As with most jobs, the federal government requires a resume. However, it is much different from what’s expected in the private sector. First, it can be anywhere from three to five pages in length. A federal resume must include special keywords and phrases found throughout the vacancy announcement to pass the initial screening process. Although there are similarities, each agency (and often each job announcement) will have specific information required in its own format, as specified in the vacancy announcement. The information below will describe each category on a federal vacancy announcement. You’ll need to understand what each category means to be successful in your search.
