What is the difference between a CV and an American resume?

A US resume is short (1 page), has no photo or personal details, and is results-focused with action verbs.

Should I tailor my resume for each role in the USA?

Yes, absolutely. American ATS systems reject resumes whose keywords do not match the job listing.

What font size and typeface for an American resume?

Calibri, Arial or Georgia at 10.5–12pt, margins 0.75–1 inch, clean and professional design.

🇺🇸 CV / Resume USA

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1-page US format, no photo, action verbs, ATS-optimised. The complete guide + free generator.

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The US job market in 2026

In the United States, the term is not CV but resume. And the differences from the European CV are radical. The American market is the largest in the world with 160 million workers and recruiters who spend an average of 6 seconds per resume. Every word counts.

6 essential rules for the perfect US resume

1 page is mandatory

In the US, the resume fits on 1 page, with rare exceptions (10+ years of experience or academic profiles). American recruiters consider a 2-page resume a sign of poor conciseness.

Never a photo

Anti-discrimination law is very strict in the USA. Including a photo could expose the employer to legal action. Never do it.

No personal data

Age, date of birth, marital status, nationality, religion: absolutely prohibited. Full address is optional (city + state is sufficient).

Action verbs + metrics

Each bullet point starts with a strong past-tense verb: Launched, Increased, Reduced, Led. Always with a number: 'Increased revenue by 47%.'

Customise per role

American ATS are highly sophisticated. Copy the exact keywords from each job listing into your resume. A generic resume = 75% ATS failure rate.

Skills section prominent

US recruiters check technical skills first. Create a 'Core Competencies' or 'Technical Skills' section visible in the top third.

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US job market — Key data 2026

Indicator	Value	Note
Workforce	160 million	Largest market in the world
Unemployment rate	3.8%	Very tight market
Median tech salary	$115,000/year	San Francisco, NYC, Seattle
ATS used	90%+ of companies	Workday, Greenhouse, Lever
Standard format	1 page	2 pages for senior profiles only
Applications per role	250+	NYC, SF: up to 500

See also our guide on writing an effective CV, the CV format 2026, and our CV examples. Also applying in Canada or the UK?

FAQ — US resume: your questions

A US resume is much shorter (1 page), without a photo, without personal details (age, nationality), and 100% focused on quantified results. The word 'CV' in the USA refers to a long academic document, different from the professional resume.

Absolutely. American ATS (Workday, Greenhouse) automatically reject resumes whose keywords do not match the job listing. Tailoring per role is not optional.

No for nationality, but yes for work status if you are not a citizen or permanent resident: mention 'H-1B Visa' or 'OPT/CPT eligible' to avoid wasting time on both sides.

Calibri, Arial or Georgia at 10.5–12pt. Margins: 0.75–1 inch. Avoid aggressive colours. The design must be clean but not empty.

Yes, enormously. AWS, GCP, Azure, Google Analytics, PMP, Salesforce: these certifications are strong signals for ATS and American technical recruiters.

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