Federal job postings and even most state jobs in the government, will ask for a federal resume format. This format has some similarities with the reverse chronological resume style, but also has some big differences. Here’s a quick guide for what to keep in mind:

• Federal resumes do not have page limits and should include all experience.
• Each resume should be custom made for the job announcement you are applying to and should include the announcement number
• Clarity is key. Define your experiences based on the transferable skills you gained.
• Your resume should be scannable and easy to read – it will be reviewed by the Applicant Tracking System before it is reviewed by a person.
• Job announcements refer to KSAs, or knowledge, skills, and abilities. These are used to determine if an applicant is suitable for the role. It may help to think about your job and experiences in KSAs when writing out your bullet points.
• Some jobs will allow you to upload your own document; others will want you to use the USAJobs.gov Resume Builder. The Resume Builder will walk you through step-by-step in writing your resume as well, so it can be an option when creating a format.

You can view an example federal resume here.

For more support, visit USA Jobs or the Department of the Interior’s resume handout. Princeton University also has a useful federal resume packet, from which sections of this article were revised.