Federal Resume Key Requirements & Changes for 2025

Page Limit: As of September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes that are two pages or less. USAJOBS will block uploads or resumes longer than two pages.

File Size/Format: Resume files must be 5 MB or less. Acceptable file types include PDF,

DOC/DOCX, RTF, TXT, ODT, JPG, PNG, GIF. PDF is recommended to preserve formatting.

Margins & Fonts: Use standard 8.5 × 11 inch paper. Use a clean, readable sans-serif font (e.g. Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Verdana, Open Sans). Suggested margins are ~0.5 inches. For hierarchy, use a larger font (e.g. 14 pts) for section headings, and ~10 pts for body text.

What to Include in a Federal Resume

Your resume must provide explicit evidence that you meet the qualifications and specialized experience for the job you’re applying to. It should include the following sections and data:

Section	Required/Highly Recommended Details
Job /Application Information	Job announcement number, job title, series & grade (if applicable)
Personal/Contact Information	Full name, mailing address (city, state, ZIP), day/evening phone numbers, email address Citizenship status (U.S. is typical) Veterans’ preference, if applicable Federal status (if you're a current/former federal employee, reinstatement eligibility) Security clearance, if applicable Selective Service registration status (for males)
Work/Professional Experience	For every relevant job (paid or volunteer, internships, etc.): Job title Employer name & address (or at least city/state) Start and end dates (month/year) Average hours worked per week Salary (or wage) Name/phone of supervisor (and indicate whether they may be contacted) Duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments — using quantifiable metrics where possible (e.g. “reduced costs by 15 %,” “managed a budget of $500,000,” etc.) If this was a federal job, include series and grade (or equivalent) information
Education	Institution name, city & state Degree type / major Date of graduation (or expected) Relevant coursework, if required by the announcement GPA (if requested) Honors, awards, relevant academic projects, etc.
Additional/Other Qualifications	Job-related training, certifications, licenses Technical skills (software, tools, etc.) Languages + proficiency levels Professional affiliations, awards, publications, leadership roles, volunteer work Availability, desired location (if requested)
References	You may list references (names, titles, contact info), though some job announcements let you supply references separately. (Check announcement instructions.)

 Best Practices & Tips

• Tailor to the job announcement. Carefully review the job announcement. Use the same keywords (knowledge, skills, abilities, tasks) in your resume and explicitly demonstrate how your experience meets those requirements.

• Be explicit and detailed. Do not assume the reviewer will “fill in the gaps.” If you did something, describe it clearly. Use numbers, metrics, outcomes to strengthen descriptions.

• Organize logically and clearly. Use reverse chronological order (most recent first). Use bullet points, consistent formatting, consistent date formats. Use section headings.

• Use plain, readable language. Avoid unexplained acronyms, jargon, or overly technical language (unless required and clearly explained). Assume the HR reviewer is not a subject matter expert in your field.

• Proofread carefully. Check for typos, grammar errors, consistency, formatting. A polished resume reflects attention to detail.

Do Not Include

• Your Social Security number (SSN)

• Photographs of yourself

• Personal identifying info like age, marital status, religious affiliation, etc.

• Classified or sensitive government information

• Include page numbers. Even on multi-page resumes, number your pages so the reader doesn’t lose track.