Federal job applications now require two-page resumes

Federal job seekers must now submit resumes of two pages or fewer when applying through USAJOBS. The Office of Personnel Management issued the limit as part of the Merit Hiring Plan, which took effect September 27, 2025. The plan emphasizes skill-based assessments and aims to streamline federal hiring.

Applicants who submit longer resumes may be found ineligible for consideration. USAJOBS will not allow upload or creation of resumes exceeding the cap.

The two-page cap aligns federal applications with private-sector norms. It requires job seekers to prioritize recent, relevant experience over comprehensive career histories. OPM guidance states the limit applies to competitive and excepted service announcements under Title 5.

USAJOBS validated the page length of all resumes stored in job seeker profiles prior to September 27, 2025. Resumes over the limit were suspended. Job seekers must create new two-page resumes to be eligible for applications.

Cheryl Sweet, a Veteran Employment Representative, led a training session on the new requirements. "The Merit Hiring Plan builds on the Chance to Compete act of 2024 which emphasizes the skill based and competency based assessments and greater involvement of subject matter experts in the hiring process," Sweet said.

Sweet emphasized essential resume elements for federal applications. These include employer name, job title, start and end dates with month and year, and hours worked per week. For federal work experience, applicants should include job series and grade.

"Use concise result focused language the HR specialist can easily understand. Do not use acronyms Jargon," Sweet said. She advised job seekers to tailor resumes to job announcements and demonstrate their ability to perform tasks at the required level.

The platform allows applicants to save up to five resumes in their profile. Applicants can upload resumes in PDF, Word, JPEG, or PNG formats. Uploading a PDF is recommended to preserve formatting and page count.

Applicants can make their resumes searchable in USAJOBS. This allows federal recruiters to contact them directly about jobs or career events. "Recruiters can also match your skills with jobs they're trying to fill without you ever applying," Sweet said. More than 500 government agencies use USAJOBS to post job opportunities.