The Ultimate Resume Checklist: What Recruiters Look for in 2025

In today’s competitive job market, your resume is your personal marketing document. Recruiters spend an average of 6–8 seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to keep reading. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and evolving recruiter preferences have made it essential to build a resume that is clear, keyword-optimized, and results-driven. This guide provides a detailed checklist of what recruiters look for and how to ensure your resume gets noticed.

Why the Resume Checklist Matters

Recruiters and hiring managers are inundated with resumes, especially as remote work and global applications increase. A resume that is not properly structured may never reach human eyes if filtered out by ATS. By following this checklist, you can ensure your resume is both ATS-friendly and recruiter-friendly.

Step 1: Structure and Formatting

✅ Use a clean, professional font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, 10–12pt).
✅ Stick to a one-page resume if you have under 10 years of experience; two pages if more.
✅ Margins should be 0.5–1 inch for readability.
✅ Save your resume as a PDF (unless otherwise requested).
✅ Use clear section headings (EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, SKILLS).

Step 2: Contact Information

Recruiters want to reach you quickly, so make sure your contact information is clear:
• Full name
• Professional email address (avoid nicknames or personal quirks)
• Phone number
• LinkedIn profile (customized URL)
• City & state (optional, but useful for local hiring)

Step 3: Resume Summary

A strong summary at the top of your resume should be 3–4 sentences and highlight your career goals, key skills, and achievements. Example:

“Results-driven project manager with 8+ years of experience in tech and healthcare. Skilled at leading cross-functional teams, delivering projects 15% under budget, and implementing Agile practices. Seeking to leverage expertise to drive innovation at a forward-thinking organization.”

Step 4: Work Experience

Recruiters want results, not job descriptions. Each role should include:
✅ Job title, company name, location, and dates of employment.
✅ 3–6 bullet points focused on measurable achievements (numbers, percentages, outcomes).
✅ Action verbs (e.g., Developed, Implemented, Streamlined, Increased).

Example (weak vs strong):
– Weak: Responsible for managing a sales team.
– Strong: Managed a team of 10 sales reps, boosting quarterly revenue by 25%.

Step 5: Education

Include your highest degree first, with:
• Degree and field of study
• University name
• Graduation year (optional if more than 10 years ago)

If relevant, add honors, certifications, or professional development courses.

Step 6: Skills Section

Use a bullet-pointed list or two-column format with hard skills relevant to the job. Recruiters want to see:
• Technical skills (e.g., Python, Salesforce, Data Analysis)
• Industry-specific tools (e.g., Epic for healthcare, Jira for project management)
• Soft skills can be highlighted in the summary or experience sections, not the skills list.

Step 7: Keywords for ATS

ATS systems scan for keywords matching the job description. Tailor your resume by:
✅ Reviewing the job ad and mirroring relevant terms.
✅ Using both acronyms and full terms (e.g., SEO and Search Engine Optimization).
✅ Avoiding keyword stuffing — integrate naturally.

Step 8: Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Overloading with buzzwords like ‘hardworking’ or ‘team player.’
❌ Using images, graphics, or tables that ATS cannot read.
❌ Including personal information (marital status, age, photo).
❌ Submitting the same resume for every job.

The Complete Resume Checklist

– Clean, ATS-friendly formatting
– Clear contact details with LinkedIn
– Strong summary with career highlights
– Achievement-focused work experience
– Relevant education and certifications
– Skills aligned with job description
– Keywords tailored for ATS
– Error-free, typo-free content

FAQs About Resumes

Q: Should resumes still be one page?
A: If you have under 10 years of experience, yes. Otherwise, two pages are fine.

Q: Do recruiters read cover letters?
A: Many still do, but your resume is always reviewed first.

Q: Should I include references?
A: No, write ‘Available upon request’ if needed.

Q: Is a creative design resume okay?
A: Only if applying for design/creative roles. Otherwise, stick to simple formats.

Final Thoughts

Your resume is your first impression, and it must be ATS-proof, recruiter-friendly, and achievement-focused. Following this checklist will help you stand out in a crowded market.

Want a resume that’s guaranteed to impress recruiters and beat ATS? Sign up with Loopendo today and let our experts craft your perfect resume.