Resume Checklist
Check every box before submitting your resume. 41 items across 7 categories.
0 / 41 items completed
Work through each section to build a complete resume.
What this checklist covers
The checklist walks you through every element a strong, submittable resume should have, grouped into seven categories: contact information, professional summary, work experience, education, skills, certifications and training, and overall formatting and ATS compatibility. Each item is a single, verifiable check — either your resume has it or it does not.
Work through it alongside your resume, ticking items as you confirm them. The progress bar tracks how complete your resume is across all categories.
How to interpret your progress
- 100%: every recommended element is present. Do a final proofread and you are ready to submit.
- 75–99%: nearly complete. Focus on the remaining items, especially any in Contact Information and Work Experience.
- Below 75%: several core elements are missing. Address the unchecked items before applying.
Completing the checklist means your resume contains the expected elements — it does not guarantee any interview or hiring outcome.
A short example
Using the checklist on a real resume
Open your resume next to this page. Under Contact Information, confirm your email, phone, city, and LinkedIn URL are present — tick each one. Under Work Experience, check that roles are reverse-chronological, each has bullets starting with an action verb, and at least two bullets include a number. If a box cannot be ticked, edit your resume to add the missing element, then come back and tick it.
Important limitations
- The checklist confirms presence, not quality. A bullet point that exists but is vague still passes its check.
- Some items depend on your situation — GPA, certifications, and portfolio links are optional and may not apply to every applicant.
- Formatting items (fonts, file format, no tables) refer to your final document, which this page cannot inspect. Confirm them in your editor.
- Industry and regional norms vary. Adjust the checklist to match the expectations of your field and country.
Practical next steps
- Fix every unchecked item, starting with Contact Information and Work Experience.
- Run your resume through the ATS Resume Checker for an overall compatibility score.
- Use the Keyword Checker to confirm your skills match a target role.
- Move your final content into an ATS-friendly template or browse all resume templates.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to complete every single item?
Most items apply to every resume, but a few are situational — GPA (only if recent and 3.5+), certifications, and portfolio links. Skip items that genuinely do not apply to you rather than forcing them in.
Is my progress saved?
Progress is kept in your browser for as long as the page is open. If you reload or close the tab, the checkboxes reset. The checklist is meant to be used in a single review session alongside your resume.
Should my resume be one page or two?
Entry-level and early-career applicants should aim for one page. With five or more years of experience, two pages is expected. The Overall Formatting category reflects this.
Does completing the checklist guarantee my resume will be accepted?
No. Completing it means your resume contains the elements most employers and parsing systems expect. Whether you are selected depends on your experience, the role, and the employer criteria.