📋 What U.S. Recruiters Look for First

American recruiters spend only a few seconds scanning your resume before deciding if it’s worth deeper review.

They prioritize clear job titles, relevant work history, measurable results, and alignment with the role—even before automation filters apply.

ScanMy.CV helps ensure your resume passes both ATS filters and recruiter scans with ease.

✍️ Essential Sections for a U.S. Resume

A strong American-style resume is clean, concise, and purpose-driven. Include only these key sections to meet recruiter norms and ATS parsing preferences.

Organize content in this order:

• 👤 Contact Information

  Full name, phone, professional email, and LinkedIn URL. Avoid photos, birthdate, nationality, or marital status.

• 🎯 Professional Summary or Objective

  Two to three lines highlighting your role, core strengths, and what you bring to the position.

• 🏢 Work Experience

  Reverse-chronological format; clearly list company, title, location, dates, and 3–5 achievement bullets quantified with results.

• 🎓 Education

  Include degree, institution, and graduation year (if recent or relevant).

• 🛠 Skills

  List hard and soft skills—prioritize those mentioned in the job description and ATS keywords.

✨ Good-to-Have Sections That Enhance Your Appeal

While not required, these sections can give you an edge and showcase a well-rounded profile—if relevant to the role.

• 🏅 Certifications & Licenses

  Include relevant credentials like PMP, AWS Certified, CPA—add date and certifying body.

• 📑 Projects or Freelance Work

  Great for those with limited work experience or for highlighting key achievements outside full-time roles.

• 🌐 Volunteer / Extracurricular Activities

  Works if tied to leadership, community impact, or relevant skills—but keep it brief.

• 💬 Publications / Speaking Engagements

  For academic roles or senior experts—list title, publication/event, and date.

🚫 Mistakes to Avoid in U.S.-Style Resumes

These common missteps immediately reduce ATS compatibility or recruiter trust:

• ❌ Including a Photo

  U.S. resumes don’t feature photos due to anti-discrimination and bias policies.

• ❌ Personal Details

  Avoid date of birth, marital status, religion, or nationality.

• ❌ Fancy Designs or Graphics

  Colored visuals and tables can confuse ATS—opt for clean, black-text, one-column layouts.

• ❌ Overly Long Resumes

  Stick to one page (early-career) or two pages (mid/senior)—concise is powerful.

⚙️ Formatting Tips to Increase ATS Compatibility

Follow these formatting choices to ensure your resume is machine and human friendly:

• 🔠 Use Standard Fonts & Sizes

  Stick to Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in 10–12pt font, black text only.

• 📋 One-Column Layout

  Never use multiple columns, tables, or text boxes—ATS reads straight down.

• 📁 File Format

  Save as .docx or simple PDF—avoid image-based or heavily formatted PDFs.

• ✔️ Use Standard Section Headings

  ATS scans for titles like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.”

🎯 How ScanMy.CV Helps You Master U.S. Resume Standards

Our platform adapts your existing resume to align with the U.S. job market’s preferences:

• 🧭 Section Review

  Scans and suggests modifications for headings and optional sections.

• 🔠 ATS Formatting Check

  Applies best practices—one-column layout, file type, fonts, and parser-friendly structure.

• 📌 Pro Tips & Keyword Suggestions

  Customizes content to the target role using keyword integration and phrasing.