A free, ATS-friendly US resume builder used by candidates at Google, Amazon, Meta, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs. One page, achievement-focused, and built to beat Workday and Greenhouse screening.
A US resume is short, sharp, and sales-driven. One page if you have under 10 years of experience, two pages absolutely max for senior leadership. No photos, no personal data, no "objective" sections — just a tight summary and quantified achievements.
Over 95% of US Fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) like Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, and iCIMS. Your resume needs clean formatting, standard section names, and keywords pulled directly from the job description — otherwise it never reaches a human.
Use our free builder to create a US resume that ATS systems read perfectly and that hiring managers actually finish reading.
Six rules every USA resume must follow.
1 page for under 10 years of experience. 2 pages only for executives and academics.
"Optimize", "organize", "color". Set spell-check to en-US.
No tables, columns, headers/footers, text boxes, or images. Single-column layout reads cleanest.
Numbers, dollars, percentages, headcount. "Drove $4.2M in pipeline" beats "responsible for sales".
No photo, age, DOB, marital status. Federal law (Title VII) discourages it.
"03/2020 – 06/2023" or "March 2020 – June 2023". Be consistent.
The exact structure recruiters in USA expect.
Full name, city + state, phone, professional email, LinkedIn URL, portfolio URL if relevant.
3–4 lines: years of experience, specialty, top wins, what you're targeting.
8–14 keyword-rich skills in 2–3 columns. Match the job description.
Reverse chronological. Company, role, location, dates, 4–6 quantified bullet points.
Degree, university, graduation year, GPA only if 3.5+ and you're a recent grad.
AWS, PMP, CFA, CPA, Google, etc. — any active credentials.
Industry awards, patents, peer-reviewed publications, conference talks.
Only if it adds value — board roles, nonprofit leadership, open-source maintainership.
Quick reference of country-specific rules.
| Length | 1 page (under 10 yrs); 2 pages max |
| Photo | Never |
| Document Name | "Resume" — not CV |
| Personal Statement | Called "Summary" or "Professional Profile" |
| Spelling | American English |
| Personal Data | Forbidden under federal anti-discrimination law |
| GPA | Only if 3.5+ and within 5 years of graduation |
| References | Never on the resume |
| Cover Letter | Sometimes — increasingly optional, but always include if asked |
Copy-ready opening lines and impact statements.
One page for under 10 years of experience. Two pages for senior leaders, executives, or academics. Never three.
Absolutely not. US anti-discrimination law (Title VII) discourages photos, and many companies will reject resumes with photos to avoid bias claims.
Only if it's 3.5 or above AND you graduated within the last 5 years. Otherwise, drop it.
Use a single-column layout, standard section names, no tables or graphics, and pull keywords directly from the job description. Save as a regular PDF (not image-based).
Optional but recommended. Many ATS systems still ask for one, and recruiters at top firms read them. Always include when explicitly requested.
Use a Summary, not an Objective. Objectives sound entry-level and dated. A 3–4 line Summary highlighting your value proposition works far better.
Cover the last 10–15 years in detail. Earlier roles can be condensed into one line each, or grouped under "Earlier Experience". Drop high school jobs entirely.
Yes — heavily. Always include your LinkedIn URL on the resume. Make sure your LinkedIn matches your resume (dates, titles, achievements).
Applying internationally? Each country has unique resume conventions — pick the right format for your destination.
ATS-friendly format for Aussie recruiters
Bilingual-ready, no photo, achievement-focused
Tabellarisch format with photo & signature
Kiwi-friendly, concise, results-driven
Photo, nationality, visa status included
2-page format, personal statement, hobbies
Pick a USA-friendly template, fill in your details, download a polished PDF in minutes — completely free.
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