International CVsJun 21, 2026

United States CV format guide: local rules, personal data and cover letters

A practical United States CV format guide covering document name, photo rules, personal data, education, salary, hobbies, volunteer work and cover letters.

United States CV format guide

The United States is the clearest example of a resume-first market. Recruiters expect proof, keywords and measurable outcomes, not a personal-history CV. Federal roles are the major exception: USAJOBS applications often need a longer federal resume with dates, hours and eligibility evidence.

Quick format comparison

Item	Recommended approach	Why it matters
Document name	Resume for most private-sector roles; CV only for academic, medical, research or grant contexts.	The label should match the local recruiter expectation.
Length	Usually one to two pages unless the role is academic, federal, senior technical or dossier-based.	Length affects scan speed and first impressions.
Photo	Do not include a photo for standard US resumes.	Photo expectations vary, but privacy-safe international practice is usually stronger.
Personal details	Leave out age, birth date, marital status, family details, full street address, Social Security number and citizenship documents.	Sensitive details can create bias or privacy risk before they help.
Structure	Profile, recent experience, achievements, education, skills, languages and local eligibility.	The first page should prove fit before listing everything.
File format	PDF unless the employer system asks for another format.	PDF keeps the layout stable after upload.
Cover letter	A cover letter is optional for many private-sector roles but useful for federal, nonprofit, academic, referral, career-change and highly targeted applications.	A short letter can explain context the CV cannot show.

Local rules that change the CV

Keep the document short, usually one page for early and mid-career candidates.
Use reverse chronology and quantify impact with revenue, cost, speed, risk, customers or scale.
Federal resumes are different and should not be reduced to a one-page private-sector resume.

Personal information: include, omit or move to the form

Field	Recommended handling	Reason
Phone and email	Use one professional email, phone number, city or region, LinkedIn and portfolio where relevant.	Recruiters need contact and location context, not a personal dossier.
Photo	Do not include a photo for standard US resumes.	Avoid making appearance a screening factor unless the employer explicitly requires it for a lawful reason.
Age, birth date and family	Omit unless a trusted official form requires it later.	These details rarely prove ability and can increase bias risk.
Address	City, region or country is enough for most applications.	A full street address is usually unnecessary before offer or onboarding.
ID numbers	Leave out age, birth date, marital status, family details, full street address, Social Security number and citizenship documents.	Identity documents belong in secure onboarding or regulated employer forms, not the public CV.
Salary	Avoid current salary. Expected salary should appear only if requested, preferably in a form or short note.	Salary history can weaken negotiation and is not proof of fit.
Work rights	State work rights or permit status at a high level when it affects eligibility.	It answers recruiter concerns without exposing documents.

What recruiters need to see first

Application type	Evidence to show	Where to place it
ATS and corporate roles	Exact job title, tools, measurable achievements and work authorisation fit.	Put this in the profile, first two experience entries and skills section.
Federal roles	Duties, dates, hours worked, grade level and eligibility evidence.	Put this in the profile, first two experience entries and skills section.
Tech and product	Stack, shipped products, metrics, portfolio and collaboration scope.	Put this in the profile, first two experience entries and skills section.

Education, hobbies and volunteer work

List higher education, certifications, licences and relevant coursework. High school is usually omitted once you have college, vocational training or work experience.

Volunteer work is useful when it proves leadership, service, community trust, language ability, event delivery or sector commitment. Hobbies should be brief and professional, and only included when they add evidence for the role.

Cover letter guidance

A cover letter is optional for many private-sector roles but useful for federal, nonprofit, academic, referral, career-change and highly targeted applications.

A good cover letter for United States should not repeat the CV. Use it to explain why this employer, why this role, why you can work in this market, and one or two proof points that connect your background to the advert.

AIResume field mapping

AIResume field	How to use it	CV rule
Job preference	Write a target role and sector, not only a broad category.	A precise headline helps both ATS and human review.
Experience	Put years in the profile only when achievements support it.	Years alone are weak without proof.
Current salary	Keep hidden from the CV.	It is negotiation data, not selection evidence.
Expected salary	Use only when the employer asks, outside the main CV body if possible.	It prevents the CV from becoming a salary document.
Education	List higher education, certifications, licences and relevant coursework. High school is usually omitted once you have college, vocational training or work experience.	Only include education that helps the recruiter judge fit.
Hobbies and volunteer work	Use only as evidence of service, leadership, community, languages or sector commitment.	This turns optional sections into proof, not decoration.

Source links and further checking

How to use AIResume

Create one international master CV, duplicate it for United States, remove risky personal details, localise the headline and first-page evidence, then export a PDF unless the employer requests another format.