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Free checklist

The ATS résumé checklist

Most résumés are read by software before a human ever sees them. Run through this before you apply — it's the same ground our AI fit analysis covers automatically.

1. A layout the parser can read

Single column — no tables, text boxes, or multi-column grids
Standard section headings: Experience, Education, Skills
A common font (Arial, Calibri, Georgia) at 10–12pt
Exported as a text-based PDF, not a scanned image

2. Mirror the job posting

Use the posting's exact terms (e.g. “B2B SaaS”, not “business software”)
Spell out each acronym once: “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)”
Put the most relevant skills in the top third of page one

3. Prove impact, not duties

Lead each bullet with a result and a number
Keep every bullet to one or two lines
Cut anything ~10+ years old or irrelevant to this role

4. Before you hit submit

Filename includes your name and the role
No critical info in headers/footers — parsers often skip them
One final read against the posting: does the top of page one answer “why this role?”

Want this scored for you? Paste a job posting and your résumé into Résumé Fit and it flags the missing keywords in seconds.

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