Resume Audit — Checklist:
☐ Does my resume use a single-column, ATS-friendly layout?
☐ Are section headers standard (Experience, Education, Skills)?
☐ Is my file saved as .docx or a text-selectable PDF?
☐ Do I have a keyword list from 3-5 target job postings?
☐ How many bullets describe duties instead of results?
☐ Is my most relevant experience in the top third of the page?
☐ Is my resume under 2 pages for most roles?
☐ Does my summary line match the roles I'm targeting?

Findings Log:
Formatting issues found:


Missing keywords (from target job postings):


Weak / duty-only bullets to rewrite:


Sections to reorder or trim:

Before (duty-based):
"Responsible for managing social media accounts and
posting content regularly."

After (impact-based):
"Grew Instagram following by 42% in 6 months by
building a weekly content calendar and posting
schedule, driving a 3x increase in inbound leads."

Before (duty-based):
"Worked on data reports for the team."

After (impact-based):
"Built 5 automated SQL reports that cut weekly
reporting time from 6 hours to 45 minutes, freeing
the team for higher-value analysis."

Impact Statement Formula:

[Action Verb] + [What You Did] + [Measurable Result]

Examples of strong action verbs:
Built, Led, Reduced, Increased, Automated,
Launched, Negotiated, Streamlined, Delivered

Measurable results to look for:
- % increase/decrease
- Time saved
- Revenue or cost impact
- Team size or scope
- Volume handled (users, tickets, records)

If you don't have an exact number, estimate
conservatively and note it as approximate.

ATS Optimization — Checklist:
☐ Single-column layout, no text boxes or tables
☐ Standard fonts (Calibri, Arial, Georgia)
☐ Standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills)
☐ No headers/footers containing key info
☐ Dates in a consistent, simple format
☐ File saved as .docx (or text-selectable PDF)
☐ File name includes your name and target role
☐ Keywords appear naturally in context, not stuffed

Keyword Mapping:

Target job posting keyword:      _______________
Where it appears in my resume:   _______________

Target job posting keyword:      _______________
Where it appears in my resume:   _______________

Target job posting keyword:      _______________
Where it appears in my resume:   _______________

Repeat for every core skill or tool listed
in the job description before applying.

Summary Template:

[Role/Title] with [X years] of experience in
[core skill area]. Skilled in [tool/skill 1],
[tool/skill 2], and [tool/skill 3]. Known for
[key strength or outcome, e.g. "cutting delivery
time" or "growing engagement"]. Looking to bring
[specific value] to [target role/industry].

Bullet Template:

[Action verb] [what you did] by [how you did it],
resulting in [measurable outcome].

Example:
"Reduced onboarding time by 35% by redesigning
the new-hire training flow and documentation."

Section Outline (single page, most roles):

1. Name + contact info + LinkedIn/portfolio link
2. Summary (2-3 lines)
3. Core skills (8-12 relevant keywords)
4. Experience (reverse chronological, 3-5 bullets each)
5. Projects (if applicable — especially after a gap)
6. Education & certifications

Keep total length to 1-2 pages depending on
years of experience.