Free resume review for the United States
Sam, an AI recruiter, reads your resume the way a hiring manager in the United States would. He checks it against the local rules below, scores it out of 100 and tells you what to fix first. He can also check your fit for a job post and write a cover letter in the the United States format.
Review my resumeFree. No account. Your resume stays in your browser tab.
What employers in the United States expect from a resume
- Length
- 1 page for students and anyone with under about 10 years of experience; 2 pages for longer careers.
- Personal details
- Leave out photo, date of birth or age, marital or family status, gender, religion, nationality and Social Security number; equal-employment law stops employers asking for them, so US employers prefer not to see them. Federal (USAJOBS) resumes follow their own, more detailed format.
- References
- Leave off "References available upon request". Employers assume it, and references go on a separate page when they ask.
- Spelling
- Use American spelling (color, center, organization).
- Location
- Give your location as city and state.
- Right to work
- If it helps your application, say it plainly, for example "Authorized to work in the US" or "US citizen".
Cover letters in the United States
- Opening
- "Dear <name>," if the post names a contact, otherwise "Dear Hiring Manager,". Never "To Whom It May Concern".
- Closing
- "Sincerely," followed by your name.
- Subject line
- Not needed.
What job posts in the United States often ask for
Sam checks your resume against requirements like these when a job post lists them: work authorization or visa sponsorship, US citizenship or a security clearance, a state licence or certification.
What Sam checks
- The 7-second skim: does the top of your resume read as the role you want?
- Relevance, impact, progression, clarity, credibility and local standards, scored out of 100
- ATS basics: standard headings, contact details in the body, dates, keywords
- The roles you fit now, with search links for LinkedIn, Indeed, USAJOBS
- Certifications employers in your field ask for, from a checked list
- Interview questions your resume is likely to raise