How to write a federal resume for USAJOBS (two-page limit)

The two-page limit

OPM’s guidance is plain: resumes must be no longer than two pages and must address the minimum qualifications and other requirements in the job announcement. This applies to resumes you upload, build in USAJOBS or store in your profile. If the only resume an agency receives is over two pages, the applicant isn’t considered further. The main exception is positions that ask for a curriculum vitae (CV), typically medical and research roles, where the announcement says what to send.

What each job must show

• Job title and employer (with series and grade for federal positions)
• Start and end dates as month and year, e.g. 05/2019 – 08/2022
• The hours you worked per week
• A short description that shows you can do the tasks at the level the announcement asks for

Education and optional details

When relevant or required, include your education (school, completion date, degree type, GPA) and certifications or licences with their type and date. Add, when relevant: a current security clearance, job-related training, languages, professional organizations and publications, and eligibility for special hiring programs.

Making it fit

• Only relevant experience: cut or shorten older and unrelated jobs
• Results in short lines, not paragraphs of duties
• Use the announcement’s own words for the qualifications you meet
• A compact single-column layout; don’t shrink the text to squeeze more in