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United States Resume Guide

Master the US resume format used by Fortune 500 employers and startups alike. Learn what American hiring managers and ATS systems expect on every resume.

Key Facts

Photo Expected

No

Resume Length

1 page (2 pages for senior roles)

Date Format

MM/DD/YYYY

Region

North America

Expected Sections

Contact InformationProfessional SummaryWork ExperienceEducationSkillsCertificationsAwards

Format Preferences

The American resume is a one-page document for most professionals and a two-page document for senior or executive candidates. Photos, age, marital status, and nationality must be excluded — US Equal Employment Opportunity laws prohibit hiring decisions based on these traits, and including them can disqualify your application. Lead with a compelling professional summary or branded headline, follow with reverse-chronological work history with quantified achievements, and finish with education and skills. Use action verbs and metrics to describe impact. ATS optimisation is critical — over 90% of large US employers use applicant tracking systems.

Tips

  • Stick to one page if you have under 10 years of experience — recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds on first review.
  • Never include a photo, age, marital status, or nationality on a US resume — it can lead to instant disqualification.
  • Quantify every achievement: revenue grown, costs reduced, users acquired, time saved — numbers convert.
  • Mirror keywords from the job description to maximise ATS scoring.
  • Lead bullets with strong action verbs (Led, Built, Shipped, Scaled, Reduced) — avoid "responsible for".

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