Federal Job Seeker Resume and Application Details with Lori Norris

Lessons Learned for Vets

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Your federal resume just shrank and if you are looking to work for the federal government you have 2 pages to convey your qualifications for these roles. In this solo episode, resume writer and federal employment specialist Lori Norris walks you through the new two-page limit, the shift to merit-based hiring processes, skills-first hiring and the rise of assessments that can land in your inbox with a 24-hour clock. If you’re a transitioning service member or a veteran already navigating USAJOBS, this is your field guide to staying eligible, standing out and moving fast without missing critical details.
We start by decoding what actually changed: how agencies will certify smaller pools of qualified applicants, why keywords now matter more and what it means when occupational questionnaires disappear in favor of USA Hire or technical tests. We explain how to read “Who may apply,” how veterans’ preference points and CPS status still work and why some announcements may close early once they hit a candidate limit. Then we drill into the resume itself, covering exact fields you must include, what to cut to fit in two pages and formatting moves that keep you compliant and visible. Think months and years for every role, hours per week, recent measurable achievements and a clean sans serif format that keeps your resume file under 5MB.
You’ll also get a clear approach to the 4 optional 200-word essays that hiring managers, not HR, will read. We share prompts, strategy and structure, how to connect your commitment to the Constitution to the job’s mission, how to quantify efficiency gains you’ve driven, how to reference relevant executive orders responsibly and how to tell a concise work-ethic story with outcomes. We wrap with a practical application plan to tailor fast, apply early, track documents, watch your spam folder for assessment links and call the agency contact when in doubt.
If this helped you get clarity or momentum, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a veteran who’s applying soon. Your support helps more service members translate their skills into roles that matter.

Learn more about Lori's resume and LinkedIn services, where she specializes in helping translate military terminology at www.getresultsresumes.com

Connect with Lori Norris on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorinorris

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22
Subscribe to the podcast and leave us a 5-star review. Please share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

فصل ها

1. Federal Job Seeker Resume and Application Details with Lori Norris (00:00:00)

2. Why This Update Matters Now (00:02:19)

3. Freeze, Shutdowns, And Agency Exceptions (00:04:30)

4. The Two-Page Resume Mandate (00:05:33)

5. Merit Hiring And New Assessments (00:05:59)

6. Preference Points And Scoring (00:09:37)

7. Decoding USAJOBS Postings (00:11:18)

8. Eligibility Paths: Who Can Apply (00:13:33)

9. What Recruiters Expect To See (00:16:33)

10. Formatting Rules That Prevent Disqualification (00:19:39)

11. Builder vs. Upload: What To Use (00:22:11)

12. The Four Optional Essay Questions (00:24:04)

13. Application Flow And What’s Changing (00:28:54)

14. Final Advice And Next Steps (00:31:44)