A resume that lands interviews in one part of the world can get passed over in North America without anyone telling you why. Hiring managers in Canada and the United States read resumes fast, often after an applicant tracking system (ATS) has already screened them. They expect a specific structure, a specific length, and, just as importantly, the absence of certain details.
Whether you’re new to the North American job market, switching industries, or simply haven’t updated your resume in years, this guide covers what to include, how long it should be, and what to leave out.
Format: Clean, Simple and Easy to Scan
Use reverse-chronological order. List your most recent role first and work backwards. This is the format recruiters expect, and it’s the easiest for ATS software to read. If you’re making a career pivot, a hybrid format that leads with a skills section can work well, but your work history should still appear in reverse-chronological order.
Stick to a standard structure. A strong North American resume usually follows this order:
Name and contact information Professional summary (3–4 lines) Core skills or areas of expertise Professional experience Education Certifications, training or volunteer work (if relevant)
Keep the design ATS-friendly. Avoid tables, text boxes, columns, graphics, icons and skill-rating bars. They look polished, but many applicant tracking systems can’t read them, and your information may come through scrambled or missing. Use a clean font such as Calibri, Arial or Garamond at 10.5–12 pt, with clear section headings.
Use letter-size paper. North America uses 8.5" x 11" letter size, not A4. It’s a small detail, but it affects how your resume prints and displays.
Lead with achievements, not duties. Instead of “Responsible for managing client accounts,” write “Managed 40+ client accounts and increased retention by 18% in one year.” Start bullet points with strong action verbs and add numbers wherever you can.
Save it the way the posting asks. If the job posting specifies PDF or Word, follow it. If it doesn’t, a PDF keeps your formatting intact. Name the file clearly, for example: FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf.
Length: How Long Should Your Resume Be?
There’s no single rule, but these guidelines hold up well:
One page if you’re a recent graduate, early in your career, or have under 10 years of relevant experience. Two pages if you have 10+ years of experience, leadership roles, or a career with significant achievements to show. Three pages or more only in specific cases, such as senior executive, academic or highly technical roles. (In academia, a longer CV is standard, and that’s a different document.)
The real question isn’t “How many pages?” It’s “Does every line earn its place?” Recruiters often spend just seconds on a first pass. Focus on the last 10–15 years and condense older roles into a brief “Earlier Experience” line or leave them off entirely.
What to Leave Out
This is where many qualified candidates lose ground, especially those who’ve worked or studied outside North America, where some of these details are standard. In Canada and the US, employers are expected to avoid hiring decisions based on personal characteristics, so including this information can make your resume look out of place, or even put the employer in an uncomfortable position.
Leave these off:
Photo. Unless you’re applying for acting or modelling work, don’t include a headshot. Date of birth or age Marital status, children or family details Gender, religion or nationality Social Insurance Number (SIN) or Social Security Number (SSN). Never share these on a resume. Employers request them only after hiring. Full street address. City and province or state is enough (e.g., Toronto, ON or Austin, TX). Salary history or expectations, unless the posting asks for them, and even then it’s usually better addressed in a cover letter or application form. “References available upon request.” Employers assume you’ll provide them. Use the space for something stronger. An objective statement. Replace it with a professional summary that shows what you bring, not what you want. High school details, if you have a college diploma or university degree. Hobbies and interests, unless they’re directly relevant to the role or show a skill the job needs. Outdated or basic skills, like “Microsoft Word” or “email,” which employers now take for granted. A Few Final Tips
Tailor every application. Mirror the language from the job posting, especially key skills and job titles. This helps you get through ATS screening and shows the hiring manager you’re a fit.
Match the spelling to the market. Use Canadian spelling (organization, centre, colour) for Canadian employers and American spelling (center, color) for US roles. Whichever you choose, be consistent.
Add a LinkedIn profile. Include your custom LinkedIn URL with your contact details, and make sure your profile matches your resume.
Proofread, then proofread again. A single typo can undo an otherwise strong application. Read it out loud, or have someone else review it.
Your Resume Should Tell Your Story
A great North American resume isn’t about cramming in everything you’ve ever done. It’s about presenting the right experience, in the right format, so the person reading it quickly understands who you are and why you’re the right fit.
At Alam Edge, we help clients across North America build resumes that tell their story, whether they’re looking for remote, hybrid or in-person roles, or making a pivot into a new industry.