What the resume checker reviews
The checker looks for readable text, recognizable contact details, familiar section headings, dates, and unfinished sample content. It separates priority problems from optional writing suggestions so you can start with the most useful changes.
- Text extraction: confirm that the file contains readable words rather than only an image.
- Contact and structure: look for a professional email, phone number, and clearly labeled sections.
- Dates and details: review possible reversed date ranges and information that may need a closer look.
- Layout signals: inspect possible columns, DOCX tables, text boxes, and header or footer text where detectable.
- Writing clarity: consider action-led statements, useful detail, and accurate evidence of outcomes.
Check PDF, DOCX, or plain text
You can choose or drop one PDF, DOCX, or TXT file up to 10 MB. PDF reading is limited to 50 pages. Word files must use the modern DOCX format; save an older DOC file as DOCX or a text-based PDF first.
A text-based PDF usually contains selectable words. A scanned PDF may show a complete page to a person while containing no extractable text. If important content is missing, use OCR or export a fresh file from the editable original, then check the result again.
Compare your resume with a specific job
Paste the job description and, if needed, add specific comma-separated terms. CareerLift checks whether those terms appear in the extracted resume text. Automatic term extraction uses a built-in list of common skills; you can add specialist terms yourself.
Keyword coverage is a literal comparison. It does not establish that you have a qualification or understand a term’s context. A valid synonym can be missed. Add a missing term only when it accurately describes your experience, and support important skills with relevant work or project evidence.
Read the extracted text, then act on the findings
- Check your name, contact details, and section order in the text preview.
- Review priority issues first, then consider the remaining suggestions in context.
- Download the check report if you want a record of the findings.
- Edit your original document, export it again, and replace the uploaded file to recheck it.
The checker does not edit your original resume or replace your saved builder draft. If you prefer to start with a simple layout, use the single-column resume templates.
Parsing and selection are different steps
Parsing extracts information from a document. Matching and hiring decisions depend on the employer’s tools, criteria, and process. A clean extraction is useful evidence that text can be read, but it cannot guarantee ranking, shortlisting, or an interview.
Greenhouse documents several common parsing problems, while its Talent Matching FAQ explains that matching criteria are employer-defined. No single local checklist reproduces every employer’s system.