How to Edit and Proofread Your Resume Professionally to Get Hired

Is your resume getting a decent response rate? Or, does it somehow seem that it’s been a struggle for quite some time now to hear back from that company you sent your resume off to?

Let me guess – after spending so much time creating your resume, you’ve felt it’s good enough to send.

So, now you’re sending your resume off to several companies, and being patient…

I understand that we’ve been there before. But, let me tell you something…

Employers could love almost every aspect of your resume. They might love the way it’s been built, the way it’s been formatted, and the way you’ve structured your resume sections.

There’s just one thing.

If the contents inside your resume don’t meet their expectations, none of that is going to matter.

You’ve already spent a tonne of your time writing your resume and trying to perfect it to the bone. However, you need that final push when it comes to editing your resume professionally.

And it doesn’t stop there just yet…

As you grow and develop more skills and experience, so should your resume like a finer glass of wine. Without updating and improving your resume, overtime your chances of getting hired will slowly decrease.

But first, we need to answer the question – why is proofreading important?

The importance of proofreading

Chris Paye (general manager of Jobs.ie) once said, “If you’re not willing to spend a little extra time ensuring your CV is correct and doesn’t have any spelling or grammar errors, that’s a red flag for me.”

Bear in mind, this sentiment is shared among a majority of hiring managers.

It’s a known fact recruiters strongly detest spelling errors.

Yet, more than 50% of resumes have some form of typographical error when submitted for a review.

Its clear applicants are lacking in strategies to keep this from happening.

Before we get into our 7-step guide to how you can edit and improve your resume efficiently with less stress and headache, we’ll cover the 3 common spelling mistakes and 8 typographical errors you need to avoid.

Tip: Enhancv has a built-in content analyzer that will help you catch errors in your resume and improve your content.

The three major spelling errors to cost you the job of your dreams

Resume, résume, or résumé?

Was this the reason that brought some of you here?

The word ‘Resume’ seems to have three common variations – these differ by country of origin, industry-standard, preference, and more.

First off, you should never title your resume (in your resume header) with any variation of the term ‘resume’. The recruiter already knows what your resume is – you don’t have to beat them over the head with it 24/7.

In general, the spelling ‘resume’ is the US standard. Résumé comes from French, which includes the two acute accents ‘é’. Résume, on the other hand, is a mixture of the two, and is arguably the least preferred spelling.

A basic rule of thumb is to match the spelling your recruiter has included in the job description.

Naming your files

One of the places the spelling of resume will become most prominent is in the name of your resume file that you’re sending to your employer. When doing this, it’s best to use the US ‘resume’ standard. This is because accents (i.e., é) do not translate well when being saved as computer files.

Depending on the device and software tools used to review your files, any special characters can transform into something else.

See below for an appropriate template:

“LastNameFirstNameResumeJobPosition.”

Using this format, the recruiter can easily pull up your resume without having to rummage through thousands of “MyResume” files.

Sending emails

Another area where resume spelling comes into play is in emails, both introductory emails, and follow-up emails. Again, in these cases, you should stick to ‘resume’ as industry-standard.

When you’re including your email, make it clean and tidy by simply having your first and last name @ the domain site. Always keep it neat- this way, it’s better because it looks more professional rather than having an email address like alexander20_-2^smith@…

Tip: learn more about how to send follow-up emails after speaking with a potential employer.

The 8 typographical errors you need to avoid

The Oxford comma

Also known as the serial comma, the Oxford comma is used to break-up conjunctions. This comes into play when describing your previous experience on your resume.

Here’s an example:

“I was responsible for content creation and content distribution and customer outreach”.

This doesn’t read as well as it could’ve been. It’s better to include the Oxford comma to break this up, “I was responsible for content creation, content distribution, and customer outreach”.

It’s a simple addition, but an impactful one.

Manger vs. manager

This can be an easy mistake to make on your resume.

Accidentally spelling manager as manger typically happens because of applicants who solely rely on a spellchecker to catch their typos. As manger is a word on its own as well, not every spell checking program will 100% flag the mistake.

University vs University

Particularly among those that are writing their first resume, it’s easy to fall into the trap of capitalizing the ‘U’ in university. This is only required if you’re using university in the context of the name of a university.

For example, if you mentioned the “University of Dublin”, you would use a capitalized ‘U’ since it’s denoting a name. However, if you use the word university in the context as follows: “I’ve been studying at university for three years”. Then, you would use a small ‘u’ because it’s a noun, not a title.

Defiantly vs definitely

Another easy mistake to make on your resume…

Whenever there are minor mistakes like this one, it’s telling recruiters that you didn’t spend the time to check your resume word for word. Essentially, it’s showing you’re not careful, or you don’t care. Either way, both impressions are bad, so ensure you ‘definitely’ didn’t make any typos like this on your resume.

Judgement vs Judgment

Depending on the context, you could get away with this spelling error. In general, judgment (without the e) is the standard in the US. In the UK and elsewhere, judgement is used.

You may want to keep this in mind if applying for jobs in either sector. While it’s not technically incorrect to use either spelling, you’re better off sticking to the spelling that matches the expectation of your recruiter.

Identity vs. identify

When describing yourself, ensure you ‘identify’ as something rather than ‘identity’ as something.

Both have different meanings, and this can fly right under your radar quite easily if you’re not careful. With only the one letter of a difference, your attention to detail is paramount here.

The reason ‘because’

The reasoning behind ‘because’ is an example of a grammatical error many people make. The words that should follow the phrase “the reason…” “is that”. Not because.

Here’s an example:

“The reason that I’m right for your firm is I bring expertise that currently lacks and is preventing you from growing”.

Forgetting homophones

Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. The most common example of this is “to, too, and two”. But there are also others.

Keep in mind other common homophones that are typical in a resume, including:

• Then / than
• Affect / effect
• You’re / your
• Complement / compliment
• It’s / its

Let’s take a look at this in more detail.

Then/than

Normally, you use ‘than’ when referring two things against each other (or making comparisons). When it comes to using ‘then’, this should be indicating a passage of time.

For example, “rather than starting with individual interviews, we start with group interviews. Then, we ask applicants to come in on their own”.

Affect/effect

Affect is used when there is an impact on something. On the other hand, effect is a noun. “My strategy affected business efficiency and grew profit margins by 10%. This effect led to my promotion”.

You’re/your

You’re is the contraction or compound of the words ‘you’ and ‘are’. Whereas ‘your’ is used as a pronoun to show something that belongs to that person’s possessions.

“Your company culture is one that attracts me. As a manager, you’re a great example to all of your employees”.

Complement/compliment

Complement (with the double e) is used when something completes something else. Compliment (with the i) is an expression of praise.

“My marketing expertise would truly complement your current strategy. In the same vein, please send my compliment to the current team on the amazing work they have done so far”.

It’s/its

Similar to ‘you’re’, ‘it’s’ is the contraction of the words ‘it’ and ‘is’. On the other hand, ‘Its’ refers to possession, it describes that something belongs to something else.

“It’s wonderful to meet you today. I’ve been keeping an eye on your company’s growth over the last few years and its revenue has been skyrocketing”.

When it comes to resume spelling,

The spelling of a resume may differ from person-to-person, but the expectations of an applicant are pretty much the same no matter where you go.

Spelling mistakes will cost you your dream opportunities if you don’t take the time to spot the typos as they appear. We’ve made it clear that more than half of resumes have typos. So, just by ensuring yours isn’t one of them will allow you to stand out.

If you start to use the strategies we’re about to dive into to spot the mistakes, you’ll easily prevent yourself from ending up in the ‘no’ pile of rejected resumes.

15 steps to edit and improve your resume professionally

Locate any spag errors

Let’s be clear on the purpose of proofreading – when we say proofread, we mean to fix typographical errors in our work.

SPAG is an acronym for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

If anything, the key takeaway I want you to have from this guide is to ensure you haven’t made any of the mistakes that we’ve previously discussed. These are minor flaws that are going to cost you a future career that could’ve been yours.

To make sure you never make any of these mistakes, I’ve listed out some resume spelling and proofreading strategies below. Use them so you can confidently send off your resume without having any second thoughts or doubts about things such as resume format, font, keywords, and grammar.

Read backward

One way to spot mistakes is to go through your resume from the end and read backward.

Reading each word in the opposite direction will make you spend time on the word and notice incorrect letters faster. It’s especially useful when you’ve spent a long time writing your resume and don’t have the opportunity to take time away from it before reviewing.

Read your resume out loud

Reading your resume out loud helps you identify errors you might have missed out on because it makes you slow down. And when you’re at a slower pace, you’re more likely to have better concentration and focus so you can find those minuscule mistakes you might’ve missed in the first place.

Even writers and novelists use this technique to concentrate better when looking out for those small details.

List your weak spots

If you’re aware of the things you struggle with, you’ll benefit from writing a list of the things you slip up on. Once you’ve made a list, you can use it as a checklist for review after writing your resume.

To start off, you can use the eight common resume mistakes above as a sample checklist.

Google docs revision history

When writing resumes on Google Docs, you’re more likely to make mistakes in areas you’ve just edited. Look through the revision history to see any changes that have been made and spot any mis-edits.

Try a different format

The longer you stare at the same piece of paper, the less likely you’re going to pay attention to its details. Your attention span can only endure for so long. So, a better alternative is to print your resume out and review it in a physical form instead of on your device.

One way to find an appropriate format is to look at proven resumes in your industry that got others hired. Search your job title in our list of 530+ resume examples, it includes a fully-fledged guide for what works – go check it out!

Tip: With Enhancv, you can change your resume format from double column to single column, single column to compact, and more. This can be used to refresh your mind when checking for mistakes.

Change your font

Changing the font of your resume will transform the way you look at your content – the best way to do this is to change to a different type of font that works better.

For example, if you’re using a Serif font, change to a sans serif font, and so on.

Content Analyzer

When building your resume with Enhancv, you can make use of our content analyzer. It’s based on hundreds of resumes to highlight common mistakes across several industries so you can fix them. It will also suggest ways to enhance your content – including flagging moments you have forgotten to quantify your achievements.

Ask a friend to review

Asking a friend or colleague to look over your resume will bring fresh eyes to your content and will bring an external perspective to how things flow, too. You can utilize Enhancv’s built-in referral link to accomplish this.

Check for the appropriate keywords and buzzwords

One of the first steps you should have done before even writing your resume is to take note of the job board description.

See, you need to know exactly what the employers need. Then, simply meet those expectations by using the right keywords.

You also want to avoid any weak or vague language. Be very specific and detailed but remember, you don’t need to have long lengthy sentences to do this. We’re better off keeping the description short but very concise and personalized. This gives it more impact, which leaves a good impression on the recruiters.

In terms of the common adjectives and trigger words, ensure you have diversity and variation. This puts you on a different level compared to everyone else since you’re not using generic words all the other candidates are probably using.

We’ve got a full guide with a list of all the alternative buzzwords and action words you should include on your resume. I highly recommend you check it out and give it a quick read by clicking here!

Make sure it’s tailored and matches the job description

Matching the job demands is one thing, but to customize, tailor and adjust those descriptions accurately is another. It’s important you do both because it makes your resume more compelling since it’s more personal towards the hiring managers.

Everything you mention on your resume needs to be aligned with what the company needs. If it’s not, and there’s no value implicated from it, then what’s the point?

Any words or phrases you find that aren’t important or add no value, it’s better for you to delete it than keep it.

One of the last things we would want is the recruiter to bring up anything controversial about something we didn’t put much thought into. It makes us seem careless, and that we didn’t bother too much with it.

An easy hack is to use Enhancv’s free resume checker to scan if our resume is parallel to what employers need. After we get that information, all we need to do is to match and tailor our description.

Re-check for any missing information

Have you missed any contact details, job titles, or any dates in your work history?

Are there any missing pieces of information you can add to improve and support some of your statements? For example, if one applicant said they increased traffic by 20% as an SEO specialist versus someone who said they just helped to “increase the number of traffic”, who are you more likely to see as credible?

The first one. Simply because that person has used metrics to hint proof to the recruiter to show it’s not empty words.

Make sure you’ve included the right skills, details and appropriate sections in your resume. You can always return and edit but once you hit send, there’s no going back.

Scan your lists on your resume and ensure they’re relevant

Very briefly, skim through any listings you’ve made on your resume. This matters, especially in your resume sections such as:

• Work experience

• Skills section

• Education

• Awards and certifications

Double-check that all the listings you’ve made in these sections are related to the responsibilities and duties you’re expected to take.

Consider the visual elements of your resume

You need to re-check the visual elements of your resume and more importantly, ensure it’s a compatible resume format. The layout should be kept minimal and simple. Don’t try to over-complicate the little things because it’s going to have the opposite effect of impressing recruiters.

If you’re using a combination resume, the structure of your resume would be different to a chronological resume. Likewise, if you were using a functional skills-based resume, the visual elements would also be different.

However, the main goal is to have a resume layout that’s appealing to the eye so it’s readable and scannable for the ATS.

If the application process is slightly different for the industry you’re applying in, make sure you meet those necessary requirements. For instance, you might be required to send a plain text resume format. This would mean your options are more limited and narrow compared to the other resume types.

Also, make sure you’ve made appropriate font choices that are professional. They shouldn’t be anywhere smaller than 10, and no bigger than 12.

Update your resume

As you grow your skills and experiences, so should your resume. When you start taking more responsibilities than you had initially signed up for, make sure that you include all this information.

Even after you’ve secured the job, when you start to do more, you shouldn’t miss this step out. Instead, update your resume when you can so that it’s up to date and relevant for today.

Your latest and most recent skills need to be reflected from your resume – this is going to be extremely useful. When you’re negotiating with employers in the interview, it’ll be bad if they brought something up on your resume that’s outdated.

If anything seems irrelevant or out of date, start rephrasing, change and switch things up.

Additional tips and tricks

• Take advantage of free tools and resources. One resource I like to use is Grammarly – they’re especially helpful when it comes to grammar and spelling

• Take a break, then read your resume again the next morning. Sometimes you need a fresh pair of eyes to find those technical errors. If you’ve been proofreading for hours, it’s a good idea to get some rest before continuing. This lets you check your resume with a fresh pair of eyes that’s more aware

• Don’t try to force everything into your resume. Don’t try to completely stuff in your resume with information. It’s tempting to add as much as you can to show employers what you’re made of. But in reality, this has the opposite effect and can even turn them off if it’s not useful

• Take the 10,000 ft view and zoom out momentarily. Think about the bigger picture, what image are you trying to paint? Is what you’re saying on your resume contributing or contradicting that value?

Conclusion

Phew, now you can send off your resume without having to sleep with one eye open…

With the techniques discussed, you should be able to handle all those minor technical details on your resume.

Luckily, Enhancv has built-in features and external tools that manage those technical details so it makes the entire editing process easier. If you haven’t already, try starting from there. You’ll finish creating your resume in no-time without breaking a sweat.

Do you agree with the points we’ve made? Or is there something you want to add that we didn’t cover in detail? Let me hear from you in the comments below!