As Donald Trump puts more than 140,000 Virginians at risk of losing their jobs, the Youngkin-Sears administration’s response to workers is to simply "update your resume." 

Update your resume:

If you are a former Federal employee looking to transition to the private sector, you may want to consider updating your resume to translate your detailed government job duties and accomplishments into industry terminology, avoiding overly technical jargon or acronyms, action-oriented statements that highlight relevant skills and achievements, using common industry terminology, and generally shortening the length to fit a standard 1 -2 page resume format while still emphasizing key qualifications for the desired civilian role.

Key points to consider when revising your resume from Federal employment:

• Simplify Language: Replace government-specific terms with their private sector equivalents. For example, "program manager" instead of "project officer," "stakeholder engagement" instead of "interagency coordination." Remove federal job series, grades (e.g., GS-13), and excessive detail about every duty. Avoid excessive acronyms (or spell them out and explain briefly).

• Focus on Results: Quantify your achievements with numbers and percentages to demonstrate the impact of your work. Focus on achievements and impact rather than task descriptions. Use quantifiable metrics where possible: Instead of "Reviewed policy documents," say "Streamlined policy review process, reducing approval time by 30%." Use action verbs like "optimized," "implemented," "increased," "developed," "led," etc.

• Streamline the Format: Federal resumes are often lengthy (4-6 pages). Aim for 1 -2 pages for the private sector. Use a clean, modern layout with bullet points for readability. Ensure your resume is free from errors and presents a professional image. You can select a standard resume format that's either a chronological or functional format depending on your career goals.

 “Rather than standing up for the workers who are about to lose everything, Glenn Youngkin is offering superficial advice about updating resumes,” DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker said. “This lack of leadership shows a complete disregard for the very real struggles Virginians face. Workers are not looking for career tips—they are looking for a governor who will fight for their livelihoods, stand up to Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and prevent further devastation to our economy.”

Youngkin doubled down on his support of Trump’s mass firings and layoffs across the government on Monday. He told reporters he “expects that some Virginians will lose their jobs,” adding that he “doesn’t think the government downsizing is wrong, and in fact, we need to press forward [...]”