The Complete Resume Building Checklist

Your Pre-Submission Checklist

Before sending your resume to any employer, run through this comprehensive checklist. It covers content quality, formatting, ATS optimization, and final verification. Print it out, bookmark it, and use it for every application.

Contact Information

Full professional name is prominent and correctly spelled
Phone number is current and has a professional voicemail
Email is professional and name-based
LinkedIn URL is included and customized
City and state are listed (no full street address)
All contact info is in the main document body (not header/footer)

Professional Summary

Three to five sentences maximum
Includes your experience level and primary role
Contains two to three key skills matching the job description
Includes at least one quantified achievement
Written in third-person or implied first-person (no 'I')
Customized for the specific role

Work Experience

Listed in reverse chronological order
Each position has company name, title, location, and dates
Three to six bullet points per position
Every bullet starts with a strong action verb
Achievements are quantified with specific metrics
Keywords from the job description are naturally incorporated
Most relevant position has the most detail

Skills Section

Includes both hard and soft skills
Skills are organized into categories
Matches keywords from the job description
Includes both acronyms and full terms where applicable
Contains 8-15 total skills
Does not include obvious skills (email, Microsoft Office)

Education

Degrees listed in reverse chronological order
Institution name, degree type, and field of study included
GPA included only if 3.0+ and within 5 years of graduation
Graduation date removed if 15+ years ago
Relevant certifications listed with full names and dates

Formatting and Design

Single-column layout
Consistent formatting throughout (fonts, sizes, bullet styles)
Clean visual hierarchy with clear section headings
Adequate white space (0.5-1 inch margins)
Professional font (Calibri, Arial, Georgia)
Font size 10-12pt for body, 14-24pt for name
No graphics, icons, or images conveying essential information

ATS Optimization

Standard section headings (Work Experience, Skills, Education)
Keywords from job description included naturally
File saved as text-based PDF
Copy-paste test: text is readable when pasted into plain text editor
Tested with our {LK_ATS}

Final Verification

Proofread for typos, grammar, and spelling errors
Read aloud to catch awkward phrasing
File named professionally (FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf)
Reviewed by another person for fresh perspective
Application tracking spreadsheet updated

Build your resume with our free resume builder, run through this checklist, and submit with confidence. Your next interview starts here.