United States

Build a US Resume That Follows American Hiring Standards

Create a professional US resume with ATS-friendly formatting, American conventions, and recruiter-approved structure. Free templates optimised for the US job market.

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United States resume conventions

Document type	Resume (1-2 pages)
Photo	Never include — anti-discrimination laws
Date of birth	Never include
Marital status	Never include
Date format	Month Year (Jan 2024 or January 2024)
Paper size	US Letter (8.5 x 11 inches)
Language	American English (organize, customize, color)

What you need to know

In the United States, the standard document is a resume — typically one page for early career and up to two pages for experienced professionals. Never include a photo, date of birth, marital status, nationality, or gender. US anti-discrimination laws make it illegal for employers to consider these factors, and including them signals unfamiliarity with American conventions. Use action verbs and quantified achievements. Most large US companies use ATS software, so ATS compatibility is critical.

Do

Keep it to 1-2 pages maximum
Start bullets with strong action verbs
Quantify achievements (revenue, percentages, scale)
Use US Letter paper size
Include LinkedIn profile URL
Tailor to each job description for ATS keywords

Don't

Include a photo or headshot
Include date of birth, age, marital status, or nationality
Use 'Curriculum Vitae' as the title (unless academic)
Include references or 'References available upon request'
Use British spellings (organise, colour)
Exceed 2 pages unless you have 15+ years of experience

Frequently asked questions

Use 'Resume' for non-academic roles. In the US, 'CV' is reserved for academic, research, and medical positions where a multi-page document listing publications, grants, and teaching is expected.

No. Including a photo on a US resume is considered unusual and can raise discrimination concerns. US employers explicitly avoid photos to comply with equal employment opportunity laws.

One page for early career (0-10 years). Two pages for senior professionals. Executives may use two full pages. Anything longer than two pages is generally too long for corporate roles.