CV vs resume: how to turn your CV into a US resume

Last reviewed 2026-10-12

In the US, a resume is a one- to two-page summary of your experience tailored to one job; a CV is a long academic record used mainly for research, teaching and medical roles. To convert a CV, cut it to the experience relevant to the job, remove your photo, date of birth, marital status and nationality, switch to US Letter paper and American spelling, and rewrite duties as measurable results.

What each document is for in the US

Most US job postings ask for a resume. It is short, written for the specific job, and leads with results. Recruiters often spend well under a minute on a first read, so anything that does not support the role you are applying for works against you.

A CV (curriculum vitae) in the US is the full record of an academic or clinical career: publications, grants, presentations, teaching. Use it when a university, research lab, or hospital physician role asks for one. Everywhere else, send a resume even if you have always called it a CV.

Remove these before you apply

US employers are not allowed to make hiring decisions on age, national origin, religion, marital status and other protected traits, so many recruiters set aside resumes that volunteer them.

Photo
Date of birth or age
Marital status, children, religion
Nationality, passport or national ID numbers
Full home address (city and state is enough)
"References available on request"

Conversion checklist

Pick one target role and keep only the experience that supports it. One page if you have under ten years of experience, two at most.
Set the page to US Letter (8.5 × 11 in), not A4, and use American spelling (organize, not organise).
Put a US phone number, city and state, email and LinkedIn URL at the top.
Write a two- to three-line summary that names the role you want and your strongest proof.
List experience newest first with month and year. Add one line of context for employers US recruiters may not know: size, industry, what they do.
Turn duties into results: "Cut month-end close from 9 days to 4 for a 300-person logistics firm" beats "Responsible for accounts".
Convert money to US dollars where it shows scale, and say so ("≈ $2M budget").
State the US equivalent of your degree if you have an evaluation (see our credential evaluation guide).
Use plain section headings (Summary, Experience, Education, Skills) and a single column with no tables, text boxes or graphics, so applicant tracking systems read it correctly.
Save as PDF unless the posting asks for Word, and name the file with your name and the role.

Should you mention work authorization?

If you are a permanent resident, a citizen, or hold an EAD, a short line such as "Authorized to work in the US for any employer" can stop a recruiter from assuming you need sponsorship because your history is abroad. If you will need sponsorship, leave it off the resume and answer the application question honestly.

Tailor it for every job

A US resume is expected to change from one application to the next: the summary, the order of your bullets and the skills you lead with should mirror what the posting asks for, without inventing anything. tailr does this for you: it scores how well your resume fits each job, shows the requirements you are not yet covering, and rewrites your resume and cover letter for that posting from your real experience.

Tailor your resume to every US job in about a minute

See how well you fit each role, what you are missing, and get a resume and cover letter written for that posting.

Try tailr

Common questions

Is a CV the same as a resume in the US?

No. A US resume is a one- to two-page document tailored to a specific job. A CV is a longer academic or clinical record used for university, research and physician roles. Outside those fields, US employers expect a resume.

Should I put a photo on my US resume?

No. US employers avoid photos, age, marital status and nationality on resumes because hiring decisions on those traits are prohibited, and many recruiters set such resumes aside.

How long should a US resume be?

One page for most people with under ten years of experience, two pages at most for senior candidates. Academic CVs are the exception.

Do applicant tracking systems reject resumes from abroad?

Tracking systems do not check where you are from, but they can misread two-column layouts, tables, headers and graphics. A single-column resume with standard headings and the posting’s own keywords is read reliably.