Resume Review Checklist: 15 Checks Before You Apply
Before you apply, check your resume against the job ad, confirm every date and title is accurate, and make sure each bullet shows a result. Use the 15 checks below to catch the most common problems: missing keywords, unexplained gaps, unclear acronyms, extra pages and typos. A resume that passes these checks is easier for both software and people to read.
Fit with the job
1. Your summary uses the job title and two or three key words from the ad. 2. Your top skills match what the ad lists most often. 3. Anything unrelated to the target job is cut or shortened.
Dates and details
4. Every job has a title, employer, and month and year dates. 5. For federal jobs, each role lists hours per week. 6. Gaps from moves have a short, plain note. 7. Your contact details are current, with a professional email address.
Content quality
8. Bullets start with action verbs like led, built, trained or managed. 9. Most bullets include a number: people, dollars, time saved or items handled. 10. Military acronyms are spelled out or replaced with plain words. 11. No bullet repeats another.
Format and length
12. Civilian resumes are usually one to two pages. Federal resumes follow the announcement, often two pages maximum. 13. The layout is simple, with standard headings like Experience and Education, so applicant tracking systems can read it. 14. Fonts and spacing are consistent throughout.
Final proof
15. You have read it out loud once and had one other person read it. Typos and wrong dates are the easiest problems to fix and the most costly to miss.
How to use this checklist
Go through the list with the job ad open beside your resume. Mark anything that fails, fix it, and read the whole thing again. If you apply to several kinds of jobs, run the checklist on each tailored version. Privacy matters too: never include your Social Security number, date of birth or a photo unless the job specifically asks for it.
Want a second set of eyes?
A review is the quickest way to find what you missed. Redleg Resumes offers a $49 review with written suggestions, or a full rewrite for $99. You get the first draft within 48 hours, up to 2 rounds of edits, and you pay by PayPal invoice only after you're happy with it. Fort Sill Patriot Spouses Club members get $10 off.
FAQ
What does the $49 review include?
A review of your current resume against your target job, with suggestions you can use yourself.
How fast is the turnaround?
The first draft arrives within 48 hours.
When do I pay?
After you are happy. You get a PayPal invoice then.
Do I need to remove my SSN before sending my resume?
Yes. Please remove it first.