Resume format guide
How to Format a Resume for the US
The US resume is the most conventions-heavy of the English-language markets, mostly through what it excludes. No photo, no date of birth, no marital status, no nationality — US anti-discrimination law makes employers actively avoid those details, and including them can get a resume discarded at the screening step.
Length expectations run shorter than elsewhere: one page for most candidates, two pages for 10+ years of experience or academic and federal roles. American spelling throughout, MM/YYYY dates, and a summary or 'headline' at the top rather than a personal statement.
The US market is also the most ATS-saturated: high application volumes mean most mid-size and large employers screen through applicant tracking systems before human review. Single-column layouts, standard headings, and literal keyword matching are not optional refinements — they are the price of entry.
This page covers the format rules; the role guides linked below carry the sector-specific detail, including O*NET skills data for US occupations.
Length and structure
One page is the standard advice and the right default under ten years of experience. Two pages is acceptable for senior, technical, academic, and federal resumes; federal applications follow their own long-form format entirely.
Structure conventionally: name and contact line, summary, core skills, professional experience, education. Education moves below experience once you have graduated into your career; while studying, it leads. GPA is included only when strong (3.7+) and recent.
Personal details: what to include and what to leave off
Include name, city and state, phone, email, and LinkedIn. Leave off photo, age, marital status, and nationality — a US recruiter cannot use them and may need to discard the resume to stay compliant.
Work authorisation is the one personal detail worth stating: 'US citizen' or 'Authorized to work in the US without sponsorship' pre-answers the question recruiters must ask, especially for candidates with international backgrounds.
Date formats and spelling
MM/YYYY ('06/2023 – Present') or 'Month YYYY' are both standard; pick one and apply it everywhere. US background checks verify month-level dates, so accuracy matters more than style.
Use American spelling: organize, specialize, color, program. Vocabulary also localizes — 'resume' not CV, 'internship' not placement, 'GPA' not 'grade average'.
References
US employers check references late, after interviews, and usually through a formal process. Do not list referees on the resume; 'References available upon request' is optional and generally omitted — the space is better spent on another achievement bullet.
Key takeaways
One page by default; two for 10+ years or academic roles
No photo, age, or nationality — including them can get you screened out
American spelling and MM/YYYY dates
State work authorisation in one line when relevant
References checked late; keep them off the resume
the US resume examples
Other countries
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