Resume review
15 ATS resume checks worth keeping
ATS advice tends to collect rules faster than anyone can test them. This list stays with the basics: clear text, relevant language, predictable structure, and an exported file you have actually inspected.
Originally published January 15, 2024 · Updated July 22, 2026
- 1
Follow the employer’s file instructions
If the posting requests DOCX, send DOCX. Otherwise, a text-based PDF is often a sensible choice because it preserves layout.
- 2
Use headings that say what the section contains
Experience, Education, Skills, Projects, and Publications are easy for software and people to recognize.
- 3
Keep a clear reading order
A single column is the safest default. If you use columns, inspect the text extracted from the final file.
- 4
Write contact details as text
Do not rely on icons or an image for your email address, phone number, location, or profile links.
- 5
Make every date belong to an obvious role
Use one date style throughout and keep the date visually connected to the employer, credential, or project it describes.
- 6
Use the job posting as a source, not a script
Reuse accurate terms for tools, responsibilities, and domain knowledge. Do not copy requirements you cannot support.
- 7
Put important terms beside evidence
A keyword in an experience bullet is more useful when the same line explains the work you did with it.
- 8
Spell out an uncommon abbreviation once
Writing the full term followed by the abbreviation can help readers who search or scan for either version.
- 9
Remove rating bars and vague proficiency labels
“Advanced” and a row of filled circles mean different things to different people. Show depth through the work itself.
- 10
Prefer ordinary bullets and characters
Decorative symbols can break during extraction. Standard bullets, punctuation, and fonts reduce surprises.
- 11
Keep essential details out of headers and footers
Some parsers handle them; others do not. The main document body is a safer place for content that must be read.
- 12
Check that links work
Open the portfolio, LinkedIn, publication, and project links from the exported file, not only from the editor.
- 13
Use numbers you can defend
A real baseline, volume, time saving, or budget can add context. An invented percentage weakens the entire document.
- 14
Read the extracted text
Copy all text from the PDF into a plain-text editor and check the order, missing characters, and section boundaries.
- 15
Edit once more for a person
Remove repetition and vague claims. The recruiter should understand the work without translating a wall of keywords.
What this checklist cannot tell you
It cannot predict an employer’s workflow, replace required experience, or promise an interview. It can catch avoidable document problems and make the resume easier to evaluate. That is a modest goal, but a useful one.