US Resume Format: How-to Guide & Templates

If you’re applying for jobs in the United States, using the right resume format is essential. Resumes in the U.S. follow a simple, easy-to-read layout that focuses on clarity, work experience, key skills, and results.

Keep reading to learn how to format and write your resume so employers can quickly see why you’re a great fit for a job, the American way. 

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What Is the Standard US Resume Format?

A standard U.S. resume is typically a one-page snapshot of your most relevant work experience, skills, and educational background. The key to any American resume is to quickly show hiring managers what makes you the right candidate for the role.

The specific resume format you use will depend on your experience level. That's where the three different U.S. resume formats come in. Choose the one that best represents your career: 

• Chronological resume: This is the most popular resume among job seekers and recruiters. It places work experience front and center, highlighting your career growth. Experienced professionals benefit the most from this format.
• Functional resume: This type of resume emphasizes your skills, allowing you to organize them by category and align them with your achievements. This format is best for recent graduates, career changers, or job seekers with limited experience.
• Combination resume: This format is a hybrid of the chronological and functional resumes, aiming to showcase your work history and skills equally. This layout works best for mid-career professionals.

What Does a Good American Resume Look Like?

A good U.S. resume looks clean and straightforward, with ample whitespace and resume sections optimized to highlight your most relevant qualifications. 

Here's an example of an effective chronological American resume: 

How Should You Format Your Resume in the US?

To format your resume for U.S. employers, you need to think about both hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS). These systems scan resumes before a human ever sees them—and nearly 99% of Fortune 500 companies use them to screen candidates.

An ATS looks for career details and keywords that match the job description. If your formatting is messy or inconsistent, the system may not read your resume correctly. That's why using a clean, simple layout is so important.

✅ Here are a few U.S. resume formatting rules to live by: 

• Choose a professional resume font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Set the font size to 11 or 12 points.
• Adjust the resume margins to 1 inch on each side and select single-line spacing.
• Use standard section headings, e.g., "Work Experience," "Skills," or "Education."
• Name your resume Job Title-Your Name-Resume.pdf for clarity.
• Save your resume as a PDF to keep the format intact.
• Leave room for whitespace to make your resume easier to read.
• Try to keep your resume length to one page. If you have over 10 years of experience, it's okay to have two pages. 

What to Include in Your US Resume

These are the essential sections any American resume must have: 

• Resume header
• Professional summary or resume objective
• Work experience
• Skills
• Education
• Optional sections, e.g., volunteer work, certifications, languages, publications, etc. 

Let's break it down one by one. 

Resume Header

Your resume header is key to getting hiring managers to contact you for an interview. Include the following details: 

• Full name
• Job title
• Phone number
• Professional email
• Current address
• Networking profile or digital portfolio, if applicable

Pro tip: If you don't have a U.S. phone number, add your country code and any required international dialing codes so employers know how to contact you. 

Professional Summary or Resume Objective

HR statistics show that recruiters spend only seven seconds scanning your resume. That's why writing a strong professional summary or resume objective is so important. These short sections help you grab attention right away and encourage employers to keep reading.

A professional summary is a three- to four-sentence paragraph highlighting your most impressive achievements and skills. It's a great choice for mid-career and experienced job seekers who want to showcase their impact.

See this example: 

Career changers and recent graduates, on the other hand, may benefit more from a resume objective. This concise paragraph focuses on your skills and career goals. It emphasizes what you're ready to contribute rather than what you've already done. 

Check out this example: 

Work Experience

Your work history section is all about showing how your past experience aligns with your target job.

Start by listing your previous jobs in reverse-chronological order. Include your job title, company or institution's name, location, employment dates, and at least three bullet points describing your work duties. 

If possible, list quantifiable accomplishments instead of responsibilities. Workplace achievements show you can deliver real results and impress hiring managers even more. 

See this in action: 

Pro tip: Start each bullet point with an action verb. Action verbs such as “enhanced” or “executed” convey initiative and impact. 

Skills

The skills section highlights the abilities that make you a strong match for the job. It helps employers quickly see what you can do and how you can add value to their team.

Start by reviewing the job description to understand what the employer seeks. Then add skills in a simple bullet list, ensuring they align with the employer's needs. Focus on a mix of hard skills, such as technical or job-specific abilities, and soft skills, like communication and teamwork.

Education

For your educational background, the goal is to demonstrate that you have the right knowledge to support your skills and experience. This section is essential for recent graduates because recruiters will look for coursework, publications, or projects that can offset your limited experience. 

Simply write your degree, school or institution's name, location, and graduation date. If you have limited experience, consider including relevant coursework that showcases specialized knowledge or skills. 

Here's an example for a recent graduate: 

Optional Sections

Optional sections highlight extra qualifications and can set you apart from other candidates. Remember, the goal is to keep your resume to one page, so include only the sections that add value to your application and support your target job. 

Here are some optional sections you can add to your resume: 

• Certifications and licenses: Shows professional credentials that prove your expertise, such as industry certifications, safety licenses, or technical credentials
• Volunteer experience: Highlights unpaid work that demonstrates leadership, teamwork, and community involvement—especially helpful for students and career changers
• Projects: Showcases academic, freelance, or personal projects that reflect real-world skills and hands-on experience
• Awards and honors: Displays recognition for strong performance, leadership, or outstanding achievements
• Publications: Lists articles, reports, or research you’ve written or contributed to, which is useful for academic, technical, or creative roles
• Professional affiliations: Includes memberships in industry organizations that show your commitment to professional growth
• Languages: Highlights foreign language skills that can be valuable in customer-facing or global roles
• Conferences and training: Shows workshops, seminars, or courses you’ve completed to stay current in your field
• Interests and hobbies: Shares relevant personal interests that reflect positive traits, such as teamwork, creativity, or leadership

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What to Leave Off a US Resume

Thanks to U.S. anti-discrimination laws, job seekers are protected from bias based on age, race, gender, religion, disability, national origin, and other protected traits. 

This means American recruiters care more about what you can do for the team than who you are. Here's what you should leave off your resume: 

• Headshot: Including a picture of yourself is uncommon and typically discouraged in American resumes.
• References: Employers will ask for your references when the time is right. Writing "References available upon request" is also outdated.
• Personal information: Per U.S. anti-discrimination laws, there's no need to add your gender, race, age, marital status, ethnicity, religion, or political affiliations on your U.S. resume.
• Complex design elements: To keep your resume ATS-friendly, opt for simple designs and easy-to-read fonts. Avoid using tables or too many colors on your resume.
• Full street address: Writing your city and state is enough for employers. Leave off your full street address for safety.
• Personal identification numbers: Details such as your Social Security number, driver's license number, or passport number are irrelevant during your application process. Employers will request this during your onboarding.
• Immigration status or evidence of employment eligibility: Employers cannot ask you for this information before sending a job offer. 

US Resume Templates

Use these U.S. Zety resume templates to see how American job seekers highlight their skills and experience: 

Manager 

Psychology Student

Administrative Assistant

Key Takeaways

Now that you're ready to create a resume for the U.S., remember these key points: 

• A standard U.S. resume is usually one page and focuses on your most relevant experience, skills, and education.
• Consider your experience level and career goals when choosing your resume format: chronological, functional, or combination.
• Use a clean, simple layout that is easy for both recruiters and ATS to read.
• Start with a strong professional summary or resume objective to grab attention in seconds.
• List your work experience in reverse-chronological order and highlight measurable achievements.
• Include a targeted skills section that aligns with the job description and highlights your strengths.
• Add optional sections only if they strengthen your application and support your target role.
• Leave off photos, personal details, and unnecessary information to keep your resume bias-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Americans use a CV or a resume?

Most Americans use a resume because it's highly focused on what makes them a right fit for the role, and most American employers ask for one.

Only when applying for roles in academia, medicine, and research should you opt for a CV. These industries expect applicants to provide a full career background. 

When deciding which document to submit, consider your target industry and read the job listing to see if the employer stated a preference. 

What is the 7 second rule in a resume?

The seven-second rule for resumes states that recruiters spend only seven seconds scanning them. They know what to look for and can quickly determine whether the candidate is a potential match. 

Writing a strong professional summary and optimizing your resume structure are key to making the most of those seven seconds. Place your most impressive information at the top and leave ample whitespace so recruiters can scan efficiently. 

What are the 3 C’s of a resume?

The 3 C’s of a resume are clarity, conciseness, and customization. 

• Clarity means using a clean layout, clear headings, and simple language so employers can quickly understand your qualifications.
• Conciseness means keeping your resume focused by highlighting only your most relevant experience and skills.
• Customization means tailoring your resume to each job description by using relevant keywords and emphasizing the most important qualifications.

What are the 5 golden rules of resume writing?

Here are the five golden rules of resume writing: 

1. Keep it clear and well-organized with a clean layout, standard headings, and readable fonts.
2. Tailor it to each job by aligning your skills and experience with the job description.
3. Focus on measurable achievements to demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
4. Use action-oriented language like "led," "improved," or "managed" to emphasize impact.
5. Proofread carefully by checking for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors.

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