CV Format for the USA (2026 Guide)
In the US, a resume is a one-page marketing document engineered to pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and land an interview. Personal details are stripped out by law, and format matters as much as content.
At a glance
What to include
- A contact header with name, phone, email, city/state and LinkedIn — no photo
- A professional summary of 2–3 lines tailored to each role
- Reverse-chronological experience with quantified bullet points
- Education and relevant certifications
- Keywords mirrored from the job description so ATS software ranks you
What to avoid
- Photo, date of birth, Social Security number, marital status or references
- 'References available upon request' — it is assumed and wastes space
- Tables, text boxes, headers/footers and multi-column layouts that ATS cannot parse
- First-person pronouns ('I led') and typos — proofread relentlessly
Beat the ATS first, impress the human second. Use a clean single-column layout, standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills), and echo the job description's keywords verbatim. A pretty two-column design that fails parsing never reaches a recruiter.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include a photo or date of birth on a US resume?
No. US anti-discrimination law discourages age, marital status and photo. Including them can get your application discarded by compliant employers.
Can my US resume be two pages?
One page is the default. Two pages is acceptable for senior professionals with 10+ years, or for academic and research roles that list publications.
What paper size should I use?
Letter (8.5 × 11 in), not A4. If you are applying from abroad, set your document to Letter size before exporting.
Localize your CV for USA
Paste your current CV and our free preview shows exactly what changes for USA — photo, length, dates, wording and order.