The Resume Audit Checklist Before You Hit Apply

You've written your resume. You've tailored it. You're about to hit "Apply." But before you do — run through this checklist. It takes 5 minutes and catches the mistakes that get resumes rejected.

Formatting & Structure

• One or two pages (no more, ever)
• Consistent formatting — same font, same bullet style, same date format throughout
• Clean file format — PDF for most applications, DOCX if specifically requested
• No photos or graphics — unless you're a designer (and even then, have a clean version)
• Contact info at the top — name, email, phone, LinkedIn URL, city/state
• Readable font and size — 10-11pt body, nothing below 10pt

Content Quality

• Every bullet starts with an action verb — not "Responsible for" or "Helped with"
• At least 60% of bullets have numbers — percentages, dollar amounts, timeframes, team sizes
• No buzzword salad — can you explain every bullet in an interview? If not, rewrite it.
• Relevant experience first — most recent and relevant roles get the most space
• Skills section is curated — only skills you can discuss confidently in an interview

ATS Compatibility

• Standard section headings — "Experience," "Education," "Skills" (not creative alternatives)
• No tables, columns, or text boxes — ATS can't parse them reliably
• Keywords from the job description — at least the top 5-7 required skills are present
• Both acronyms and full terms — "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)"

The Final Five

• Proofread twice — typos are the #1 instant rejection
• Check the company name — nothing says "mass apply" like the wrong company in your summary
• Filename is professional — John-Smith-Resume.pdf, not resume-final-v3-FINAL.pdf
• Open it on a different device — formatting can shift between platforms
• Ask someone to scan it for 10 seconds — what do they remember? That's what recruiters will see too.

The "Fresh Eyes" Test

After checking all boxes, close the document. Wait 30 minutes. Open it again and read it from the top. You'll catch things you missed.

Better yet, read it out loud. Awkward phrasing becomes obvious when you hear it.

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