US resume format: how to write a resume for USA jobs
Applying for jobs in the US with a CV from another country? Here is what a US resume looks like, the rules recruiters expect, and a full before-and-after example.
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In short: a US resume is a one-page summary of your work (two pages at most), written in American English. Leave out the photo, date of birth, nationality and marital status. Show your city and state, phone and email, open with a three-line summary, list jobs newest first with results in numbers, and use a simple single-column layout that applicant tracking systems (ATS) can read.
Last updated: · By the MyEasyCV team
US resume vs. the CV you already have
In most of Latin America and Europe, a CV or hoja de vida is a full record of your life: personal details, every school, every duty. A US resume is a short sales document for one kind of job. In the US the word “CV” usually means a long academic CV for research, teaching or medical positions; for almost every other job, employers expect a resume.
| — | Typical CV abroad | US resume |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 2–3 pages is common | 1 page; 2 if you have 10+ years of relevant experience |
| Photo | Often included | Leave it out |
| Date of birth, nationality, marital status | Often included | Leave them out |
| Contact details | Full address, sometimes an ID number | City and state, phone, email, LinkedIn |
| Opening section | An objective or a list of personal qualities | A 3–4 line professional summary |
| Experience | Duties: “Responsible for…” | Results with numbers: “Cut late deliveries by 35%” |
| Dates | 03/2019 – 07/2024 | Mar 2019 – Jul 2024 |
| Education | Every school, often high school too | Highest degree; high school only if it is your highest |
| References | Names and phone numbers on the CV | Not on the resume; have a list ready when asked |
| Layout | Columns, icons, photo frames | Single column, standard headings |
Before and after: a Colombian CV rewritten as a US resume
Daniela is a fictional logistics coordinator from Medellín who now lives in Houston. On the left is the hoja de vida she brought from Colombia; on the right, the same career written for US employers. Both are laid out with MyEasyCV designs.
What changed, line by line
- Personal details removed. The Datos personales block with her date of birth and nationality is gone. She also uses one surname, the way she introduces herself at work; use the name that matches your work documents.
- The profile sells instead of describing. “Persona responsable, proactiva…” became three lines with her years of experience, two results and her work authorization.
- Duties became results. “Encargada de coordinar los despachos nacionales” became “Coordinated 300+ weekly domestic shipments for a 120-truck carrier.”
- Her US job comes first. She now works as a warehouse lead in Houston. It sits at the top because US employers read newest first, and local experience counts even when the job is below your level.
- Dates and phone in US style. “03/2019” became “Mar 2019”, and the phone is a US number written as (713) 555-0148.
- Education shortened and explained. High school is gone, and the degree shows its U.S. equivalent from a credential evaluation.
- Specific skills instead of virtues. “Puntualidad” and “Trabajo bajo presión” were replaced by things a recruiter can search for: SAP MM, pivot tables, RF scanning.
- US certifications added. OSHA 10 and a forklift certification matter for warehouse jobs, so they get their own section.
The US resume format: 8 rules recruiters expect
1. One page, two at most
Recruiters skim. Fit everything on one page and use two only if you have more than ten years of experience that matters for the job. Older or unrelated jobs can be cut to one line or left out.
2. No photo, birth date or family details
US law doesn’t ban them, but federal rules forbid hiring decisions based on age, race, color, religion, sex or national origin, so many employers would rather not see them at all. Never put your Social Security number, visa number, A-number or passport number on a resume.
3. A short contact line
Name, city and state, phone, email and, if you have one, a LinkedIn URL. You don’t need a street address. Switch to a US phone number as soon as you have one.
4. A summary, not an objective
Three or four lines: what you do, your years of experience, one or two results and the kind of job you want. Skip qualities like “responsible” or “hard-working”; prove them with facts instead.
5. Newest job first, results in numbers
List jobs in reverse-chronological order with three to five bullet points each. Start every bullet with an action verb (led, cut, built, trained) and add a number whenever you can: people, money, time, volume or percent.
6. Foreign degrees with a US equivalent
Translate the name of the degree and keep the university’s original name and country. If a credential evaluation service such as WES or ECE has assessed your degree, add the equivalent it states. Don’t claim an equivalent you haven’t had evaluated.
7. Languages and work authorization in plain words
Write languages as Native, Fluent or Professional working proficiency rather than “B2”. Being bilingual is a strength in the US, so say it in your title or summary. If most of your experience is abroad, one line such as “U.S. Permanent Resident” answers the recruiter’s first question.
8. A layout an ATS can read
Most employers screen online applications with an applicant tracking system. Use a single-column design, standard headings (Summary, Experience, Education, Skills), real text instead of images, and American spelling: organize, center, analyze.
Translating job titles: common Spanish examples
Translate what the job was, not the words. These are typical equivalents; look at job ads in your field to see which title US employers actually use.
| Spanish title | On a US resume |
|---|---|
| Auxiliar contable | Accounting Assistant or Accounts Payable Clerk |
| Jefe de bodega | Warehouse Supervisor |
| Coordinador(a) de logística | Logistics Coordinator |
| Asesor(a) comercial | Sales Representative |
| Ingeniero(a) de sistemas | Software Engineer or IT Specialist, depending on the work |
| Auxiliar administrativo(a) | Administrative Assistant |
| Mesero(a) | Server |
| Auxiliar de enfermería | Nursing Assistant (Colombia); write CNA only if you hold the US state certification |
How to turn your CV into a US resume with MyEasyCV
You don’t have to rewrite everything by hand. Upload the CV you have, in Spanish, Portuguese or any other language, and tell the AI what you need.
Step 1: Upload your current CV
Open the CV builder in upload mode and sign in or create a free account. Upload your CV as a PDF, DOC, DOCX or TXT file (up to 5 pages).
Step 2: Tell it you need a US resume
Under the file you’ll find Additional Notes. Whatever you write there is sent to the AI with your CV as instructions, one per line. For example:
Additional Notes, example
Write it as a US resume in American English.
Rewrite each job as achievements that start with an action verb, and keep my numbers.
Write dates like "Mar 2019".
Translate my degree and keep the university name in Spanish.Step 3: Choose English and a single-column design
In CV Language, choose English. Pick one of the 11 single-column designs, such as Classic, and click Generate My CV. It usually takes about a minute.
Step 4: Remove what US employers don’t need
The AI keeps all the content you uploaded on purpose: it never drops jobs or details on its own. If your CV had a date of birth, nationality or marital status, delete those lines in the preview with Edit CV, which is free and unlimited.
Step 5: Add the US details only you know
Put in your US phone number, city and state, a work-authorization line if you want one, and any US certifications. Then read every line once more.
Step 6: Download it
Your resume is saved under My CVs. You can download a free PDF with a watermark; the clean PDF needs the One-Time package or the Pro plan, and prices depend on your country.
MyEasyCV creates A4 PDFs. Online applications accept them as they are; if you ever print one in the US, choose “Fit to page” for Letter paper.
Mistakes that cost immigrants interviews
- Sending a three-page CV that lists every duty you ever had.
- Leaving out jobs from your home country. They count: describe them with results, like any US job.
- Translating titles word for word, so “Jefe de bodega” turns into “Boss of warehouse”.
- Writing “English: intermediate” when you use English at work every day. Say “Professional working proficiency”.
- Using a design with a photo, icons and two columns for jobs that get hundreds of online applications.
- Not checking the final text. AI helps, but you know your own history best.
Frequently asked questions
Is a CV the same as a resume in the US?
No. A resume is the one- to two-page document used for almost every job. In the US, “CV” usually means an academic curriculum vitae: a long, complete record used for research, teaching and medical positions.
Should I put a photo on my resume for US jobs?
No. A photo isn’t illegal, but it isn’t expected, and many employers prefer resumes without one to avoid any question of bias. The same goes for your date of birth, nationality and marital status.
How long should a resume be for USA jobs?
One page for most people. Two pages are fine if you have more than ten years of relevant experience. Three pages is too long for almost any job outside academia.
Do I need to mention my immigration status?
You don’t have to. If most of your experience is abroad, one line such as “U.S. Permanent Resident” or “Authorized to work for any U.S. employer” can help. Never include your Social Security number, visa number or A-number.
How do I list a degree from another country?
Translate the degree, keep the university’s original name and the country, and add the U.S. equivalent only if a credential evaluation service such as WES or ECE has confirmed it.
Can MyEasyCV turn my Spanish CV into an English US resume?
Yes. Upload your CV, choose English as the CV language and use Additional Notes to ask for a US resume in American English. Then check the result and remove any personal details in the free editor. Your first CV is free to create with an account.
Ready to make your US resume?
Upload the CV you already have and turn it into a one-page US resume in English.