United States CV and resume guidance – Page 2

List the license title, the issuing state or body and the status, and include the license number and expiry only as required by the regulator or employer. Many US licenses, for example in nursing, teaching, accounting, real estate and trades, are issued by individual states.

Example:
"Registered Nurse, State of California, active, expires 2027"
"Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Illinois"

Tips:

• Put licenses near the top for licensed professions.
• If you hold licenses in several states, list each one.
• If you are in the process of getting licensed in a new state, say so honestly: "Texas RN license application in progress."

Yes, if you hold an active or recently active clearance and you are applying for roles where it matters, such as defense, government contracting or some technology jobs. Employers in these fields often search for clearance levels.

Example: "Security Clearance: Active Secret (2024)"

Tips:

• Give the level and status only; do not include sensitive details about investigations.
• Do not claim a clearance you do not hold or that has lapsed without saying so.
• For roles that do not need one, it can go in a short line under Additional Information or be left out.

Only if the job requires citizenship, such as some federal or clearance-related roles, or if the advert asks you to state it. For most private-sector jobs, citizenship does not belong on a resume; national origin is among the traits US hiring decisions must not be based on, and employers handle employment eligibility separately.

Example where relevant: "U.S. citizen, eligible for security clearance"

If you are unsure, leave it off and answer the application form questions.

No. Salary information does not go on a US resume. Employers may ask about expectations in an application form or interview, and how employers can ask about pay history varies by location. Keep the resume focused on your skills and results.

If an advert asks for salary expectations, put them in your cover letter or the form. Research the role and location first, and consider giving a range.

Put it in your skills or languages section with a clear level, and in your summary if the job involves Spanish-speaking customers or communities. Bilingual skills are valued in many US roles, from healthcare and customer service to education and sales.

Example: "Languages: English (native), Spanish (fluent, spoken and written)"
Example summary: "Bilingual (English/Spanish) patient services representative with 4 years in a community clinic."

Be honest about reading and writing as well as speaking; some employers test language skills.

List it in Education with the degree type, field, college and graduation date. Associate degrees are widely recognised by US employers, especially in healthcare, IT, trades and business.

Example: "Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.), Information Technology, Austin Community College, May 2024"

Tips:

• If you transferred to a four-year university, list the bachelor's degree first, then the associate degree.
• Add relevant certifications earned alongside.
• Mention honors such as Phi Theta Kappa if applicable.

List the college, your field of study and the years you attended, or the credits completed, without implying you graduated. US employers often value partial college study, especially when combined with relevant work.

Example: "Coursework toward B.S. in Business Administration, Arizona State University, 2019 to 2021 (75 credits completed)"

Tips:

• Never write a degree you did not earn; it is often checked.
• Highlight relevant courses if they relate to the job.
• If you plan to return, you can write "degree in progress" with an expected date only if that is real.

They can be, especially when backed by projects and skills you can demonstrate. US tech employers vary: some value bootcamp graduates' practical portfolios, others prefer degrees or experience. Your projects do most of the convincing.

How to list a bootcamp:
Example: "Full-Stack Web Development Certificate, a coding bootcamp, 2025 (16-week full-time program)"

Then show:

• Two or three projects with links, tech stack and what each does.
• Any team projects or client work.
• Skills you can explain in a technical interview.

Combine with any prior career experience to show transferable strengths.

Yes. National service is well recognised by US employers, especially in government, nonprofit, education and health sectors. List it like a job with your title, organisation, location and dates, and show the results of your work.

Example:
"AmeriCorps Member, Literacy Tutor, a public school district, Milwaukee, WI, 2023 to 2024

• Tutored 25 second-graders in reading three times a week."

Highlight cross-cultural skills, languages and project management, which transfer well.

No. You do not need to disclose a disability on your resume. Disability is one of the traits US hiring decisions must not be based on, and it is not relevant to whether you are qualified. Many people say nothing at the application stage.

Options:

• Leave it off your resume.
• Ask for accommodations for interviews or tests if you need them.
• Complete any voluntary self-identification form if you choose; it is usually separate from the hiring decision.

If a gap relates to health, you can write a short neutral line such as "Career break, 2023 to 2024".

You can add a preferred name alongside your legal name, but do not replace your legal name in a way that creates confusion at background checks. National origin is one of the traits US hiring decisions must not be based on, and your qualifications should speak for themselves.

Example: "Nguyen Thi Lan (Lana)" or "Wei (David) Zhang"

Tips:

• Keep the same name format on LinkedIn and your email.
• On application forms, give your legal name where asked.

Make your location and time zone availability clear, and check whether the role is open to applicants outside the US. Many US "remote" jobs are remote only within the US because of tax, payroll and legal reasons, so read the advert carefully.

On your resume:

• Location line: "Based in Manila, Philippines; available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. US Eastern"
• Show remote work experience and the tools you use: Slack, Jira, Zoom.
• Mention experience with US clients or teams.

Do not claim US residence if you do not have it. Contractor roles through platforms may be an option where employee roles are restricted.

List certification near the top with the state, subject areas and grade levels, and its status. US schools hire based on certification for specific subjects and grades, so this is often checked first.

Example: "Texas Educator Certificate: Mathematics, Grades 7 to 12 (valid through 2029)"

Tips:

• Add endorsements such as ESL or special education.
• If certification is pending, state your stage: "Pennsylvania Instructional I certification, application submitted."
• List student teaching as experience with grade, subject and results.

A US academic CV lists your full scholarly record: education, academic appointments, publications, grants, teaching, presentations, service and professional memberships. Unlike a resume, it can be several pages and is not limited to one or two.

Typical order:

• Education, with dissertation title and advisor.
• Academic appointments.
• Publications, by type, in your field's citation style.
• Grants and fellowships.
• Teaching experience and courses taught.
• Conference presentations and invited talks.
• Service and memberships.

Do not include personal details such as age or marital status; US conventions apply here too.

Focus on your trade, licenses or certifications, equipment and safety record, and list your apprenticeship with hours or stage completed. US contractors and unions look for practical capability and safe work.

Example:
"Journeyman Electrician, a commercial electrical contractor, Chicago, IL, 2021 to Present

• Installed and terminated power for 3 commercial fit-out projects per year.
• OSHA 30 certified; zero recordable incidents on my crews."

Tips:

• List state licenses as the regulator requires.
• Mention union membership if relevant to the employer.
• Keep it to one page; trades resumes favour clarity.

Use month and year, such as "Jan 2024 to Present" or "January 2024 to Present". Numeric formats like "01/2024" are also understood in the US, but words avoid confusion for international reviewers and look cleaner.

Remember that in US numeric dates the month comes first: 03/04/2024 means March 4. If you are converting from a day-first country, check every date carefully. Keep one format across the whole resume.

Write the phone number as "(555) 123-4567" or "555-123-4567" for US numbers, and add "+1" if you are applying from abroad or using an international number. Use a professional email address based on your name.

Example: "Jordan Lee | (312) 555-0198 | jordan.lee@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jordanlee | Chicago, IL"

Tips:

• One phone number and one email are enough.
• If you use a non-US number, include the country code and say when you can take calls in US time.

Many do. LinkedIn is widely used in US hiring, so a complete profile that matches your resume is a sensible addition. Add your custom LinkedIn URL to your resume header.

Before you share it:

• Make sure titles, companies and dates match your resume.
• Write a headline that describes your role, not just "Looking for opportunities".
• Ask for recommendations from past managers if possible.

Your resume should still stand alone; do not rely on LinkedIn to fill gaps.

Two pages is common for US executives, and three pages is sometimes acceptable for very senior or complex careers. Boards and recruiters still want clarity, so make the first page show your scope and biggest results.

Tips:

• Lead with an executive summary showing your leadership scope: revenue, team size, markets.
• Use achievement bullets focused on growth, turnaround, cost and strategy.
• Summarise early career in a short section.
• Add board roles and major industry affiliations.

Example: "Led a 300-person operations organisation across 4 states, cutting order lead times while expanding into two new markets."

Yes, if it shows relevant skills or leadership, or if you are a student or returning to work. Community service is common and respected in the US.

Example:
"Volunteer Treasurer, a neighborhood food pantry, Seattle, WA, 2022 to Present

• Managed annual budget and grant reporting for a pantry serving 300 families a month."

Place it in Experience if substantial and relevant, or in a separate Volunteer section. Avoid listing political or religious affiliation unless it is directly relevant to the role.

Include them if you held a leadership role or the activity shows skills relevant to the job. Simple membership adds little, and some readers may have neutral or mixed views about Greek life, so focus on what you did.

Example: "Philanthropy Chair, a campus sorority chapter: organised a fundraising week that raised funds for a local children's hospital."

For honor societies and professional clubs related to your major, a short line is useful. Remove most campus activities a few years after graduation.

It is optional. Some US applicants add pronouns next to their name, such as "Alex Kim (they/them)", and many employers are comfortable with this. Others choose not to include them. Do what feels right for you.

If you include them, keep the format simple and use the same on LinkedIn and your email signature. They do not affect the rest of your resume structure.

Standard, plain headings work best: Summary, Experience (or Professional Experience), Education, Skills, and optional sections such as Certifications, Projects or Volunteer Experience. These are easy for recruiters to scan and for applicant tracking systems to read.

Avoid:

• Creative headings like "My Journey" or "What I Bring".
• A "Personal Details" section, which is not used in the US.
• An "Objective" heading for experienced candidates; use Summary.

For students, Education usually comes first; for experienced professionals, Experience comes first.

List the GED in your Education section like a diploma, with the year. It is widely accepted by US employers as a high school equivalent.

Example: "GED, State of Ohio, 2021"

Tips:

• If you also completed job training, certificates or community college courses, list them above the GED.
• Do not explain why you took the GED unless asked.
• Use the rest of your resume to show work experience and skills.

Yes. Part-time and campus jobs show responsibility and time management, and US employers expect students to list them. Choose bullets that highlight transferable skills.

Example:
"Library Assistant (part-time), University of Florida Libraries, 2023 to 2025

• Helped around 50 students a shift locate resources and use research databases.
• Trained three new assistants on the circulation system."

Group several similar short jobs into one entry if space is tight.