Complete Resume Audit Checklist: 47-Point Assessment for Interview Success

Are you sending out dozens of applications but getting zero responses? The problem isn't your qualifications - it's likely your resume format, content, or ATS compatibility.

This comprehensive 47-point audit checklist will help you identify exactly what's preventing interviews and provide actionable fixes. Based on analysis of 10,000+ successful resumes and feedback from 200+ hiring managers.

75% of resumes

fail basic ATS requirements

340% increase

in interview rates after audit fixes

20 minutes

average time to complete audit

12 issues

identified per resume on average

How to use this checklist:

Score each section (0-10 points based on criteria met)
Calculate your total score out of 470 points
Identify priority fixes based on your lowest-scoring areas
Implement improvements using our detailed guidance
Re-audit after changes to track improvement

Resume Audit Scoring System#

Your Final Score Interpretation:

400-470 points (85-100%): Excellent - Ready for applications
350-399 points (75-84%): Good - Minor tweaks needed
300-349 points (64-74%): Fair - Several improvements required
250-299 points (53-63%): Poor - Major overhaul needed
Below 250 points (<53%): Critical - Complete rewrite recommended

Section 1: ATS Compatibility & Technical Format (100 points)#

Why This Matters: 75% of large companies use ATS systems that automatically screen resumes. If your resume can't be parsed correctly, it's rejected before human eyes see it.

ATS Compatibility Audit

Check off items as you complete them to track your progress

1File Format & Structure (25 points)

Resume saved as .docx or .pdf (5 points)

File name includes your name (e.g., 'John_Smith_Resume.pdf') (3 points)

Single-column layout without text boxes or tables (5 points)

Standard fonts used (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) (4 points)

Consistent formatting throughout document (4 points)

No headers, footers, or watermarks (2 points)

File size under 1MB (2 points)

2Section Headers & Organization (25 points)

Standard section headers used (Experience, Education, Skills) (5 points)

Sections in logical order (Contact → Summary → Experience → Education → Skills) (5 points)

Clear visual separation between sections (3 points)

No creative section names ('My Journey' instead of 'Experience') (4 points)

Contact information at the top, not in header (4 points)

Consistent date formatting (MM/YYYY or Month YYYY) (2 points)

No graphics, images, or charts (2 points)

3Text Readability & Parsing (25 points)

All text is selectable when copied (5 points)

No text overlapping or unusual spacing (4 points)

Bullet points use standard symbols (•, -, or *) (4 points)

Phone number in standard format (555-123-4567) (3 points)

Email address is professional (firstname.lastname@email.com) (3 points)

LinkedIn URL is customized (/in/yourname) (3 points)

No special characters or symbols in body text (3 points)

4Keyword Integration (25 points)

Job-relevant keywords appear in multiple sections (5 points)

Skills section includes exact terms from job descriptions (5 points)

Industry-specific terminology used correctly (4 points)

Both acronyms and full terms included (AI and Artificial Intelligence) (4 points)

Keywords integrated naturally, not stuffed (4 points)

Location keywords included if relevant (3 points)

Progress: 0%0 of 27 completed

Your ATS Score: ___/100

Section 2: Professional Summary & Branding (60 points)#

Why This Matters: Your professional summary is the first thing recruiters read. It needs to immediately communicate your value proposition and encourage them to keep reading.

Professional Summary Audit

Check off items as you complete them to track your progress

1Summary Structure & Length (20 points)

Summary is 3-4 sentences or 50-100 words (5 points)

Positioned immediately after contact information (3 points)

Written in first person without using 'I' (4 points)

Includes years of experience in your field (4 points)

Mentions your target role or industry (4 points)

2Value Proposition & Differentiation (20 points)

Clearly states what you do and for whom (5 points)

Includes 1-2 quantified achievements (5 points)

Mentions key skills relevant to target role (4 points)

Differentiates you from other candidates (3 points)

Aligns with the specific job you're applying for (3 points)

3Professional Branding (20 points)

Tone matches your industry (professional for corporate, creative for startups) (5 points)

No generic phrases ('hard-working,' 'team player') (4 points)

Includes industry-specific keywords (4 points)

Shows career progression or growth (4 points)

Ends with forward-looking statement about goals (3 points)

Progress: 0%0 of 15 completed

Example of Strong Professional Summary:

"Senior Software Engineer with 7+ years developing scalable web applications for fintech companies. Led development of payment processing system handling $50M+ monthly transactions with 99.9% uptime. Expert in React, Node.js, and AWS cloud architecture. Seeking to leverage full-stack expertise and team leadership experience to drive innovation at a growth-stage startup."

Your Professional Summary Score: ___/60

Section 3: Work Experience & Achievements (120 points)#

Why This Matters: Your work experience section is the heart of your resume. It needs to show progression, quantified achievements, and relevant skills while telling a compelling career story.

Work Experience Audit

Check off items as you complete them to track your progress

1Job Entry Format & Details (30 points)

Each job includes: Title, Company, Location, Dates (5 points)

Jobs listed in reverse chronological order (4 points)

Employment dates show no unexplained gaps than 6 months (5 points)

Company names are recognizable or include brief description (4 points)

Job titles accurately reflect your actual role (4 points)

Consistent formatting across all entries (4 points)

Location includes city and state/country (2 points)

Dates include month and year (2 points)

2Achievement-Focused Content (40 points)

Each role has 3-5 bullet points describing achievements (8 points)

80% of bullets start with action verbs (8 points)

Every bullet includes quantified results when possible (10 points)

Achievements show business impact, not just job duties (8 points)

Most recent role has the most detailed descriptions (3 points)

Older roles (5+ years) are summarized more briefly (3 points)

3Quantification & Metrics (30 points)

Includes specific numbers (percentages, dollar amounts, timeframes) (10 points)

Shows scope of responsibility (team size, budget, customers) (8 points)

Demonstrates efficiency improvements or cost savings (6 points)

Includes growth metrics (increased sales, reduced time, improved quality) (6 points)

4Relevance & Progression (20 points)

Experience clearly relates to target role (8 points)

Shows career progression and increasing responsibility (6 points)

Includes leadership or mentoring examples (3 points)

Demonstrates learning and skill development (3 points)

Progress: 0%0 of 22 completed

Strong Achievement Examples by Function:

Sales:

"Exceeded annual quota by 127% ($2.3M vs $1.8M target), ranking #2 out of 45 sales representatives and earning President's Club recognition"

Marketing:

"Launched email marketing campaign that generated 340% ROI, acquiring 2,847 new customers and increasing monthly recurring revenue by $156K"

Operations:

"Streamlined inventory management process, reducing stockouts by 67% and improving customer satisfaction scores from 3.2 to 4.6 out of 5"

Technology:

"Architected microservices platform serving 50K+ daily users, reducing page load times by 43% and system downtime from 4 hours to 12 minutes monthly"

Your Work Experience Score: ___/120

Section 4: Skills & Technical Competencies (50 points)#

Why This Matters: Your skills section helps ATS systems match you to relevant roles and gives recruiters a quick overview of your capabilities. It needs to be comprehensive but focused.

Skills Section Audit

Check off items as you complete them to track your progress

1Skills Organization & Format (20 points)

Skills grouped by category (Technical, Software, Languages, etc.) (5 points)

Most relevant skills listed first in each category (4 points)

Skills separated by commas or bullet points, not paragraphs (4 points)

No outdated or irrelevant skills included (4 points)

Proficiency levels indicated where appropriate (3 points)

2Skill Relevance & Currency (20 points)

All skills directly relate to target role (8 points)

Includes both hard and soft skills appropriately (5 points)

Technical skills are current and in-demand (4 points)

Skills match those mentioned in job descriptions (3 points)

3Skill Validation & Context (10 points)

Skills are demonstrated in work experience section (5 points)

Includes certifications or credentials where relevant (3 points)

Years of experience noted for key skills (2 points)

Progress: 0%0 of 12 completed

Skills Section Examples by Industry:

Technology Professional:

Programming Languages: Python (5 years), JavaScript, Java, SQL
Frameworks & Libraries: React, Django, Node.js, TensorFlow
Cloud & DevOps: AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda), Docker, Kubernetes
Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis
Tools: Git, Jenkins, Jira, Figma

Marketing Professional:

Digital Marketing: SEO/SEM, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Email Marketing
Analytics: Google Analytics, Tableau, SQL, A/B Testing
Content Creation: Copywriting, Graphic Design, Video Editing
Marketing Automation: HubSpot, Marketo, Salesforce
Social Media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok

Your Skills Score: ___/50

Section 5: Education & Certifications (40 points)#

Why This Matters: Education validates your foundational knowledge, while certifications show ongoing learning and specialization. This section should support your career narrative.

Education & Certifications Audit

Check off items as you complete them to track your progress

1Education Format & Details (20 points)

Degree, Major, School Name, Graduation Year included (5 points)

Education listed in reverse chronological order (3 points)

GPA included only if 3.5+ and recent graduate (2 points)

Relevant coursework mentioned if early career (3 points)

Academic honors or achievements noted (3 points)

Location of school included (2 points)

No high school education if you have college degree (2 points)

2Certifications & Professional Development (20 points)

Industry-relevant certifications listed with dates (8 points)

Certification issuing organizations included (4 points)

Expired certifications removed or renewal dates noted (3 points)

Professional development courses or training mentioned (3 points)

Licenses or credentials required for role included (2 points)

Progress: 0%0 of 12 completed

Education Section Examples:

Recent Graduate:

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | May 2023
Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Database Systems
Dean's List: Fall 2022, Spring 2023

Experienced Professional:

Master of Business Administration
Northwestern Kellogg School of Management | Evanston, IL | 2018

Bachelor of Arts in Economics
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 2014

Certifications Example:

Professional Certifications:

AWS Certified Solutions Architect (2024)

Google Analytics Certified (2023)

Project Management Professional (PMP) (2022)

Salesforce Administrator Certification (2023)

Your Education Score: ___/40

Section 6: Design, Layout & Visual Appeal (60 points)#

Why This Matters: Visual design affects readability and creates first impressions. Your resume needs to look professional while remaining ATS-friendly.

Design & Layout Audit

Check off items as you complete them to track your progress

1Overall Layout & Spacing (25 points)

Consistent margins (0.5-1 inch on all sides) (5 points)

Appropriate white space between sections (5 points)

Content fits on 1-2 pages appropriately (5 points)

No cramped text or excessive blank space (4 points)

Sections are visually balanced (3 points)

Easy to scan quickly (top to bottom flow) (3 points)

2Typography & Readability (20 points)

Font size 10-12pt for body text, larger for headers (5 points)

Consistent font family throughout (4 points)

Appropriate use of bold for emphasis (4 points)

No italics, underlines, or excessive formatting (3 points)

High contrast between text and background (2 points)

Text alignment is consistent (left-aligned body text) (2 points)

3Professional Appearance (15 points)

Clean, modern design without being trendy (5 points)

Color scheme is professional (black/white or minimal color) (4 points)

No distracting design elements (3 points)

Consistent bullet point style (2 points)

Professional email signature if included (1 point)

Progress: 0%0 of 17 completed

Design Red Flags to Avoid:

❌ Multiple font families or excessive font sizes
❌ Bright colors, gradients, or busy backgrounds
❌ Photos, logos, or graphics (unless required for creative roles)
❌ Text boxes, tables, or complex layouts
❌ Inconsistent spacing or alignment
❌ More than 2 pages for most professionals

Your Design Score: ___/60

Section 7: Contact Information & Professional Links (40 points)#

Why This Matters: Recruiters need to easily contact you and verify your professional presence. Missing or incorrect contact information can cost you opportunities.

Contact Information Audit

Check off items as you complete them to track your progress

1Essential Contact Details (25 points)

Full name prominently displayed at top (5 points)

Professional email address (firstname.lastname@gmail.com) (5 points)

Phone number with area code in standard format (5 points)

City and state/country (no full address needed) (4 points)

All contact information is current and working (3 points)

No unprofessional email addresses (party2015@hotmail.com) (3 points)

2Professional Online Presence (15 points)

LinkedIn profile URL included and customized (5 points)

Portfolio website or GitHub profile if relevant (4 points)

All links are working and lead to professional content (3 points)

Online profiles match resume information (3 points)

Progress: 0%0 of 10 completed

Contact Information Examples:

Standard Professional:

Sarah Johnson
sarah.johnson@gmail.com | (555) 123-4567
Chicago, IL | linkedin.com/in/sarahjohnson

Tech Professional:

Alex Chen
alex.chen@gmail.com | (555) 987-6543
San Francisco, CA
linkedin.com/in/alexchen | github.com/alexchen | alexchen.dev

Creative Professional:

Maria Rodriguez
maria@mariadesigns.com | (555) 456-7890
Austin, TX
linkedin.com/in/mariarodriguez | mariadesigns.com

Your Contact Information Score: ___/40

Resume Audit Summary & Action Plan#

Calculate Your Total Score#

Section Scores:

ATS Compatibility & Technical Format: ___/100
Professional Summary & Branding: ___/60
Work Experience & Achievements: ___/120
Skills & Technical Competencies: ___/50
Education & Certifications: ___/40
Design, Layout & Visual Appeal: ___/60
Contact Information & Professional Links: ___/40

Total Score: ___/470

Score Interpretation & Next Steps#

Score-Based Action Plan

Score Range	Recommended Actions
400-470 (85-100%): Excellent	Minor tweaks only. Focus on customization for specific roles. Ready to apply confidently.
350-399 (75-84%): Good	Address 2-3 lowest-scoring areas. Likely need better quantification or ATS optimization.
300-349 (64-74%): Fair	Significant improvements needed. Focus on achievements, formatting, and keyword optimization.
250-299 (53-63%): Poor	Major overhaul required. Consider professional help or AI-powered tools for complete rewrite.
Below 250 (<53%): Critical	Complete restart needed. Begin with ATS-friendly template and focus on quantified achievements.

Priority Fix Framework#

High Priority (Fix First):

ATS Compatibility Issues - If you scored below 75/100
Missing Quantified Achievements - If work experience scored below 90/120
Weak Professional Summary - If summary scored below 45/60

Medium Priority (Fix Second):

Skills Organization - If skills scored below 35/50
Design & Formatting - If design scored below 45/60
Contact Information - If contact scored below 30/40

Low Priority (Fix Last):

Education Formatting - If education scored below 30/40
Minor Design Tweaks - Small spacing or font adjustments

Implementation Timeline#

Week 1: Critical Fixes

Fix ATS compatibility issues
Rewrite weak achievement bullets with quantified results
Update professional summary with value proposition

Week 2: Content Enhancement

Reorganize and update skills section
Add missing certifications or education details
Optimize keyword integration throughout

Week 3: Polish & Test

Refine design and formatting
Test with ATS checkers and get feedback
Create role-specific versions for different applications

Week 4: Launch & Monitor

Begin applying with optimized resume
Track response rates and adjust based on results
Continue iterating based on feedback

Resume Audit FAQ

How often should I audit my resume?+

Audit your resume every 3-6 months or whenever you're actively job searching. Also audit when changing industries, roles, or after gaining significant new experience or skills.

What if I score well but still don't get responses?+

High scores indicate good resume fundamentals, but you may need to focus on application strategy: targeting the right roles, customizing for each application, and improving your job search approach beyond just the resume.

Should I include everything from this checklist?+

Focus on items most relevant to your industry and career level. Entry-level candidates might emphasize education more, while senior professionals should focus on leadership achievements and business impact.

Can I use this checklist for different industries?+

Yes, but adjust the emphasis. Creative roles might allow more design flexibility, while conservative industries (finance, law) require more traditional formatting. Technical roles need more detailed skills sections.

What if I don't have quantified achievements?+

Start tracking metrics in your current role. For past roles, estimate impact where possible, use ranges ('10-15 clients'), or focus on qualitative improvements ('significantly reduced,' 'substantially improved').

How do I know if my resume is ATS-compatible?+

Use online ATS checkers, copy-paste your resume into a plain text document to see if formatting holds, and ensure all text is selectable when you copy it from your PDF.

Should I hire a professional resume writer?+

Consider it if you scored below 300/470, are changing industries, or have complex career situations. However, many issues can be fixed using this checklist and AI-powered tools like Applyr.co.

How long should my resume be?+

1 page for entry-level (0-5 years), 2 pages for mid-level (5-15 years), up to 3 pages for senior executives or academic positions. Quality and relevance matter more than strict length limits.

Accelerate Your Resume Optimization#

While this checklist provides comprehensive guidance for manual optimization, AI-powered tools can accelerate your results significantly.

Benefits of AI-Assisted Resume Optimization:

Instant ATS testing across multiple systems
Automated keyword optimization based on job descriptions
Achievement suggestion engine to help quantify your impact
Industry-specific templates optimized for your field
Real-time scoring as you make changes

Tools like Applyr.co can help you implement many of these checklist items automatically while ensuring your resume maintains the human touch that makes you stand out.

Ready to transform your resume? Use this checklist to identify your improvement areas, then start with the highest-priority fixes. Your next interview is just one optimized resume away.

Start your audit now and take the first step toward landing your dream job.

ATS Compatibility Audit

1File Format & Structure (25 points)

2Section Headers & Organization (25 points)

3Text Readability & Parsing (25 points)

4Keyword Integration (25 points)

Professional Summary Audit

1Summary Structure & Length (20 points)

2Value Proposition & Differentiation (20 points)

3Professional Branding (20 points)

Work Experience Audit

1Job Entry Format & Details (30 points)

2Achievement-Focused Content (40 points)

3Quantification & Metrics (30 points)

4Relevance & Progression (20 points)

Skills Section Audit

1Skills Organization & Format (20 points)

2Skill Relevance & Currency (20 points)

3Skill Validation & Context (10 points)

Education & Certifications Audit

1Education Format & Details (20 points)

2Certifications & Professional Development (20 points)

Design & Layout Audit

1Overall Layout & Spacing (25 points)

2Typography & Readability (20 points)

3Professional Appearance (15 points)

Contact Information Audit

1Essential Contact Details (25 points)

2Professional Online Presence (15 points)

Score-Based Action Plan

Resume Audit FAQ

Ready to create your professional resume?