How to write a résumé for the United States

Employers in the United States usually expect a résumé on US Letter paper, most recent experience first. Length: 1 page under ~10 years of experience, 2 at most (academic and medical CVs are longer). Employers there usually leave out a photo, date of birth and marital status.

Build a résumé for the United StatesYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.

At a glance

CV conventions in the United States
What it is called	Résumé
Length	1 page under ~10 years of experience, 2 at most (academic and medical CVs are longer)
Paper size	US Letter
Layout	Compact single column
Order	Most recent first
Dates	Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023)
Photo	Usually left out
Date of birth	Usually left out
Nationality	Usually left out
Marital status	Usually left out
Right to work / visa status	Optional
References	Leave referees off the CV; have a list ready
Explain gaps longer than	6 months

Key facts

In the United States, federal law prohibits job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. Source: eeoc.gov
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says employers generally should not ask job-unrelated questions about marital status or the number and ages of children before employment. Source: eeoc.gov
US employers must complete Form I-9 to verify the identity and employment authorization of every new hire. Source: uscis.gov

Facts checked 2026-10-15.

How the United States compares with nearby countries

Unlike Canada, CVs in the United States are written in US English.

Unlike the Bahamas, CVs in the United States leave the photo out, leave out the date of birth and leave referees off.

Unlike Cuba, CVs in the United States leave the photo out, leave out the date of birth and use US Letter paper.

CV conventions in the United States compared with nearby countries
Country	Called	Photo	Date of birth	Length	Paper	Usual language
United States	Résumé	Usually left out	Usually left out	1–2 pages	Letter	US English
Canada	Résumé	Usually left out	Usually left out	1–2 pages	Letter	English
Bahamas	Curriculum Vitae	Optional	Optional	2 pages	Letter	English
Cuba	Currículum Vitae	Usually included	Usually included	1–2 pages	A4	Spanish
Haiti	Curriculum Vitae	Optional	Optional	2 pages	A4	French

Tips for the United States

Leave out photo, age, date of birth, marital status and nationality: US employers avoid them to stay clear of discrimination claims.
Start each bullet with an action verb and show results with numbers (budgets, %, volumes, people).
Mirror the keywords in the job posting; most employers screen with applicant tracking software.
Mention work authorization only if you need sponsorship or the posting asks.
“References available upon request” is considered outdated; have a separate reference list ready.

The United States follows the same CV conventions as 1 other country in the United States guide.

Section headings in US English

If you write the résumé in US English, these are the usual headings:

English	US English
Profile	Summary
Experience	Experience
Education	Education
Skills	Skills
Languages	Languages
Licences & certifications	Licenses & certifications
References	References

Regulated jobs in the United States

For these jobs, put your registration or licence near the top of the résumé, or say that your application is in progress.

Profession	Registration or licence
Doctors	State medical licence; USMLE and (for IMGs) ECFMG certification
Physician associates	NCCPA certification and state licence
Nurses	State RN licence (NCLEX-RN)
Midwives	CNM / CPM certification and state licence
Dentists	State dental licence (INBDE)
Dental care professionals	State licence or certification (e.g. RDH, CDA)
Pharmacists	State pharmacist licence (NAPLEX, MPJE)
Pharmacy technicians	PTCB / NHA certification and state registration
Allied health professionals	State licence for your profession
Paramedics	NREMT certification and state licence
Psychologists	State psychologist licence (EPPP)
Optometrists	State optometry licence (NBEO)
Veterinarians	State veterinary licence (NAVLE)
Veterinary nurses	Credentialed vet tech (VTNE)
Care workers	State CNA / HHA certification and background check
Childcare workers	State childcare background check; CPR / first aid
Teachers	State teaching licence / certificate
Engineers	State PE licence (or EIT / FE passed)
Architects	State architect licence (ARE / NCARB)
Electricians	State or local journeyman / master electrician licence
Plumbers	State or local plumbing licence
HVAC technicians	EPA Section 608 certification
Professional drivers	CDL (class and endorsements) and DOT medical card
Forklift operators	OSHA-compliant forklift certification
Pilots	FAA certificate (ATP/commercial), ratings, first-class medical
Seafarers	USCG Merchant Mariner Credential
Accountants	State CPA licence
Financial advisers	FINRA registrations (Series 7, 65/66) or CFP
Lawyers	State bar admission
Social workers	State licence (LMSW / LCSW)
Security officers	State guard card / security licence

Guides by job

Regulated in the United States: Veterinary & animal care, Architecture, construction & property, Transport, logistics & supply chain, Aviation & maritime, Police, defence, security & emergency.

Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.

Questions

Is it a CV or a résumé in the United States?

In the United States most jobs ask for a résumé: a short summary of 1–2 pages, focused on achievements and tailored to the job. A curriculum vitae (CV) is used for academic, research and medical jobs; it has no page limit and lists publications, research, teaching and presentations in full. CV Atlas switches between the two automatically when you pick an academic or medical job.

Do I put a photo on my CV in the United States?

No. Leave the photo off a CV for the United States. Employers there don’t expect one and generally prefer CVs without it, and the CV Atlas readiness check flags a photo if you add one. Use the space for your experience and qualifications, and include a photo only if a job advert asks for one. Leave out photo, age, date of birth, marital status and nationality: US employers avoid them to stay clear of discrimination claims.

How long should a CV be in the United States?

For a CV in the United States, aim for 1–2 pages. Describe recent roles in detail and summarise older ones in a line or two, so the whole CV is quick to scan. Set the document to US Letter (8.5 × 11 in) paper, the standard size in the United States. Academic and senior clinical CVs are the exception: they list publications, research, teaching and courses in full and can run longer.

Should I put my date of birth on my CV in the United States?

No. Leave your date of birth and age off a CV for the United States. The same goes for your nationality and marital status. Employers there judge applicants on experience and qualifications, and personal details like these are best left out unless an application form asks for them. CV Atlas sets these details on or off to match the usual practice in the United States, and you can switch each one yourself.

Do I need references on my CV in the United States?

No. Leave referees off a CV for the United States. Employers there ask for references separately, usually late in the process, so the space is better used for your experience. Keep a list of two or three referees with their job title, phone number and email ready to send when asked. “References available upon request” is considered outdated; have a separate reference list ready.

Should I put my visa status on my CV in the United States?

Only if it matters for the job. CVs in the United States usually don’t mention immigration status, so add a short line such as “Requires visa sponsorship” or “Holds a work permit” only if you need sponsorship or the advert asks. Citizens and permanent residents can leave it out entirely. Online application forms often ask about the right to work directly, so you can answer it there.

What language should my CV be in for the United States?

English. CVs for the United States are normally written in American English, with American spelling such as “organized” and “center”. Follow the language of the job advert if it differs, and keep one language throughout: headings, dates and descriptions should all match. Have a native speaker check the final version if English is not your first language. CV Atlas writes the section headings in the language you choose, so switch it to match the advert.

What should a CV for the United States include?

A CV for the United States is usually 1–2 pages on US Letter paper, written in American English unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect no photo, no date of birth, and no referees. Start with a short profile, then experience, education, skills and languages. CV Atlas applies these rules when you choose the United States, and the questions below explain each one.

What paper size should my CV be for the United States?

US Letter (8.5 × 11 inches). Employers in the United States print and read CVs on US Letter paper, the standard size in North America, not A4. Set the page size before you export, because an A4 PDF printed on Letter paper can lose part of its margins or look badly placed on the page. CV Atlas sets US Letter automatically for this country, and you can change the paper size in the design options.

Should I put my nationality on my CV in the United States?

No. Leave your nationality off a CV for the United States. CVs there normally leave out personal details such as nationality, age and family status, and employers judge applicants on skills and experience. If the job needs a particular right to work, say that you have it instead. An application form may still ask about your right to work, so answer it there.

Should I put my marital status on my CV in the United States?

No. Leave your marital status off a CV for the United States. Family details say nothing about how you do the job, and CVs there normally leave them out. Keep the personal details to your name, contact details and, where it matters, your right to work. The same applies to children and other dependants.

Should I put my gender on my CV in the United States?

No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for the United States. It is not relevant to the job, and CVs there normally leave it out. Your name, job title and contact details are enough at the top of the CV, followed straight away by your profile and experience. If an application form asks for it, answer there rather than on the CV.

Do I need my full address on my CV in the United States?

Just your city and country. A CV for the United States needs only your city, country, phone number and email, not your full street address. That is enough for recruiters to see where you are based and whether you would need to relocate, and it keeps your home address off a document that may be shared widely. Employers ask for your full address later, when they make an offer or prepare a contract.

Should I put my driving licence on my CV in the United States?

Only if the job needs it. On a CV for the United States, mention a driving licence when the role involves driving, travel between sites or field work, or when the job advert asks for one. For office jobs it is optional, and one short line in your skills or personal details is enough. For driving jobs, give the licence category and any professional qualifications that go with it.

How should I write dates on a CV in the United States?

Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for the United States, write each role’s dates as month and year, for example “March 2021 to present”, and list your most recent job first. Keep the same format throughout, and avoid giving years only, which can hide gaps and makes recruiters ask questions. Exact days are not needed for jobs or studies.

How do I explain a gap on my CV in the United States?

Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in the United States usually expect a longer break to be accounted for, so add a short line in your timeline, such as “Career break: caring for a family member” or “Relocation and language study”. Be brief and honest, and keep the details for the interview. The CV Atlas readiness check points out gaps of more than six months in your work history, so you can add a line before you send the CV.

Do I sign my CV in the United States?

No. CVs in the United States are not signed. End the CV with your last section, such as skills, languages or references, with no signature, date or place line. A signature adds nothing to a document that is sent online, and recruiters there don’t expect to see one. If an application form asks you to sign a declaration, do it on the form itself.

Should I put hobbies and interests on my CV in the United States?

Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in the United States, and many recruiters skip them. Include one short line only when an interest shows a skill or commitment that fits the job, such as volunteering, coaching or a relevant club, and leave out generic ones like reading or travel. If space is tight, interests are the first section to cut.

Start your résumé for the United StatesYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.

Guidance checked October 2026; facts checked 2026-10-15. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.