Quick Takeaway
A US resume is usually one page (two if you have 10+ years of relevant experience), leaves out your photo, age, date of birth and marital status, and leads with a short summary, then experience with results-focused bullet points, skills and education. Use a simple layout so applicant tracking systems can read it.
Key takeaways
- One page for most people; two pages for long, relevant careers.
- No photo, age, date of birth, marital status or religion: US employers avoid them.
- Lead each bullet with an action verb and a measurable result.
- Tailor keywords to each job ad so applicant tracking systems match you.
- In the US, a “CV” usually means a long academic document; most jobs want a resume.
If you’re applying to jobs in the United States, including remote roles with US companies, the resume format differs from many other countries. Getting it right is the easiest win in your job search.
You can build a US-style resume in minutes with our free resume and CV builder: it checks your resume against best practices and matches it to a job description. For a deeper look at applicant tracking systems, read how to write an ATS-friendly resume.
- US resume
- A US resume is a concise, one- to two-page summary of your experience, skills and results, tailored to a specific job and written without personal details such as a photo, age or marital status.
Resume vs CV in the US
| Aspect | Resume | CV |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | Most jobs | Academia, research, medicine |
| Length | 1–2 pages | As long as needed |
| Content | Relevant experience and results | Full record: publications, grants, teaching |
| Tailored to each job | Yes | Less often |
What to Leave Out
US employment law prohibits discrimination based on characteristics such as age, race, religion, sex and national origin. To avoid any appearance of bias, US recruiters generally prefer resumes without personal details.
- No photo (unless you’re applying for modeling or acting work).
- No age or date of birth.
- No marital status, children, religion or nationality.
- No full street address: city and state are enough.
- No “References available on request”: it’s assumed.
The Section Order US Recruiters Expect
Step 1: Header
Name, city and state, phone, email and your LinkedIn URL.
Step 2: Summary
Two or three lines: who you are, your specialty and your strongest result.
Step 3: Experience
Most recent first: job title, company, city and state (or “Remote”), month and year.
Step 4: Skills
Tools and skills that match the job ad.
Step 5: Education
Degree, school and graduation year (optional if it was long ago).
Step 6: Optional sections
Certifications, projects, volunteer work and languages.
Write Bullets That Show Results
US recruiters skim for impact. Start each bullet with an action verb, say what you did, and show the result with a number where you can.
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Responsible for social media | Grew Instagram followers from 2,000 to 11,000 in 9 months |
| Worked on customer support | Cut average response time from 20 hours to 4 by introducing templates |
| Helped with sales | Closed $180,000 in new contracts in my first year |
No numbers?
Use scale (“for 40 clients”), frequency (“weekly reports for leadership”) or the before-and-after (“replaced a manual process with…”). Never invent a figure.
US Formatting Details
- Dates: month and year, such as “Mar 2023 – Present”.
- Spelling: American English (organize, color, program).
- Phone: include +1 or your country code if you’re outside the US.
- Work authorization: if you’re already authorized to work in the US, a short line can help; don’t list visa details you aren’t asked for.
- File: PDF unless the ad asks for Word; name it “Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf”.
Tailor Your Resume in 10 Minutes
Step 1: Highlight the job ad
Mark the required skills, tools and responsibilities.
Step 2: Match your summary
Rewrite the first line to mirror the role title and top requirement.
Step 3: Reorder your bullets
Put the most relevant results first under each job.
Step 4: Update your skills
Add the ad’s keywords you genuinely have; remove unrelated ones.
Step 5: Check and save
Proofread, then save as “Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf”.
Mistakes International Applicants Make
| Mistake | US expectation |
|---|---|
| A photo and personal details | Leave them out |
| A five-page CV for an industry job | One or two pages |
| Duties instead of results | Action verbs and measurable outcomes |
| Unfamiliar degree names | Add the US equivalent, such as “Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science” |
| Local salary figures or currencies | Leave pay out of the resume; convert figures to US dollars if you mention budgets |
| Day-month date formats | Month and year, such as “Mar 2023” |
Pass the Applicant Tracking System
Most large US employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sort applications. Use standard headings, avoid text inside images and tables, and mirror the key skills from the job ad where they are true for you. Our resume builder compares your resume with a job description and shows the missing keywords.
Freelancing for US clients instead? Our Upwork proposal generator turns a job post into a short, client-first proposal.
How long should a resume be in the US?
One page for most people. Two pages are fine with more than about 10 years of relevant experience.
Should I put a photo on my US resume?
No. US employers generally prefer resumes without photos to avoid any appearance of bias.
What is the difference between a resume and a CV in the US?
A resume is a short, tailored document for most jobs. A CV is a longer academic record used in research, academia and medicine.
Should I include my address on a US resume?
City and state are enough. A full street address isn’t needed.
Should I write a cover letter for US jobs?
When the application allows it, a short, tailored cover letter helps: three paragraphs on why this role, what you bring, with one concrete result, and a polite close.
Do I need to include my GPA?
Only if you graduated recently and it’s strong (commonly 3.5 or higher on the US scale). Experienced candidates usually leave it out.
Is there a free US resume builder?
Yes. Our free resume and CV builder creates an ATS-friendly resume, checks it and matches it to job ads, with no sign-up.