ATS Resume Checklist: 30 Checks Before You Apply

An ATS resume checklist helps you catch preventable parsing and relevance problems before applying. It cannot guarantee an interview, but it can make your document easier for software and recruiters to understand.

Structure

• Use recognisable headings: Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills.
• Put contact information in the document body, not only in a header or footer.
• Use reverse-chronological experience unless another format is clearly justified.
• Give every role an employer, title, location, and date range.
• Keep the reading order obvious.

Formatting

• Prefer a single-column layout.
• Use standard fonts and readable sizes.
• Avoid text boxes, decorative charts, icons carrying essential meaning, and skill-rating bars.
• Use normal bullet characters.
• Keep dates and headings consistent.
• Do not hide text or keywords.

Relevance

• Match the accurate job title terminology.
• Include required skills you genuinely possess.
• Use both an acronym and its full form when helpful.
• Prioritise keywords repeated in the description.
• Remove irrelevant keyword lists.

Evidence

• Start bullets with a clear action.
• Explain scope: team size, customer group, budget, system, or volume.
• Add a result when one is available.
• Use numbers only when they are true and understandable.
• Replace unsupported adjectives with evidence.

File check

• Follow the employer’s requested file type.
• Use a descriptive filename such as alex-smith-product-manager-resume.docx.
• Copy all text into a plain-text editor and inspect the reading order.
• Open the final file after exporting it.
• Check spelling, links, dates, and contact details one final time.

Start from the ATS-friendly resume template and use the complete ATS testing guide when the result still looks uncertain.