Do I need to check every box before applying?

No — this is judgment support, not a gate. Some items won't apply to you (no LinkedIn, no photo concern outside those markets). Use it as a pass before you hit submit, not a scorecard to max out.

Is this the same as the ATS score in the free check?

The first section literally is — those 11 items are the same rule-based checks SteadyCV's free resume check runs and scores. The second section is manual judgment a script can't verify: whether your dates are consistently formatted, or your bullets are actually tailored to this posting.

Does my progress save if I close the tab?

Yes, locally in your browser only — nothing is sent to SteadyCV. Come back later and your checked boxes are still there. Clearing your browser data clears it too.

I don't have a LinkedIn or portfolio — is that a problem?

Not inherently. Skip items that don't apply to your situation. Leaving a box unchecked here isn't a penalty on your actual resume score, unlike the automated section above.

Resume Checklist — 21 Things to Check Before You Submit

What the ATS check verifies automatically

Same 11 checks, same ids, same severities as the free resume check. These are ordered high-impact first within each group.

Contact

The ATS uses these to identify and reach you before anything else is read.

Email address presentThe ATS uses email as your primary identifier.High impact
Full name presentYour name should head the resume.High impact
Phone number presentAdd a phone number recruiters can reach you on.Medium impact
Professional headline under your nameA headline like "Registered Nurse" helps keyword matching.Low impact

Sections

The blocks an ATS parser expects to find, in some form, on every resume.

Work experience sectionAt least one experience entry.High impact
Skills sectionThe highest-signal block for ATS keyword matching.High impact
Summary of 2-3 sentencesWith role-relevant keywords, at least ~40 characters.Medium impact
Education sectionMost ATS platforms expect one, even if brief.Medium impact

Bullet quality

The two checks that separate a description from evidence.

At least a third of bullets contain a numberA %, a $, a count — something measurable, not just a duty.Medium impact
At least half of bullets open with a real action verbLed, Built, Improved — not "Responsible for" or "Helped with".Low impact

Length

Resume is roughly 250-800 wordsLong enough to have evidence in it, short enough that someone reads it.Low impact

Before you submit

No script checks these — they need a second read.

Go further than a checklist

A checklist catches hygiene issues. It won't tell you whether your resume actually evidences what a specific posting asks for.

Check my resume against a posting →Resume keywords by role →Action verb list →Cover letter checker →

FAQ

Do I need to check every box before applying?: No — this is judgment support, not a gate. Some items won't apply to you (no LinkedIn, no photo concern outside those markets). Use it as a pass before you hit submit, not a scorecard to max out.
Is this the same as the ATS score in the free check?: The first section literally is — those 11 items are the same rule-based checks SteadyCV's free resume check runs and scores. The second section is manual judgment a script can't verify: whether your dates are consistently formatted, or your bullets are actually tailored to this posting.
Does my progress save if I close the tab?: Yes, locally in your browser only — nothing is sent to SteadyCV. Come back later and your checked boxes are still there. Clearing your browser data clears it too.
I don't have a LinkedIn or portfolio — is that a problem?: Not inherently. Skip items that don't apply to your situation. Leaving a box unchecked here isn't a penalty on your actual resume score, unlike the automated section above.

Resume checklist: 21 things to check before you submit