FAANG resume: what Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple and Netflix want

Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple and Netflix don't ask for a special resume format. Only Google and Amazon publish real resume advice, and the two agree on most of it. They want one resume aimed at the job's listed qualifications, results backed by numbers, and a short, plain layout. The bigger differences are in the application rules. Amazon refuses cover letters, Google doesn't need one, Amazon and Meta keep a single resume per applicant, and Google, Meta and Apple cap uploads at 2 MB.

All of this comes from the companies' own careers sites, help pages and staff articles, checked on 12 October 2026. Where a company says nothing, the table says so.

What do FAANG companies say about resumes?

Every company that publishes advice makes the same two requests. Match your resume to the qualifications in the posting, and prove your results with numbers. Google, Amazon and Meta also want it easy to read.

Google puts it most directly on its hiring page: "Tie your work directly to the role qualifications (and don't forget to include data)." Amazon's recruiters say they want resumes that "highlight measurable data", and Meta asks for a resume that "emphasizes your work experiences, skills and achievements". Both Google and Meta also tell you to check that your resume clearly shows the role's minimum qualifications.

None of the five asks for a particular template, font or section order. None says a resume must fit on one page.

Google: one resume per job, with the X-Y-Z formula

Google's advice starts with a blank page: "If you have an old resume, keep it next to you for inspiration, but start with a blank document and create a resume specifically designed for each job you want." That fits its application limit, which allows up to three jobs in a rolling 30-day window, so each application can carry its own version.

For bullets, Google recommends a formula: "When in doubt, lean on the formula, 'accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z].'" In practice, X is the result, Y is the number that proves it, and Z is what you did. A bullet in that shape reads like this example:

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The formula is older than the current careers page. Laszlo Bock, then Google's head of People Operations, published it as his "personal formula" on LinkedIn in September 2014. His explanation is still the clearest version: "start with an active verb, numerically measure what you accomplished, provide a baseline for comparison, and detail what you did to achieve your goal." Google's own wording today is softer, and presents the formula as something to lean on "when in doubt".

On length, Google says "Keep it short. We don't have a length requirement, but being clear and succinct are key." You'll often see Bock's rule of thumb of one page for every ten years of experience quoted as Google policy. He wrote it in 2014 and said in a later post that his tips were "my opinions, not official company policy". Our guide to how long a resume should be covers what career offices recommend instead.

A few form details matter too. Google's help centre says the resume "must not be over 2 MB", and that the cover letter, education and work history fields are all optional. It also warns that its "resume parser may not get complete or fully accurate data", so check the fields it fills in before you submit. Intern postings ask for a transcript and, in the one we read, "PDFs preferred", plus your graduation month and year on the resume. On a phone, you can only upload from Google Drive.

Amazon: numbers, the posting's words, and no cover letter

Amazon's careers site is blunt about one thing: "Being a peculiar company, we don't accept cover letters. Just ensure your resume is up to date and you're all set." Any time you'd spend on a letter goes into the resume.

Amazon's recruiters have described what they look for in articles on About Amazon, the company's news site. In 2024 they asked for resumes that are "well-organized, use straightforward language, highlight measurable data, and are streamlined for maximum readability". A talent acquisition manager added, "While there are no hard rules, it's best to keep a resume text-forward, black and white, and simple." An earlier article quotes a recruiting manager saying "math and numbers are a universal language."

On tailoring, Amazon's advice is to adjust rather than rewrite. A senior recruiting partner said, "You don't need a completely different resume for each role you apply to", and the same article suggests reading the "Basic and Preferred Qualifications" sections of the posting for words to use. A December 2024 article is sharper: "If your resume doesn't reflect a clear understanding of the job you are applying for, it will not advance through the system."

That matters because of how Amazon's application works. Its FAQ says "we only accept one resume per applicant at this time", and you can apply to up to 10 roles at once. So one resume has to cover every role you're in for. If you're applying to roles that need different strengths, apply in batches and update the resume between them.

Some smaller details from the FAQ are useful. You can use your LinkedIn profile instead of uploading a resume. If you want to show your resume in English and a local language, put both in one document. Links to public copies of your work are welcome. Preferred qualifications "are not required to apply".

You'll read that Amazon wants resume bullets written in STAR form or labelled with its Leadership Principles. Amazon's pages tie both to interviews. Its interview-loop page suggests STAR as one way to structure your answers and asks you to frame them around the Leadership Principles, and it says nothing about formatting a resume that way.

Meta: one resume for every role you apply to

Meta's hiring process page gives short advice: "Your resume should be formatted in a way that's easy to read and emphasizes your work experiences, skills and achievements." It asks you to check the minimum qualifications and make sure "your resume clearly reflects this."

Like Amazon, Meta keeps one resume per applicant: "our careers site accommodates only one resume per applicant, so you should consider how to best represent your qualifications across multiple positions." You can apply to more than one role, but every application sees the same document.

Text in the code of Meta's application page says the form accepts ".docx or .pdf with a maximum file size of 2MB". It also includes a check that runs before you submit: "we couldn't seem to find information on your resume to assess the following qualifications listed on the job posting". We read that text in the page's code rather than on screen, and it may only appear for some roles. If it does appear, it's a direct prompt to add the missing qualification to your resume, if it's true for you.

Apple and Netflix: almost nothing published

Apple doesn't publish resume advice on its public careers pages, and its job FAQ needs an Apple Account sign-in. The text in its application form's code shows what the form accepts: "PDF, Microsoft Word, Pages, RTF, or TXT", up to 2 MB. You can also paste your resume as text, fill your profile from LinkedIn or type it in by hand. The optional section offers a cover letter, a portfolio link and letters of recommendation. When you apply, Apple says you'll "be considered for all locations where it's available", so one application per role is enough.

Netflix publishes no resume guidance either, on its careers site or in its culture memo. Its job site runs on Eightfold, a recruiting software platform, and Netflix's own text there says a resume is optional at the first step: "If you do not have a resume, proceed to the next section." You add education and work history after applying. One line on the site is easy to miss: "Uploading a resume/CV is not a formal application for employment." Uploading a resume to get matched with open roles is different from applying to a specific job.

How to write one resume that works at all five

The companies' advice overlaps enough that one well-built resume, adjusted per application, covers all five. This routine follows what they publish.

1. Start from the posting's minimum qualifications. List them, then make sure each one you meet is visible in your resume in the posting's own words. Google, Meta and Amazon all point to these lines.
2. Write results with numbers. Use the X-Y-Z shape for your strongest bullets: the result, the number that proves it, and what you did. Amazon's and Google's advice both reward measurable data.
3. Keep it short and plain. No company sets a length. One page suits early careers and two is normal with more experience. Use a single column, standard headings such as "Experience" and "Education", and black text on white.
4. At Amazon and Meta, write for the whole group of roles. Both keep one resume per applicant, so aim it at the set of roles you're applying to together.
5. Save a PDF with selectable text, under 2 MB. In our test of all 105 OneCV templates, a two-page resume without a photo came out at 51 to 428 KB. If yours is much bigger, look at the images in it first.
6. Check what a parser reads. Google warns its parser may miss data. Put your PDF through the ATS resume checker to see the text a parser extracts, in order, before you upload.

Skip the cover letter at Amazon. At Google, Apple and Meta it's optional, so write one only when you have something specific to say about the team or product. Our guide to tailoring a resume to a job description has a 15-minute routine for step 1.

Claims about FAANG resumes the companies don't make

Several rules repeated on resume sites and forums don't appear anywhere on the five companies' own pages.

Frequently asked questions

Do FAANG companies use an ATS?

Yes. Google, Amazon, Meta and Apple run applications through their own careers systems, and Netflix's job site runs on Eightfold, a recruiting software company. Google confirms that its system parses your resume into form fields. Our guide to applying to FAANG jobs covers the limits, referrals and steps of each process.

Should a FAANG resume be one page?

Not by any company rule. Google says it has no length requirement and Amazon's recruiters say there are no hard rules. One page is the usual choice for students and early-career applicants, and two pages is fine when your experience needs it.

Do I need a cover letter for Google or Amazon?

No. Amazon doesn't accept cover letters, and Google says "we don't require them, so focus your time on crafting your resume." If you add one at Google, its advice is to tailor it to the job and back it with data.

Can I use the same resume for several roles?

At Amazon and Meta you have to, because both keep one resume per applicant. At Google, each application can have its own resume, and Google recommends one designed for each job.

What file format should my FAANG resume be?

A PDF with selectable text is the safe choice. Google prefers PDFs on intern postings, Meta's form takes .docx or .pdf, and Apple accepts PDF, Word, Pages, RTF and plain text. Amazon and Netflix don't publish a list of file types. Keep the file under 2 MB, the limit at Google, Meta and Apple.

Is the X-Y-Z formula only for Google?

It works anywhere a recruiter reads results. It's Google's suggestion, and Amazon's emphasis on measurable data asks for the same thing in different words.

If you're building a FAANG resume from scratch, create your free OneCV account and start from a single-column template, then check the PDF with the ATS resume checker.