ATS Resume Checklist Before You Apply

Format

• Single column, standard section headings (Summary, Experience, Education, Skills)
• Standard font (Calibri, Arial, Inter, Source Sans, Garamond) at 10–11pt body
• No text inside headers, footers, images, shapes, or text boxes
• Dates formatted consistently (Jan 2022 – Present)
• Saved as a text-based PDF, not a scan or screenshot

Content

• Summary rewritten for this specific posting
• 8–12 must-have keywords from the JD appear naturally in your text
• Every recent bullet starts with a strong action verb
• At least one quantified result per recent role
• No personal pronouns, no passive voice, no 'responsible for'

Tailoring

• Target job title appears under your name OR in your summary
• Skills section includes the JD's exact phrasing (not just synonyms)
• Strongest bullet is the first bullet under your most recent role
• Older or unrelated experience compressed or cut

Final checks

• Proofread backwards, sentence by sentence
• Read aloud once
• Run Resumeva's ATS checker — aim for 70%+ match
• Confirm the file name is 'FirstLast_Resume.pdf', not 'resume_final_v7.pdf'
• Save the tailored version with the company name so you can reference it later

Why this matters

The advice in this guide is drawn from real recruiter conversations and analysis of what actually moves candidates forward. Apply it as a checklist on your next application.

Put it into practice

Don't try to apply everything at once. Pick the one or two changes that feel most relevant to your situation, ship the update, and measure the response over your next 10 applications.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating advice as universal — context always matters
• Over-editing until your voice disappears
• Skipping the proofread because you've read it 30 times
• Forgetting that recruiters are people, not algorithms