Difference Between Government and Federal Resumes

The following post explores the Difference Between Government and Federal Resumes.

Have you ever wondered if a Government Resume and a Federal Resume are the same thing? At first glance, they sound interchangeable – but they’re actually very different documents.

Read: How to Make a Federal Resume

Read: Tips for Applying to Federal Jobs

While a Government Resume might get you in the door for a city, county, or state position, it won’t meet the strict standards required for a Federal role through USAJOBS. Understanding the difference is key.

Here’s what you need to know.

Overview

When people hear “government job,” they often lump everything from local city roles to federal agency positions into one category. But when it comes to the application process, especially the Resume, the differences are significant. Below is a screenshot from a Reddit forum about Government Resumes.

What is a Government Resume?

A Government Resume generally refers to a document used for applying to jobs in state, county, city, or municipal government.

At the Federal level, there is one uniform set of requirements for building your Resume. However, when applying to government jobs at the city and state level, there isn’t a single standardized format.

For instance, if you’re applying for a position with the City of Chicago or the State of Illinois, you won’t need to follow the same standards you would when applying to a job with a Federal agency.

You’ll still want to tailor it to the job posting and highlight your accomplishments – but you’re not expected to follow the same rigid guidelines or include the exhaustive detail required for Federal roles.

What is a Federal Resume?

A Federal Resume is used exclusively for jobs within the U.S. Federal Government and is governed by guidelines set forth by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Federal Resumes are submitted through USAJOBS, the federal government’s centralized job portal.

For decades, Federal Resumes were known for being lengthy and highly detailed – often five or more pages – requiring exhaustive documentation of your work history, duties, and accomplishments. But that’s over.

In 2025, OPM introduced the ‘Merit Hiring Plan’, which marks a major shift in how candidates are evaluated for most competitive service positions. Under this new plan, applicants are now required to submit a streamlined 2-page Federal Resume along with responses to four standardized merit-based questions. This replaces the traditional long-form Federal Resume and narrative statements for most roles.

For a closer look at this topic, check out my post Navigating Major Changes to the Federal Resume.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, I hope this article clarifies that a Government Resume is not the same as a Federal Resume. Government Resumes apply to a broad range of roles at the city, state, or municipal level – and unlike Federal Resumes, they don’t follow one universal set of rules.