I made a list about all the little stuff you need to do when you're writing and editing a resume. Things to Check: Is your email address professional? Is Your Resume Well-Written? Have you customized your resume for the specific job you're applying to? (Highlight work experience and skills that are relevant to the position -- don't just write down everything you've ever done professionally.) Is Your Resume Properly Formatted & Designed? Things to Check: Have you included keywords in your resume? Be sure your resume directly reflects some of the software and skills mentioned in the job description.) If you've gotten this far and checked every box, you should be ready to send that resume in. Do you have any other resume must-haves?
I can’t think of many tasks people dread more than writing a resume. There are so many little things you need to add, rephrase, check, double-check, triple-check … and yet, somehow, your resume still goes out with your name as Corey Wainwrite from HubStop. It’s anxiety-inducing.
So, I did what I do when I’m anxious. I made a list about all the little stuff you need to do when you’re writing and editing a resume.
Check it out — and we wish you the best of luck with your job search.
The Ultimate Resume Checklist
I’ve divided all the must-do tasks into four sections and did my best to order them chronologically. Some could probably exist in more than one section or be completed in a different order, so I’ve ordered items where I thought they most naturally fit during the resume-writing process.
Is Your Resume Professional? Things to Check:
Is your email address professional? (e.g. sara@gmail.com vs. sarabear@gmail.com)
Is your email address from a professional domain, like Gmail? (Outdated domains can be a red flag for tech-savvy companies.)
Does your resume align with your LinkedIn profile? (Hiring managers will likely review both, in tandem.)
Have you included links to social profiles, portfolios, and a personal website, if relevant?
Have you audited your social profiles to ensure no unprofessional content is available?
If you’ve listed the hiring manager’s name, have you customized any communications that address him or her?
If you’re sending your resume as a Google Doc, have you granted the recipient the proper permissions to view it (or opened up permissions to everyone)?
Is Your Resume Well-Written? Things to Check:
Have you included your basic contact information — including your name, address, email address, and phone number?
Are you writing in a tone that matches that of the company to which you’re applying? (For instance, while still writing professionally, you might use a different tone when applying to work at a new tech startup versus an established analyst firm.)
Have you customized your resume for the specific job you’re applying to? (Highlight work experience and skills that are relevant to the position — don’t just write down everything you’ve ever done professionally.)
Do you have a clear objective at the top of your resume that is company-focused, not applicant-focused? (If not, that’s okay — but in lieu of it, do include a “Key Skills” section that summarizes who you are and what you can offer the company.)
Have you included both accomplishments and responsibilities under each job? (Both should be easy to ascertain when scanning your resume.)
Have you used metrics where…
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