No matter how well you write, it’s worth having a second pair of eyes read over any important document, especially your resume. Recruiters and other hiring influencers tell me that misspellings, grammar mistakes, and misused words on resumes and cover letters are red flags: They feel these errors on such important items indicate sloppy work habits overall.
As part of my services, I offer a free resume critique. I have done thousands over the course of my career. I read the resume carefully, and make note of anything that should be changed, including errors. I’ve read resumes from entry level job applicants through C-level executives and it never fails to surprise me that people don’t have someone else proofread their resumes and cover letters before sending them out.
If you don’t have a spouse, friend, or neighbour who can proofread for you, at least walk away for a day or two after you finish writing and come back to your resume with fresh perspective and see if you can find any errors you overlooked while writing.
Why proofread? Take a look at some of the examples of errors and unfortunate word choices I’ve seen on real resumes and cover letters that were being sent to hiring influencers! You’ll get a chuckle and incentive to find a second pair of eyes to read through your own resume, too. I’m happy to critique your resume if you’d like!
- Invest in securities, stock, funds and bones
- Expert in Micrisift Word 2000 comptor and speredasheet progroms
- Reason for leaving last job: They insisted that all employees get to work by 8:45am every morning. I could not work under those condition
- I procrastinate, especially when the task is unpleasant.
- I left my last job for maturity leave
- Recipient of a plague for Salesperson of the year 2005
- I’m a rabid typist
Sometimes, it isn’t what job seekers typed that’s the problem, it’s what they left out. I’ve seen resumes without a name, resumes without contact information, and resumes with missing letters or numbers in phone numbers, email addresses, and other contact information.
Any resume or cover letter is more effective and professional when free of errors and omissions. So proofread. Find a second set of eyes to read over what you’ve written. Ensure that the documents that introduce you to hiring influencers represent the very best of your skills, abilities, education, and experience!
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