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USAJOBS Resume Best Practices (October 2025)


Per the new Federal Merit Hiring Plan, all federal resumes are not to exceed two pages as of October 2025. USAJOBS has created a technical solution that will limit resumes to two pages when submitting applications or using the USAJOBS resume builder. Below are some best practices when navigating these changes and rewriting the federal resume.

Content:
• Prioritize recent work experience that is most relevant to the duties and qualifications listed on the job announcement. “Recent experience” and “relevant experience” are not the same thing. De-prioritize or remove non-relevant and outdated work experience.
• Align any work experience on the resume to qualifications listed on the job announcement.
• Use plain language that is understood by HR specialists and hiring managers. When you apply for a job, an HR Specialist will most likely review your resume first to determine whether you are qualified for the job.
• Use language that is results focused and includes numbers and metrics to quantify your work.
• You can include volunteer work, internships, and other non-paid work; these will still count towards your total years of experience.
• Ask yourself: Can the HR professional reading this, who may not have direct experience in my field, understand my experience in 10-15 seconds?

Formatting:
• USAJOBS recommends using at a minimum of .5 margins, 10-pt size font for main content and 14-pt size for headings.
• Use a font that is easy to read, such as Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans.
• Uploading a PDF resume is the best practice to maintain formatting and the number of pages, but many file types are accepted.

Make your resume searchable:
• Recruiters may contact people in their database to apply for jobs not posted on USAJOBS or only available at career fairs.
• Resumes can only be searchable for 18 months, and only 1 resume at a time can be searchable.
• Only 1–2-page resumes will be searchable; all resumes that were previously searchable expired in September 2025, so USAJOBS users will need to go back and update the searchable resume.

To learn more about the changes to federal resumes and other hiring considerations in the federal government, USAJOBS and OPM on LinkedIn.

Key Differences Between a CV & a Resume

Understanding the Differences Between a CV and a Resume

When it comes to job applications, you might have heard of both a CV and a resume. While they might seem similar, they serve different purposes and are used in different contexts. Let’s break down the main differences between these two important documents.

What is a CV?

A CV, or Curriculum Vitae, is a detailed document that outlines your entire academic and professional history. It includes:

  • Personal Information: Your name, contact details, and sometimes a photo.
  • Education: Detailed information about your educational background, including schools attended, degrees earned, and any honors or awards.
  • Work Experience: A comprehensive list of all your jobs, including job titles, responsibilities, and achievements.
  • Skills: A list of your skills, both technical and soft skills.
  • Publications and Research: If applicable, a list of any research papers, articles, or books you have published.
  • Professional Memberships: Any professional organizations you belong to.
  • References: Contact information for people who can vouch for your qualifications and character.

A CV is typically used for academic, research, and scientific positions. It can be several pages long because it includes a lot of detail.

What is a Resume?

A resume is a shorter document that highlights your most relevant skills and experiences for a specific job. It includes:

  • Contact Information: Your name, phone number, email address, and sometimes your LinkedIn profile.
  • Summary or Objective: A brief statement about your career goals and what you bring to the job.
  • Work Experience: A concise list of your most recent and relevant jobs, focusing on your achievements and responsibilities.
  • Education: A brief overview of your educational background.
  • Skills: A list of key skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

Resumes are typically one to two pages long and are used for most job applications in the business, industry, and non-profit sectors.

Key Differences

  1. Length: CVs are longer and more detailed, while resumes are shorter and more concise.
  2. Purpose: CVs are used for academic and research positions, while resumes are used for most other job applications.
  3. Content: CVs include a comprehensive history of your academic and professional life, while resumes focus on the most relevant experiences and skills for a specific job.

Understanding these differences can help you choose the right document for your job application and increase your chances of success. Whether you need a detailed CV or a concise resume, make sure to tailor it to the job you are applying for and highlight your most relevant qualifications.

Generated with the help of Copilot.