Resume, Not CV: What US Employers Actually Expect in 2026
"Resume" and "CV" aren't interchangeable once you cross into US hiring conventions — a document built for the UK or European market (two pages, a photo, a personal statement) reads as off-format to an American recruiter, and can cost you the first-glance impression before your experience is even read.
One page unless you have 10+ years of experience
Early- and mid-career candidates should stay to one page. Two pages is acceptable once you have a decade or more of relevant experience to justify it — padding a one-page-worth of experience to fill a second page reads as a lack of judgment, not thoroughness.
No photo, no date of birth, no marital status
Unlike some European and Gulf markets, US resumes never include a photo, age, or personal details like marital status — including them looks unfamiliar with US norms and can even raise (unwanted) anti-discrimination-law questions for the employer reviewing it.
Quantify everything you can
US resumes lean heavily on measurable impact: "Reduced onboarding time by 30%" beats "Responsible for onboarding process" every time. Every bullet should answer how much, how many, or how fast wherever the underlying fact genuinely supports a number.
Frequently asked questions
Is a resume different from a CV in the US?
Yes — in US hiring, "resume" is the standard one-to-two-page document for industry jobs. "CV" in the US usually refers specifically to the longer, publication-focused document used in academia and research, not general job applications.
Should a US resume include a photo?
No. US resumes never include a photo — it's not the convention, and including one can read as unfamiliarity with US norms rather than a positive differentiator.