7 Resume Proofreading Tips to Catch Every Mistake

7 Resume Proofreading Tips to Catch Every Mistake 7 Resume Proofreading Tips to Catch Every Mistake 3It’s the goal of every job seeker: to get past the initial scan and make it to the interview stage so you can wow your prospective employer with your personality and skills. But what are some of the best resume proofreading tips to ensure you reach your goal? Getting to an interview means having a resume and cover letter that show off your achievements. Misspelled words and poor grammar, however, will simply get your resume tossed in the trash. To avoid having your resume passed over for errors, here are seven resume proofreading tips. Edit as you go One method is to edit each sentence or bullet point immediately after you write it. Try writing the revised sentence or bullet right below the original phrase, and repeat it until you have it as concise as possible (while still conveying the same message). Bullet points should never be longer than two lines, and even full sentences should try to stay in that range too. If you have the time and the patience, this is a great way to practice writing for resumes and cover letters. Read it out loud Once you finish either one section or the whole document, try reading it out loud to yourself. It helps you focus on the spelling of each word so you can catch anything that was misspelled or used incorrectly. If you find yourself tripping over a sentence as you read it, chances are there’s a problem with your grammar or syntax. The last thing you want is for the hiring manager to trip over a bullet you wrote about your highly effective written communication skills. When you catch such an issue, rework it until it reads cleanly. Use online grammar checkers There are some great resources online that can check for spelling and grammar errors. Grammarly automates the proofreading for you- just load your Word file, and it not only points out any errors, but also optimizes syntax so each sentence is as strong as possible. It has basic services for free, a seven-day free trial, and three plans that range from $12 to $30 per month. ( members receive a special partner discount  at Grammarly!) GrammarCheck.net has very similar free and paid services, and there are free sites like Grammark to use as well. The free sites won’t be as comprehensive or refined, but in a time crunch they can still be very useful. Assess the job posting Take the extra step to look closely at the style and grammar used in the job posting. Look for things such as use of the Oxford comma, if they use a period at the end of each bullet point or just the last one, and other style preferences. The hiring manager will be used to reading and writing in the same style as the company’s communications, so matching it in your resume and cover letter makes it more comfortable for them to read. Read it backwards One of the reasons we miss mistakes is our brain automatically corrects them for us, making it easier to read past them. Try reading each sentence backwards so you force your brain to search for mistakes. It doesn’t help spot issues with your grammar, but it will help catch spelling and punctuation errors. Proofread it again later If you have the time, check your resume and cover letter again a day or two later. The time between will help you forget what you meant to say in each sentence, which means you’re not as likely to overlook anything. You won’t have this option if you just re-tailored your application for a job opening and you need to send it off as soon as possible, but otherwise this is a good way to find the harder-to-spot mistakes. Have someone else proofread it It’s often easier for someone who did not write the document to catch mistakes because they don’t know what it was meant to say. Ask friends and family to read through it and point out any issues they noticed with your spelling, punctuation, grammar, and syntax. Readers, tell us about the worst error you’ve caught on your own resume, or one of your friends’ resumes in the comment section below! ResumeTarget.com provides professional resume writing services for clients of all career levels across North America. We are the only resume writing company that offers a professionally written resume- coupled with the guidance of a recruiter- to guarantee that your resume will get results. Tweet us with any resume questions you have at www.twitter.com/ResumeTarget we’re here to help!