US resume format: what American employers expect

Leave these out

• Photo, age or date of birth, marital status, nationality, religion and gender. US equal employment opportunity rules mean many employers discard resumes that include them.
• Social Security number or other ID numbers.
• Full street address. City and state are enough, for example Austin, TX.
• References and the line references available upon request.
• Salary history. Several states and cities ban employers from asking for it.

Include these

• Name, city and state, phone, email and LinkedIn URL.
• A short summary that names the target job title.
• A skills section with the tools and keywords the posting uses.
• Experience in reverse chronological order, with month and year.
• Education and certifications. Leave out graduation year if you prefer not to signal age.
• Work authorization, if you need sponsorship or already hold a visa, for example Authorized to work in the US (H-1B, transfer).

Length and layout

One page for students and early-career applicants, two pages for most professionals with around ten or more years of relevant experience. Use US Letter size (8.5 × 11 in), a single column and standard headings. Save as Word or a text-based PDF.

Use American spelling: organized, program, center, license.

Write results, not duties

US recruiters expect every bullet to show impact. Start with an action verb, say what you did and how, and end with a result: a number, a time saving, a quality improvement or a scale. Use real figures from reviews or reports, and honest ranges when you do not have exact numbers.

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