Guide · applying in another country
Resume format for the US
What employers in the United States usually expect on a resume, what they usually don't, and where that guidance comes from.
These notes are about what employers may ask or require, not about what you must do. The EEOC pages we cite are written for employers: they say pre-employment questions that may show age, religion, sex or national origin should generally be avoided, and that employers should not ask for a photograph. They don't tell you what to put on your resume. Guidance, not legal advice.
Usually or often left out in the US
- Birthdate or age
- Civil status
- Religion
- Height and weight
- Sex or gender
- Place of birth
- Nationality
- Photo
- Full home address
- Government ID numbers (national ID, tax or social security)
- Parents, spouse or children
Detail by detail
| Detail | In the US | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Birthdate or age | Usually left out | EEOC — Prohibited employment practices Says employers should generally avoid pre-employment questions that may show age. Guidance for employers, not a rule for applicants. |
| Civil status | Usually left out | EEOC — Marital status or number of children |
| Religion | Usually left out | EEOC — Religious affiliation or beliefs |
| Height and weight | Usually left out | EEOC — Height and weight |
| Sex or gender | Usually left out | EEOC — Gender |
| Place of birth | Often left out | EEOC — Prohibited employment practices Says employers should generally avoid pre-employment questions that may show national origin, which a birthplace can. |
| Nationality | Often left out | EEOC — Citizenship |
| Photo | Usually left out | EEOC — Prohibited employment practices Says employers should not ask for a photograph before an offer is accepted. That is guidance for employers; a photo you add yourself is recruiter convention. |
| Full home address | Often left out | EEOC — Prohibited employment practices Full addresses are recruiter convention rather than law. |
| Government ID numbers (national ID, tax or social security) | Usually left out | FTC — Job scammers are looking to hire you (2025) Warns that asking for your Social Security number before you are interviewed and hired is a scam sign. It is about what employers ask, not about resume content. |
| Parents, spouse or children | Usually left out | EEOC — Marital status or number of children |
| Objective statement | Worth a look | Recruiter convention No official source; this is common recruiter practice. |
| Character references with phone numbers | Worth a look | Recruiter convention No official source; this is common recruiter practice. |
Everywhere
Leave government ID numbers off your resume: national ID, tax and social security numbers. Most employers don't need them to decide whether to interview you, and they can be misused. Share a passport number only when an employer asks for it.
Other countries: Canada · Singapore · Japan · Philippines. See all resume guides.
Guidance, not legal advice. When an employer asks for something specific, follow their instructions.
Check your own resume for the US with the Country check: we flag each item with the reason and let you remove it in one click.
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