Government CV—Examples and 25+ Writing Tips

Whether it’s for job security, to serve your country, or the generous pension later on, you’re ready to take on the challenges of a government job. But— 

The agency director doesn’t yet know how perfect a match you are. You can’t have a CV that’s simply close enough for government work. Rather, you need to turn in a government CV as detailed as the national budget and as welcome as a stimulus package. It’s not as difficult as you think!

In this guide:

• The best government CV samples to get those jobs.
• How to target government CVs to a specific government job description.
• How to write CVs for government positions that score interviews.
• Expert tips and examples to improve your chances of landing government jobs.

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Government CV Example You Can Copy and Use

That’s our take on a pitch-perfect government CV sample. Think it’s way too complicated? Don’t worry— 

Here’s how to write a federal CV of your own:

1. Format the Government CV Template According to Spec

The UK government doesn’t use the standard job application process. Rather, your government CV is your job application. To win the agency director or department manager over, you need to organise the CV layout for readability before you begin filling it with details.

So—

Here’s how to format a government CV template:

• Use reverse-chronological CV formatting for dated sections such as work history, starting with your most recent entry first and moving back from there.
• Use a one-inch margin on all sides of your CV for government jobs.
• Choose a CV font which is easy on the eyes of any department head.
• Include the most relevant CV sections, and prioritise the placement of the most impactful areas.
• Use bold heading titles to allow the reader to easily scan your federal government CV.

If you’re switching careers, you may use the combination government CV format rather than the reverse-chronological. Government CV writers switching careers choose this CV format for its ability to highlight transferable skills.

Expert Hint: How long should a government CV be? Gov.uk doesn't specify the length. But looking at different US gov’t agencies we see different things: the National Archives says 1–3 pages is fine, the SEC gives a 4-page federal CV sample, and the Dept of Energy says 2–5 pages. Stay between 2 and 6 pages to be safe. 

2. Identify Yourself in the Contact Information Section

We begin the journey in the contact information section of the CV header. According to the guidelines by the UK national careers website, they are as follows:

• Full Name
• Home Address (optional)
• Email Address
• Telephone Number
• LinkedIn profile (optional)

As for the information you should not include:

• Age
• Date of birth
• Marital status
• Nationality

3. Open with a Government CV Objective Statement

After you contact and personal information in the government CV header, it’s time to write a quick, to-the-point objective statement. However—

This quick paragraph differs from normal CV objectives. Rather than using marketing jargon and colourful adjectives to describe how awesome you’ve become, keep this as buttoned-up as a Secret Service suit.

A government CV objective is the most distilled version of the definition—it must literally give your objective, which is the specific government job you’re applying for. 

The must-have items of the gov’t CV objective statement are:

• Job Announcement Number
• Official Job Title
• Job Family (4-Digit Series Number)
• Job Grade
• Government Agency / Department

One cool aspect about this is that it immediately becomes a tailored CV. Some government agencies and departments optionally allow you to add some meat to the objective paragraph. In such cases, a sentence or two about your experience, skills, and achievements (like a regular CV) would suffice.

Here are two examples:

Federal CV Examples of Objective Statements

The second example is great—just not for a government job, unfortunately. The first example, however, is ready for duty. 

It’s got a brief sentence introducing you as a candidate, but not too much that they get lost in the text. Then, it identifies the exact position with the pertinent details we outlined above.

Remember not to go overboard. The hiring director wants to see the essentials first thing. Diluting the objective with too much extraneous details distracts from the important details.

Expert Hint: This GOV.uk website is the government’s official job board, and likely where you’ll look for the jobs you want. All the information you need for the objective statement and prospective job can be found in each particular job ad on their website.

4. Document Your Employment History Thoroughly

A CV for governemnt jobs must portray your past work experience in a particular way. How?

Here’s how to detail your work experience on a CV for government jobs:

• List your work history in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent job at the top.
• Add your job title, the month and year for both the start and end of your employment, and the name of the company.
• Unlike a regular CV, here you’ll include the company’s address, your supervisor name, whether the agency is allowed to contact them, and a contact method for your previous boss.
• Next, specify the number of hours you worked each week, as well as your salary (either per hour or yearly).
• For each you entry you list, include only the most relevant job responsibilities and duties.
• Include quantifiable achievements using percentages, dollar amounts, or other numbers to give them a taste of just how well you performed those tasks.

Here are two government CV examples of work history sections:

Government CV Examples of Employment History

The first example follows the government’s CV guidelines, while the second one isn’t even appropriate for public-sector jobs. It has no detailed job duties, no numbered achievements, and it’s missing key items required.

How far back should you go on a government CV? The work history section is often what makes a federal CV so long. Normally there is a hard limit, here go as far back as possible. 

Expert Hint: Include unpaid work experience, as well, such as volunteer work. However, make a separate section just under your work experience area to differentiate them, as these unpaid positions won’t need to include salary details or hours per week.

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5. Create a Short Government CV Skills List

CV skills are important to include for any job, and that holds true for federal employment opportunities, as well. First, let’s look at some common skills— 

Here are some skills which work great in any career path:

Top 15+ CV Skills for Government Jobs

1. Communication Skills
2. Interpersonal Skills
3. Attention to Detail & Perceptiveness
4. Creative Thinking & Conceptual Skills
5. Multitasking Abilities
6. Technical Expertise
7. Software (e.g., Microsoft Excel)
8. Administrative Skills
9. Organisational Skills
10. Confidentiality
11. Time Management & Efficiency
12. Management & Leadership
13. Project Management
14. Problem Solving Skills
15. Decision Making Skills
16. Hardware & Computer Skills
17. Teamwork & Collaboration

An environmental protection specialist with the Bureau of Land Management will need different skills than a paralegal specialist in the Patent and Trademark Office. That means you can’t simply pick any skill you have and add it to your federal CV.

Looking at the specific job postings you’ll find the exact traits and characteristics the hiring manager seeks in their ideal job candidate. One final thing to remember— 

The government gets thousands of CVs each day. To assist them with this massive workload, they’ll use an ATS (Applicant Tracking System). The ATS helps an agency manager sort through the thousands of CVs by allowing them to search by CV keywords. The more keywords you have on your government CV that match the job description, the better your chances at scoring an interview.

Expert Hint: There may be more keywords to add on a government CV. Some job ads have a “conditions of employment” section, where you may need to be registered for Selective Service, for example. If applicable, add that to your government CV template.

6. Turn Your Education Section Into a Reason to Hire You

Here’s a breath of fresh air for you— 

The education section of a government CV basically resembles one on any other CV. However, because they want details, there are a few minor differences. Here’s a sample government CV academic section:

Government Job CV Sample of Education Section

Here’s how to add your educational history on a federal CV:

• First, add the degree or major name on the first line.
• Follow that with the university’s or school’s name, their city, and their state.
• Next, add the date of course completion or the anticipated date of completion.
• Identify your grade point average (GPA) on government CVs.
• Include extras to further impress the agency manager or director. Great examples include practicum information, relevant classes, academic awards, or thesis topics.

Expert Hint: Usually, you wouldn’t include high school on a CV, but government CVs require your entire history. List high school below any higher education in reverse-chronological order.

7. Round Out Your Government CV With Relevant Additional Sections

Additional sections on a government CV shouldn’t be taken lightly. Though optional, a strategic certificate or organisational membership could just be what puts you on top and lands you that interview. So— 

Here are a few great extra sections to add on a government CV, as well as common examples of each:

Certifications & Licences

• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
• SHRM-CP: SHRM Certified Professional
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) – Windows Server
• Certified Information Systems Security Pro (CISSP)
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
• Association of Clinical Research Professionals – Certified Professional (ACRP-CP)
• National Certified Addiction Counsellor Level I (NCACI)
• Oracle Application Express Developer Certification (Oracle APEX)

Professional Affiliations

• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
• Centre for Association Leadership (ASAE)
• National Information Officers Association (NIOA)
• National Association of Government Web Professionals (NAGW)
• National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC)
• National Association of Government Contractors (NAGC)
• Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
• Association of Government Accountants (AGA)
• National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA

Foreign Language Proficiency

• Western Punjabi (Lahnda): Native Proficiency
• Vietnamese: Bilingual Proficiency
• Egyptian Arabic: Professional Working Proficiency
• German: Intermediate Proficiency
• Portuguese: Basic Conversational Proficiency

Other great extras on a government CV include: professional awards, research or academic publications, job-related training and courses, leadership activities, industry conferences, public speaking gigs, relevant projects, or a professional reference list.

Unlike a “normal” CV, leave related hobbies and interests off your government job application.

Expert Hint: Also unlike CVs for other jobs, a cover letter is optional for government jobs. If you are able to submit a government cover letter along with your CV, it may help. 

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