Use this checklist to assess the quality of your resume. You will want to answer “Yes” to as many questions as possible to ensure you are submitting a high-quality application.
Layout, Appearance, & Grammar
- Is your name at the top bolded and at least two font sizes larger than the rest of your text?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Is your contact info included (address, phone number, email, portfolio/LinkedIn)?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Is your resume an appropriate length (1 page for undergraduates)?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Are the margins acceptable and consistent throughout (0.5” – 1”)?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Is the resume visually appealing? Is it easy to scan and evenly spaced?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Is the resume in a legible font, set to 10-12pt size?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Is the formatting consistent throughout (i.e., use of bold, bullet type, heading styles, etc.)?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Are the correct verb tenses used (i.e., present tense for current jobs, past tense for previous jobs)?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Did you avoid using first-person language (i.e., I, me, my, etc.)?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Is your resume free from spelling and grammatical errors?
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□ Yes □ No |
Education Section
- Is the institution name written correctly (i.e., University of Wisconsin – Madison)?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Did you include the location of the institution (City and State)?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Is your degree included and listed correctly (Bachelor of Science)?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Is your major included and listed correctly?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Did you include any certificates you are pursuing correctly, if applicable?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Is your study abroad institution included and listed in the same format as the UW, if applicable?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Did you include the GPA scale (i.e., 3.21/4.0)?
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□ Yes □ No |
Experience Section(s)
- Is at least one category heading tailored to your industry (e.g., Financial Services Experience)?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Did you list your experiences in reverse chronological order (most recent first) in each section?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Does each experience contain the organization name, location, position title, dates, and bullets?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Are there 2-5 bulleted statements per experience?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Do all statements demonstrate skills and accomplishments rather than routine tasks or duties?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Do each of your bullet points start with a strong action verb that markets your skills?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Did you quantify results (i.e., use numbers) whenever possible?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Did you highlight the most relevant experience as it relates to the position you are applying for first?
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□ Yes □ No |
Additional Things to Consider
- Have you had your resume reviewed by others, including a career advisor?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Have you saved your document as a PDF file to send out to preserve the formatting?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Did you refrain from using a resume wizard or template?
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□ Yes □ No |
- Is your resume style appropriate for the industry to which you are applying?
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□ Yes □ No |
