Your resume is ready to be submitted. You are excited and confident that your first impression will lead to amazing offers. (Here’s the problem.) What you didn’t see will ABSOLUTELY tank your chances. What did you do wrong? You trusted Microsoft Office to proofread, and it missed the words hiding in plain sight. Your resume has mistakes. <Shudder>

Remember your high school English teacher? If you’re tempted to think she’s obsolete, think again. Spellcheck and grammar technology have taken over how we create documents and emails. Unfortunately, because we have become so reliant on technology, we’re convinced it can do no wrong. It points out misspelled words, and we quickly allow it to make corrections. It’s foolproof. Right? WRONG.

What so many don’t realize is that the system is working against you. Remember, I said words that are misspelled. What about the words that are spelled correctly but aren’t the words you meant? Here are some real-life examples. (Kid you not.)

???? I worked four this company while giving in Wisconsin for three years.

  • If you submitted this to your teacher, her red pen would have a field day. But, because the words are correct, almighty spellcheck didn’t see anything wrong. Clearly, the sentence should have been, “I worked for this company while living in Wisconsin for three years.” Even after I typed the sentence, I received no alerts; therein lies the problem.

???? Vice President of Procurement with expertise in Bonsai manufacturing and purchasing.

  • Not to knock the bonsai industry, this executive’s claim to fame is procurement and manufacturing. He meant to call out his expertise in navigating international business in Bosnia, a location vs. bonsai, a tree.

???? Promoted from Sized Property Specialist to DEA Agent.

  • In his attempt to add such a massive promotion to his resume, this individual meant to say he was a Seized Property Specialist. Cleary seizing property is far more relevant to the DEA than sizing it. What does that even mean?!

???? Successfully ran the afternoon sh*t as Sales Supervisor.

  • Don’t judge me, but this is my favorite. It makes me laugh every time I see it. (I also identify as a 7th grader, so there’s that.) So, even though this person left out the “f” (which may still accurately describe this position), it’s safe to say it should be shift instead.

???? Excited about my experience and skills, the company created a new position that didn’t exit. 

  • This is a great addition to any resume, a position created just for you! This, however, sounds final and like a dead-end. I’d head for the hills. But that’s me…

???? Top salesman for three consecutive years, I reined over the region with a #1 ranking.

  • Being able to say that you were the top sales executive in any industry is a great accomplishment. Undoubtedly, it would be best if you mentioned you reigned supreme over the competition but did not point out your horse-handling abilities. (Hat tip to this guy for attempting to use a great verb, however.)

???? With the promotion to General Manager, I took over the company’s three main hugs and quickly improved quality. 

  • Do I need to say that this is a lawsuit waiting to happen?

Say it with me. Your FIRST IMPRESSION matters. Or, the devil is in the details. (Avoid resume mistakes by proofreading yourself.)

In my blog, Get Your Resume Noticed by HR, I point out how mistakes can mean the difference between making a great first impression leading to a job opportunity or your resume being tossed to the side. As a candidate, you want great opportunities, not silence, because all they saw was your mistakes. You can’t be lazy when it comes to your resume.

DON’T TRUST THE TECH. TRUST YOURSELF.

Suggestions:

  1. Print your resume and read it aloud. Seeing it in black and white can make a big difference in spotting mistakes.
  2. Get a second set of eyes and have someone you trust to read your resume. So many times when we read a document over and over, we know what it’s supposed to say, making it much more challenging to catch what it doesn’t.
  3. When all else fails, and you don’t trust yourself to catch these mistakes on your resume, hire a resume writer to do it for you. A professional resume writer knows all the pitfalls and, most importantly, what it takes to make that great first impression. That’s where I can be of service to you and give you confidence for your job search. As a proud Phoenix resume writing service, please click HERE to contact us today. (Though I do offer resume writing services throughout the US.)
  4. For a free tool, check out Grammarly. It’s easy to use and the free version works well.

So please remember you only get ONE CHANCE to make a first impression! Don’t lose an opportunity by being lazy with resume editing and proofreading. Don’t entirely rely on the tech. Most of all, don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you aren’t confident you can do this on your own, do whatever it takes to get it right.

 

You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression!