The USAJOBS 2-page resume limit, explained

What the rule says

OPM's applicant guidance opens with the rule itself:

Resumes must be no longer than two-pages in length. The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement.

The same guidance says that, beginning on September 27, 2025, job seekers can modify the resumes stored in their USAJOBS profile, or upload or build a new one, to meet the two-page requirement. It ends the paragraph with:

Job seekers must choose a resume that is two pages or less to make it searchable and apply for jobs.

Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Workforce Policy and Innovation, "Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit", https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/merit-hiring-plan-resources/applicant-guidance-on-the-two-page-resume-limit/ (one-page PDF, accessed 2026-10-02).

Where the limit comes from

The limit comes from the Merit Hiring Plan that OPM and the Domestic Policy Council issued on May 29, 2025. It ended the long-form federal resume and set a two-page limit. A U.S. Department of the Interior notice dated September 29, 2025 states the practical effect: USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages.

Sources: OPM and Domestic Policy Council, Merit Hiring Plan, May 29, 2025, https://www.opm.gov/chcoc/transmittals/2025/Merit%20Hiring%20Plan%205-29-2025%20FINAL.pdf (accessed 2026-10-02). U.S. Department of the Interior, Interior Business Center, "Two-Page Resume Limit for USAJOBS", notice dated September 29, 2025, published on the Interior Business Center website, ibc.doi.gov (accessed 2026-10-02).

Dates at a glance

What still has to fit on those two pages

The limit did not shorten the list of details OPM asks for. The applicant guidance tells you to include, for each relevant work experience:

• job title and employer, with series and grade for any federal position;
• start and end dates with month and year (OPM's example is 05/2019 – 08/2022);
• the number of hours you worked per week;
• descriptions aligned with the job announcement that address all required qualifications and show you can perform the tasks at the required level.

It also lists contact information (name, email address and phone number) and, when relevant or required, education (school or institution, completion date, degree type, cumulative GPA) and certifications or licenses (type and date). Optional details, when relevant: current security clearance, job-related training, language skills, organizations and affiliations, professional publications and eligibility for special programs.

Source: OPM, "Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit" (URL above, accessed 2026-10-02). The full list is on the 12-point checklist.

OPM's five hints for getting to two pages

1. Prioritize your most relevant and recent experience.
2. Use concise, results-focused language.
3. Align language from the job announcement.
4. Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies.
5. Remove outdated or unrelated experience.

Source: OPM, "Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit", section "Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume" (URL above, accessed 2026-10-02).

How to apply them: what to cut from a private-sector resume and how to write a specialized-experience bullet.

Common questions

Does the guidance set a font size or margin?

No. OPM's applicant guidance limits the page count and lists what to include. It does not prescribe a font, a font size or margins. Our practical advice, not an official rule: stay at 10 pt or larger in a standard font, with margins of at least 0.5 inch, so a person can still read it.

How many words fit on two pages?

This is our estimate, not an OPM figure: about 900 to 1,000 words at a legible size. Count pages in the exported PDF, because page breaks can move when a word processor exports.

Does the limit cover transcripts and other documents?

The guidance is about the resume. It mentions transcripts and certification or license details as documentation to provide when the position requires them, and it does not state a page limit for them. The "Required documents" section of each job announcement tells you what to upload.

What if my stored resume is longer than two pages?

According to the guidance, you must choose a resume of two pages or less to make it searchable and to apply. You can edit a stored resume, upload a new one or build one in your USAJOBS profile.

Can an announcement ask for something different?

Rules can change, and each job announcement controls its own application. Read the OPM guidance and the announcement before you apply. If they differ, follow the announcement and ask the agency contact listed on it.