Why a Resume Check Will Improve Your Chances of an Interview

Updated June 18, 20221.5k

Find out why you need a resume check in order to get ahead of the competition. What is a resume check, how can it help you, and how can you get one quickly to land the job of your dreams?

How a Resume Check Can Help You Get Hired

During your job search, you may feel like your resume isn’t even being read by the hiring manager—and you may be right. A huge number of resumes, roughly 75%, do not even reach the desk of a hiring manager, according to a study completed by the recruitment firm Preptel. This is the result of applicant tracking systems (ATS), used by many companies that scan resumes and use algorithms to screen out unsuitable candidates. By performing a resume check, applicants can increase their chances of making it through the ATS to a hiring manager or recruiter.
In this guide, you will learn:

What a resume check is
What tools you can use to complete a resume check
How a resume check can help your resume stand out

What Is a Resume Check?

A resume check allows applicants to have their resume optimized before sending it to an employer. Where before it was done manually by experts, now there are technological options such as resume check websites. You simply upload your resume in the required format. Then, using advanced algorithms, the website will scan your resume and grade it by how successful it will be going through the ATS. This can make a huge difference in how many job interviews and job offers you begin to receive. Imagine how many jobs you could be missing out on if you are qualified for the position but fail to make it through a computer’s artificial intelligence. The website will often offer specific suggestions for improvement, and best of all, some of them are free.

Three Functions of a Resume Check

Some resume checks use a resume grader to tell you your resume score based on key metrics.
Resume checks can help qualified candidates get their resumes through the computer system to a hiring manager.
A resume check will let you know if you have made an error on your resume that could be preventing you from getting job interviews.

The Best Ways To Get a Resume Check

There are a number of ways for job seekers to get a resume check:

For a free resume review ask friends, family or colleagues in your network who are qualified or know something about the industry you intend to apply to. If you don’t have many connections, you can use resources like a LinkedIn profile or a university job center.
Reach out to other companies’ hiring managers and ask them to assess your resume.
Hire a professional resume checker.
Use an online resume checker.

You can also use a resume builder like ResumeNerd. ResumeNerd offers templates and job-specific suggestions for your resume. Using this service also helps keep your resume looking presentable and professional by organizing basic design elements such as margin and font sizes. A resume builder can offer buzzwords and find grammatical errors and typos that are fatal to the ATS. Once you complete your resume, ResumeNerd can also help you write your cover letter.

How To Improve Your Resume After a Check

It is vital that you follow the suggestions laid out by a resume checker after you have scanned your resume, which can include guidance on grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, numbers of keywords, layout suggestions and more. Here’s how to handle these potential issues after your check:

Design or layout issues

Even if you are qualified for the job and the text is perfect, a badly presented resume can fail to get through the ATS. However, this is an easily fixable problem if you use a resume template.

Employment or skills section issues

If there are problems within this section you may need to gauge whether you have the correct skills and experience and if not. If you know you do, it may be as simple as writing them in. If you don’t, then there may be ways to fill the section with other experience such as internships or with relevant skills related to the career you’re applying to.

Lacking the required certifications

It may be that a specific certification is required for the job and you need to have it before continuing. However, check the job description to see if it is possible that you can fill out the section with related experience or certifications.

Following a resume checker’s assessment and suggestions can drastically improve your chances of getting through the ATS. However, it can sometimes find that you are unqualified for the role or are not the best candidate at this time. Use the resume checker results to see which skills or experience you need, then fill those gaps and update your resume to land your dream job.

FAQ: Resume Check

Why is it necessary to get my resume checked?

While it’s not required for you to get your resume checked, it can greatly improve the chances of getting your resume seen and therefore your chances of getting hired. Checking your resume will put you ahead of most of the other applicants. You can think of it as a safety net that will tremendously increase your chances of getting hired.

Can I scan my resume to get it checked?

It is not recommended. When you scan your resume, it can become very hard for the ATS to read. Make sure you upload your resume in a readable format such as PDF or docx. To check if your resume is scanned, you can open it in Preview, Chrome or Adobe Acrobat reader and see if it is possible to highlight the text. If it is impossible, ATS will also not be able to read your resume.

What is the best format to submit my resume for a resume check?

The best format is typically PDF, but it can depend on the tool you are using to check your resume. Sometimes people use Word format for their resumes, but this can create multiple issues. When you save your resume in Word format, the font, layout and formatting will look different when opened on different versions of Word, so recruiters might see a very different version of your resume than what you originally submitted. PDF files are also more easily shareable. The only case when you should submit your resume in Word format is when you are specifically asked to do so.

Is it okay to use a two-column layout for my resume?

Since many companies use applicant tracking systems, it is crucial that your resume can be read easily by this technology. Although the AI technology behind the ATS is improving very quickly, it may still have some difficulties reading two columns instead of one. If you’re set on using a two-column layout, find a resume template with two columns that’s professionally designed, and test it by running it through a resume check.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.