Does the job you’re in search of require consideration to element, or any type of accuracy? Then you definitely want an error-free resume. And do you actually know methods to proofread your resume so nicely that zero errors stay?
Employers obtain a number of resumes for each posted job, typically greater than 100. Rejecting those with errors is a straightforward approach to slim the sector. And in my expertise, most of us make extra errors in our writing than we understand.
Right here’s how to make sure your resume is faultless.
Know what to search for when proofreading your resume.
You already know you must search for misspellings, however different varieties of errors aren’t so apparent. You additionally must examine for the next issues of language mechanics:
- Punctuation: Most of us misuse slashes (they stand for “or,” not “and”), dashes (there are three completely different varieties!) and apostrophes. You additionally must examine your use of commas (my copy of The Gregg Reference Handbook has 23 pages about commas). And in case you suppose bullet objects shouldn’t finish with a interval, you’re improper. A lot of the bullet objects in your resume are most likely sentences, even when the sentence begins with a verb and the topic (“I,” most often) is just implied. So put a interval on the finish.
- Capitalization: Resumes are sometimes rife with capitalization of phrases that shouldn’t be capitalized (e.g., “supplied coaching for Managers”). And what about instruments (mySQL or MySQL?) and web sites (Youtube or YouTube?).
- Grammar: When do you have to use “which,” versus “that”? And so forth. (And sure, it’s okay to begin a sentence with “And,” when writing in a conversational tone, as on this weblog put up.)
- Phrase utilization: Utilizing “your” while you meant “you’re” is an error in phrase utilization. Utilizing the current tense in describing a previous job is one other widespread utilization error.
- Formatting of numbers: Ought to two million {dollars} be written in a resume as $2 million, $2MM or $2M? All three are generally used, however $2M also can imply two thousand {dollars}, so I don’t advocate that.
Are you seeing cross-eyed but? I apologize, however that was my intention.
My most important objective within the part above was to indicate that proofreading is way more troublesome than most individuals understand. For the overwhelming majority of job seekers, my recommendation is to rent a professional proofreader. The price is trivial in comparison with the profit. I typically rent a proofreader myself (regardless of my background as an editor) and usually pay lower than $10 per web page.
What in case you goal your resume for each opening? Should you solely change a phrase or two, you would possibly be capable of get away with proofreading it your self, however in any other case it’s dangerous. Should you’re sending out so many focused resumes that you would be able to’t afford to have all of them proofread, you might be spending an excessive amount of time specializing in openings as a substitute of organizations.
In case your resume was written by knowledgeable, does it nonetheless want proofreading? I’m sorry to say this, however sure. I’ve learn many professionally written resumes, and virtually half of them contained errors {that a} skilled proofreader would have caught. Usually these errors had been apparent, comparable to “manger” as a substitute of “supervisor.” This doesn’t essentially replicate an absence of talent; it might be that the job seeker had checked out their resume so many occasions, they had been not actually seeing the small print.
You possibly can simply discover proofreaders on websites like Upwork and Fiverr, however examine the proofreader’s credentials. Look them up on LinkedIn. The place did they go to highschool? What did they examine? How lengthy have they been proofreading? Have they labored as an editor (which doesn’t show they proofread nicely, nevertheless it’s a clue)? Spend a couple of minutes on due diligence.
Tips on how to proofread your resume in case you nonetheless don’t need to rent knowledgeable (and perhaps even in case you do, as a result of no person is ideal):
- Don’t depend on ChatGPT. At this writing in June 2024, I’ve discovered that ChatGPT shouldn’t be a very good proofreader. I attempted it and located that it missed apparent errors comparable to a repeated phrase (“any any”) and grammatical issues.
- Know the place to look issues up, and achieve this. Use web sites like Grammarly and Webster’s dictionary, and/or purchase a very good model handbook like The Gregg Reference Handbook or the Related Press Model Information. The Chicago Handbook of Model can be good, however the AP model information could also be extra applicable for resumes, because it’s meant for the extra terse writing model utilized in periodicals versus books.
- Take a break between writing and proofreading. Wait in a single day if attainable, so that you just see the doc afresh.
- Print the doc and proofread on paper. You’ll discover particulars you didn’t see on the pc display screen.
- Know your personal typical errors. Make a listing of them, and examine for these.
- Examine for one kind of mistake at a time.
- Strive beginning with the final sentence of the doc, then transfer backward up the resume. Ignore the that means of what you wrote. Proofreading requires a really granular focus. Placing a ruler beneath the road you’re studying will help.
- Use a spell-checking instrument, however you should additionally examine spelling manually. Spell-checkers are infamous for making errors. My spell-checker doesn’t discover the issue with “pubic relations skilled.”
So, my recommendation on methods to proofread your resume is: rent a proofreader in case you can, and if not, ensure you use the perfect practices. Let your resume show that you just’ll ship flawless work on the job, then prepare to listen to from recruiters. (This put up was initially printed in 2021 and has been up to date.)