The long federal resume is officially out. Beginning Monday, September 29, USAJOBS will accept only two-page resumes, whether you upload a file or use Resume Builder. To make the switch, agencies will close all Job Opportunity Announcements (JOAs) by Friday, September 26. Over the weekend (Sept 27–28), USAJOBS will enforce the new limit and clear searchable resumes from the Agency Talent Portal (ATP) so everyone plays by the same rules.
Right now, you should go sign in to USAJOBS, download any resumes or documents you want to keep, and plan to upload a compliant two-pager when JOAs reopen on September 29.
What’s changing—and why it matters
- Two pages, no exceptions. Starting September 29, anything longer won’t upload or build in USAJOBS.
- A clean slate in ATP. Searchable resumes are removed September 27 and will repopulate as applicants add new two-page versions.
- A brief posting pause. Agencies close JOAs by September 26 and may open new ones on September 29.
This reset is meant to standardize how qualifications are presented and make it easier for HR to compare applicants quickly.
How to rebuild your federal resume in two pages
Aim for tight, targeted, and scannable. You still need to prove you meet the announcement’s Qualifications and Specialized Experience, just with less space.
Include the federal essentials
- Contact info at the top: name, email, phone.
- For each role: employer, title, month/year dates, hours per week, and (if federal) series/grade.
- Education and required licenses/certs with school, degree, and completion date.
- Relevant volunteer work that demonstrates the same competencies.
- Never include classified/sensitive info, SSN, photos, or personal demographics.
Write results, not duties
Use a clear formula that ties to the announcement: Accomplished [X], measured by [Y], by doing [Z].
Reduced ATO cycle time 22% by building a control-evidence tracker in MS Project and training eight system owners.
Tailor the language
Mirror the terms in the posting. If it lists MS Project or RMF, use those exact words in your bullets.
Format for speed
- Clean sans-serif font; 10-pt body, ~14-pt headings; 0.5″ margins.
- Save as PDF, ≤ 5 MB (USAJOBS also accepts DOC/DOCX, RTF, TXT, ODT, GIF/JPG/PNG; no PDF portfolios).
Quick quality check before you apply
- Can a reviewer see your core credentials in 10–15 seconds?
- Do the first few bullets clearly prove you meet Specialized Experience?
- Are there numbers (%, $, counts, timelines) to show impact?
- Any typos or unexplained acronyms? Get one careful proofreader.
Time to Tighten up your resume
The era of the marathon federal resume is over. Download your existing files now, tighten your story to two pages, and align every line to the job announcement. When JOAs reopen on September 29, a focused, quantified resume will put you at the front of the line.
