Career
How to Write a Resume That Gets Interviews
July 25, 2026 · 6 min read
Your resume has one job: get you the interview. Recruiters spend only a few seconds on the first pass, and many companies filter resumes through applicant tracking software (ATS) before a human ever sees them. A clear, well-structured resume gets past both.
This guide walks through what a strong US resume looks like in 2026 — the format, the wording and the details that matter — so you can put yourself in the best position without overthinking it.
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Résumé Builder
Build a clean, professional US resume and download it as a PDF — free, no sign-up, right in your browser.
Open Résumé BuilderKeep it to one page and easy to scan
For most people — especially early to mid-career — a one-page resume is the standard in the US. Two pages are fine only if you have many years of directly relevant experience. Use a clean layout, consistent spacing and standard section headings (Summary, Experience, Education, Skills) so a recruiter can scan it in seconds.
Avoid photos, your date of birth and personal details. Unlike some countries, US resumes leave these off — partly to avoid discrimination, partly because they add nothing. Save the space for what you've actually done.
Lead every bullet with a strong action verb — and a result
Recruiters remember impact, not duties. Instead of "Responsible for social media," write "Grew Instagram following 40% in six months by launching a weekly series." Start each bullet with an action verb (Led, Built, Cut, Launched, Increased) and back it up with a number wherever you can — dollars, percentages, time saved, people managed.
Numbers make claims believable and help you stand out from applicants who only list responsibilities.
Beat the ATS with the right keywords
Many applications pass through software that scans for keywords from the job description before ranking candidates. Read the posting carefully and mirror its language — if it asks for "project management" and "stakeholder communication," use those exact phrases where they honestly apply.
Keep formatting simple so the software can read it: standard fonts, no text inside images, no complex tables or columns that scramble the reading order. A straightforward PDF exported from a clean template is the safest choice.
Step by step
Start with contact info and a short summary
Name, email, phone and city, then a 2–3 line summary of who you are and what you're targeting.
Add experience, newest first
For each role: title, company, dates, and 3–5 achievement bullets with numbers.
Finish with education and skills
List degrees and the skills that match the job. Then export a clean PDF and proofread it twice.
FAQ
How long should a resume be?
One page for most people. Go to two only if you have extensive, directly relevant experience — and never pad it to fill space.
Should I include a photo?
No. US resumes leave off photos, date of birth and personal details. Use that space for your experience and results instead.
What file format should I send?
A PDF is the safest choice — it keeps your layout intact and is readable by both people and applicant tracking software, unless the posting asks for a specific format.
Do I need a different resume for each job?
Tailor at least the summary and top bullets to each posting, mirroring its keywords. You don't have to rewrite everything, but a targeted resume beats a generic one.
Recommended tool
Résumé Builder
Build a clean, professional US resume and download it as a PDF — free, no sign-up, right in your browser.
Open Résumé Builder