US Resume Format: How to Write an American Resume
The US resume format is a one-page, reverse-chronological resume with no photo, date of birth, marital status or nationality. It opens with your name and contact details and a short summary, then lists work experience as achievement bullet points, then education and skills. Dates are written as Month YYYY, spelling is American, and the file goes out as a PDF.
US resume rules at a glance
| Rule | US standard |
|---|---|
| Name of the document | Resume (a “CV” is only for academic and medical jobs) |
| Length | 1 page; 2 pages with about 10+ years or senior roles |
| Photo | ❌ No |
| Date of birth / age | ❌ No |
| Marital status, nationality | ❌ No |
| Address | City and state only — Austin, TX |
| Dates | Month YYYY — March 2024 – Present |
| Paper | US Letter, 8.5 × 11 in, margins 0.5–1 in |
| Spelling | American — organized, analyze, color |
| References | Not on the resume; give them when asked |
US resume section order
- Header — full name, phone, professional email, city and state, LinkedIn or portfolio link.
- Summary — two or three lines: your role, years of experience and the strongest result you can prove.
- Work experience — newest job first: job title, company, city, dates, then three to six bullet points.
- Education — degree, school, graduation year. Add GPA only if you graduated recently and it is strong.
- Skills — tools, software and languages that appear in the job ad.
- Optional — certifications, projects, volunteering, awards.
Students and freshers move Education above experience and add projects and internships — see the resume format for freshers. The reverse-chronological order is the one US recruiters and applicant tracking systems read best; a purely “functional” resume that hides dates tends to raise questions.
What to leave off an American resume
This is the biggest change for people used to a European, Gulf or Asian CV. A personal-details block that is expected in Germany or Dubai looks out of place in the US — remove it entirely rather than shortening it. The country-by-country rules are in date of birth, photo and personal details on a CV.
Mentioning visa or work authorization
You do not have to state your status. If it helps your application, add one neutral line under your contact details:
- Authorized to work in the US — no sponsorship required
- US permanent resident
- Available to relocate to Seattle, WA (if you live elsewhere)
Do not write your nationality or passport details. If you will need visa sponsorship, the online application form normally asks — answer it there.
Paper size, fonts and layout
- Letter paper. US Letter is 8.5 × 11 inches. Online applications read an A4 PDF without problems (QuickCVLab exports A4), but keep margins of at least 0.5 inch so nothing is clipped if the resume is printed on Letter with “Fit to page”.
- One readable font at 10–12 pt for body text and 14–20 pt for your name. Margins between 0.5 and 1 inch.
- Simple layout. One column, or a light two-column design with all key text outside images and text boxes, so applicant tracking systems can read it. The ATS-friendly resume guide shows what breaks parsing.
- File: PDF named Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf, unless the employer asks for Word (.docx).
Good US-style templates on QuickCVLab: Meridian, Compact, Quartz and Ledger — all one-column and ATS-safe.
How to write US resume bullet points
US recruiters scan for results, not duties. Start each bullet with an action verb, say what you did, and finish with a number:
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Responsible for social media accounts | Grew Instagram followers from 4,000 to 19,000 in 12 months with a weekly video series |
| Handled customer complaints | Resolved 40+ customer tickets a day and raised satisfaction from 82% to 91% |
| Worked on reports | Automated the weekly sales report in SQL, saving the team 6 hours a week |
Write in the first person without “I” (Led…, not I led…), past tense for past jobs and present tense for your current one. Before you send it, test the file with the free ATS score checker.
Applying to US jobs from another country
- Convert a two-page international CV to one page: cut old roles to one line and remove the personal-details block.
- Rename local qualifications in plain terms — Bachelor of Commerce (3-year degree) — and convert grades only if asked.
- Give your location honestly and add Open to relocation if true.
- Use dates as words — March 2024 — because 03/04/2024 means 4 March in most countries but 3 April in the US. The resume date format guide covers this.
Federal government jobs (USAJOBS) and academic posts use different formats — follow the instructions in the job announcement. For how the US compares with the UK, Europe and Asia, see the international CV format guide and resume vs CV.
US resume FAQ
What is the standard US resume format?
A one-page, reverse-chronological resume: name and contact details, a short summary, work experience with bullet-point achievements, education, and skills. No photo, date of birth, marital status or nationality. Dates are written as month and year, and the file is sent as a PDF unless the employer asks for Word.
How long should a resume be in the USA?
One page for students, graduates and most candidates with under about ten years of experience. Two pages are acceptable for senior or highly technical roles. Academic and medical CVs, and federal government resumes, follow their own longer formats.
Should I put a photo or date of birth on a US resume?
No. US employers avoid photos, age, date of birth, gender, marital status, religion and nationality because of anti-discrimination law. A resume that includes them can be set aside before anyone reads it.
How do I mention visa or work authorization on a US resume?
Only if it helps, and in one neutral line near your contact details, for example Authorized to work in the US — no sponsorship required, or US permanent resident. Do not write your nationality. If you need sponsorship, the application form usually asks, and that is the place to answer.
What paper size is a US resume?
US Letter, 8.5 × 11 inches. Most applications are sent online, where an A4 PDF reads perfectly well, but A4 is slightly taller and narrower, so keep generous margins and choose Fit to page if a recruiter prints it on Letter paper.
Is a CV different from a resume in the US?
Yes. In the US, a resume is the one-to-two-page document for almost every job. A CV is a long academic or medical record used for teaching, research and some healthcare roles.
General US hiring conventions, not legal or immigration advice. When an employer or a government portal asks for something different, follow their instructions.