7 Resume Proofreading Tips to Catch Every Mistake

7 Resume Proofreading Tips to Catch Every Mistake7 Resume Proofreading Tips to Catch Every Mistake3Its the goal of every job seeker to get past the initial scan and make it to the interview stage so you can wow your prospective employer with your personality and skills. But what are some of the best resume proofreading tips to ensure you reach your goal?Getting to an interview means having a resume and cover letter that show off your achievements. Misspelled words and poor grammar, however, will simply get your resume tossed in the trash.To avoid having your resume passed over for errors, here are seven resume proofreading tips.Edit as you goOne method is to edit each sentence or bullet point immediately after you write it. Try writing the revised sentence or bullet right below the original phrase, and repeat it until you have it as concise as possible (while still conveying the same message).Bullet points should never be longer than two lines, and even full sentences should try to s tay in that sortiment too. If you have the time and the patience, this is a great way to practice writing for resumes and cover letters.Read it out loudOnce you finish either one section or the whole document, try reading it out loud to yourself. It helps you focus on the spelling of each word so you can catch anything that was misspelled or used incorrectly. If you find yourself tripping over a sentence as you read it, chances are theres a problem with your grammar or syntax. The last thing you want is for the hiring manager to trip over a bullet you wrote about your highly effective written communication skills. When you catch such an issue, rework it until it reads cleanly.Use online grammar checkersThere are some great resources online that can check for spelling and grammar errors. Grammarly automates the proofreading for you- just load your Word file, and it not only points out any errors, but also optimizes syntax so each sentence is as strong as possible. It has basic servic es for free, a seven-day free trial, and three plans that range from $12 to $30 per month. ( members receive a special partner discountat Grammarly)GrammarCheck.net has very similar free and paid services, and there are free sites like Grammark to use as well. The free sites wont be as comprehensive or refined, but in a time crunch they can still be very useful.Assess the job postingTake the extra step to look closely at the style and grammar used in the job posting. Look for things such as use of the Oxford comma, if they use a period at the end of each bullet point or just the last one, and other style preferences. The hiring manager will be used to reading and writing in the same style as the companys communications, so matching it in your resume and cover letter makes it more comfortable for them to read.Read it backwardsOne of the reasons we miss mistakes is our brain automatically corrects them for us, making it easier to read past them. Try reading each sentence backwards so you force your brain to search for mistakes. It doesnt help spot issues with your grammar, but it will help catch spelling and punctuation errors.Proofread it again laterIf you have the time, check your resume and cover letter again a day or two later. The time between will help you forget what you meant to say in each sentence, which means youre not as likely to overlook anything.You wont have this option if you just re-tailored your application for a job opening and you need to send it off as soon as possible, but otherwise this is a good way to find the harder-to-spot mistakes.Have someone else proofread itIts often easier for someone who did not write the document to catch mistakes because they dont know what it was meant to say. Ask friends and family to read through it and point out any issues they noticed with your spelling, punctuation, grammar, and syntax.Readers, tell us about the worst error youve caught on your own resume, or one of your friends resumes in the comment se ction belowResumeTarget.com provides professional resume writing services for clients of all career levels across North America. We are the only resume writing company that offers a professionally written resume- coupled with the guidance of a recruiter- to guarantee that your resume will get results. Tweet us with any resume questions you have at www.twitter.com/ResumeTarget were here to help