How to Write a Federal Resume: The Two-Page Rules

A federal resume is now a two-page document: since September 27, 2025, USAJOBS restricts resumes to two pages, and for Title 5 jobs an applicant whose only resume is longer is not considered further. Each relevant job must show your title and employer (with series and grade for federal roles), start and end dates in month and year, and hours worked per week, with brief descriptions aligned to the job announcement.

What changed: the two-page limit

Under OPM's Merit Hiring Plan, the old long-form federal resume is out. The two-page limit applies to competitive and excepted service announcements under Title 5, covers resumes stored in USAJOBS profiles, uploads and the USAJOBS resume builder, and agencies should review only resumes of two pages or less. Some non-Title 5 agencies and the judicial and legislative branches may accept longer resumes if the announcement explains how (OPM agency guidance on the two-page limit, checked October 2026). Always follow the "How to Apply" section of the specific announcement.

What each work entry must include

OPM's guidance lists what applicants should include for each relevant job:

• Job title and employer, including series and grade for any federal positions (for example, "Program Analyst, GS-0343-11").
• Start and end dates with month and year (for example, 05/2019 - 08/2022).
• The number of hours you worked per week.
• Brief descriptions aligned with the job announcement that address all required qualifications.

Education should include the school, completion date, degree type and cumulative GPA; certifications and licenses should be listed when relevant or required. Optional details include a current security clearance, job-related training, language skills, publications and eligibility for special hiring programs.

Recommended formatting

• A sans-serif font such as Lato, Calibri, Arial or Helvetica; about 10-point body text and 14-point titles.
• Margins of 0.5 inch.
• PDF recommended to keep formatting and page count; 5 MB or less.
• Legible, plain layout so reviewers can check eligibility and qualifications.

These recommendations come from the same OPM guidance. A general version of these numbers is in resume margins and spacing.

How to fit a federal career into two pages

1. Start from the announcement. List the required qualifications and specialized experience it describes; every bullet you keep should support one of them.
2. Prioritize recent and relevant roles. Condense or remove older or unrelated jobs.
3. Write short, results-focused bullets using the announcement's language where it is true for you.
4. Cut descriptions of duties that do not prove a qualification.
5. Keep required details (dates, hours, series and grade) even when space is tight; they are needed to judge eligibility.

The job link optimizer can compare a pasted announcement with your resume to show which requirements you have not yet covered. Then check spelling and dates carefully: federal reviewers verify eligibility from what you write.

Federal vs private-sector resumes now

The gap has narrowed. Both are now short, results-focused documents. Federal resumes still need details private employers rarely ask for (hours per week, series and grade, month-and-year dates) and stricter alignment with the announcement's qualifications. For general structure, see how to write a resume; for moving from military service, see military to civilian resume.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if my federal resume is longer than two pages?

USAJOBS restricts resumes to two pages, and for Title 5 jobs an applicant whose only resume is longer is ineligible for further consideration. Check the announcement for any agency-specific instructions.

Do I still need to list hours per week?

Yes. OPM's guidance lists the number of hours worked per week among the details to include for each relevant job.

Can I use the USAJOBS resume builder?

Yes. It follows the same two-page restriction and can pre-fill information from your USAJOBS profile. Uploading your own PDF is also accepted.