How to Benefit from Professional Resume Proofreading Services
Ensure that your resume is flawless with professional proofreading services. Learn the advantages of having your resume reviewed by an experienced editor, and how to find the right resume proofreading service for you.
In today's marketplace, there's no excuse for poorly written resumes. If you're not a natural writer, or you're struggling to craft the right resume, seek help from a Professional Resume Writer. After all, your resume is your masterpiece, highlighting your career history. An autobiography you should be proud of, listing your achievements, education and work history all rolled into one important document. People are unique; therefore, an individual’s resume should also be unique, not a copy and paste of something you found on the internet, or the same job description as everyone else! Simply playing around with written words and their meanings can build and present a whole different picture and introduce grammatical errors!
That is why proofreading is a very important step.
Proofreading a resume is an art usually done by professional proof-readers and sometimes double readers. A single proofreader checks content in the traditional manner then passes it on to a second reader who repeats the process. They are not only looking for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors but between the two, they are searching for clues in the text that may throw a reader off track.
For example: Affect and effect!
According to a survey conducted by Grammarly, the average job seeker has at least one punctuation error on their resume, and 60 per cent of errors are grammatical. If the job requires attention to detail or if you promote yourself as “meticulous,” how can a hiring manager trust that you are what you say you are? One cannot underestimate the importance of proofreading.
Misspellings and grammatical mistakes are common, and they happen to everyone. Most spell-check programs do not recognise contextual spelling errors, including “achieve” versus “achievement”. Grammatical tense is also an area that is commonly mistaken. If you are still employed in a position, use the present tense, unless you have achieved something, then your present role needs past tense!
Wait, there is more!
Our brains don't read words on screens with as much detail or care as we do when the words appear in print. Once you've edited your resume on the computer, print it in black and white. You may even want to print your resume in a completely different font. This subtle change to your resume format will make it easy to pick up on errors. You can also dial a friend! Having a friend review your resume for contextual spelling mistakes missed punctuation, and inconsistencies is a good idea.
Which grammatical tense should I use?
Use past tense if you’re no longer there. Stay consistent and use an active voice. Catching language inconsistency is part of the proofreading process. Take the time to proofread your resume, cover letter, social media profiles etc. Make sure there are no errors! Or you can get The Perfect Resume team to do it all for you!
Read it out loud and backwards
While it may feel awkward, reading each word of your resume out loud calls attention to awkward phrases and misspellings that you may otherwise overlook. If you find yourself stumbling over your sentences as you speak them aloud, chances are, the new hiring manager will have the same problem. Once you've read your resume out loud, reread it, word-by-word, starting at the bottom of the document and working your way back up. This technique works well when you're trying to catch stray spelling mistakes.
You can submit your resume for a free review by sending your resume to info@theperfectresume.com.au. In addition to providing resume tips on the content of your resume, we will also inform you how your resume will perform within the applicant tracking system (ATS). What is the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
Proofreading is a mandatory step!
Proofreading your resume is extremely important. If you have submitted it with errors, there is nothing you can do to salvage it. Success comes to those who work the hardest they say!
So proofread your resume, cover letter, online portfolio, selection criteria, LinkedIn profile, industry blogs etc. Proofread the email you send to the recruiter or hiring manager! Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!
How can we help?
At The Perfect Resume, we have a team of Professional Resume Writers, skilled in proofreading. Your resume will pass through not one, but three quality checks to pick up any errors. Each stage has a different reader, looking for various perspectives, including resume design, content and proofreading. Our proofreaders have been trained the old-fashioned way, before the use of computers and fast typing. They have an eye of detail and a built-in programmed brain looking for errors and clues. Spies of the English language you could say!
When you see the perfect job, it’s easy to get excited and click, “APPLY” before thoroughly reading your resume or your generic cover letter. However, if you have spelled the name of the company wrong or worse, the Hiring Manager's, it’s unlikely you will be emailed back!
Don’t waste your time and effort! Your time is precious. You cannot forget that!
The team at The Perfect Resume want you to get to the job interview! We celebrate your successes! Click here to see some of our latest celebrations! So, would you like that dream job you have always wanted? Send us an email info@theperfectresume.com.au.
Alternatively, Grammarly has a free service that you can use to check for common spelling and grammar errors. Click here to go to the Grammarly site to get started.
Recruiters can be very picky during the hiring process, therefore, ask yourself, “How confident am I with my resume and cover letter?” Sadly, even simple mistakes such as a typo or grammatical error can cost you a job interview. The second question you need to ask yourself is, “Am I 100% sure that my resume and cover letter will successfully be sorted and scanned by the infamous Applicant Tracking System?”
Remember, you only have one chance to make a first impression therefore, don’t forget the last step before hitting that “send” button on your computer! Proofread your resume and cover letter!
Why is it important to proofread your cover letter and resume?
It is important to have a well-done resume and cover letter
Employers use resumes and cover letters to gain a deeper understanding of applicants' skills, strengths, and experiences. This allows them to move forward with the best candidate so it is important that you have a strong profile from the start. A well-structured resume and cover letter clearly highlight your most attractive skills and experience to potential employers.
Make sure your resume and cover letter can pass the ATS
Many job seekers don’t realise that 75% of job applications are rejected by the Applicant Tracking System before they even reach the hands of hiring managers. They are quick to reject the least-qualified candidates, rather than identify the applicants who are the best fit so if your resume and cover letter are not written and formatted with the ATS in mind, yours will probably be one of those that will be tossed out.
Eliminate typos, grammatical, and spelling errors
This is the primary reason why proofreading is very important. You want to make sure that your work has no errors at all. Luckily, you can use a spell check or grammar tools to catch any mistakes in your resume and cover letters. However, don’t depend on it too much. It is still more reliable to thoroughly edit each document yourself. If you are not that confident, you can just opt for a resume proofreading services such as The Perfect Resume to do that for you.
Remember, your resume is a reflection of your personality. Employers can tell if you are good at what you are doing just by looking at it so make sure, it’s error-free!
Remove any information that is unnecessary
While proofreading your resume or CV, don’t forget to check if you have carefully included your important skills and experiences, otherwise you might have created an overwhelming resume and cover letter for the reader. It is said that recruiters do not take more than 6 seconds to go through a resume, therefore, you want to focus on the relevant skills and important details that speak to your talents, capabilities, and experience. Hence, you might want to eliminate all that sounds unnecessary and redundant.
Tailor your resume and cover letter to the role
It is important to ensure that your resume and cover letter are customised specifically for the job. Not only do you need to pass the ATS by using the keywords correctly in your resume, but you also need a convincing cover letter to tell that you are suited for the job. Doing so will tell a recruiter or hiring manager that you are focused on the qualities that make you stand out for a specific job. For further information and other job search tip, also read our other blog Job Search Tip: How To Tailor A Cover Letter Using Keywords.
Look at your resume from the hiring manager’s perspective
The hiring manager is looking for the best candidate who will be the best fit for the team. When you are proofreading your resume or CV and cover letter, ask yourself, “Would I hire me?”. If you are not confident, it might be a good idea to ask someone to proofread your resume and cover letter for you to give you some suggestions on where you can improve your application.
How to proofread a resume and cover letter?
We listed a few effective ways to proofread your resume and cover letter.
1. Prepare for your proofread
Set a good time and a good place when you proofread. Don’t edit or proofread your resume and cover letter immediately after writing them. It is important to have a refreshed mind, like after a good night’s sleep. This will help you establish a critical eye for detail.
Also, if possible, print out your resume, cover letter, and selection criteria as well if you needed one. It is easy to check the consistency and detect errors when you have that one sheet (or two) of paper at your hands. Use a colored pen to mark your changes.
2. Have a proofreading checklist
Write down a list of common resume mistakes (like the samples below) and review them. This will ensure you don’t miss anything to look out for.
- Spelling mistakes
- Punctuation mistakes
- Grammatical mistakes
- Check for consistency of fonts, bullets, etc.
- Check dates, contact information, abbreviation, and spacing
- Verify links such as your LinkedIn profile, emails, and other contact information
3. Read it out loud – and backward
It is easier to catch errors when you hear the words that you’re reading. This will allow you to understand how your resume will “sound” to a recruiter when they read them. Also, reading from the bottom up is another good technique you can use to easily find spelling and capitalization errors. That is because it will force your brain to slow down and see each word on its own.
4. Ask someone else to proofread it
Having someone else to be a second set of eyes on your resume can be particularly helpful. Without having read your resume before, they can more easily spot errors your eyes may have glazed over.
5. Use a professional resume proofreading services
Seeking out professional proofreading services will get your resume in front of a professional proofreader. Many resume proofreading services such as The Perfect Resume provide a resume review and all you have to do is submit your documents to them for free objective feedback.
If you're not a natural writer, or you're struggling to craft the right resume, it does not hurt to seek help from a professional resume writer.
Find out if your resume is grammatically and digitally correct to increase your chances of being shortlisted. Send your resume to info@theperfectresume.com.au for a free review.
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