Keep the resume to two pages or less
USAJOBS restricts covered resumes to two pages. OPM does not publish a universal word limit, so verify the final rendered file rather than relying on a word-count target.
Source-reviewed checklist · updated August 10, 2026
USAJOBS Resume Requirements
What the current official guidance requires, what depends on the vacancy, and what to check before submitting.
Short answer: keep the resume to two pages or less, document relevant work with month/year dates and hours per week, and show how your experience satisfies the announcement. There is no official universal word-count target.
Pre-submission checklist
Identify each relevant role
Include the job title and employer. For prior federal employment, include the series and grade when relevant.
Show dates and hours
Use start and end dates with month and year, and include hours worked per week so the reviewer can determine the duration of experience.
Prove the qualifications
Describe work that demonstrates the qualifications and specialized experience in the announcement. Use its terminology only where it truthfully matches your work.
Include education or credentials when relevant
Name the institution, completion date, and degree. Add certifications, licenses, transcripts, or other documentation when the announcement requires them.
Follow the individual announcement
The Required Documents, Qualifications, How You Will Be Evaluated, and How to Apply sections control the application. General guidance cannot override them.
Check your resume against one vacancy
Add your resume and one vacancy before entering an email. ResumeGov first verifies that both contain enough information for a useful comparison, then identifies missing evidence and two-page formatting risk.
Check My Resume FreeCommon questions
Is there an official federal resume word limit?
No universal word limit is stated in the current OPM applicant guidance. The requirement is two pages or less. Formatting and content density determine how many words fit legibly.
Should I copy the vacancy announcement?
No. Use relevant terminology to make truthful experience easy to verify, but do not copy a requirement you cannot support with your own dates, duties, scope, and results.
Does ResumeGov determine whether I am eligible?
No. ResumeGov identifies documentation gaps and alignment signals. The hiring agency makes all eligibility, qualification, referral, and selection decisions.