Description
On May 29, 2025, the Office of Personnel Management sent a Memo to 2 million Federal employees telling them that a 2-page Federal resume is now required, instead of the long-form, which could be 5 to 20 pages.
“As the author of The Federal Resume Guidebook 7th Edition, which was all about the 5-page Federal resume, I began rewriting the book with new samples immediately. The 7th Edition contains 14 excerpts of Outline Format federal resumes. Now, this 8th Edition features 28 full samples of 2-page federal resumes. All the Outline Format resumes from the previous edition have been transformed into the new 2-page Skills-Based, Searchable Federal Resume format.
“I recognized the need for at least two formats for the 2-page federal resume. Page One is critical and can vary depending on the target position and resume content. The 2-page Federal Resume samples include various formats for Federal employees seeking Promotion, Career Change, Wage Grade (Trades), IT / Technical and SES. The formats feature Profile, Accomplishments, Competencies, Professional Experience and more – all in two pages.
This book will be an absolutely necessary text for any Federal employee or anyone who wants a Federal job. The samples are invaluable, they match the USAJOBS requirements and teach the applicant how to match the USAJOBS announcement.
A key feature in the new book is the importance of Accomplishments in the shorter two-page format. With the longform Federal resume, the accomplishments could be blended or embedded into the work history, but not with the two-page resume. They must stand out, quickly, in order to get Best Qualified, Referred, Interviewed and Selected for a new position. Competencies are also emphasized – to match the target position. With such a short amount of space, the significant competencies have to be clearly written.
The 2-page Federal resume is so dramatically different than the previous long form, there is significant challenges for serious Federal applicants. The samples in the book will dramatically help anyone who needs to condense many pages into 2 pages that are targeted, impressive and compliant with the USAJOBS requirements.”
About the Authors
Kathryn Troutman is from Baltimore, MD and founded the Resume Place, the United States’ first Federal resume writing and coaching business, more than 30 years ago. She is the pioneering designer of the Federal Resume format, created after the Federal government eliminated the SF-171 form in 1995.
Kathryn wrote the first-ever book on writing the Federal-style resume – Federal Resume Guidebook in 1995. The 7th Edition book was the No. One Resume Book in America for 2024 and half of 2025.
The new 8th Edition is written due to the OPM/Trump Administration CHANGE of the Federal resume format two a required 2-page format for 2 million Federal employee – a dramatic change in the application process. Many / most Federal resumes are 5 to 20 pages. The new 2-page rule is a dramatic change for Federal employees. They need this new book with samples.
In January 2002, Kathryn created the Ten Steps to a Federal Job® method after 9/11 created massive interest in Federal positions to help protect America. The Ten Steps curriculum is taught by Certified Ten Step Trainers at military bases world-wide. The course is instrumental for Service Members and Military Spouses seeking Federal government careers.
With Kathryn’s team of 20 Certified Federal Resume Writers, the Resume Place now advises and writes more than 300 Federal resumes per month for military, private industry and Federal clients worldwide. Her Resume Place SES writers have written and consulted on Senior Executive Service ECQs with a 95% success rate over the last five years for the Veterans Administration and Veterans Executive Review Board.
