Eight Essential Proofreading Secrets to Keep Your Resume Out of the Trash

Have you ever wondered what happened to the job that I applied to, I never heard back from them after I applied. Well did you every think that I rushed through my resume when I sent off my resume. Did you make some spelling or grammar errors? Did you take time to proofread it?

I have estimated that approximately 8 of 10 resumes that an employer receives contain obvious errors. From a hiring standpoint, your resume will immediately go into the NO pile of resumes to be never looked at again. Below are tips to avoid getting your resume into the no pile...

Give your eyes a rest and let your information sit overnight. This will give you a fresh perspective on your work.

2. Print your resume.

When you print your resume, you will be able to determine if the formatting is consistent. You can also double check for potential capitalization and punctuation errors that may be less noticeable on your monitor.

3. Proofread more than once.

Each time you proofread your resume, look for something different. For instance, the first time you look at it, search for misspelled words. For the second review, look for grammatical foul ups.

4. Proofread aloud.

By reading your resume aloud, you will slow down and be more likely to catch errors you may not see when just looking. This will also give you a better idea of how the information flows from one section to another.

5. Take it apart.

Look at each word individually and not how they combine with the others. When you look at the document as a whole, your mind will naturally focus on what you meant to say, instead of what you actually typed. To stay focused, you can use two pieces of blank paper to cover everything except for the line you are reading.

6. Read it backwards.

By reading your resume backwards, you are forced to slow down and see each word individually.

7. Get help.

Ask someone else to proofread with you. An extra pair of eyes is always helpful when you are proofreading, especially if you have been working on it for a long time.

8. Avoid distractions.

Each time your proofreading efforts are interrupted, you are more prone to skip errors. If you are an e-mail addict, take your proofreading somewhere other than your desk to help keep those computer distractions from taking over.

Proofreading is an essential skill that should be used each time you apply for a position. If you take the time to carefully proofread your resume, your resume might just end up in an employee file, instead of the deep, dark depths of the trash can.

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Jennifer Anthony is the Director of http://www.resumeasap.com/ offering professional and affordable resume writing services. If you have comments about this article, or if you are interested in learning more about professional resume writing, please contact Jennifer Anthony by e-mail at resumeasap@gmail.com.