Proofreading Tips to Improve Your Resume and Cover Letter

Proofreading Tips to Improve Your Resume and Cover Letter How to Proofread Your ResumeLearn how to proofread your resume like a pro with these resume tips.If youre currently looking for a job, chances are youve come across some version of the phrase Excellent verbal and written communications skills in the list of job requirements for a position. Regardless of the role they are filling, employers want candidates who can effectively get their point across and your resume is one of the first things theyll use to evaluate your communication skills and candidacy. Dont let a silly typo create a bad first impression and cost you the job opportunity.Tips for proofreading your resumePrint it outOur brains dont read words on screens with as much detail or care as they do when the words appear in print. Once youve edited your resume on your computer and done an initial review, print out a black-and-white copy and give it a more thorough review.You may even want to print your resume in a compl etely different font type. For instance, if your resume is in Times New York or Cambria, try printing it out in Arial or Calibri. This subtle change to your resume format will make it easy to pick up on typos you may otherwise miss. If you decide to try this proofreading tip, be koranvers to make a copy of your resume and change the font in the second file so you dont mess up your original format.Use a highlighter or colored pen to mark any changes you want to make so your notes are easy to find when its time to edit your resume once again.Read it out loud and backwardWhile it may feel awkward, reading each word of your resume out loud calls attention to awkward phrases and misspellings you may otherwise overlook. If you find yourself stumbling over your sentences as you speak them aloud, chances are the hiring manager will have the same problem.Once youve read your resume out loud, reread it, word by word, starting at the bottom of the document and working your way back up. This t echnique works well when youre trying to catch stray spelling mistakes that spell check didnt pick up.Ask a friend for helpHave a friend preferably one who writes for a living or studied English in college review your resume for contextual spelling mistakes, missing punctuation, and inconsistencies in your resume format. This is also a great opportunity to put your edited resume through what I call the friend test.Ask someone who doesnt work in your industry to review your resume for no more than a minute. Then, take the resume away and ask that person to tell you what type of position youre targeting and why youre qualified for such a role. If your friend isnt able to easily and quickly answer the question, chances are your resume needs some more editing to effectively communicate your career goals and qualifications.Go beyond spell checkThanks to the advent of spell check, actual spelling errors are not as common in resumes these days. However, some programs totenstill dont reco gnize contextual spelling errors for example, you meant to say youre attaching your resume but typed attacking instead so dont rely solely on them to proofread your resume and cover letter. For added help, check out tools like Grammarly, PaperRater, and Slick Write to help you catch the subtler writing mistakes spell check may overlook.Use a professional resume-review serviceWhy go at it alone when there are resume-writing professionals available? Many resume-writing services like TopResume offer a free resume review. All you have to do is submit your resume for a free critique and wait for their objective feedback. In addition to providing resume tips on the content of your resume, your TopResume professional will also tell you how applicant tracking software the robots companies use to screen and filter your resume before passing it along to a human for review reads your resume so you know if your resume effectively explains your career goals and skills and will make it past t his initial electronic review.RelatedWhat Is an ATS? How to Write a Resume to Beat the BotsIn todays marketplace, theres no excuse for handing in work samples, resumes and cover letters, or any other communication related to the job-search process with grammatical errors and typos. If youre not a natural writer, or youre struggling to craft the right resume, seek help from a professional resume writer.Click on the following link for more resume tips.Find out if your resume is grammatically correct. Request a free resume review today.Recommended ReadingHow to Make Your Resume Stand Out With Action Verbs5 Things You Should Always Include on Your ResumeCustomize Your Resume for Each Job Application. Heres HowRelated Articles