How to Build a Resume in US Format - Important Tips & Examples
Last Updated : 15 Apr, 2025
We all know how influential a resume is when we apply for any kind of job. Your resume is like a first impression that you leave on the recruiter even before meeting them. While your selection does not only or completely depend on your resume, it still is important that you ace that first impression with a rightly formatted resume.
A lot of people get confused and think that a C.V. and a resume are the same thing but that’s not true! They’re both different and have different kinds of formatting and purposes. A curriculum vitae is a long and detailed document used for academic purposes whereas a resume is a short precise tailor-made document containing all the required information about you necessary for the applied job.
When you’re applying for a job in the US, it becomes really important to ensure that your resume meets the directed US application standards and has the right keywords that will enable you to pass the ATS (Applicant Tracking System).
Types of US Resume Formats
There are three different kinds of formats that you can follow while constructing your resume depending upon the experience you have
1. Reverse-Chronological
Reverse chronological order is the traditional and most common type of format that’s widely followed in the US. The resume starts with the most recent experience leading downwards to the previous ones in chronological order followed by education, skills, and additional sections if required.
2. Fundamental
The fundamental format of the US resume is generally sought by people who do not have consistency in their careers which means candidates who changed careers or have career gaps. The resume starts with the qualifications followed by the skills and then followed by the experiences that the candidate would like to mention.
3. Combination/Hybrid
Combination or hybrid format, as the name suggests, is a combination of both fundamental and reverse chronological formats of the US resume. This kind of resume format is followed by people who wish to highlight their skills rather than their experience or work history. The purpose is to emphasize what you can do and not what you already have done.
Important Points/Tips To Consider While Documenting Your US Resume:
A good resume is the first and most important step to apply for a job. You need a resume that conveys all the necessary information that the interviewer would want to know about you while considering you for the job.
It is you who has the power to make that first impression by building the perfect resume that leaves an everlasting impact and differentiates you from the rest making you grab your dream job.
There are a few important things to consider before you start drafting your resume:
- Choose the right format for your resume depending on the purpose.
- Make sure there is a 1-inch margin on all four sides of the page.
- The spacing between the lines should be 1-1.5.
- Make sure you divide the sections of your resume in a specific and precise way.
- Use bullet points rather than writing paragraphs or long sentences.
- Use a font that is easy to read and looks professional as well.
- The US resume should be limited to 1 or a maximum of 2 pages.
- Ensure that standard American English is followed while writing the resume.
- Do not make any grammatical mistakes in your resume.
- Always use the “US Letter” size and save your resume in PDF format.
- Only use black and blue colors in your resume.
- Make sure that there’s enough white space left on your resume to enable easy readability.
Important Elements In a US Resume
- Photograph (not mandatory)
- Personal Information
- Educational Qualifications
- Work Experience
- Skills and Interests
- Personal Summary
- Additional Sections like Hobbies, Certifications, Languages, etc.
Traditional Reverse-Chronological Format of US Resume
The traditional reverse-chronological format is the most followed format in the US resume hence, let’s quickly understand how to build a US resume in this format.
Reverse chronological format basically means that your resume starts from your most recent experience followed by the prior ones.
Here’s the format with an example for reference.
Name and Contact Information: The header is the topmost part of the resume and it will contain your name and contact information.
These are the main things that will be included in this part:
- Full name
- Phone number
- Job title
- Email address
- Location- Links to LinkedIn profiles or portfolios (if applicable)
For Example:
Maria Thomas
Content Writer
00XXXXXX00, [email protected]
City, Country
Profile: Write one to two lines of introduction about yourself and why you’re applying for a specific job (skip this step if you're a very experienced candidate).
For Example:
An intellectual and passionate content writer who has worked for various brands and helped them convert their thoughts through words that say a lot more. Looking for a company that values my skills and together we can take the company’s growth to a higher level.
Work experience: Start by writing your most recent or current work experience and then go on to add the previous ones. Do not go on to add more than 15 years back in the experience.
Make sure you mention the following while stating your work experience:
- Company name
- Location
- Employment dates
- The title or designation of the job
- List of responsibilities you were handling(in bullet points)
For Example:
XYZ COMPANY
Content Writer (01/01/2021- 15/02/2023)
Responsible for:
Writing precise articles and blogs
Writing website content
Proofreading
Education: Start by mentioning your highest degree first. Avoid mentioning school details if you are already a graduate. State the level of education very clearly. There is no need to mention any GPA scores in the resume.
Make sure you mention the following while mentioning your education details:
- Name of the degree/course
- Location of the college/school
- City of the university/college/school
- Country of university
For Example:
ABC College of Literature, City, Country
Bachelor of Arts (2017-2020)
Skills: You can mention both your hard and soft skills. Please ensure that you do not over-mention your skills. Just mention the ones that are suitable or applicable to the job profile that you are applying for.
For Example:
- Writing Skills
- Intellectual Skills
- Communication skills
- Microsoft Office
Additional Sections
You can go on to add one or two additional sections if you want to but it is certainly not necessary to add them.
The sections that you can add could be:
Languages: You can mention any foreign languages that you are fluent in. If you are not a native of the US or English is not your first language then you can also mention English in this section. For Example: Fluent in French and German
Hobbies: You can list your hobbies and interests that are relevant to your job profile. For Example: Reading books and online blogs.
Achievements and Awards: If you have any achievements or have received any awards or accolades which can add weightage to your resume in creating and leaving a great impact on the company then you can definitely add them. For Example: Received an award for the “best content writer”.
Conclusion
So this was an example of the US resume reverse-chronological format that works for almost everyone who is seeking a job in the US.
This US resume format is a very easy one to follow but if you are short on time or a little confused about how to make a resume that’s ATS-friendly and well-structured, you have the option to take help from the best resume builder available online.
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