Is my resume cooked?
Find out if your resume is cooked in seconds. Upload it, add the job you want, and get a straight verdict with the fixes to make first. Free, no account.
By Resumedit · Updated October 2026
What makes a resume cooked
An ATS can't read it. No standard headings, no contact details, no dates, or a scanned file with no text. An applicant tracking system reads your resume as plain text, and these are the problems that stop it.
It's missing what the job requires. Add a job posting and you'll see which required tools, licenses and certifications your resume never names.
The verdict is a count. No problems means not cooked. One or two means a little cooked. Three or more means cooked. The same resume and posting always get the same verdict.
Questions
What does it mean if my resume is cooked?
It is slang for a resume that won't get you interviews as it stands. Here it means specific problems: an applicant tracking system can't read it cleanly, or it is missing what the job requires. Each one comes with the fix.
What is a red flag on a resume?
For an applicant tracking system: a file with no readable text, missing contact details, or roles with no dates. For a recruiter: unexplained gaps, and bullets that list duties instead of results.
What is the 7 second rule in resume?
It is the idea that a recruiter decides in seconds whether to keep reading. It comes from a 2018 eye-tracking study by Ladders, which measured an average first look of 7.4 seconds. Put your title, your strongest results and the skills the job asks for where a quick look lands: the top third of page one.
Can employers tell if your resume was written by AI?
Sometimes. Generic phrasing, claims with no specifics, and wording that matches other applicants stand out. The safest resume is one where every line is true and specific to you, whoever helped you write it.
Do employers care if you use ChatGPT for a resume?
Mostly they care whether it is accurate. Using a tool to tighten your wording is common. Letting it add results you can't back up in an interview is the real risk.
What should not go on a resume?
In the US: a photo, your full street address, references, and an objective statement. Anywhere: anything you couldn't explain in an interview.
Is this resume check free?
Yes. No account and no email. The verdict comes from the same check as the free ATS resume checker, and your resume is not stored.
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What happens to your resume
Nothing is kept. An uploaded file is read in memory and never written to disk, and we store neither the extracted text nor your IP address.