Oh no, not type-ohs! Slow down before sending
You may think proofreading is such a basic concept, but you would be shocked at the percentage of resumes received by employers which are riddled with simple typos or grammatical errors. Sometimes it’s not your experience, your objective, or even your references that keep you from getting to the interview.
From spelling the Manager’s name incorrectly (oh yes, it happens!), to incorrect grammar (there, their, they’re) – to random capitalization of words (“Support a large Group…”) – to issues with punctuation (SO many commas!), the list of errors goes on and on. To most employers, typos and spelling errors are a sign of carelessness and will often help land your resume in the circular file as opposed to help move you along in the hiring process.
Solution – Using a spell-check is simply not enough to catch some of these mistakes; it is recommended you have at least two or three people proofread your resume before sending out to a recruiter or hiring manager. A fresh set of eyes will often catch things that get passed over after you read over your resume a few times.
Here are 3 tips to help proof read
As we become more dependent on online job searches, the first impression a prospective employer has of you is your resume. What appears on that single piece of paper determines whether you receive a call asking you to come in for an interview.
One of the things that makes proofreading any document hard is that you’ve written it. It can be difficult for you to see beyond what you meant to write and catch mistakes in what you did write. This is true even if you’re a seasoned writer.
Sometimes your writing looks much different on a computer screen then it does on a paper. This can also help you review the formatting. You can also print it on different coloured paper because that may help jolt your eyes and reading it fresh. Also, consider reading it from the bottom to the top, which will keep you from relying on memory when trying to proofread it.
The closer you are to something you’ve written, the harder it is to be objective. Consider putting away your resume for a day or two and coming back to it. You’ll see things you missed completely on a few days prior.
And if you really want to give the resume some space, ask someone to read it for you. Fresh eyes can catch old mistakes. If you don’t have someone who will proofread for you, consider reading it aloud. Sometimes hearing your resume spoken can make it easier to catch typos.