Your Australian-style CV will not work in the US. You need a US-style resume to land those interviews!
In the US you’re expected to submit a resume, not a CV. Unless you’re working in a profession where CVs are still used e.g. academics or scientific roles.
There are big differences between CVs and resumes. Within a few minutes, you can start to Americanize your resume to get more interviews. You're so much more than your resume. But it still matters. It's your marketing material. Get started by implementing our top tips in this article.
If you want to take things one step further… in less than 2 hours you get to learn our secrets to creating a stand-out resume (and so much more) that turns job rejections into interviews. Join our Supercharge Your Search online course and get our 5-step method to land your next job in the US!
Tip #1. Target 1 page per 10 years of experience
You’ll likely get 30 seconds to make an impression and show off why you’re a great candidate. Australian-style CVs are lengthy and cover your entire career and education history. Great resumes focus on your relevant experiences and skills for the role you’re applying for. They are a condensed snapshot of your career.
Tip #2. List your skills & experience before your education
Your relevant experience and skills are generally considered the most important. In Australia, we place our education at the start. On your US resume, move it to the end. Unless you’re entry-level and have less than 2 years of experience. Focus on immediately selling the company on your relevant achievements and successes.
Tip #3. Quantify Your Experience
Australian CVs are very descriptive and wordy. There’s an emphasis on explaining the type of work you did, your role and responsibilities.
The best US resumes show off your relevant achievements vs your job responsibilities. This can take a bit of time to refine, but it’s worth it and will make you stand out.
Avoid generic language. Always try to use metrics to quantify your achievements and business impact. E.g. Collaborated with external partners on live music content, increasing ticket sales by 50%.
Think numbers, %, $.
Tip #4. Align your LinkedIn with your Resume
Recruiters will generally want to see your LinkedIn profile too. Make it easy. Always include your LinkedIn URL at the top of your resume next to your contact information.
Double-check your LinkedIn URL link works! If you haven’t already, customize your LinkedIn URL.
Make sure there’s consistency between your resume and LinkedIn. Sometimes people will only look at your LinkedIn.
Tip # 5. Tweak your resume for each type of job/role
For each role, focus on your most relevant skills and achievements. Align your achievements with what the job description and company are looking for. To save time, create ‘foundation’ versions of your resume based on the types of roles you’re applying for. Before you submit it, make sure the content you’ve included is relevant to the company.
Quick Tips
Use a US phone number and leave out the +1 country code (You can get a US Phone number through Skype)
Use American spelling. Z instead of S. e.g. organize vs organise
Remove Australian references that would not be understood here
Save with a standard title (e.g. Amy Meyer Resume)
Send as a PDF
Check all your links work
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