Resume & CV builder for United States (USA)
In United States (USA) the document is called a Résumé (a CV is different — see notes). Recommended length: 1 page for under 10 years of experience is the usual guide; 2 pages for senior professionals — follow the posting if it specifies a length. Below are the conventions that decide whether your application looks local and professional — or foreign and risky. Then build yours free, with United States (USA) pre-selected.
Build my United States (USA) resume — freeWhat to include for United States (USA)
- Name, city/state, phone, email, LinkedIn/portfolio
- Professional summary of 2–3 lines
- Bullet points starting with strong action verbs, heavy on numbers and results
- Skills section mirroring the job posting's real requirements
What to leave out
- Photo, date of birth, marital status, nationality, full street address
- Social Security Number — never on a résumé
- 'Objective' statements — use a summary instead
Photo, language & spelling
Photo: Do not include a photo on a US résumé — most employers prefer not to receive one.
Spelling: American English spelling (organized, specialized).
Documents employers commonly request
- Cover letter for most professional applications
- Portfolio/work samples for creative and technical roles
Local insight
In the US, a résumé (1–2 pages, industry) is not a CV (long, academic/medical). Apply with a résumé unless the posting explicitly requests a CV.
Most large US employers screen with ATS software first — plain formatting and honest keyword matching decide whether a human ever sees your résumé.
Sources
Conventions vary by employer, sector and role — always check the job ad's own instructions first.
- CareerOneStop (US Dept. of Labor partner) — Resumes — Standard format of 1–2 pages, most recent first, ATS use in US hiring
- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — What not to put on your resume — No personal data beyond contact details (age, birthday, marital status, SSN) and no headshot for most roles