Presenting a flawless error-free resume will help you stand out
When writing a resume, you need to condense a lifetime of skills, qualifications, courses, and experiences into just a couple of pages. Reflecting on your professional and personal growth, it’s a challenge to create a resume that looks impressive and highlights your strengths. For tailored advice, consider tips from a recruitment agency in Canada to ensure your resume stands out.
Congratulations if you can fit your life into two pages! The next step is to polish it so that you can offer the finest version of yourself. Because you’re so near, the unexpected error is unavoidable. Don’t let a minor mistake or misplaced apostrophe ruin your initial impression and prevent you from moving further in the employment process.
In this article, we’ll provide you some pointers and tips on how to proofread your resume so you may impress the hiring manager for all the right reasons. We’ve also included some typical resume blunders to help you stand out.
Why should you proofread your resume?
You only get one chance to make a first impression, no matter what role you’re applying for. Do not give an impression that you are doing unprofessional job or being reckless! Employers look at more than just your abilities, experience, and qualifications when reviewing your resume and cover letter. They are also considering the presentation of the documents.
The way you put out the material and express your fit for the role, as well as the quality of your spelling, grammar, and punctuation, all contribute to that first impression. Have you noticed how many job postings need applicants to have “good communication skills?” Accurate writing is simply one of the ways you can fulfill their demands.
Throughout the hiring process, when you’re applying for jobs, it’s important to remember that various people will be reviewing your resume. These could include recruiters from a recruitment agency in Canada. Each person forms their own impression of you based on your resume. Since all of these individuals could influence hiring decisions, it’s crucial to ensure your resume is free of errors like typos or awkward phrasing.
How does one proofread a resume?
There are many ways to correct mistakes and improve punctuation. While you may not want to utilize all of the ways given here, it is important that you utilize a range of techniques to ensure that you catch any minor errors that may have slipped in.
Use spell check
Your initial point of call for resume proofreading will most likely be Word’s built-in spellchecker. We’ve all seen mistakes caused by quick typing or made some of the typical spelling blunders that seem to be joining our daily language. Working with spell check enabled allows you to make corrections while typing the document, so your initial draft should already have multiple issues corrected. However, do not rely exclusively on spell check; there are some common faults that it will not detect, and it will not check for sense or accuracy either.
Read the document very carefully
Great, using spell check means you have a solid draft to work with. Next, examine the document again, word for word and line by line. Try to read what it actually says rather than what you believe it means. Don’t rush over it; instead, take your time. Taking your time increases your chances of catching errors and mistakes.
Drive technology
Although we wouldn’t recommend relying solely on AI to craft your resume, technology can certainly be helpful in enhancing your application. While there isn’t a dedicated resume proofreading tool, popular software like Grammarly and Hemmingway can highlight potential problems. Additionally, you can ask ChatGPT to help catch typos or other errors. This presents a simple method to boost your resume proofreading, and it won’t cost you a penny, especially if you’re working with a recruitment agency in Canada.
Read Aloud
Next up, you might like to find a quiet spot to work, because you’ll be reading your resume and letter of introduction aloud. There are two ways you can do this. The first step is to read each word aloud yourself. The second and best option is to use Word’s Read Aloud tool, which reads the document to you.
This is an excellent resume proofreading strategy since it allows you to hear problems that you might not notice visually. The additional advantage is that it requires you to slow down your reading, so when each word is highlighted, you’ll instantly notice more errors, such as missing commas or awkward phrasing.
Change the font used
Why not try replacing your standard typeface with one you don’t normally use? Select a serif font instead of a serif, for example. Seeing the words with varying spacing may draw attention to the missing letter. Don’t forget to switch it back to your preferred font afterwards!
Take a break
Writing resumes can be exhausting! You don’t just have to sort through a lifetime of material to find your abilities, experience, and qualifications; you also must combine them into a compelling and convincing document that looks nice, sells you, and fits the job requirements. And once that’s done, you should start working on the cover letter – or even a personal statement!
Give yourself a break; you deserve it. Return to the resumes after a good night’s sleep, a day off, or even a vacation. Reading it with fresh eyes and a clear head will allow you to identify errors that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Read it sideways
Here’s a simple trick that might not guarantee your document makes sense, but it could catch small typos and spelling mistakes that slipped in. Begin at the end of the document and read one word at a time until you reach the beginning. By removing the context, you prevent yourself from guessing the next word instead of thoroughly checking it. This method also helps you to read more slowly and accurately, which can be helpful, especially when submitting documents to a recruitment agency in Canada.
Print it out or use another device
You’ve seen your resume on the screen where you produced it; it’s time to change it up. Try printing the page or viewing it on a mobile device. You could even proofread your CV from a different room. Changing the medium and location will allow you to examine the paper in a new light and possibly catch any last remaining problems.
Call in your pilot
That’s it; you’ve done everything you can to identify those annoying problems. However, you can still go one step further! Who is your pilot? Who do you have the highest level of trust in? Whether you have a wordsmith colleague, an auntie who can spot an incorrect comma from 50 yards away, or a friend who would gladly take a machete to your work, don’t be hesitant to ask for assistance. After all, your eyes have definitely grown tired of looking at your CV and cover letter. Worse, all that typing, adjusting, and revisiting could have resulted in even more errors!
Pro tip: A second set of eyes on your work is vital; just make sure you pick someone who is prepared to speak out and offer helpful feedback. Someone who tells you something is excellent when it isn’t does more harm than good.
Rely on professionals
If you don’t want to impose on your friends and family, or if you’re just keeping your job search quiet for the time being, you can still obtain help with your CV. Resume editing services employ writers with great English and proofreading abilities, as well as having seen all of the most frequent resume errors a hundred times, so they know what to look for. Why not ask them to review your resume for real peace of mind?
Proofreading resumes: common mistakes
We’ve shared some basic tips for proofreading your resume to ensure it’s free of errors, but there’s more to consider! Certain mistakes crop up so frequently that they’re almost expected. After consulting with seasoned resume writers, we’ve compiled a list of common resume blunders you’ll want to steer clear of, especially when presenting your resume to a recruitment agency in Canada.
False friends
These are terms that have multiple spellings, sound similar, or are frequently typoed. When you get started editing your resume, make sure none of these have slipped in.
Role / roll: You’ll almost probably want to use role – this is your job – rather than roll – a bread product or the act of turning over.
Manager / managers: Your manager is your boss, and a manger is where baby Jesus was born. It’s a given that the first version should be used on your CV, but in March 2024, there were over 14,000 users on LinkedIn representing themselves as managers. Don’t become one of them!
Customer / costumer: A customer is the person you service, while a costumer is someone who sells stylish outfits. Again, you should probably go with the first option.
Diary / dairy: Executive Assistants and Administrators who claim to be involved in dairy management might expect to see greater numbers of cows than anticipated in their next position. Use a diary to record your appointments, and a dairy to milk your cattle.
Lead / led: While both words appear on many resumes, led is the past tense (e.g., I led a team in my prior employment), whereas lead is the present tense (e.g., I lead a team right now).
Ethic / ethnic: Ethic is typically associated with work (e.g., I have a strong work ethic), whereas ethnic is associated with minority (e.g., an excessive amount of ethnic minority children is excluded). Choose wisely, since one letter might make all the difference!
Other typical errors on resumes and cover letters
Of course, not all blunders are caused by deceptive friends like those mentioned above. Some are introduced as intentional decisions resulting from the writer’s misunderstanding. That is why having someone else assess your CV might be critical in identifying issues that would otherwise go undetected. Common examples are:
Spelling of proper nouns: Proper nouns, like names, might not be recognized by spell check dictionaries. Spell check could flag some proper nouns on your resume, even your own name, but that doesn’t mean they’re wrong. However, it’s essential not to dismiss spell check entirely in these cases. Ensuring the correct spelling of company names and software is crucial on a resume, particularly when aiming to impress a recruitment agency in Canada.
Check not only the spelling, but also the use of capitals and spacing. Brands frequently want to stand out by employing a unique or unusual approach to punctuation, spelling, and grammar! Make sure you use the brand name exactly as it is intended.
Capitalization: When editing your resume, pay attention to the use of capital letters. They sometimes sneak in when they shouldn’t. Capital letters are most usually used correctly to begin sentences or to identify persons and titles. Don’t use them to emphasize a point or simply because it appears essential. For example, “I specialize in financial inquiry, reporting, and data analysis” contains much too many capital letters.
Apostrophes: Those that can, love them. Those who cannot, despise them. The contentious issue of the apostrophe is particularly significant to resumes, as they are commonly misplaced. Abbreviations and plurals do not require them; for example, KPIs are not KPI’s, and targets are not targets. The apostrophe is solely used for omission and possession; but, if in doubt, consult your wingman. Or a professional. Or even AI. Just don’t throw them like confetti!
Spacing: Resume proofreading entails more than simply the words itself. Make sure there is sufficient of white space between parts and that the spacing is uniform across the document. Also, keep in mind that nowadays, one space following a period is preferred rather two.
Consistency: A resume that frequently employs words and abbreviations shows a high level of detail and accuracy. Choose your format and stick with it. For example, do not write “$10million” in one place, “$10M” in another, and “$10m” in a third. Similarly, keep the value of money in one currency whenever possible to facilitate comparisons; don’t mix $, £, and € unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Accessibility: This is another area where your wingman’s advice is important. Do they understand the full resume? Remember that, at first, your resume may not be read by someone who has expertise in your field. Perhaps it is in the hands of a recruiter, HR Manager, or executive. If it is filled with abbreviations, and industry jargon, their eyes will glaze over and their brain will shut off. Make sure your CV is understandable to a layperson.
Finally: Make sure to proofread your resume every time you make changes. If you’re making an important update, such as adding your most recent role, you should go over the entire document at least once more to spot errors and verify it corresponds with your current career goals.
It’s dependent upon how you present yourself
Of course, everyone wants a free of mistakes resume and cover letter when applying for a new position. With these suggestions, ideas, and hacks, plus a dedication to resume proofreading, your job search materials should be ready to impress hiring managers and land you an interview.