Free ATS resume checklist
Run your resume through these 24 checks before you apply. They cover format, contact details, content, keywords and a final review, so applicant tracking systems can read your resume and recruiters can scan it in seconds.
Format
- Single-column layout, no tables, text boxes, icons or images
- Standard headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, Projects
- Simple font (Calibri, Arial or similar), 10-12 pt
- One page for freshers, maximum two pages for experienced professionals
- Saved as a text-based PDF or .docx, not a scanned image
- File named Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf
Contact details
- Name, phone number and a professional email address
- City (full address not needed)
- LinkedIn profile URL, customised if possible
- Contact details in the main body, not in the page header or footer
Content
- 2-3 line summary naming your target role and core skills
- Every bullet starts with an action verb (led, built, reduced, designed)
- Results with numbers wherever honest ("cut processing time by 30%")
- Most recent experience first, with consistent date format
- Projects show the problem, what you did, tools used and the outcome
- No personal details like religion, marital status or father's name
Keywords
- Read 3-4 job descriptions for your target role and list repeated skills
- Those exact terms appear in your summary, skills and bullets (only if true)
- Tool names match the job post spelling ("React.js", "Power BI")
- No hidden or white-text keyword stuffing
Final check
- No spelling or grammar mistakes (read it aloud once)
- Resume, LinkedIn and Naukri profile tell the same story
- Tailored for this specific application
- Copy-paste the PDF text into a notepad: if it comes out jumbled, an ATS will struggle too
More detail: how to pass ATS screening and the resume format for freshers. Short on time? Our ATS Resume Writing service starts at ₹399.