Federal Government Two-Page Résumé Rule | AYV Insights
Why This Change Matters
This is more than a formatting update. It is a cultural reset for federal hiring. The new résumé policy is designed to:
- Reduce unnecessary detail that clutters applications.
- Allow hiring teams to make faster and fairer comparisons.
- Reward candidates who communicate with clarity and intent.
- Align federal hiring with private-sector standards.
By simplifying résumé submissions, OPM is giving candidates permission to focus on value over volume. And that is a win for everyone involved.
A Shift in Mindset
For many applicants, this will feel like a big adjustment. But this change is exactly what strong career communicators have been practicing for years.
- It is no longer about listing everything you have ever done.
- It is about showing why it mattered.
- It is about connecting experience to measurable value.
- It is about substance over size.
A concise, two-page résumé does not limit your story. It sharpens it.
If you have been relying on the traditional multi-page format, now is the perfect time to refresh your strategy. My recent article on Résumé Writing in Dallas breaks down how clarity and focus can completely transform how hiring managers read your experience.
What This Means for Federal Candidates
For professionals who have spent years navigating the complexities of federal résumé writing, this shift offers freedom. It invites you to tell your story in a way that reflects results, not repetition.
At Articulate Your Value, we have long specialized in helping candidates translate their work into narratives that resonate with hiring managers whether they are applying for federal positions or transitioning to the private sector.
The focus should now be on how your contributions created impact, improved systems, strengthened teams, or advanced agency missions. Employers already know what the duties were. They want to know what changed because you were there.
The Bottom Line
The Federal Government’s move toward a two-page résumé standard represents progress. It simplifies an outdated process and brings the emphasis back where it belongs on clarity, substance, and measurable results.
Simplicity does not reduce value. It removes noise.
If you are preparing for this shift or simply ready to update how you tell your story, schedule an introductory consultation today. Let’s make sure your résumé communicates the impact you have earned.
Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management Announcement, September 2025