The 24-point resume self-audit.

Pass one: the six-second read

1. Name and target role readable without zooming. 2. Most recent job in the top half of page one. 3. Every bullet starts with a verb, not "responsible for". 4. At least four numbers visible on page one. 5. No paragraph longer than three lines. 6. Nothing about objectives, passion or dynamic team players. 7. Dates aligned and consistent. 8. Two pages or fewer, unless senior APS. 9. The first bullet under your current role is your best claim, not your first duty. 10. A stranger could say what you want next after ten seconds. 11. No photo, no birthdate, no full address. 12. Reads in your voice, not a thesaurus's.

Pass two: the software read

13. Single-column layout, no text boxes. 14. No tables carrying real content. 15. Standard headings: Experience, Education, Skills. 16. Saved as .docx or a text-based PDF, never a scan. 17. No headers or footers holding contact details. 18. Job titles and employers on their own lines. 19. Keywords from the ad appear in your skills and experience, in the ad's own words. 20. Dates in a consistent Month Year format. 21. No icons doing the work of words. 22. File named Surname-Firstname-Resume, not final_v7. 23. Fonts are standard and 10 point or larger. 24. Links written out, not hidden behind "click here".

Scoring

22 or more: apply with confidence. 18 to 21: an afternoon of fixes, start with the numbers and the verbs. Under 18: the structure is costing you interviews and the free review is the fastest next step.