Resume conventions in the United States.

1. Length

For most roles, one page is the expected length. Two pages are acceptable if your experience genuinely requires it — for example, a senior professional with 10+ years of directly relevant experience, or someone in a technical field with substantial projects and publications.

For entry-level and mid-level candidates, a one-page resume is almost always the right length. A two-page resume for a role that expects one page can signal either padding or poor editing.

2. No photo

US resumes do not include a photograph. This is one of the strongest conventions in US hiring. Including a photo can even be a disadvantage, because some employers interpret it as a sign that the candidate is not familiar with US norms — and because it can trigger unconscious bias that the employer may want to avoid.

The exception: some creative fields (acting, modelling) expect headshots, but they're submitted separately, not embedded in the resume.

3. No personal details

US resumes typically do not include:

• Date of birth or age.
• Marital status.
• Number of children.
• Religion, ethnicity, or nationality.
• Social Security Number (except in very specific contexts).
• Full home address (city and state are sufficient; some candidates now omit location or just give metro area).

This is partly because of anti-discrimination law — including some of these details can create legal exposure for the employer, so they're discouraged.

4. Structure

Standard US resume sections, in typical order:

1. Header — name, contact details, LinkedIn (optional), portfolio or GitHub if relevant.
2. Summary — 2-4 sentences, optional but increasingly expected for mid-level candidates.
3. Experience — reverse-chronological, with bullet points focused on outcomes.
4. Education — degree, institution, dates. GPA if recent and strong.
5. Skills — specific tools, technologies, or capabilities.
6. Certifications / Projects / Additional — as relevant.

"Objective" statements have fallen out of style in the US and are generally considered outdated. Use a "Summary" or "Professional Summary" instead.

5. Dates and chronology

US resumes list dates in reverse-chronological order (most recent first). Month and year are standard ("Jan 2022 – Mar 2024"). Year-only dates are acceptable for older or non-technical roles.

Gaps of a few months between roles are normal and usually unremarked. Longer gaps may warrant a brief explanation (see our employment gaps guide).

6. Resume vs CV

In the US, "resume" is the short document; "CV" is the long academic document. This distinction is discussed in detail in our resume vs CV guide.

7. Where conventions are shifting

Some US conventions have loosened in recent years:

• Design. While conservative resumes are still safest for corporate and ATS applications, design-forward layouts are more accepted in tech, startups, and creative industries than they were a decade ago.
• Length for senior candidates. A two-page resume is more accepted now than it used to be, especially for roles with complex technical or management responsibilities.
• Location on resume. Some candidates now omit city/state or provide only a metro area, particularly for remote roles.
• "Objective" statements. These have almost entirely disappeared in favor of "Summary".

8. Final checklist

• Is the resume one page (or two, if genuinely justified)?
• Have you omitted photo, date of birth, marital status, and full address?
• Is the structure reverse-chronological?
• Are dates in month-year format for recent roles?
• Is the summary specific to the target role, not a generic objective?
• Have you used "resume" terminology in your correspondence?