Remove the 22 items that differentiate federal resumes from private-sector resumes. Trim excess federal jargon and government-related acronyms. Drop outdated jargon. Translate your federal work into clear business-focused messaging. Highlight your results, leadership, and impact. Align your resume to each role with the organization’s needs, priorities, language, and what you bring to the table.​

Swap out GS levels and lengthy duty statements for clear business lingo like budget management, team leadership, and process improvements—backed by numbers whenever possible. Research your target job descriptions to weave in private sector keywords. Keep it to 1–2 pages with a clean, ATS friendly layout. A federal-to-private shift can feel tough—but your skills travel with you wherever you go!