Having reviewed thousands of resumes in the past. One typical sour thumb that sticks out is the common typo errors on resumes indicating poor work habits.
The typos on your resume play a major role in whether you are shortlisted or not. (1) the ATS misreads the words & meaning changes (2) you appear careless to a potential employer (3) it is a reflection of your written communication abilities.
Here are some examples to watch out for:
➡️Spelling errors: These can occur when a word is misspelled or autocorrected to a different word. For example, “manger” instead of “manager”, or “from” instead of “form” or “carrier” instead of “career”. Incorrect spelling of commonly used words like “manager”, “experience”, “professional”, “opportunity” shows lack of eye for detail. Typos caused by autocorrect, such as “reshare” instead of “reshape”. Inconsistent spelling of words throughout the resume, such as using “advisor” and “adviser” interchangeably.
➡️Wrong information: Misspelling of company names, job titles, and industry-specific jargon. Confusion between similar sounding words like “affect” and “effect”, “compliment” and “complement”, “principal” and “principle”.
➡️Grammar errors: These can include incorrect use of verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, or misplaced commas. For example, “I have worked at the company for 5 year” instead of “I have worked at the company for 5 years”. Using incorrect tense is also another issue.
➡️Formatting errors: These can include inconsistent spacing, font styles or sizes, or improper alignment of text. For example, having different margin sizes on different pages or sections. Using different types of bullet pointers.
➡️Wrong contact information: This can happen when you accidentally type the wrong email address, phone number or address. Be sure to double check your contact information before submitting your resume. Ensure you hyperlink them for easy access.
➡️Incorrect job titles: Make sure that you use the correct job titles and company names, especially if you are using a template and changing the details to fit your experience.
As a job seeker, your resume is your first marketing tool that you use to attract potential employers. Your resume should persuade the hiring manager to invite you for an interview and should not have typo errors on it. Even one typo can leave a negative impression on the hiring manager and may result in your resume landing in the rejection pile. It is important to carefully proofread and edit your resume before submitting it to ensure that it is error-free and presents you in the best possible light. Go through the common typo errors on resumes as mentioned above and look beyond these as well.
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