Government Resume Template

Promulgate your sense of purpose and customize your content to the job ad while remaining distinctive enough to beat the competition.

By Omar Sommereyns, Monster Contributor

So many different functions exist within government agencies and departments, which makes it possible to say: There’s something for everyone. But people who work in government often have a unifying trait—a particular acuity for civil service, all combining efforts to serve a greater societal good. We’ve put together a government resume template that should give you an idea of how to structure yours, but feel free to go longer (especially when applying to federal jobs). Recruiters in government like to see detailed breakdowns of your knowledge and skills—and how you’ve knuckled down to put them to productive use.

Specifically, you should include:

  • a government professional summary that mentions your level of experience and relevant accomplishments
  • how you meet the qualifications from the job notice (along with related keywords)
  • stats, numbers, and percentages (e.g., examples of how you saved money when handling budgets/public funds or how you managed project timelines expeditiously)
  • security clearances, specialized training, languages, and volunteer work

Again, grab some pointers from our government resume template and then endeavor to assiduously match your experience and abilities with the type of job you’re applying to. This will improve your chances of getting an interview.

Government Resume Template

OLIVIA POPE

555-555-5555 | Washington, D.C. 00000 | olivia@email.com | linkedin.com/olivia.pope

Impactful, influential, and driven leader with 15+ years of demonstrated experience evolving strategic intelligence operations, gathering critical research, and synthesizing complex, technical information. Works effectively with government officials and political diplomats. Communicates priority changes with efficient decision-making and manages multiple projects simultaneously. Anticipates obstacles, deficiencies, and needs of operations/programs and delivers proactive solutions. Holds an active Top Secret security clearance.

⤝Core Competencies⤞

Operational Reporting | Leadership | Project/Program Management

MS Office Computer/Software Proficiencies | Confident Communicator | Presentations

Research | Risk Mitigation | Partnerships | Critical Thinking

Strategic Planning | Analysis | Administrative Functions

⤝Professional Experience⤞

JOB TITLE

Government Agency – Washington, D.C. | 20XX – 20XX

Consistently promoted with advancements to positions of increasing scope, responsibility, and complexity. Served as a liaison to stakeholders; analyzed and mitigated threats; and developed solutions to intricate problems while supporting organizational goals. Complied with military protocol and standards.

  • Cultivated and fostered relationships with all levels of leadership across the joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational spectra.
  • Developed, planned, and initiated proposals for government and commercial stakeholders.
  • Identified and briefed personnel on relevant/critical information and recommended specific action-missions.

⤝Education⤞

MS in International Affairs (MIA) – University One, Washington, D.C.

BS in Political Science – College One, Washington, D.C.

You can also download this government resume template in Word.

Are you also looking for some insight on pay? Various types of jobs exist within government agencies, so we gathered some salary data related to political science and government majors. For instance, the median salary for entry-level policy analysts is $53,735, while the general median salary for policy analysts goes up to $61,333. Entry-level public relations/communications specialists can make $45,051, and that can increase to $57,708 for more experienced professionals. Meanwhile, the median salary for security/defense intelligence analysts is $74,902. And if you studied public administration and become a program manager, you can expect a median salary of $72,107.

To find info for other job titles in your location, go ahead and explore the features at Monster’s Salary Tools site. This will provide a preview of what you might get paid in your city as you garner tips from our government resume template.

Need to start looking for your next career move? If so, here are some options:

Not finding what you need? Then check out all the government jobs available on Monster.

Scale Up Your Career in Government With Monster’s Help

Government jobs come in many different shapes and sizes, with fields ranging from education and HR to social work, healthcare, and engineering. To succeed in your search and stand out from other candidates once you apply, use our government resume template to assemble the framework for the kind of government work you’re seeking. Then, contact us to have our certified resume writers cement and fortify your resume so that you get the job you truly want. Monster has experts in every industry, so we can ensure that your current version is boosted with the appropriate keywords and customized to the requirements listed in the job ad.