Large US employers often receive hundreds of applications for a single opening. Most of them go through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a person reads them, and a recruiter's first look is usually brief. A clear, focused resume gives you the best chance with both.
Keep it short and easy to scan
- One page is the norm for students, new grads and people with up to about ten years of experience. Two pages is fine for senior roles with a long track record.
- Use a simple layout: clear headings, one readable font, consistent dates and plenty of white space. Columns, tables, icons and skill bars often scramble when an ATS reads them.
- Send a PDF unless the employer asks for Word, and give the file a sensible name, such as Jordan-Lee-Data-Analyst.pdf.
The sections that matter
- Header: name, phone, a professional email, city and state, and a LinkedIn or portfolio link. A full street address is not needed.
- Summary (optional): two or three lines on who you are and the kind of role you want, rewritten for each application.
- Experience: most recent first. Under each job, list three to six bullets that show results, not duties.
- Skills: tools, languages, licenses and methods you can actually use.
- Education and certifications: degree, school and year. New grads can add relevant projects, coursework and internships here and move education to the top.
Write bullets that show results
Start each bullet with a strong verb and, where you can, a number. Compare "Responsible for customer reports" with "Automated weekly customer reports in SQL, saving the team about 6 hours a week." The second tells a hiring manager what you can do for them.
Get past the applicant tracking system
- Mirror the job description's wording for skills you really have. If the posting says "project management", use that phrase rather than only "PM".
- Use standard headings such as Experience, Education and Skills.
- Keep important text out of headers, footers, text boxes and images.
What to leave off
US resumes do not include a photo, date of birth, age, marital status, religion, or a Social Security number. Leave off "References available upon request" and salary history. Many states and cities do not allow employers to ask about your past pay, and it rarely helps you.
Tailor, then apply
Keep a master resume, then trim and reorder it for each application so the most relevant work is at the top. On USA Jobs 24, every apply button takes you to the employer's own careers site, where you upload your resume directly. Next, read our guide on preparing for interviews.
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