The Two-Page Federal Resume System (Wildland Fire)

Built from a resume that cleared HR, was referred, and resulted in a Hotshot crew hire — rewritten, anonymized, and explained so others can use the same system.

This guide walks you through exactly how federal wildland fire hiring works, how to build a compliant two-page resume, and how to upgrade from GW-03 to GW-04 after your first season.

This is not generic advice. This is how the USAJobs + federal HR qualification system actually works.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Hiring requirements and agency guidance may change. Always defer to the language in the specific job announcement you are applying to.

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🟩 PART 1 — HOW FEDERAL FIRE HIRING REALLY WORKS

The Hard Truth

Before any superintendent or captain sees your name, your application is reviewed by HR specialists.

Their job is not to judge your motivation or potential.

Their job is to determine whether your resume proves you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements exactly as written in the job announcement.

If your resume does not clearly match the qualification language, you may be:

• Marked Ineligible, or
• Marked Eligible but Not Referred

Even if you are physically fit, motivated, and capable.

👉 This is why language matters more than style.

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🟦 PART 2 — THE TWO-PAGE RULE (NON-NEGOTIABLE)

This Is a Federal Requirement

As of 2025, federal hiring guidance requires that resumes must not exceed two pages for most competitive service positions, including wildland fire.

This is not a FireCamp rule. It is a federal requirement enforced by HR.

Submitting a resume longer than two pages may result in:

• Automatic disqualification, or
• HR reviewing only the first two pages and ignoring the rest

Why One Page Is Still a Mistake

Federal resumes are not private-sector resumes.

One page is usually not enough to document:

• General experience
• Specialized fire experience
• Tool and equipment use
• ICS / LCES familiarity
• Physical work history

👉 Two full pages is what’s expected.

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🟨 PART 3 — REQUIRED RESUME SECTIONS (IN ORDER)

1. CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING (FIRST — ALWAYS)

This section tells HR immediately whether you are even worth evaluating.

Include only certifications you have completed or are actively enrolled in:

• NWCG courses (completed or in progress)
• Task books (opened or completed)
• Medical and safety certifications (EMT, CPR, First Aid)

Important rules:

• Do not list courses you merely plan to take
• Clearly label anything in progress
(example: S-130 — In Progress)

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2. WORK EXPERIENCE (MOST IMPORTANT SECTION)

This is where most applicants fail.

The Rule That Gets You Referred

Your bullet points must mirror the GW-03 or GW-04 qualification language — truthfully.

(Wildland fire positions use the GW pay scale, which functions similarly to GS.)

You are not copying to lie.
You are translating real experience into federal qualification terms.

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🟩 GW-03 — ENTRY-LEVEL (ZERO FIRE EXPERIENCE REQUIRED)

What HR Is Looking For

At GW-03, HR qualifies applicants based on general experience, not fire expertise.

Any paid or unpaid work can qualify if it demonstrates:

• Physical labor
• Ability to follow instructions
• Work in outdoor or demanding environments
• Safety awareness

SAMPLE — GW-03 GENERAL EXPERIENCE BULLETS

Outdoor / Physical Employment
Various Roles | Seasonal / Full-Time

• Performed physically demanding labor requiring endurance, teamwork, and adherence to safety procedures.
• Worked extended hours in variable weather and physically stressful environments.
• Followed detailed instructions and standard operating procedures.
• Maintained situational awareness and prioritized safety of self and others.

This language aligns directly with GW-03 General Experience requirements.

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🟦 GW-04 — SPECIALIZED FIRE EXPERIENCE (SECOND SEASON AND BEYOND)

This applies to firefighters upgrading after their first season.

What Changes at GW-04

HR now requires proof of specialized wildland fire experience equivalent to GW-03.

Your resume must clearly show:

• Fireline construction
• Tool and equipment use
• Hose lays and pump operations
• Patrol and mop-up
• Application of ICS and LCES

SAMPLE — GW-04 FIRE EXPERIENCE BULLETS

Federal Land Management Agency
Forestry Technician (Handcrew) | Seasonal | 40+ hrs/week

• Served as a skilled crewmember on a wildland fire crew suppressing fires of varying complexity.
• Constructed and secured fireline using hand tools and chainsaw under qualified supervision.
• Performed patrol, holding, and mop-up operations to ensure containment and firefighter safety.
• Assisted with hose lays and operation of portable pumps during suppression activities.
• Applied Incident Command System (ICS) and LCES principles during all fireline operations.
• Participated in prescribed fire and hazard fuel reduction projects.
• Operated, cleaned, and maintained firefighting tools, pumps, hose, and equipment.

Common GW-04 Resume Failure

“Worked a season on a handcrew.”
That sentence qualifies nothing.

SF-50 Clarification

• An SF-50 is not required to be eligible for GW-04
• Uploading one does not hurt and can support your application if available

IQCS Note (GW-04)

• Submitting an IQCS is not required
• Uploading it can help HR understand your fire experience
• Even a sparse IQCS is acceptable

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3. VOLUNTEER & LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

This section supports:

• Crew fit
• Leadership potential
• Stress tolerance

Include:

• Athletics
• Conservation corps or structured training programs
• Fire, EMS, or law-enforcement academies
• Wilderness or backcountry experience
• Team leadership roles

Translate everything into teamwork, discipline, accountability, and safety.

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4. EDUCATION (CAN CREATE ELIGIBILITY)

Education can make you eligible for positions you might not otherwise qualify for.

• At GW-03, certain education may substitute for experience
• At GW-04, qualifying fire-related education may support eligibility

Critical rule:

If you list education, you must upload transcripts.

• Unofficial transcripts are acceptable and commonly used
• In some cases, HR may later request official transcripts

Missing transcripts is a common reason applicants are marked ineligible, even when everything else is correct.

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5. ADDITIONAL SKILLS & PHYSICAL READINESS

Include:

• Pack test readiness
• Physical fitness and endurance
• Ability to work long hours in rugged terrain
• Navigation or outdoor skills

Avoid ego. Focus on job relevance.

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🟧 PART 4 — SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS & SUBMISSION STRATEGY

Resume (Strongly Recommended)

You may:

• Build your resume in the USAJobs Resume Builder to ensure nothing is missed
• Then export that information into a formatted Word document or PDF

Submitting your own formatted resume is recommended because it:

• Improves readability
• Allows better use of space
• Makes it easier for HR to verify qualifications

Follow the FireCamp sample structure and keep it two pages or fewer.

IQCS

• Not required
• Helpful once you have fire experience
• Upload even if sparse

Transcripts

• Required if claiming education
• Unofficial transcripts are acceptable
• Official transcripts may be requested later

Cover Letter (Optional)

• One page maximum
• Clarify duty locations and availability

References

• Do not include references on your two-page resume
• References are typically entered later during the application process
• Leaving them off your resume saves valuable space

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🟩 PART 5 — APPLYING WITH ZERO FIRE EXPERIENCE

Minimum Path

• Create a USAJobs account
• Build a compliant two-page resume
• Apply to GW-03 Forestry Aid / Technician positions
• Upload CPR / First Aid if held
• Match general experience language carefully

You do not need fire experience.
You do need correct language.

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🟦 PART 6 — KEY FEDERAL HIRING REFERENCES

These resources explain the official eligibility language and hiring process used by different agencies.

U.S. Forest Service — Seasonal Wildland Fire Hiring
https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/careers/recruitment-events/seasonal-wildland-firefighting

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) — How to Apply
https://www.nifc.gov/careers/how-to-apply

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) — Wildland Fire Jobs
https://www.bia.gov/guide/how-apply-wildland-fire-jobs

🔥 FireCamp Rule:
If language appears in these resources, it should appear — truthfully — in your resume.

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🔥 FINAL WORD FROM FIRECAMP

This guide is based on resumes that cleared HR and were referred under current hiring rules.

If you follow this guide exactly, you give yourself the same advantage as someone with insider knowledge.

That’s the point of FireCamp.