🇺🇸How to Write a Resume for United States
A US resume lives and dies by three rules: one page, achievement-first, and no demographic details. Recruiters and their applicant tracking systems (ATS) skim in seconds, so your strongest, quantified wins have to sit at the top in strong verbs and numbers. Photos, age, gender, and marital status are deliberately left off to stay compliant with anti-discrimination norms.
Language
English
Resume conventions
One-page, impact-first bullets; no photo, age, or gender
Top job boards
LinkedIn · Indeed · Greenhouse · Lever
Format & structure essentials
Length
One page is the default for under ~10 years of experience, in reverse-chronological order (most recent role first).
What to leave off
No photo, age, gender, or national ID numbers; including them reads as unprofessional and creates discrimination risk for the employer.
Wording
Action verb + metric + result, and mirror keywords from the job description naturally so you clear ATS screening.
What to emphasize in this market
Common mistakes when applying to United States
❌ Adding a photo or personal details
✅ In the US these are a liability, not a plus. Remove your photo, age, gender, and any ID numbers entirely.
❌ Attaching a long personal-statement essay
✅ US hiring uses a concise one-page cover letter when asked, never a long autobiographical essay common in some markets abroad.
❌ Listing duties with no results
✅ Replace 'Responsible for…' with outcome phrasing like 'Increased/Reduced … by N%' backed by real numbers.
Get your resume checked against United States norms
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Resume guides by role
Even in the same market, emphasis differs by role. Check the core skills and phrasing for your target role too.
Related free tools & guides
Hiring norms vary by company and over time, so check the employer’s guidance before you apply. For a specific review, try a free AI resume review.