Navigating Major Changes to the Federal Resume

The following post offers guidance on Navigating Major Changes to the Federal Resume.

Did you hear the Federal Resume is changing? It’s true! So, what does this mean for job seekers attempting to navigate the federal hiring process in 2025 and beyond?

Read: How the Merit Hiring Plan Affects Federal Job Seekers

Related: Navigating Major SES Changes

It means shorter applications, tighter requirements, and a new emphasis on quality over quantity. Instead of listing every duty you’ve ever performed, you’ll need to focus on what matters most.

Here’s what you need to know.

Two-Page Federal Resume

With OPM’s ‘Merit Hiring Plan’ (view in PDF) announcement the Federal Resume is capped at two pages.

Gone are the days of 5-page, 10-page, and 50-page Federal Resumes. Applicants are no longer expected to list every single duty, date, supervisor, and accomplishment possible.

Now, the challenge is…how do you condense a complex, decades-long career into just two pages (without losing the substance)? It requires strategic thinking and formatting.

Instead of trying to include everything, you need to focus on what’s most relevant to the role, articulate your impact succinctly, and structure your Federal Resume in a space-efficient manner.

For more about this topic, check out: Building Your Two-Page Federal Resume

Four New Essay-Based Questions

In addition to a two-page Federal Resume, all applicants for (GS-5 roles and above) must complete four short essay questions in written form (200 words max).

The essay-based questions are a brand new element in the federal job application process.

Federal agencies are seeking leaders who uphold democratic values and serve with integrity. The four new short-answer questions are designed to gauge your understanding of these principles and how you’ve demonstrated them in your career.

Here are the four essay-based questions:

• How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
• In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
• How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
• How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Please provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

It’s worth noting that OPM rules prohibit using AI tools (ChatGPT, etc) or an outside consultant. You are expected to craft your own responses.

Also, each essay answer is capped at 200 words maximum (to lessen the burden on candidates). They’re not evaluating your ability to write thousands of words. It’s quality over quantity.

For a closer look at this topic, check out: Explaining the Four Essay Questions for Federal Jobs.

Leveraging Your LinkedIn Profile

This is merely speculation, but I believe LinkedIn is about to play a much bigger role.

Historically, LinkedIn has been an afterthought in federal hiring. But, with the new two-page Federal Resume limit, candidates will need a new place to go with their information.

As the traditional 5- to 10-page Federal Resume fades out, your LinkedIn profile becomes a natural outlet for showcasing additional accomplishments, context, and career history.

Speaking personally, I plan on advising all my clients to include their LinkedIn profile URL on their new two-page Federal Resume and place greater emphasis on it than they used to.

Lots of Open Questions

OPM’s May 29, 2025 announcement was just the beginning. Federal job seekers should stay tuned for future updates as the Merit Hiring Plan’s new standards become clearer.

OPM hasn’t explained exactly how Federal Resumes will be evaluated. So far, it appears that each announcement will have its own specifications for details like font, style, and margins.

It’s also worth noting that President Trump extended the federal hiring freeze (beginning on January 20, 2025) through October 15, 2025, meaning even as these changes are announced, the application pipeline remains paused. There’s also no guarantee the freeze won’t be extended again (adding more uncertainty).

In Conclusion

In conclusion, I hope this article sheds light on the changing landscape of the Federal Resume. With more details still to come, staying proactive and flexible will be essential in navigating what’s next.

If you need help navigating these changes or building your new two-page Federal Resume, my team and I are here to support you.