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STRADDLING THE EVER WIDENING SKILLS GAP follow this blog post

posted by on Sept. 29, 2009

Do mistakes on resumes and cover letters really matter?

 

I am unashamed to admit it; I am a grammar freak. Maybe it can be blamed upon genetics (my mother used to diagram complex sentences for fun) or upon my authoritarian yet somehow endearing English professor, Mrs. Stolpe (may she rest in peace). I am also, rather proudly, always able to properly distinguish between there, they're, and their,  and I will not be affected by the effect of an improper homonym selection. I can spot a typo a mile away.

 

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http://www.brightmove.com/blog_details/45

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3 comments

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  • 1 point 52 days ago

    No excuses at all for this. If I can't trust YOU with YOUR OWN resume, how can I trust you with my multi-million dollar system (or client relationship, code, design, etc?)

    I don't struggle at all with this. I am very comfortable with bouncing candidates who submit error-prone resumes every single time.

    I am not perfect, even with my spelling/grammar. That is what taking the time to get editorial input is all about! Done right once is better than done wrong three times quickly.

  • 1 point 52 days ago

    As a grammar geek myself I struggle with this. My general feeling is that if they can't take the time to proof their documents for something as important as landing a job, they likely won't proof anything they do as an employee. Case in point: we hired an admin at the suggestion of a company VP who chose to overlook spelling and grammatical errors in her resume. She now sends out emails on behalf of others that are riddled with errors, and IMO that shows negatively not just on her but also the person for whom she is sending the email.

  • 1 point 52 days ago

    I can't even begin to tell you how much I identified with this article. Yes, it may seem harsh, but if a candidate can't manage to proofread and spell-check such an important document, why would we trust them to do so on routine day-to-day work products. A resume has always been considered, and still remains, the primary method to make a great impression. When a candidate appears incapable or unwilling to take this seriously, it does not reflect well on their qualifications to perform ANY job.

    Over the years, I've seen my share of examples similar to those posted in the article. It seems that the supply is endless for candidates who fail to see the importance of producing a high-quality, relevant, error-free and professional looking resume. While screening candidates, one of my first rules is that any resume with typos, misspellings, grammar errors, improper word usage, random capitalization, inconsistent fonts, formatting issues, etc., moves directly to the "thanks-but-no-thanks" file.

    As one who has been writing resumes and career marketing documents since the early 90s, I am passionate about doing so with the utmost quality. Some believe that anyone should be able to produce their own resume. Well, that is a fine idea in theory. However, despite the incredible amount of tips, advice, guides, etc., the vast majority of people have yet to grasp how to do this effectively and continue to make the type of mistakes that put them at a disadvantage when competing for the few opportunities that do exist.