How to Write a US Resume That Gets Interviews

By Zyctra Team · · 6 min read

US resumes are short, direct and all about results. Recruiters often skim a resume very quickly on first pass, so every line needs to earn its place.

Format basics

  • One page for most people; two pages only with extensive, relevant experience.
  • US Letter size (8.5 × 11 inches).
  • No photo, date of birth, age, marital status, nationality or religion. Employers generally avoid seeing these because of anti-discrimination laws.
  • City and state are enough for location.
  • American spelling.

Structure

  1. Header: name, city/state, phone, email, LinkedIn (and portfolio or GitHub if relevant).
  2. Professional summary: 2–4 lines. Skip the old-fashioned "Objective".
  3. Experience: reverse chronological, 3–6 bullets per role.
  4. Education: degree, school, graduation year. GPA only if recent and strong.
  5. Skills: tools, technologies, languages.
  6. Optional: certifications, projects, volunteer work.

The bullet formula

Each bullet should follow: action verb + what you did + measurable result.

  • Weak: "Responsible for social media."
  • Strong: "Grew Instagram following from 2,000 to 15,000 in 12 months through a weekly video series, driving a 20% increase in website traffic."

If you don't have exact numbers, use scale: team size, number of clients, budget, frequency, timeframes.

Things to leave out

  • "References available upon request"
  • Very old or irrelevant jobs (more than 10–15 years ago, unless important)
  • High school details once you have a degree
  • Soft-skill clichés with no evidence ("hard-working team player")

Federal jobs are different

Resumes for US government jobs on USAJOBS follow different rules: they need hours per week, exact dates and detailed descriptions matching the job announcement's "specialized experience", within a two-page limit.

Build it in minutes

In Zyctra's CV builder, choose United States (or US Federal) and upload your current CV or type your details. Zyctra produces a one-page, ATS-friendly resume with strong, quantified bullets, then helps you tailor it to each job in chat.

Topics: Resume, United States, Job Search

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