Government vs. Private Sector Jobs: The Shocking Differences You Never Knew!

The sweeping changes being made by the new US governmental administration have affected many people, especially federal employees (i.e., government hiring freeze, federal government buyout). If your position has been affected, and you find yourself needing/wanting to move on from a government position we are here to help! Or, perhaps you are interested in a government job and moving into that area after working in the private sector or as a new graduate. Either way, applying for government jobs vs. private-sector jobs is quite different in terms of process, resume expectations, job search strategies, and even interviews! Here’s what you need to know:

The Difference Between Government Job Resumes vs. Private Sector Resumes:

Government jobs, especially in the U.S., require resumes that are significantly different from those used in the private sector. This is because of the structured hiring process, legal requirements, and the need for detailed documentation to ensure fairness and transparency in government hiring.

Government hiring is based on the merit system, which requires clear, detailed documentation to justify why one candidate is selected over another.

Government Resumes are A Special Type of Brutal:

HIGHLY Detailed & Length is Valued: Resumes for government jobs are expected to be lengthy (3-5+ pages ) because they want detailed accounts of your work experience, including job duties, rank change, accomplishments, quantifiable achievements, and relevant skills in your employment history.
NO Creativity: List the job title, employer’s name, location, exact start and end dates (month/year). No being creative! Just write everything exactly as it was and in a highly structured way.
Be Even More Detailed: Add number of hours worked per week–this is a must! Government job announcements are often extremely detailed about qualifications. Resumes must directly address: Specialized Experience Requirements (specific duties you’ve performed); Selective Factors (mandatory qualifications you must have); and Time-in-Grade Requirements (for current federal employees).
Focus on KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities): Government resumes often emphasize KSAs to demonstrate how candidates meet the specific requirements listed in the job announcement. Some jobs even require KSA essays or supplemental questions.
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Federal resumes are screened using ATS software on platforms like USAJOBS, so use keyword-heavy content! You must match the exact language from the job posting (e.g., “budget forecasting” vs. “financial planning”) to pass initial screenings.

Private Sector Resumes Are More Flexible:

Brevity is Valued: 1 page; 2 max (only for very experienced senior executives!). No private sector person wants to be buried in text–leave plenty of white space, and focus only on accomplishments, quantifiable achievements, and relevant skills.

Be Creative: If there’s anything you want to highlight, or low light–feel free to do so! There are no hard and fast rules here! Only at a job for a few months? Be vague and just list the years! Don’t want to highlight that all of your work experience is in your small hometown? Leave the location off!
Focus on Revenue, Efficiency, and Organizational impact: Private companies care about making money! Show them how you helped previous organizations save time and earn more, wherever possible!
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Not all companies use ATS–especially not smaller, more local businesses because ATS systems are expensive. However, most major corporate companies use it, so keyword matching on your resume (to the job posting) is a good idea! For more information on ATS, see our blog post Ultimate Guide: How to Beat Applicant Tracking Systems with an ATS-Friendly Resume

Private Sector Job Search vs. Government Job Search

The Government Job Search:

Government jobs are located on specific federal and state/county websites, while corporate jobs can be listed…well pretty much anywhere (job boards, social media, newsletters, company websites, etc.!

If you’re looking for a federal government job, start with: USAJOBS.gov (Official Federal Job Site)--this is the primary job board for all federal government positions.You can search by job title, agency, location, or series number and create a profile to save jobs and track applications.

Also check these out:

IntelligenceCareers.gov: Focuses on careers in the intelligence community (CIA, NSA, FBI, etc.).

Department of State Careers: For Foreign Service, Civil Service, and student programs.

Federal Government Internships (Pathways Program): Entry-level positions and internships for students and recent graduates.

State Government Jobs

State-Specific Job Portals:
Each U.S. state has its own official job board. Examples include:

CalCareers (California)
Mass.gov (Massachusetts)
Work for Indiana (Indiana)

Local Government Jobs (County/City)

Local Government Websites:
Visit your county or city’s official website (e.g., nyc.gov/careers for NYC jobs).
National Association of Counties (NACo)

Some counties post jobs here, especially for administrative or policy roles.

GovernmentJobs.com

Aggregates local, state, and federal job listings from across the U.S.

International Government Jobs

UN Careers

Jobs with the United Nations and its agencies.

USAID Careers

U.S. Agency for International Development positions worldwide.

NATO Jobs

International defense and policy roles.

Niche Government Job Boards

ClearanceJobs

For roles requiring security clearances.

USAJobs for Veterans

Focused on veterans transitioning into federal careers.

Environmental Career Opportunities

Government jobs related to environmental science and policy.

Tips for Government Job Searches:

Create Alerts: On USAJOBS and state portals, set up job alerts to get notified about new postings.

Check Often: Government jobs have strict application deadlines—don’t miss them!

The Private Sector Job Search:

If you’re looking for a private sector job, start with a Google search: Job title in (city where you live) jobs. If you see something that catches your eye, head to the homepage of the company and navigate to their “careers” or “opportunities” page and apply there (rather than via a job board or other source). It’s also a good idea to check to ensure the listing is still active!

Check out our previous blog posts Diversifying Your Job Search: New Methods and Top 10 Most Common Job Search Problems & How to Avoid Them

Private Sector Networking - While referrals or personal contacts can certainly help when looking for a government role, in the public sector, networking is critical.

Leverage your network in every way possible. Start with friends and family. Don’t be shy about telling them what you are looking for. Ask if they happen to know anyone in the industry or organizations you are targeting.
Next up LinkedIn: Ensure your headline speaks clearly to what the role you are looking for. Search for connections in industry and organization. 2nd degree connections are worth pursuing!
Don’t be afraid to “cold-call”. Track down the name of the hiring manager, and send them a LinkedIn message or request, or a personalized email. Check out our blog How to Use Networking to Find a Job for more detailed information!

Job Interviews: Government vs. Private Sector

Government and private sector job interviews differ quite a bit. Government interviews (like their resume expectations) are known for being formal, long, highly structured/standardized, with answers scored based on pre-set criteria. Private sector interviews tend to be more conversational and the hiring decisions may be more subjective. The focus of governmental job interviews is on KSAs, fairness, and compliance; while in the private sector, it’s more about culture fit and business impact.

Government Job Interviews

What to Expect in Government Job Interviews

Government job interviews, especially for federal positions, differ from private sector interviews because they focus heavily on structured evaluation criteria, competency-based questions, and adherence to merit-based hiring practices. Here’s what you need to know:

Structured/Panel Interviews (Most Common):
A panel of 2–5 interviewers (often HR reps and subject matter experts) asks standardized questions to ensure fairness. Everyone is asked the same questions, so your answers are scored against pre-set criteria.

Private Sector & Government Job Interviews

Phone or Video Screenings: Especially common for federal jobs or early screening rounds, but large private companies are starting to use them too. Some also use recorded video interviews where you respond to pre-set questions.
Behavioral Interviews: Focus on how you’ve handled past situations using the STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Technical Interviews: For roles that require specific technical skills (e.g., IT, engineering, law enforcement). You may face problem-solving scenarios or technical questions.
Scenario-Based Interviews (Situational Judgment): You’ll be given hypothetical situations to assess how you’d handle them.

Tailor Your Approach

In short, applying for a job in the private sector requires a different approach than for a government job. The private hiring process is a bit looser, moves at a faster pace, and requires that you be proactive, network, and negotiate.