Overview
In the United States, a "resume" (1-2 pages) is the standard document for most job applications. A CV (curriculum vitae) is used primarily in academic, medical, scientific, and research contexts. US resumes are typically shorter and more concise than European CVs. Photos, age, marital status, and similar personal information are generally not included due to anti-discrimination laws.
Key CV Guidance
Including a photo on a US resume is strongly discouraged. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and other federal and state laws, employers are prohibited from making hiring decisions based on protected characteristics including race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, and religion. A photo can expose both applicant and employer to potential discrimination claims.
Date of birth should never be included on a US resume. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects workers 40 and older from age-based discrimination. Including your DOB is unnecessary and could expose you to age discrimination.
Marital status is never included on a US resume. It is irrelevant to most employment decisions and including it is unusual and potentially problematic.
Nationality or national origin should not be included. Work authorization (e.g., "U.S. Citizen", "Authorized to work in the U.S.") may be noted if relevant to the role or for security clearance positions.
Length & Formatting
For most job applications, 1 page for entry-level and recent graduates, 1-2 pages for experienced professionals. A US academic CV can be much longer and include publications, grants, and presentations.
Clean, professional, and concise. US Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches). Clear section headings. Good use of white space. Tailor to each job posting. ATS compatibility is important.
ATS are extremely common in the US. Most large employers use ATS to screen resumes before human review. Use keywords from the job description, standard section headings, avoid tables/graphics for text content, and save as both PDF and Word if requested.
Work Experience & Education
Reverse chronological order. Strong action verbs. Quantified achievements are highly valued (e.g., "Increased revenue by $1.2M", "Managed 15-person team"). Keep bullets concise and impactful.
For most professional resumes, education follows work experience. For recent graduates, education may come first. Include degree (abbreviation), major, institution, city/state, and graduation year. GPA may be included if recent and above 3.5.
A dedicated skills section is common in US resumes, especially for technical roles. List hard skills, software, programming languages. Soft skills are better demonstrated through experience bullets.
Key Differences — United States CV
- Called "resume" in the US (not CV, except academic/medical contexts)
- US Letter paper size (8.5 x 11 in)
- Highly concise — 1-2 pages for most roles
- No photo, no DOB, no marital status (legal protections)
- Strong focus on quantified achievements
- ATS optimization is critical at most companies
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Making the resume too long
- Including a photo
- Not quantifying achievements
- Using generic objective statements
- Using A4 paper size instead of US Letter
- Failing to tailor the resume to each job posting
Official Sources
This guidance is based on general U.S. professional practice and publicly available information. Resume requirements vary by employer, industry, and role. Academic and medical CV formats differ significantly from professional resumes.
Use our free CV builder to create a professionally formatted United States CV with country-specific guidance applied automatically.