How to write a resume for jobs in the United States
A practical guide to US resume conventions—from the opening summary to measurable experience bullets, education, skills, and final checks.
Start with the job, not a generic document
Read the job description closely and identify the responsibilities, tools, certifications, and outcomes that matter most. Your resume should use natural wording that reflects the role while remaining accurate to your real experience.
Place your strongest relevant evidence in the upper half of the first page. Recruiters should quickly understand your target role, level of experience, and the value you can bring.
Write each section clearly
Contact details
Use your name, professional email, phone number, city and state, and a relevant LinkedIn or portfolio link. A headshot and full street address are normally unnecessary.
Professional summary
Write two to four lines that name your field, relevant experience, strongest capabilities, and the kind of outcome you deliver. Avoid vague claims that are not supported later.
Experience bullets
Begin with a clear action, explain what you did, and add scope or results where possible. Numbers may include revenue, time saved, volume, quality, growth, or team size.
Example: turn a duty into an achievement
Before: Responsible for customer service and scheduling.
After: Coordinated schedules for a 12-person field team and resolved an average of 35 customer requests weekly.
Do not invent metrics. When an exact figure is unavailable, provide honest context such as frequency, complexity, audience, or scale.
US formatting essentials
- Use reverse chronological order for experience.
- Keep dates and headings consistent.
- Prefer familiar fonts and comfortable spacing.
- Use standard section labels that ATS software recognizes.
- Save using a professional filename such as Firstname-Lastname-Resume.
- Proofread names, dates, links, grammar, and contact details.
Common mistakes to avoid
One resume for every role
Tailoring does not mean rewriting everything. Adjust the summary, ordering, and emphasis so the most relevant evidence is easy to find.
Dense job descriptions
Long paragraphs hide achievements. Use concise bullets and give each point one clear purpose.
Keywords without evidence
A list of skills is weaker than experience showing how you applied those skills to deliver a result.
Turn the guide into a finished resume
Use the builder to organize your experience, compare professional layouts, and prepare a resume for US applications.