In this guide
The last review before an application goes out should be different from the first writing pass. Stop improving adjectives and start checking whether the materials answer the request. A polished resume can still contain conflicting dates, an unreadable attachment, or an omitted response.
Boston’s application guidance, checked October 2, 2026, calls for contact information and experience. Follow the current posting and submission instructions for exact requirements. Older help pages may describe different interfaces, so this checklist deliberately focuses on the materials themselves.
Make a requirements list before proofreading
Read the posting and application prompts together. On a separate page, list every requested item, its destination, any stated format or length limit, and the evidence that it is complete. Distinguish required materials from optional additions. Do not assume a portfolio or extra letter is welcome when instructions specify a narrower submission.
For each written question, identify what it actually asks: an example, a qualification, a reason for interest, or a factual detail. A thoughtful answer to a different question is still incomplete. Highlight any prompt with multiple parts and check those parts individually.
Compare the documents side by side
Use your resume, cover letter if requested or permitted, experience entries, and relevant answers. Check names of organizations, job titles, dates, and education descriptions. A shortened title can be reasonable when it remains accurate, but unexplained discrepancies create work for the reader.
Hypothetical example: a resume lists a project as ending in May, while an application entry lists June because a presentation occurred later. Decide which dates describe the actual work and explain the distinction if needed. Do not silently change the dates to create a longer period of experience.
- Use a reachable email address and verify it character by character.
- Check that every document names the intended role where appropriate.
- Remove another employer’s name left in a reused letter.
- Confirm that claims match your underlying evidence.
- Check requested reference information only with appropriate permission.
Test readability, not just appearance
Open the final file you intend to send, rather than relying on its editable source. Look at every page at a comfortable reading size. Check headings, spacing, missing symbols, page breaks, and text near the edges. A screenshot of a document is usually harder to use than selectable text.
Try selecting and copying a paragraph into a plain-text editor. Check whether the reading order makes sense, especially with columns. Use meaningful headings, adequate contrast, and descriptive link text. If the authoring software offers an accessibility checker, review its findings, but do not treat a clean report as proof that every reader will have a good experience.
These are practical editorial checks, not a certification of accessibility or a claim about the employer’s screening technology. When a submission requirement conflicts with your preferred design, follow the requirement and seek clarification through the official contact if necessary.
Protect information you do not need to send
Inspect comments, tracked changes, hidden sheets, and document properties where relevant. Remove draft notes and unrelated personal information. Do not include confidential work samples, government identity numbers, or another person’s private details just to make the application look complete. Supply sensitive information only through an appropriate, verified process when legitimately requested.
Close the review deliberately
- Save a clearly named final version in a private folder.
- Check links and attachments against the requirements list.
- Read the current submission instructions one more time.
- Keep the final materials and any actual confirmation together.
The resume bullet guide helps with claims that still feel vague. After submission, use a careful application log to distinguish what you sent from what the employer has confirmed. That separation prevents a tidy checklist from becoming a mistaken assumption about status.
Related reading: Write Municipal Resume Bullets That Show the Work, Track Applications Without Guessing What the Status Means.