Resume Checklist
Presentation and Layout
Is my resume laid out and presented in a professional manner?
Yes
No
Are my headings clear?
Yes
No
Are my sub-headings clear?
Yes
No
Did I make sure that my headings are consistent?, Fonts?, Dates? Titles?
Yes
No
Did I use capitals effectively? Indentation? Underlining? White space?
Yes
No
Is my resume organized in a logical manner?
Yes
No
Structure
Are my sections ordered according to their relevance?
Yes
No
Are my sections chronological? Is the most recent information listed first?
Yes
No
Language
Is my language usage clear? Straight forward?
Yes
No
Did sentences begin with an action verb?
Yes
No
Did I use key words that are relevant to my target work area?
Yes
No
Did I double-check that my grammar is correct? Punctuation? Spelling?
Yes
No
Did I write in the past tense for events that happened in the past? Did I write in the present tense for present events?
Yes
No
Did I remember to avoid using jargon? Abbreviations?
Yes
No
Overall
Is my resume tailored to the specific position I'm applying for?
Yes
No
Did I provide only truthful information?
Yes
No
Is my cover letter prepared?
Yes
No
Is my reference list prepared?
Yes
No
Did I make sure that I included information that is quantifiable?
Quantifiable Information: Information and results that include numbers and / or
percentages that demonstrates the impact you had on an organization.
Examples of Quantifiable Information:
- Supervised 45 Phone operators
- Increased sales by $250,000 during the 2005 fiscal year
- Achieved a 95% customer satisfaction rate
Yes
No
Action Verbs*
Communication / People Skills
Addressed
Advertised
Arbitrated
Arranged
Articulated
Authored
Clarified
Collaborated
Communicated
Composed
Condensed
Conferred
Consulted
Contacted
Conveyed
Convinced
Corresponded
Debated
Defined
Developed
Directed
Discussed
Drafted
Edited
Elicited
Enlisted
Explained
Expressed
Formulated
Furnished
Incorporated
Influenced
Interacted
Interpreted
Interviewed
Involved
Joined
Judged
Lectured
Listened
Marketed
Mediated
Moderated
Negotiated
Observed
Outlined
Participated
Persuaded
Presented
Promoted
Proposed
Publicized
Reconciled
Recruited
Referred
Reinforced
Reported
Resolved
Responded
Solicited
Specified
Spoke
Suggested
Summarized
Synthesized
Translated
Wrote
Creative Skills
Acted
Adapted
Began
Cared for
Combined
Composed
Conceptualized
Condensed
Created
Customized
Designed
Developed
Directed
Displayed
Drew
Entertained
Established
Fashioned
Formulated
Founded
Illustrated
Initiated
Instituted
Integrated
Introduced
Invented
Modeled
Modified
Originated
Performed
Photographed
Planned
Revised
Revitalized
Shaped
Solved
Data / Financial Skills
Administered
Adjusted
Allocated
Analyzed
Appraised
Assessed
Audited
Balanced
Budgeted
Calculated
Computed
Conserved
Corrected
Determined
Developed
Estimated
Forecasted
Managed
Marketed
Measured
Netted
Planned
Prepared
Programmed
Projected
Qualified
Reconciled
Reduced
Researched
Retrieved
Helping Skills
Adapted
Advocated
Aided
Answered
Arranged
Assessed
Assisted
Cared for
Clarified
Coached
Collaborated
Contributed
Cooperated
Counseled
Demonstrated
Diagnosed
Educated
Encouraged
Ensured
Expedited
Facilitated
Familiarized
Furthered
Guided
Helped
Insured
Intervened
Mentored
Motivated
Prevented
Provided
Referred
Rehabilitated
Represented
Resolved
Simplified
Supplied
Supported
Volunteered
Management / Leadership Skills
Administered
Analyzed
Appointed
Approved
Assigned
Attained
Authorized
Chaired
Considered
Consolidated
Contracted
Controlled
Converted
Coordinated
Decided
Delegated
Developed
Directed
Eliminated
Emphasized
Enforced
Enhanced
Established
Executed
Generated
Handled
Headed
Hired
Hosted
Improved
Incorporated
Increased
Initiated
Inspected
instituted
Led
Managed
Merged
Motivated
Navigated
Organized
Originated
Overhauled
Oversaw
Planned
Presided
Prioritized
Produced
Recommended
Reorganized
Replaced
Restored
Reviewed
Scheduled
Secured
Selected
Streamlined
Strengthened
Supervised
Terminated
Organizational Skills
Approved
Arranged
Catalogued
Categorized
Charted
Classified
Coded
Collected
Compiled
Corrected
Corresponded
Distributed
Executed
Filed
Generated
Implemented
Incorporated
Inspected
Logged
Maintained
Monitored
Obtained
Operated
Ordered
Organized
Prepared
Processed
Provided
Purchased
Recorded
Registered
Reserved
Responded
Reviewed
Routed
Scheduled
Screened
Set up
Sorted
Submitted
Supplied
Standardized
Systematized
Updated
Validated
Verified
Research Skills
Analyzed
Clarified
Collected
Compared
Conducted
Critiqued
Detected
Determined
Diagnosed
Evaluated
Examined
Experimented
Explored
Extracted
Formulated
Gathered
Identified
Inspected
Interviewed
Invented
Investigated
Located
Measured
Organized
Researched
Reviewed
Searched
Solved
Summarized
Surveyed
Systematized
Tested
Teaching Skills
Adapted
Advised
Clarified
Coached
Communicated
Conducted
Coordinated
Critiqued
Developed
Enabled
Encouraged
Evaluated
Explained
Facilitated
Focused
Guided
Individualized
Informed
Instilled
Instructed
Motivated
Persuaded
Set goals
Simulated
Stimulated
Taught
Tested
Trained
Transmitted
Tutored
Technical Skills
Adapted
Applied
Assembled
Built
Calculated
Computed
Conserved
Constructed
Converted
Debugged
Designed
Determined
Developed
Engineered
Fabricated
Fortified
Installed
Maintained
Operated
Overhauled
Printed
Programmed
Rectified
Regulated
Remodeled
Repaired
Replaced
Restored
Solved
Specialized
Standardized
Studied
Upgraded
Utilized
More Skills
Achieved
Completed
Effected
Electrified
Expanded
Pioneered
Perfected
Quoted
Sparked
Spearheaded
Transferred
Treated
Unified
* Action Verbs information adapted for the following sources:
Key Words**
Administration / Management
Business Alliance Building
Business Development
Contract Negotiations
Contractual Relationships
Departmental Operating Budget
Departmental Policy & Procedures
Employee Relations
Leadership Development
Logistic Operations
One-time Agreements
Operational Development
Performance Evaluations
Administrative / Secretarial
Customer Development
Database Administration
Front-end Operations
Multi-line Communication System
Office Maintenance
Quality Customer Care & Retention
Word / Data Processing
Accounting
Account Management
Accounting Software
Accounts Payable
Accounts Receivable
Benefits Administration
Collections
Departmental Budgeting
Line-item Accounting
Profit & Loss Reports
Engineering
Biomedical
Blueprint Reading
CAD Concepts
Chemical
Civil
Computer
Design Realization
Electrical
Electrical Circuits & Instruments
Electronic Communications & Technology
Equipment Measurement & Control
Fluid Mechanics
Human Factors
HVAC Distribution Systems
ISO Auditor
Kinematic Analysis
Linear Integrated Circuits
Manufacturing
Materials Science
Mechanical
Metrology
Microprocessor / Microcontroller Systems
Optoelectronics
Programmable Controllers
Programming
Psychometrics
Healthcare
Assessment
Assisted Living Housing
Benefit Eligibility & Determinations
Coding
Congregate Housing
Emergency Response System
Extended Care
Holistic Healing
In-home Services
Initial Therapies
Intake Personnel
Long-term Care
Medical Billing & Transcription
Medical Evaluation
Medical Terminology
Patient & Quality Care
Short-term Care
Human Resources
Affirmative Action / EEO Regulations
Employee Orientation
Employee Relations & Mediation
HR Program Development
Labor Relations
Performance Development
Personnel Training
Pre-employment Screening
Recruitment Programs
Staffing / Scheduling Requirements
State & Federal Rules and Regulations
Training / Orientation
Information Technology / Information Systems
Administrator
Advisor
Analyst
Architect
Client / Server Environment
Consultant
Database Management Systems
Designer
Developers
Development Manager
Editor
End-user Software Applications
Engineer
Estimator
Hardware & Software Troubleshooting
Help Desk Assistance
Integrator
Internet
Intranet
Planner
Programmer
Project Manager
Software & Network Operations
Specialist
System Maintenance & Upgrades
System Operator
Technical Support
Technician
User Support
Web Applications
Web Server Administration
Writer
Procurement / Purchasing / Inventory
Backorders
BidNet Interface
Business-to-business
Buyers
Cash Control
Claims
Containerization
Equipment Assets
Import / Export
Inventory Control
Just-in-time (JIT)
Loss & Damage Claims
Negotiations & Logistics
Production Control
Purchasing Procedures & Techniques
Rates
Repairable Assets
Supply Chain Operations & Management
Tariffs
Transportation
Legal
Family Law
Law Office Management
Legal Researching & Writing
Litigation Procedures
Probate / Probation
Subrogation Logistics
Sales
Client Base
Client Relationship Building
Event Marketing
Lead Groups
Marketing Strategies
Material Forecasting
Networking
One-call Sale
Outside / Inside Sales
Promotional Tactics
Selling Strategies
** Key Words information adapted from the following source: