What the Experts Say: Proofread!

Kyle Wiens’ hiring guidelines may seem harsh to you; he has “a zero-tolerance approach to grammar mistakes.” He wrote a blog post, “I Won’t Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar. Here’s Why.” Wiens has applicants take a mandatory grammar test because “good grammar is credibility, especially on the [I]nternet. In blog posts, on Facebook statuses, in e-mails, and on company websites, your words are all you have.”

Allie Gray Freeland explains your resume is “a hiring manager’s first exposure to who you are as an employee.” Her article, “Top 7 Resume Grammatical Errors – And How To Avoid Them,” offers advice for keeping your resume consistent and accurate.

If you’re applying for a job that requires paying attention to detail, prove it with a resume and cover letter that have consistent punctuation, consistent formatting and fonts, and proper spelling and grammar. Show that you care about details.

If you claim you’re a professional, prove it with your error-free resume and cover letter. You wouldn’t go to the interview with a stain on your jacket, would you? Then, why would you send a resume with a typo? Your resume and cover letter are part of your image. Project professionalism by proofreading your documents so you get the interview! 

Please share your comments; I'd love to hear what you think!

Judy Beaver, The Office Pro
Founder of National Proofreading Day