Resume Checklist

Use this comprehensive checklist to ensure your resume is ATS-friendly, error-free, and highlights your key achievements to recruiters.

Contact Information

  • Full name is at the top, bolded, and in a larger font size (14–16 pt).
  • Phone number and professional email address are included.
  • LinkedIn profile URL is included (customized, not the default string of numbers).
  • City and State are listed; full address is no longer necessary.

Formatting & Layout

  • The document is exactly 1 to 2 pages long.
  • Margins are set to a standard 1 inch on all sides.
  • Standard, easy-to-read fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Verdana) are used.
  • Font size for body text is 10–12 pt.
  • Saved and exported as a .docx or .pdf file (avoid Canva, as it confuses ATS scanners).
  • Formatting, heading styles, and bullet points are consistent throughout.
  • No personal pronouns (I, me, my) are used.

Experience Section

  • Roles are listed in reverse chronological order (most recent first).
  • Each entry clearly displays: Job Title, Company Name, City/State, and Dates of Employment (Month and Year only).
  • Bullet points are used for readability rather than dense paragraphs.
  • Bullet points start with strong action verbs (e.g., Spearheaded, Orchestrated, Developed).
  • Descriptions include quantifiable results (e.g., “$10,000 in revenue,” “15% increase”) rather than just listing daily tasks.
  • Present tense verbs for current jobs; past tense verbs for previous jobs.

Education Section

  • Official degree name, major, and graduation date (Month/Year) are included.
  • Institution name and location are clearly listed.
  • GPA is included only if it is 3.0 or higher.
  • Relevant coursework, projects, or honors are listed (especially for recent graduates).

Skills Section

  • Hard skills (e.g., Python, SEO, Data Analysis, specific software) are highlighted.
  • Soft skills (e.g., Leadership, Project Management) are demonstrated naturally or kept to a minimum.
  • Keywords directly from the job description are incorporated to pass ATS software.

Final Polish

  • Completely free of spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors.
  • Checked for formatting breaks or misaligned bullet points.
  • Sent to a peer for a second set of eyes.
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