Check resume formatting before submitting a file

Readable structure helps people review a resume. No template or checker can guarantee compatibility with every employer’s application system.

Use recognizable headings

Choose headings such as Experience, Education and Skills. Keep dates and contact details as real text. Prefer a clear reading order over decorative layouts that split related information.

Test the exported document

Open the PDF in a viewer. Select text, copy it into a plain text editor and inspect the reading order. Check page breaks, clipped lines and special characters. A text-only checker cannot inspect the visual layout of a PDF.

Follow the requested format

If the posting asks for a particular format, use it. ApplyFolio provides PDF, text and JSON backups; JSON is an editing backup, not an application document. The current PDF font supports ASCII Latin characters only.

Review on more than one screen

Inspect the file at a normal zoom level and check that contact details are readable. Test website links separately. Use a descriptive file name and avoid including sensitive identity numbers.

Put this into practice

Open the resume builder to organize your own information, or review our fictional resume examples. Export a local JSON backup before leaving the editor.

This is general writing guidance, not an employer policy or a hiring guarantee. Follow the requirements in your actual application.