What are the most important elements to check when proofreading your resume?

Ask yourself, is my resume readable and skimmable for my audience? Can the reader digest data and find important accomplishments easily? Most people think the resume is the "kitchen" sink of all of your achievements and accomplishments. In stark contrast, it's a snapshot. Pare down your resume with only the necessary data and details. Keep bullet points to 2-3 lines max for better digestion. I have an article on my LinkedIn profile that dives further into this - very timely question.

A resume is your first impression. I believe in proofreading it yourself and taking the help of a friend before sending it to an employer. One should follow these simple steps: Spellchecking Punctuation Grammar and most importantly legible font, and the right template.

Spelling Capitalization Easy to read bullets versus run-on sentences or paragraphs List of 'years of experience' at the top of the resume to make it easy for the recruiter to decide to continue reading Education and Training (certifications) at the bottom of the resume - often the education is not as important as the experience Reasonable margins at top, sides, and bottom No fancy or extra large text No icons - those cute telephone graphics are just that - cute, but won't help your resume process through the Automatic Tracking System Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D. www.DBoyerConsulting.com

Spelling, grammar, punctuation? Of course this should be checked. But having a mistake free resume isn’t going to get you calls for interviews. Having relevant content that relates to the job you are applying to will! What you should REALLY be proofing your resume for is “relevant content that relates to the position you are applying to.” You can check this by asking yourself this one question: “will the person reading my resume easily be able to understand how I meet the requirements of the job?” If not, go back and add more content that explains how you meet the requirements. Again, an error free resume won’t get you calls for interviews. Showcasing how you meet the requirements of the job you are applying to will.

Although it may seem basic, ensure your resume should be clear and easy to read. Avoid making it difficult for hiring managers to decipher your experience and key skills. They should be able to easily understand your abilities, past experience, and how these experiences are relevant to the position they are looking to fill.

When proofreading your resume, it's crucial to pay close attention to grammar, as even minor errors can create a negative impression. Here are the most important elements to check for when proofreading your resume: Spelling and Typos, Punctuation, Verb Tense Consistency, Subject-Verb Agreement, Parallelism, Articles, Capitalization, Formatting Consistency, Word Choice and Clarity, Acronyms, Bullet Points, Quantify Achievements, Eliminate Redundancy, Clarity Check, Active Voice, and Multiple Proofreads. Remember, a well-proofread resume demonstrates attention to detail and professionalism, which can make a positive impression on potential employers.

As a career expert, I always suggest you double-check spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Also, make sure all your info is up-to-date. Last but not least, make sure your resume is relevant to the job you're applying for and that you've included all the relevant information. Here are a few tips to help you format your resume right ?? Use a simple and consistent format. ?? Choose a readable font and font size. ?? Use white space to your advantage. ?? Use bolding and italics sparingly. ?? Use section headings to break up your resume. ?? Save your resume as a PDF file.

One word - Grammarly! There is no reason to have these types of errors when there are so many tools to provide edit suggestions. Having spelling and grammar mistakes may signal that you're not a very prepared or thorough person. Take your time, use the right tools, and have some else read it if necessary.

First, make sure there are no typos! Use present verb tenses for your current position and past tense for prior roles. Avoid overwriting - don't use multiple words when one will do. Use a semicolon to separate items in a list, such as your software skills

One simple spelling or grammar error can be make or break your application. Even if you are the spelling champion of the world, sometimes your finger slips and you make a slight error. This is why you should double and triple check for spelling and grammatical errors. Typos or grammatical errors can create a negative impression, suggesting a lack of professionalism or care in your application. A well-polished, error-free resume not only demonstrates your competence in written communication but also increases your chances of making a positive impression on potential employers.

Keep in mind, the person viewing your resume probably already knows ???????? ?????? ????... what they need to know is ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ????! This is done by creating an "accomplishment-based" resume... phrases like: >Increased sales by 25% in fiscal year 2021... >Reduced operating costs by 23% while expanding customer service team... >Streamlined sales cycle by eliminating redundancies from previous CRM... This is how we show the person reading our resume that we do our job well and can solve many of their problems... the ones they list in the job description!

I completely agree with highlighting skills and achievements. Instead of providing a job description for current and past positions, talk about what you bring to the table. What have you accomplished in prior roles that will help you find success in the next one? What skills do you come with that can be demonstrated and taught to colleagues? Show your value!

Remember to use action verbs to talk about your accomplishments. Add metrics. Focus on your contributions at each company and how you made a difference.

Avoid using the same action words in the job duties description. Your best friend is a thesaurus! I actually tell resume writers to look at the job description for any position they have held. Tailor those duties to what you have actually done and be sure to show the impact you while in the position.

Provide specific details that showcase what you've done that is relevant to your next employer. If jobs you held earlier in your career aren't relevant to your current and future career, there's no need to go into detail about what you did there. Just mention that you worked in a different career in the Summary of Qualifications section of your resume.

If the career trajectory as described in your resume is different than the Experience section of your LinkedIn profile, which is the employer supposed to believe?

I've seen many resumes that do not match up with the owner's LinkedIn profile. This goes beyond just make sure titles and dates are consistent... it has to do with responsibilities and achievements. An astute hiring manager or HR rep WILL scrutinize many details between our resume and cover letter and if they have gotten that far in the process, you ARE a serious candidate... Make sure everything is 100% consistent with all your documents.

Include any volunteer and community work to help with gaps in a resume. We all have seasons of employment gaps, whether long or short. Being able to show that you were still wise with your time can help overshadow the gap.

Customization is the BIGGIE when it comes to presenting a document that will SOLVE the hiring manager's problems. The days of having a single copy of our resume and sending them out to 100 employers are long gone! There is simply too much competition with increasingly specialized jobs to NOT spend a few minutes and examine the key phrases and pain points in the job description. You don't want to copy & paste everything but much of what's listed in a job description is in fact things we already have experience with, but it is wise to put it in their language, so to speak. This will greatly increase your chances of being called in for interviews.

Customizing your resume for the specific job is EVERYTHING! I believe firmly that if your resume isn't targeted for that specific job, I wouldn't even bother sending in your application. The job market is so competitive as it is, why make it harder for you? Going the extra mile makes all the difference, especially in today's market.

A second (or third, fourth, fifth...) set of eyes on your resume is one of the best ways to make sure everything makes sense and is free of grammatical errors. For current college students, I highly recommend checking out your school's career services office, where a trained counselor can review your resume for flow and formatting. In some cases, alumni can also utilize career services for a certain amount of time after graduating, so make sure to ask!

There is a lot of wisdom, and sometimes humility, when it comes to asking for and accepting feedback without getting out feelings hurt. I will however caution to NOT ask for feedback from the hiring managers or HR teams that inform you that they will not be moving forward with you in the hiring process. You will likely get no response or a canned, fluffy response. Do your work prior to sending out resumes which is by seeking the help of truste3d friends, family and colleagues, and you will great increase your chances of being called in for interviews.

One thing I can guarantee. If you misspell a word on your resume you're not getting the interview. I've seen it too often where one didn't have someone else look over their resume and was handing in a misspelled resume. Only after wasting time and energy did they realize their mistake. My advice? Always have a second pair of eyes look it over. When taking feedback as far as improving your resume, I'd be strict with asking only a professional. People such as resume writers, hiring managers, and/or career coaches. If they know you even better! If you were to ask a friend, I'd keep it only to find any misspellings. I disagree with asking friends for advice because they don't know how to write or format a professional resume.

Make sure your contact information is on your resume, preferably at the top. It seems like it may be common sense, but many job seekers forget to add their email and/or a phone number on their resume.

When proofreading your resume, focus on three critical elements: 1. Grammar and Spelling: Ensure there are no typos, grammatical errors, or misspelled words to convey professionalism. 2. Formatting and Consistency: Maintain a consistent format throughout, including fonts, bullet points, and headings, for a polished appearance. 3. Relevance and Clarity: Review content for relevance to the job you're applying for, making sure each point is clear and directly supports your qualifications and achievements.

Your resume should not read like a job description but instead about how you do the job better than everyone else in the same position. The exception is if you are changing industries and must convey transferable skills. Instead, great resumes create curiosity, leaving interviewers intrigued and eager to learn more about your accomplishments and skills.

When proofreading your resume, pay meticulous attention to grammar and spelling to ensure professionalism. Verify the consistency in font, format, and bullet points to maintain visual coherence. Ensure accurate contact details and avoid using personal pronouns. Cross-check your work history for correct dates and job titles. Confirm the clarity and conciseness of your job descriptions, highlighting achievements with quantifiable metrics. Ensure the use of relevant keywords and industry jargon to pass through Applicant Tracking Systems. Finally, review the overall structure, ensuring a logical flow that easily guides the reader through your professional narrative.

1. Carefully review your document for typographical errors, such as missing or repeated words. These can significantly detract from your professionalism. 2. Ensure that your resume is easy to read. Use clear and concise language, and avoid jargon or overly technical terms unless they are relevant to the job. 3. Ensure consistent formatting throughout your resume, including fonts, bullet points, heading styles, and alignment. 4. Spell out any acronyms or abbreviations the first time you use them and put the acronym in parentheses. Afterward, you can use the acronym. 5. If you're sending your resume electronically, make sure the file name is professional. Avoid generic names like "Resume.doc." Instead, use your name and the job title.