USA Resume Requirements 2026: What to Include & Exclude
Complete guide to US resume requirements. Learn what is mandatory, optional, and forbidden on US resumes. Compliance with US employment standards.
US Resume Requirements Overview
US resume requirements are designed to ensure fair hiring practices and compliance with employment laws. Understanding what to include and exclude is crucial for passing ATS filters and reaching human recruiters. US recruiters expect concise, results-driven resumes with quantifiable achievements.
What to Include in a US Resume
✅ Mandatory Sections
1. Contact Information
- Full name
- City and state (not full address)
- Phone number (US format)
- Professional email address
- LinkedIn profile URL (highly recommended)
2. Work Experience
- Job titles (reverse chronological order)
- Company names and locations (City, State)
- Employment dates (Year format or Month/Year)
- Key achievements with metrics (expected, not optional)
- Quantifiable results and impact
- Action verbs at start of bullets
3. Education
- Degree name
- Institution name and location
- Graduation year
- GPA (optional, students/fresh grads only)
4. Skills
- Hard skills first
- ATS keywords
- Grouped when possible
- No rating bars
✅ Optional but Strongly Recommended Sections
- Professional Summary: 2-3 lines highlighting role, experience, and outcome (strongly recommended)
- Certifications: Professional certifications, licenses, and credentials
- Projects: Relevant for tech and creative roles
- Publications: For academic or research roles
- Open-source contributions: For tech roles
What NOT to Include in a US Resume
❌ Forbidden Information
Personal Information (Anti-Discrimination Laws)
- Photo or headshot - Not allowed under US employment laws
- Age, gender, or marital status - Protected characteristics
- Nationality - Protected characteristic (unless job requires specific citizenship)
- Religious affiliation - Protected characteristic
- Political affiliation - Not relevant to job qualifications
Other Items to Exclude
- Full home address - City and state are sufficient
- Signature - Not required and takes up space
- Salary expectations - Discuss during interviews
- References - Provide only when requested
- Hobbies (unless role-relevant) - Only include if directly related to the job
- Personal interests - Avoid unless role-relevant
- Unprofessional email addresses - Use a professional email
Comparison Table: Allowed vs. Not Allowed
| ✅ Allowed | ❌ Not Allowed |
|---|---|
| Skills | Photo |
| Work Experience with Metrics | Age, Gender, Marital Status |
| Education | Nationality |
| Certifications | Full Address |
| Projects | Signature |
| Professional Summary | Salary Expectations |
| City, State | Hobbies (unless relevant) |
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Header Section
Must Include: Full name, city and state, phone number, email address
Optional: LinkedIn URL, personal website/portfolio
Must Exclude: Photo, full street address, age, gender, nationality
Professional Summary
Status: Strongly recommended
Length: 2-3 lines maximum
Focus: Role, experience, and outcome (not soft traits)
Work Experience
Status: Mandatory
Order: Reverse chronological (most recent first)
Format: Job title, company name – city, state, dates, 3-5 bullet points with achievements and metrics
Key: Metrics are expected, not optional. Each bullet = action + result.
Education
Status: Mandatory
Include: Degree name, institution, location, graduation year
Optional: GPA (only for students/fresh grads), honors
Skills
Status: Mandatory
Format: Bullet points or comma-separated
Priority: Hard skills first, ATS keywords, grouped when possible
Rules: No rating bars, no "soft skills" section unless role requires it
Additional Sections
Certifications: Include professional certifications and licenses
Projects: Relevant for tech and creative roles
Publications: For academic or research roles
Open-source contributions: For tech roles
Hobbies: Avoid unless role-relevant
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I include a photo on my US resume?
US employment laws prohibit discrimination based on personal characteristics. Including a photo could lead to unconscious bias in hiring. Employers are legally required to base hiring decisions on qualifications, not appearance.
Can I include my age or date of birth?
No. Age is a protected characteristic under US employment laws. Including your age could lead to age discrimination, which is illegal.
Should I include references on my resume?
No. Don't include references on your resume. Instead, prepare a separate reference list and provide it only when requested by the employer.
Are metrics required on US resumes?
Yes. US recruiters expect quantifiable achievements and metrics. Include numbers, percentages, and measurable results whenever possible. Metrics are expected, not optional, in US resumes.
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