The Federal Resume: The Accepted Resume for Federal Job Applications

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established specific procedures for applying for jobs with the Federal Government. For most postings, the written examination requirement has been eliminated. Postings for which a written exam is not conducted are filled according to applicants' background, education, and experience - as is done in most private industries. The elimination of the exam has given the applicant's resume far greater weight in hiring decisions.

Your Federal Resume should specify the Vacancy Identification Number of the posting you are applying for as well as the Job Title and Grade. Your contact information should specify whether you are a U.S. Citizen and provide your Social Security Number. You should also provide your Veteran's Preference Points, if any. Most Federal Resumes are more than one page in length, and this information should be provided at the top of each page.

For each job listed in your employment history, you should provide the hours worked per week, salary, and supervisor's name and telephone number. You should also indicate whether it is "OK to contact" the supervisor.

Keep in mind that your Federal Resume will be assigned a score based on how closely it matches the specific requirements of the posting. As much as possible, you should match your qualifications and experience to the job requirements as they are specifically worded.

New graduates should also specify their Grade Point Average (GPA). Those with a GPA of 3.45 or greater, or who graduated in the upper 10% of their class, are eligible for immediate hire by agencies under the OPM's Outstanding Scholar Program.

For many postings, your Federal Resume must be accompanied by a written Knowledge, Skills, and Ability (KSA) statement.

Click here for more information on the KSA statement.