[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Erin.jpg” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” padding_mobile=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ height=”200px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”72″ text_line_height=”1.1em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”620px” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” text_font_size_tablet=”52″ text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Recently Laid Off from a Federal Job? Write a Resume That Moves You Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” padding_mobile=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1200px” custom_padding=”20px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” custom_padding_phone=”” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/fqRIUhqx_400x400.jpg” title_text=”fqRIUhqx_400x400″ show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ animation=”off” sticky=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_text_color=”#02b875″ text_font_size=”20″ text_line_height=”1.2em” header_text_color=”#000000″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]ERIN KENNEDY<\/a><\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”PT Serif||on||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”16″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”10px||60px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer\/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes \u201cTop 100 Career Websites\u201d.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”24″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”720px” custom_margin=”-30px||0px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Being laid off from a federal job can make you feel like you’re being fired, even if you know intellectually that the decision was based on budgets, shifts in an agency’s mission, or other factors that have nothing to do with your performance.<\/p>\n You may feel as though potential employers are questioning your value.<\/p>\n You may worry that the experience you gained as a government employee will count for less now that you’re outside the system.<\/p>\n However, you have a valuable asset on your hands–your previous experience–but you need to know how to present it effectively to prospective employers.<\/p>\n There are some basic steps to take when tailoring a resume for the private sector.<\/p>\n I’ll give you an overview of them now; in the next section we’ll talk more about the differences between federal and private-sector resume requirements and language.<\/p>\n Before you start reworking your resume, decide on your target job market.<\/p>\n Are you looking to find another federal job, or do you want to go into the private sector?<\/p>\n Or maybe you want to do both.<\/p>\n The reason for this step is simple: a federal resume and a private-sector resume serve two entirely different industries with two entirely different sets of requirements.<\/p>\n A federal resume should follow the guidelines set forth in the USAJOBS “What To Include In Your Federal Resume” <\/a>resource, which may include providing information such as the number of hours you worked per week, the dates of your employment, and information about how your qualifications meet the requirements in a vacancy announcement (which often requires several pages).<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a resume for the private sector should be more focused, using language that highlights your value to a specific company, and it should be shorter.<\/p>\n When targeting the private sector, you wouldn’t want to send a multi-page document that buries relevant information and wastes a potential employer’s time.<\/p>\n If you’re doing both searches, create two separate versions, one for each.<\/p>\n Federal agencies employ people in a variety of occupations. That’s why most federal jobs have official titles that help differentiate one type of worker from another. But to someone in the private sector, your GS-14 Program Analyst position may not say much.<\/p>\n In order to effectively market yourself to your new target audience, you need to be able to describe your experience in ways that don’t rely on acronyms or jargon that have no meaning outside the government.<\/p>\n Analyze your resume for words and terms tied specifically to the federal government and replace them with terms that have more general appeal.<\/p>\n For example,<\/strong><\/p>\n instead of saying: you might say: This allows you to highlight the value of your background without relying on acronyms or federal-specific responsibilities, making your experience more accessible to a private-sector recruiter.<\/p>\n When reviewing your document, look for opportunities to de-federalize it by noting:<\/p>\n – Agency-specific acronyms that don’t have meaning outside your workplace<\/p>\n – Federal-specific job titles or other positions that may not accurately reflect your experience level or responsibilities<\/p>\n – Unnecessary mentions of forms, directives, or unique systems used only within the government<\/p>\n – Descriptions of your job functions without mentioning relevant achievements<\/p>\n -Technical language that hides your leadership or impacts from view<\/p>\n Most federal resume samples are written as if they’re an employee’s job description. They provide a list of responsibilities, but they don’t always provide a sense of the impact an employee could have made with those responsibilities.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, private-sector recruiters are looking for specific skills and accomplishments.<\/p>\n When thinking about what to highlight, consider the problems you’ve solved, the risks you’ve mitigated, and the opportunities you’ve taken to improve your organization’s operations.<\/p>\n Ask yourself whether you’ve had the opportunity to:<\/p>\n Whenever it’s appropriate, include numbers to help put your accomplishments on display.<\/p>\n You could say that a specific technology implementation saved the government “hundreds of thousands of dollars” or “over a million dollars” without giving away any sensitive information.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f7f7f4″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”680px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2-3.jpg” alt=”The image shows the neoclassical facade of a federal government building with large columns and the words %22The Treasury Department%22 engraved above them.” title_text=”Internal,Revenue,Service,(irs),Building,In,Washington,Dc,United,States” show_bottom_space=”off” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ animation_direction=”off” animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#efefe9″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3-3.jpg” alt=”The United States flag waves in front of a large federal government building with tall white columns and a blue sky in the background.” title_text=”Signage,Outside,Of,The,United,States,Department,Of,Labor,Headquarters” show_bottom_space=”off” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ animation_direction=”off” animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#818178″ text_font_size=”24″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”9%|10%||10%||” custom_margin_tablet=”|10%||10%” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Being laid off from a federal job can feel like being fired, even if you know intellectually the decision was based on budgets.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#818178″ text_font_size=”24″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”2.8%|10%||10%||” custom_margin_tablet=”|10%||10%” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n ERIN KENNEDY<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”4″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1200px” custom_margin=”-1px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”20px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” custom_padding_phone=”” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”20″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-7px||0px|||” custom_margin_tablet=”40px||0px|” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n There’s no requirement for you to explain this in detail, especially if it’s not relevant to your new job search. Your resume should focus on your skills and accomplishments, not the reasons why you were laid off.<\/p>\n But if your termination date is recent or you think it could raise questions, you can briefly note the circumstances if you think it’s necessary to provide context for your situation.<\/p>\n However, don’t spend too much time on it; it’s not a personal history or a political statement. This is a resume, remember, and space is limited.<\/p>\n You may want to say something like<\/p>\n “Position was eliminated during a reduction in force.”\u00a0 You don\u2019t need to say anything else so don’t waste precious space trying to communicate the reasons for your layoff or trying to defend it, because it’s not important to a new employer.<\/p>\n Your cover letter and your interviews can be the places to address the layoff, and both offer good opportunities to keep it brief and move on to more relevant topics.<\/p>\n You could say something like:<\/p>\n “My position was eliminated as part of a reduction in force, but I’m now looking to apply my leadership and regulatory expertise in my next role.”<\/p>\n Laid-off federal employees can also seek guidance from their transition support resources, like the Office of Personnel Management’s Employee Guide to Career Transition<\/a>, which outlines federal transition programs and services.<\/p>\nDecide Where You Want to Go<\/h4>\n
Replace Federal Speak With Business Speak<\/h4>\n
\u00a0“GS-14 Program Analyst responsible for interagency initiatives and OMB compliance,”<\/p>\n
\u00a0“Directed multifunctional programs that included interagency collaboration and bolstered regulatory compliance, operational performance, and executive oversight.”<\/p>\nFocus on Accomplishments (Not Your Job Description)<\/h4>\n
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Address the Layoff (If Necessary)<\/h4>\n