United States CV and resume guidance

Which personal details are left off a US resume?

Leave off date of birth, age, marital status, children, religion, nationality or national origin, and a photo. US hiring decisions must not be based on race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 and over), disability or genetic information, so US employers generally do not want this information on a resume.

Keep:

  • Name, phone, email, city and state.
  • LinkedIn or portfolio link.

Also leave off:

  • Social Security number.
  • Your full street address, in most cases.
  • Health information.
  • Height, weight or a signature.

If you are used to a personal details section from another country, delete it for US applications and use the space for achievements.

Application forms may later ask for some information for legal or administrative reasons, such as whether you are authorized to work. Answer those questions on the form truthfully; they do not need to appear on the resume.

Sources

Reviewed · by the ResumeBuilder.ae editorial team

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Templates to try

Free to edit and preview. Single-column layouts are the safest choice for applicant tracking systems.

International CV

Two-column entries (more complex)

Use this template: International CV

ATS Classic

Single column

Use this template: ATS Classic

ATS Professional

Single column

Use this template: ATS Professional

General guidance for job seekers, not legal or immigration advice. Employers and applicant tracking systems differ, so always follow the instructions in the job advert. Spotted a mistake? Email support@jobb.ae.

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