ATS CV Checklist: Everything to Check Before You Submit
·CVCircuit Team
Before you click submit, run your CV against this checklist. Catching one issue on this list can be the difference between your application being seen and being filtered.
Formatting Checks
- Single-column layout (no side columns or sidebars)
- No tables containing key information (experience, education, skills)
- All key information in the main body of the document (not in headers or footers)
- Standard fonts (Calibri, Arial, Georgia, Times New Roman)
- No text inside images or graphics
- No icons, rating bars, or infographic elements
- Standard bullet points (not decorative symbols)
- Consistent date formatting throughout (e.g., Jan 2022 – Mar 2024)
- Section headings use standard terms (Work Experience, Education, Skills, Personal Profile)
Content Checks
- Personal statement includes the target job title or equivalent
- Personal statement includes two to three core competencies from the job description
- Skills section is present and up to date for this application
- Skills section includes the specific tools, technologies, and competencies from the job description
- Experience bullets include relevant keywords from the job description
- Required qualifications are listed explicitly (full name and abbreviation)
- No key skills buried only within paragraphs — they should appear in the skills section too
ATS Score Check
- Uploaded CV to ATS checker (CVCircuit or equivalent) with this specific job description
- ATS match score is 65% or higher
- Missing keywords list has been reviewed
- High-priority missing keywords have been added where they accurately describe your experience
Final Review
- Re-read CV once for natural language and readability
- No obviously awkward keyword insertions that read unnaturally
- Correct file format for this employer (PDF or DOCX as specified, or PDF if not specified)
- Correct filename (LastName_FirstName_CV or similar — not "Final_CV_v7_actual_final")
One More Check
Run your ATS check again after your final edits. It takes two minutes and confirms that your changes improved your match score.
Check your ATS score free at CVCircuit before every application.