Resume Checklist: 12 Things to Check Before You Hit Submit
Related tool: AI Resume Builder
Run through this in under five minutes before you apply.
- Does the top third of the page make it obvious what role you're targeting?
- Is at least one number in every bullet point where realistically possible?
- Does the file name look professional (not "resume_final_v3_ACTUAL.pdf")?
- Have you removed any employer-specific jargon a new reader wouldn't recognize?
- Is your most relevant, most recent experience above older, less relevant roles?
- Did you spell-check with fresh eyes, ideally after stepping away for an hour?
- Is the file a PDF (unless the posting explicitly asks for Word)?
- Does your LinkedIn URL (if included) match the name and title on the resume?
- Have you removed personal details irrelevant to hiring in your country (photo, age, marital status)?
- Does the resume fit on one page (or two, only if you have 10+ years of experience)?
- Have you matched at least 3-5 exact keywords from the job posting?
- Would a stranger understand your job title and impact without asking follow-up questions?