How To Write a Federal Resume
Federal resumes follow a unique structure that differs significantly from resumes in the private sector. To create an impactful federal resume, you need to create an accomplishment-driven document that highlights your career achievements while maintaining compliance with government requirements. Understanding these requirements is essential for obtaining a federal job. Throughout this guide, we’ll walk you through the unique aspects of federal resumes and provide expert tips to help you land your next big opportunity.
1. Create an eligibility section
Unlike a typical resume, your federal resume must include an eligibility section that provides key information for government agencies. When applying for a federal job, provide important details such as veterans’ benefits, eligibility under the VEOA, preferred location, citizenship status, desired job type, work schedule, and availability. Failing to include this information in your federal resume could result in your job application being rejected without further consideration of your qualifications.
Eligibility Section Example
Eligibility
Country of Citizenship: United States of America
Veterans’ Preference: 5-point Preference
VEOA Eligibility: Yes
Availability: December 1st, 2022
Job Type: Permanent
Work Schedule: Full Time
Target Location: Philadelphia, PA
2. Include a complete timeline of your professional history
When applying for jobs in the private sector, you may opt to leave off older jobs and experiences that aren’t aligned with your current career goals. On a federal resume, you need to provide a comprehensive timeline of your professional experience. Government agencies typically run very thorough background checks on candidates, and it’s important to understand that all of this information will likely be verified. You also aren’t subject to length constraints on a federal resume, so including older positions won’t impact your ability to highlight your most recent experience and achievements.
Federal Resume Professional Experience Example
Professional Experience
General Manager, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA
July 2017 – Present
- Oversee daily operations for a high-traffic airport with over 5K passengers, manage over $150M in annual P&L, and ensure the safety of passengers, flight crews, and personnel
- Manage over 200+ personnel across 15 departments, oversee $5M in monthly payroll, and identify opportunities to streamline operations and reduce labor costs by 10%
- Coordinate the delivery of cultural awareness and racial sensitivity to all personnel to promote diversity and prevent discrimination
Operations Manager, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA
June 2014 – July 2017
- Coordinated with the general manager and operations team to ensure compliance with safety regulations, import regulations, and export regulations across the airport
- Managed inventory valued at $1.5M, scheduled maintenance for aircraft, and ensured optimal staffing levels based on flight forecasts and foot traffic
Warehouse Manager, Comcast, Philadelphia, PA
May 2012 – July 2014
- Managed operations for seven warehouses across the Greater Philadelphia area and identified opportunities to enhance driver utilization, optimize route planning, and reduce outbound freight costs by 25% over two years
3. Include relevant education and certifications
You’ll want to include all of your education on a federal resume, including your high school diploma. You should also include your GPA, even if it’s below 3.0. Certifications and credentials should be featured prominently, as these may be requirements for certain types of positions. Showcasing certifications is also a good strategy for highlighting your industry expertise and qualifications for government agencies.
Certifications
Template: [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Examples:
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), 2017
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), 2015
Education
Template:
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
Example:
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Supply Chain Management
- UNIVERSITY OF SYRACUSE, Syracuse, NY September 2010 – June 2014
- High School Diploma
- BROOKLYN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, New York, NY September 2006 – June 2010
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
Government agencies utilize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) just as much as companies in the private sector. You’ll want to incorporate keywords from the job announcement into your federal resume to achieve ATS compliance. It’s also important to provide specific examples of you using these skill sets and industry knowledge rather than only listing them in your skills section. Below, you’ll find a list of potential keywords across a broad range of industries:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Accounting | Business Intelligence |
| Corporate Intelligence | Continuous Improvement |
| Cross-Functional Collaboration | Data Analytics |
| Engineering | Financial Analysis |
| Financial Reporting | Healthcare Management |
| Information Technology | Operations Management |
| Political Risk Analysis | Process Improvement |
| Project Management | Quality Assurance |
| Risk Management | Security |
| Supply Chain Management | Team Management |
5. Feature volunteerism and community service
On a standard resume for the private sector, you would typically prioritize your industry experience over volunteerism in most instances. Federal resumes are different, however, as community service is important to highlight while applying for government jobs.
Hiring agencies are drawn to candidates with a strong background in public service, so you’ll want to feature relevant volunteer experience on your resume.
How to Pick the Best Federal Resume Template
For federal resumes, you should select a well-organized, straightforward template that uses minimal color. Although modern templates may seem visually appealing, flashy colors and bulky graphics are often distracting for hiring agencies. This is especially true for federal resumes, as the hiring manager will be reviewing a larger amount of information in comparison to typical resumes.
Federal Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- #1
- #2
- #3
Raheem Richardson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY, 12345
Profile
A Supply Chain Manager with seven years of experience specializing in supply chain management, logistics, vendor management, and fleet management. A proven track record of identifying cost reductions for multimillion-dollar supply chains both domestically and globally.
Eligibility
Country of Citizenship: United States of America
Veterans’ Preference: No
VEOA Eligibility: No
Availability: December 1st, 2022
Job Type: Permanent
Work Schedule: Full Time
Target Location: New York, NY
Professional Experience
Supply Chain Manager, Boeing, New York, NY
July 2017 – Present
- Manage and prepare 10-15 RFPs and RFQs daily and coordinate all aspects of the procurement process for $15M contracts related to military equipment and aircraft
- Identify opportunities to reduce procurement and delivery costs for contracts by $1.5M-$3M by consolidating customer demand and supply
- Lead a team of 15+ supply chain coordinators, analysts, and procurement specialists to evaluate technical requirements and create scope of work for client RFPs
Supply Chain Manager, NorthEast Logistics Co., New York, NY
June 2015 – July 2017
- Managed a fleet of 25+ vehicles valued at $300K, oversaw procurement and fulfillment activities, and ensured a 92% on-time delivery rate for construction materials
- Drove initiatives to enhance fleet management operations, reduce delivery delays, and enhance route planning to reduce fuel and labor costs by $150K per year
Supply Chain Coordinator, Arthur Transportation Inc., New York, NY
June 2014 – July 2015
- Provided support to the supply chain manager to identify process gaps, evaluate transportation costs, and evaluate vendor proposals to reduce procurement costs
- Gathered, analyzed, and delivered data to the supply chain team on supplier performance to ensure adherence with contractual agreements and quality standards
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Supply Chain Management
University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY September 2010 – June 2014
High School Diploma
Brooklyn Central High School, New York, NY September 2006 – June 2010
Key Skills
- Supply Chain Management
- Logistics
- Fleet Management
- Procurement
- RFPs & RFQs
Certifications
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), 2017
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), 2015
Kevin Morrison
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
123 Carpenter Street, Philadelphia PA, 12345
Profile
An Operations Manager with nine years of experience specializing in cross-functional leadership, human resources, team management, and process improvement. A strong history of leading diverse teams to ensure operational excellence across high traffic airports.
Eligibility
Country of Citizenship: United States of America
Veterans’ Preference: 5-point Preference
VEOA Eligibility: Yes
Availability: December 1st, 2022
Job Type: Permanent
Work Schedule: Full Time
Target Location: Philadelphia, PA
Professional Experience
General Manager, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA
July 2017 – Present
- Oversee daily operations for a high-traffic airport with over 5K passengers, manage over $150M in annual P&L, and ensure the safety of passengers, flight crews, and personnel
- Manage over 200+ personnel across 15 departments, oversee $5M in monthly payroll, and identify opportunities to streamline operations and reduce labor costs by 10%
- Coordinate the delivery of cultural awareness and racial sensitivity to all personnel to promote diversity and prevent discrimination
Operations Manager, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA
June 2014 – July 2017
- Coordinated with the general manager and operations team to ensure compliance with safety regulations, import regulations, and export regulations across the airport
- Managed inventory valued at $1.5M, scheduled maintenance for aircrafts, and ensured optimal staffing levels based on flight forecasts and foot traffic
Warehouse Manager, Comcast, Philadelphia, PA
May 2012 – July 2014
- Managed operations for seven warehouses across the Greater Philadelphia area and identified opportunities to enhance driver utilization, optimize route planning, and reduce outbound freight costs by 25% over two years
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Operations Management
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA September 2008 – May 2012
High School Diploma
North Philadelphia High School, Philadelphia, PA September 2003 – June 2008
Key Skills
- Operations Management
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- P&L Management
- Process Improvement
- Organizational Development
Yaling Zhang
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
123 Congressional Drive, Washington, DC, 12345
Profile
A Security Intelligence Analyst with 10+ years of experience analyzing high-level security threats, evaluating political risks, and providing corporate intelligence. A strong history of performing research to gather corporate intelligence across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Security Clearance
Top Secret Level Clearance, Active
Eligibility
Country of Citizenship: United States of America
Veterans’ Preference: 5-point Preference
VEOA Eligibility: Yes
Availability: December 1st, 2022
Job Type: Permanent
Work Schedule: Full Time
Target Location: Washington, DC
Professional Experience
Senior Security Analyst, Cadence Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC
July 2016 – Present
- Define global research for a global business intelligence firm delivering high-level insights on political risks and corporate intelligence for government security agencies
- Manage, build, and develop a 20-person intelligence research department conducting due diligence and risk analysis on international markets and sensitive political issues
- Perform analysis on confidential financial data and coordinate with the corporate intelligence team to identify trends and uncover fraudulent activity
Business Intelligence Analyst, Centerline Technologies, Washington, DC
October 2013 – July 2016
- Managed business intelligence operations for a premiere technology company, translated complex data sets into business reports, and conducted analysis on long-term market and financial trends to support data-driven decision-making
- Identified opportunities to enhance data visualization for corporate leadership by implementing a new dashboard to consolidate business intelligence insights
Business Intelligence Analyst, Desmond Pharmaceuticals, Washington, DC
May 2011 – October 2013
- Coordinated with the business intelligence team to perform data analysis on research findings, financial indicators, and forecasting to identify business trends and risks for five pharmaceutical product lines
- Created business intelligence reports for senior management and business leaders
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Business Intelligence
George Washington University, Washington, DC, September 2007 – May 2011
High School Diploma
Benjamin Banneker High School, Washington, DC, September 2003 – June 2007
Key Skills
- Corporate Intelligence
- Business Intelligence
- Due Diligence
- Political Risk Analysis
- Security Intelligence
Frequently Asked Questions: Federal Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for federal resumes?+
It’s easy to find yourself running short on action verbs as you build your resume. Often there’s only a limited number of verbs you can use to describe your professional experience and accomplishments accurately. Using the same verbs repeatedly may cause your bullet points to appear redundant. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of action verbs you can use to build your resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Built |
| Collaborated | Conducted |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Delivered | Developed |
| Enhanced | Evaluated |
| Executed | Identified |
| Implemented | Led |
| Managed | Oversaw |
| Performed | Planned |
| Supervised | Supported |
How do you align your resume with a job announcement?+
Federal jobs offer lucrative salaries and benefits, so you’ll need to carefully align your resume with the job announcement to differentiate yourself from the competition. Each announcement will have a detailed description on usajobs.gov, and you’ll want to include specific keywords and qualifications that match the posting.
It’s also important to remember that each job announcement will have a specific grade that varies depending on the level of experience required for the role. You’ll want to apply for an opportunity that matches your current grade. A higher-level position may require you to take additional measures to ensure that your resume is perfectly tailored to that particular job announcement.
What is the best federal resume format?+
Although federal resumes are unique in many aspects, you should still employ a reverse chronological approach as you build your document. This ensures that your most recent experience is featured toward the top of the resume. A functional resume format needs to be avoided in this instance, as a federal job application is expected to have much more detail than a standard resume.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
Cover letters can be beneficial for federal job applications. It allows you to showcase other aspects of yourself as a professional that wouldn’t fit in your resume. In the middle paragraphs, you should mention the government agency and why you’re drawn to apply for the position. This will show hiring managers that you have a vested interest in government programs and initiatives, which may give you an edge over the competition during your job search. For more information, view our cover letter examples.
