US and Canada resume format: what to change from an Indian resume
By Bhagirath Sheela, founder of JobCatch ·
Employers in the United States and Canada expect a short, results-focused resume with no personal details at all. An Indian resume with a photo, a date of birth and a signed declaration looks out of place there, and some employers discard it to avoid any claim of bias.
Take these out
- Photo, date of birth, age, gender, marital status, religion, father's name, nationality.
- The "Declaration" and signature.
- An "Objective" line. Use a two-line summary instead, or none.
- Hobbies, unless they are relevant to the job.
Length and bullets
One page for up to about ten years of experience; two for senior roles. Each bullet starts with a verb and ends with a result: "Cut report time from six hours to forty minutes by automating the data pull in Python." Numbers carry more weight than adjectives.
Work authorisation
Employers need to know if you can work for them. If you need sponsorship (for example an H-1B in the US) or hold a permit (such as a Canadian work permit or permanent residence), state it in one line near your contact details. Do not leave the recruiter guessing; it is usually the first screening question.
Grades, dates and paper size
Give your CGPA as it is — "8.4/10" — rather than converting to a US 4.0 scale yourself. Use month and year for dates. US paper is Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) rather than A4; JobCatch's PDFs are A4, and online application systems do not mind. If someone prints it, A4 prints cleanly on Letter with "fit to page".
Canada differences
Canadian resumes follow the same rules — no photo, no personal details — with Canadian spelling (centre, colour). Many Canadian employers value local experience and volunteering in Canada, so include it if you have it.
Questions
Should I put my address on a US resume?
Just city and state (or city and country if you are applying from India). A full street address is no longer expected.
Is a CV the same as a resume in the US?
No. In the US a CV is a long academic document listing publications and research; for most jobs you need a one- or two-page resume.
Templates that follow this format
More guides: ATS-friendly resume · Fresher resume format · Bio-data format · Spot a fake job offer · Gulf CV · Europass CV · German CV · UK CV · Government job resume · Teacher resume · Campus placement resume · ATS myths · Naukri resume headline · Notice period · CTC on a resume · Employment gap