours.

Do NOT Include

On your resume and cover letter, you should not include any of the following:

• A photograph or video of yourself
• Any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.)  
• Links to web pages
• Spell out all acronyms .
• Projects worked on
• Specific duties and tasks
• Tools, software, or systems
• Results and outcomes (i.e. saved money, time, consolidated resources, etc.)
• Example: an individual in the budget field has "worked with disseminating budgets for small projects." To make the description more relevant, the applicant describes the experience with numbers, "disseminated budgets for small projects amounting to $450,000."
• Example: When a recruiter reads the keyword "analyst," he or she might assume you have experience in collecting data and evaluating effectiveness.
• If a job announcement uses a keyword such as "develops," use it in your resume. It is representative of independence in work assignments and the range of responsibility for the available position.
• Be honest . Be honest in describing your accomplishments, but not modest.
• Use reverse chronological order to list experience . Start with your most recent experience first and work your way back. An exception: when it is more appropriate to list your most relevant work experience first (e.g. if you are changing careers).
• Tailor your resume to include information relevant to the specific position you are applying to. Education and work experience that is indirectly related can be excluded if the resume begins to grow too long.
• Be concise and keep paragraphs short. To make your resume easier to read, add a brief, relevant heading to paragraphs to maximize readability.
• Use bullets to describe your experiences and accomplishments.
• Ensure correct grammar and no spelling errors . Your resume is your first impression – make it a good one!
• Resume Builder
• Resume Writing
• USAJOBS Guidance  

Contact us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.

How To Create a Resume for a State and Local Government Job

Do you want to create a convincing resume that will give you an advantage in your application for an opening at the state or local government? You are in luck! All you need to know lies in this ultimate guide. Keep reading!

If you are interested in applying for a vacant position at the state or local government and you want to get off on the right foot, you need to prepare your resume. However,  just any resume won’t cut it. You need to submit a top-notch and professional resume — one that contains the much-needed information and meets the basic requirements.

You see, this is your chance to show your unique attributes as a professional and what makes you the ideal fit for the position. So, your resume has to be top-drawer and highly persuasive.

That said, if you are probably wondering what you need for an effective resume or CV writing, don’t worry. We have got you covered.

In this article, we will show you the guidelines for writing a resume and how to go about it — even if you are just doing a resume for the first time.

Let’s get started!

Where Do You Start?

As they say, “everything that has a beginning has an ending.” You stand a good chance of having a beautiful ending if you do the right thing at the beginning. This leads to the question: “ Where Do You Start? ”

Before creating your resume, ensure you take time out to read the job description. This will help you determine how well you fit into the vacant government role. Every state or local government has specific requirements and goals they expect their potential employees to meet. Therefore, you need to know what they are looking for.

Once you confirm that you are an excellent fit, that means one thing — it is time to create your resume. Now that you already know what is required, you can tailor your resume to show how best suited you are to the available position.

But before you attempt to make your resume, you need to know that there is a specific format and style attached to this kind of resume.

Is this your first time creating a resume? Or have you previously written resumes that didn’t get you the government job you wanted? Whatever the case may be, you can rest assured that you will find a solution in this article.

We will show you all the details you need to include when putting a resume together in a bit. Read on!

What is a government resume.

Remember, we stressed earlier that government resumes require a slightly different approach. This is where we tell you why. No better way to start than explaining what a government resume is.

Let’s get right into it!

A government resume is simply one of the important documents you must submit when applying for a particular government job. Although writing a government resume is similar to the regular resume in many ways, you shouldn’t use them interchangeably. In other words, do not use a regular resume when applying for a government position.

If you have been submitting a regular resume instead of a government resume, you have missed a trick. It’s possibly the reason you have not gotten your dream government job.

So, what differentiates a government resume from a regular resume?

We have the details explained below.

Differences Between A Government and Regular Resume

• The Details
• Keywords Placement
• Resume Formatting
• Resume Length

The Details: This is one of the main reasons why using a regular resume instead of a government resume isn’t a good idea. The details required in both resumes differ in some ways. In a regular resume, you can explain your assignments in a specific position. For instance, if you are an accountant, you can emphasize the duties you carry out on a daily basis.

However, with government resumes, the tables turn differently. In this case, facts are more effective. This means that using numbers works best.

For example, if you were given a task to lead a project, mention how many people worked under you. Also, you can state the number of commendations and awards you have gotten for your performance and consistency. This is how it works with government resumes.

Keywords Placement: Your utilization of keywords when writing your resume should not be overlooked. This is because government and regular resumes require different keyword placement. If you are writing a government resume, ensure you use many keywords and place most of those keywords in your introductory paragraphs.

Conversely, when putting together your regular resume, do not spread the keywords. Instead, place them in strategic positions, such as the front of a key paragraph or section. Additionally, make sure all the keywords you use are capitalized, so that they are easy to notice.

Resume Formatting: The formatting involved in both resumes couldn’t be more different. When writing a regular resume, you need to convey your information as fast as you possibly can. This is why it is highly recommended that you use short bullet points, as they make your resume appealing and easy to read.

On the other hand, you need to provide more information when writing a government resume. In this scenario, the best approach is the utilization of paragraphs containing at least 4 sentences. Paragraphs allow you to express and show why you are the ideal fit for a position.

Resume Length: A regular resume is usually short, as it involves summarizing the attributes that make you ideal for a vacant role. Contrarily, government resumes are lengthy, time-consuming, and stressful. Nonetheless, they give you a better chance of explaining why you should be considered for the government job.

Use A Resume Builder

Are you making your first resume and don’t know how to go about it? Or are you tired of writing resumes that don’t yield the result you desire? How would you feel if we told you that you could get a high-quality resume without having to go through the stress of writing one from scratch?

Here’s the thing, if you don’t know how to write an appealing resume, you can use a resume builder.

But, what’s a Resume Builder?

A resume builder is an online tool that provides you with ready-made and easy-to-use job resumes layout and templates. One of the best online resume builders out there is Resumist , as it allows you to create professional, effective, and eye-catching resumes that will give you a better chance of getting your dream job. The best part is, it is fast and you get to access it for free.

So, if you need help with your resume, here is how Resumist works:

• Choose a simple layout that is perfect for the state or local government position you are applying for
• Fill it up with pre-written phrases tailored to your state or local government job choice
• Select a template endorsed by highly regarded recruiters

….And you are good to go.

What To Include In A Government Resume

Possessing knowledge on what should be in a government resume will help you to write your resume the right way. Without further ado, here are the tips for writing a resume when applying for a government job:

• Contact Information
• Work Experience
• Volunteer Work
• Accomplishments

Contact Information: For easy identification, you should include contact information, such as your email address, telephone number, postal address, and full name.

Education: Here, you are expected to provide information about the schools you have attended, the certifications, degrees you have earned, and other details like:

• The years you attended a particular school
• The sum of credit hours you earned
• The dates you completed your schooling
• The awards or recognition you got in different schools
• Your educational organization membership status
• Important papers, presentations, projects, and course works that you completed

Work Experience: When writing a government resume, you should give a well-detailed account of your experience working for different companies over the years. And based on experts’ comments, you should start the body of your government resume with your experience as a professional.

Here is what you need to give a well-detailed account of your work experience:

• Your job title
• The name of your present or previous employers and their location
• When you started working at a company and when you ended
• The average number of hours you worked weekly
• A comprehensive explanation of your day-to-day responsibilities
• Your supervisor’s name and contact information

Volunteer Work: If you have done any volunteer work previously that relates to the government job you are applying for, feel free to include it. It might be what tilts the odds in your favor.

Accomplishments : What did you accomplish in your previous or present job? How did you help your company achieve its set goals? These are the types of information you should include. It gives you an advantage.

For instance, you can mention how you helped the company to manage, save, or earn money. Or how you helped the company close a big deal. Remember to use numbers when inserting details about your accomplishments. Numbers work wonders when it comes to government resumes.

Here is an example of how to use numbers to show your accomplishment:

• Exceeded the company’s financial goal expectation for the month by 10%
• Helped the company acquire 20% in profits

With the aid of the resume best practices we have shared so far, you can now confidently make your first resume or correct the errors in your previous ones. So, go for gold!

Happy Government Resume Creation!

How Do You Write A State Government Resume?

All you need to write an informative and eye-catching government resume has been listed and explained in this article. Refer to it when you have to.

What Should I Put On My Resume For A Government Job?

You will do well to take a look at the sub-heading in this article tagged, “ What Should I Include In A Government Resume ” for more information.

Do State Jobs Look Good On A Resume?

Yes, they do. If you have done any previous state jobs that are relevant to the job you are applying for, do not hesitate to include them in your resume.

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How to Get a Government Job: US Federal Government Careers

Learn how to search for government jobs, the qualifications, and the application process to help you land a federal government career.

If you want to work in a career that serves the public, then a local, state, or federal government job could be an excellent fit. As of January 2024, the federal government employs nearly 3 million people [ 1 ]. Working in government gives you stability with a range of benefits, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance. Benefits depend on employment status.

On the surface, applying for a government job involves the same steps as finding a job in the private sector. However, federal government jobs have specific regulations that govern what resumes, job titles, and openings look like.

This article examines the kinds of jobs available in the federal government, salaries and compensation, and how to get a government job. 

Who works in the federal government?

The United States government is the country’s largest employer [ 2 ], with jobs in nearly every industry, from engineers and administrative workers to database administrators and public health officials. It also includes politicians, department heads, and high-level jobs like vice president and president.

Requirements to apply for a job in the federal government

To apply for a job in the federal government, you must meet a few basic requirements in addition to any job-specific requirements on the posting:

You are a US citizen or a US national

You are at least 18 years old

You meet the educational, experience, and licensure requirements of the specific job post

Finding a federal government job

One way to find a federal government job is through USAJOBS at usajobs.gov , the official job posting website of the US government. You can apply to any job that lists itself as open to the public. Current federal employees, veterans, and military spouses have different paths to a job in the federal government open to them.

Current or former federal employees have different hiring options open to them, like the ability to search for federal jobs that are only hiring internally.

Veterans have veterans’ preference over non-veteran applicants when applying for a job, with three tiers of preference for disabled veterans, non-disabled veterans, and sole survivors.

Military spouses can use the federal government’s non-competitive hiring process as long as they meet the job qualifications and specific military spouse requirements .

If you have a college degree, use usajobs.gov federal occupations by college major search to narrow down jobs that directly apply to your degree. A unique occupational code organizes all federal jobs. There, you find many majors and occupations with their four-digit occupational codes under them. You can then search for specific jobs using those codes. 

How to get a government job

If you find a federal government job that interests you, the next move is to apply for the job. This process requires a series of steps:

Register and search for jobs at USAJOBS.

Assess your skills and experience.

Create a federal resume.

Fill out and submit an application. 

Track the status of the application.

Interview for the job.

Review the job offer.

Let’s examine each step further. 

1. Register and search for jobs at USAJOBS.

Create an account using login.gov , a government website linked to the USAJOBS. This allows you to save jobs and create a profile where recruiters can reach out to you. You can also save your resumes, required documents, and job preferences. Begin your job search using their filters for things like location, agency, schedule, and salary.

2. Assess your skills and experience.

When you find a job posting that interests you, review your skills and experience to ensure you qualify for the job. The federal government allows for years of work experience in an industry to sometimes cover education requirements. Ensure your eligibility for a job is a requirement not tied to skills but rather the USAJOBS path the particular posting falls under, such as recent graduate, student, public, or veteran.

3. Create a federal resume.

Some jobs may require a federal resume, which is a more detailed version of a regular resume. Because of the specified nature of positions in the federal government, they require a more detailed resume with more specifics related to qualifications, experience, and personal details like citizenship. Here is a brief layout of what to include in a federal resume:

Your name, the job title, and the grade you are applying for 

All contact information, such as address, phone number, and email 

Your citizenship status

Veterans status, PeaceCorps description of service, or proof of disability 

Full education information such as school attended, degree received, major, high school diploma, or GED completion dates 

Include your work experience, and remember that federal resumes allow for more detailed and specific work experience to explain how your current and previous jobs give you the qualifications for this one

Contact information to your current supervisor 

Any training courses you completed with your current or previous jobs 

A list of your knowledge and skills

Any applicable certifications or licenses that are relevant to the job you are applying to 

Any honors, awards, club memberships, or activities outside of work relevant to the job 

4. Fill out and submit an application.

After finding a position that interests you and you have your resume ready, click the apply button in the job listing to begin your application. You need to complete five necessary steps to fill out the application:

Add your resume.

Upload any necessary documents, like citizenship.

Review the qualifications package.

Add your personal information.

Continue onto agency-specific application requirements.

Applications save as you make edits, so you can work on your application around other commitments if needed. After you complete your application and agency-specific questions, review that everything is correct and submit your application. 

5. Track the status of the application.

USAJOBS gives you the ability to track the status of your application after submission and provides a notification confirming its receipt. Job applications are only viewed after the job posting closes. Once reviewed, the hiring manager sorts applicants into minimally qualified and highly qualified, passing along the highest qualified applicants to the hiring official. 

6. Interview for the job.

Federal jobs include an interview process with the highest qualified applicants as determined by the hiring official. These interviews take a range of forms based on agency guidelines. Expect an interview to be a panel of interviewers, in-person, on the phone, or through video. Like many kinds of interviews, multiple rounds are typical. 

7. Review the job offer.

The agency sends a tentative job offer, typically contingent upon completing a background check. If you need security clearance, they perform those additional checks at this time as well. Once you pass all needed checks and negotiate the job offer, it becomes final, and you and the agency select a mutual start date. 

Get started with Coursera.

Are you looking to learn in-demand skills to help you get a government job? Try a Professional Certificate from a top company on Coursera to gain the skills and credentials to demonstrate your knowledge. If you need to polish your resume, cover letter writing, and interview skills, try the Interviewing and Resume Writing in English Specialization from the University of Maryland, College Park, also found on Coursera.

Article sources

FRED. “ All Employees, Federal , https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES9091000001.” Accessed February 24, 2024.

US Department of Labor. “ Federal Employees , https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/program-areas/employers/federal-employment.” Accessed February 24, 2024.

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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Tips for Applying for Federal Jobs

Follow the instructions in the “How to Apply” section of each announcement. Instructions will guide you through the application process, providing you detailed information on the questions, forms and format that must be addressed and used to capture your qualifications for the job.

The documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password-protected documents.

Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted.

Resumes are required - provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your computer and USAJOBS profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and the number of work hours worked for the experience listed on your resume.  We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.

Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - If you are using education as a basis for qualifying for this position, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, Ph.D., etc.).  If specific coursework is required to qualify, you must supply an unofficial transcript from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Learn more about Evaluation of Foreign Education .

More information regarding resumes (from Careers at DOL – Tips for Writing your Federal resume ):

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.

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 your 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.

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Questions and answers

Where can i get help with writing my resume.

The FedsHireVets.gov website has a Resume Writing guide posted at

Resume Writing Participant Handout PDF .

USAJOBS.gov Help Center: Resume Creation Guide

Politics latest: 'Significant progress' on Gibraltar deal; Keir Starmer responds to news of Angela Rayner police investigation

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has been in Brussels for talks with the EU on Gibraltar; Police confirm they have launched an investigation into whether Angela Rayner broke electoral law. Listen to the latest episode of the Electoral Dysfunction podcast as you scroll.

Friday 12 April 2024 16:47, UK

• 'Signifiant progress' towards UK-EU agreement on Gibraltar
• Rayner 'welcomes chance to set out facts' after police confirm investigation into whether she broke electoral rules
• Starmer 'fully confident' deputy has done nothing wrong
• Rob Powell: The investigation hinges on one thing
• What you need to know about Rayner
• Beth Rigby:  A dysfunctional week for the Tories and Labour
• How Sue Gray's friends and foes could shape Starmer's Downing Street
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler

Angela Rayner is set to become the UK's deputy prime minister if Labour wins the next general election.

Here's what you need to know about the party's deputy leader - from her early life and career in politics to the abuse and controversy she has faced.

Born in Stockport in 1980, Ms Rayner was brought up on a council estate. She left school at 16 with no qualifications and pregnant with her first son.

She says she was told she would "never amount to anything".

"When I was young, we didn't have books because my mother couldn't read or write," Ms Rayner said in an interview with the Financial Times.

You can read more from Sky News below:

By Faye Brown , political reporter

Police are investigating allegations that Angela Rayner may have broken electoral law over information she gave about her living situation a decade ago.

It comes after Tory MP James Daly informed  Greater Manchester  Police (GMP) of claims made by neighbours that allegedly contradicted the Labour deputy leader's statement that her property - which was separate from her then husband's - was her main residence.

GMP previously said it would  not be investigating  the allegations.

But the force has now "reassessed" information about the case and launched a probe following a complaint from Mr Daly, an MP in the region and the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.

You can read more here:

As with most political scandals, the heat in the Angela Rayner housing row is less about the (alleged) crime and more about the (alleged) cover-up.

Or, to put it another way, this is all about how honest and transparent the Labour deputy leader has been in responding to allegations about her living arrangements a decade ago.

The rebuttal from Ms Rayner right from the beginning has been (to paraphrase) "this is all a big Tory smear, the house at Vicarage Road was my main residence, nothing to see here".

Greater Manchester Police's newly-reopened investigation may hinge on whether officers believe that was indeed the case.

If they find it wasn't, it's hard to imagine a terribly harsh judicial penalty being handed down.

But there would still be a substantial political price to pay, as it would demolish the defence of the Labour deputy leader and call into question her honesty.

For a politician known for her straight-forward and unvarnished manner - who has often been on the front foot chastising Conservatives for all manner of indiscretions - a humbling like that may prove too severe to survive.

Alternatively, a clean bill of health from the police may finally bury this story for Labour by putting Ms Rayner in the clear.

But even if that later point is reached, it seems the party and its second most senior figure have - at the very least - a few more days of difficult coverage ahead.

Foreign secretary Lord Cameron has been in Brussels for talks on Gibraltar.

The terms of the territory's post-Brexit relationship with the EU remains unresolved.

A statement released by the European Commission after the discussions struck a positive note, saying "significant progress" has been made towards a UK-EU agreement.

Reported sticking points between the sides include the rules for Gibraltar's border with Spain and the EU, and Madrid seeking greater management of its airport.

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory, but this sovereignty is disputed by Spain. 

"European Commission Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, together with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo, met in Brussels on Friday 12 April," the European Commission statement said.

"This was the first meeting in this format. Discussions took place in a constructive atmosphere, with significant progress achieved. 

"General political lines have been agreed, including on airport, goods and mobility. 

"Negotiations will continue over the coming weeks to conclude the EU-UK agreement.

"The participants agreed that this was a productive day. 

"The meeting reaffirmed their shared commitment to concluding an EU-UK agreement to secure the future prosperity of the whole region. 

"This agreement will bring confidence, legal certainty and stability to the lives and livelihoods of the people of the whole region, without prejudice to the parties' legal positions."

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about the different political parties.

As the local election campaign gets under way, Labour is still sitting comfortably on a roughly 20-point lead, averaging at 43.3% in the polls, with the Tories on 23.6%.

In third is Reform UK on 12.8%, followed by the Lib Dems on 9.4%.

The Green Party stands at 6.2%, and the SNP on 3.0%.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker  here .

Over a year ago, Rishi Sunak made five pledges for voters to judge him on.

The prime minister met his promise to halve inflation by the end of 2023.

But with the general election approaching, how is Mr Sunak doing on delivering his other promises?

You can see the progress for yourself below:

By Alexandra Rogers , political reporter

Sue Gray's ascension to the Labour Party - from civil service partygate investigator to Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff - has delighted and rankled colleagues in equal measure.

Since her arrival last autumn, Ms Gray has been subject to praise from shadow cabinet members and mayors, whom she is said to have brought closer to the Labour leader.

But there have been negative briefings from Labour insiders too - including a story leaked to the press that she reduced staff to tears with a heavy-handed approach in an internal leak inquiry over the party's decision to ditch its £28bn green investment pledge.

However, one ally Ms Gray has found herself with is Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner, with whom she is said to have established a good relationship based on mutual respect.

As the fallout from the Westminster honeytrap scandal continues to unravel, Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips and Ruth Davidson explain why contacts are so valuable in Parliament and ask what William Wragg's resignation tells us about Rishi Sunak's leadership.

And, with Labour riding high after two major polls predicted landslide victories at the upcoming election, should Keir Starmer be worried about voter complacency?

Plus, Beth, Ruth and Jess talk about the impact of Dr Hilary Cass’ review into gender identity services for under-18s in England.

👉 Listen above then tap here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts 👈

Email Beth, Jess, and Ruth at [email protected] , post on X to @BethRigby, or send a WhatsApp voice note on 07934 200 444.      

Warning: some strong language. 

Tory MP James Daly informed Greater Manchester Police (GMP) of claims made by neighbours that contradicted the Labour deputy leader's statement that her property, separate from her then-husband's, was her main residence.

Asked whether she should resign if she has broken the law, Sir Keir Starmer refused to say.

He told ITV: "She's given answers on the issue many, many times over, she's clearly said she'll co-operate with the police.

"I do think now is the time to let the police get on with their investigation, get on with the work they need to do, she'll co-operate with that which is exactly what you’d expect of her."

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