Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

Resume errors can spell trouble

RESUME: "Actively seeing a new job."

What does it look like to you?

According to a recent survey by Grammarly, an automated proofreading tool, the average job candidate makes up to six spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes in a resume. That could spell trouble for professionals pounding the pavement.

Robert Half surveys of employers consistently have shown that just one error can be enough to dash a job-seeker's hopes of securing an interview.

If you're sloppy with your own materials, a hiring manager can only be left to wonder what mistakes you'd make on the job. So take the time to proofread carefully.

RESUME: "Referees available upon request."

They could come in handy during tense negotiations.

"PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY: Honest individual with a genuine passion for achieving goals and behaveing with integer."

We've identified a number of problems with this statement.

COVER LETTER: "If interested, I will send you my resume refrequest."

And what exactly is that?

"QUALIFICATIONS: Perfectionist. I understand that paying attention to the exact way things need to be done is inportant."

Apparently it's not that important.

COVER LETTER: "I would be a valuable assist to your team."

Your assistance would be an asset.

COVER LETTER: "Let me begin by saying that I am a good communicator and generally awesome for a miriad of reasons."

The irony of this spelling slipup is not lost on us.

Finally, it's safe to say that by threatening to damage a prospective employer's computer systems, you are more likely to land in jail than land a new job.

COVER LETTER: "Please have a human being respond to me and not a robot. I hate spam. I have set up a virus that will eat your computer or smartphone, slowly destroying your hard drive."

resumania.com