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

You Be the Judge!

Do people judge you by your mistakes in e-mails, resumes, and presentations? You bet!

Worse than that, can spelling errors or poor grammar cause your company to lose business? Yes, it can! People may not know the cost of their mistakes or even know they have a mistake. However, the person who’s reading your resume or reading your letter of introduction may be a grammarian and reject you because of a typo. 

According to CareerBuilder, 61 percent of recruiters will automatically dismiss a resume because it contains typos. I’m surprised it’s not higher. Are you?

Charles Duncombe, former director of the Just Say Please group, says a single spelling mistake can cut online sales in half.

This month we’re focusing on how errors may be scaring potential employers or customers away—from hiring you or doing business with you. I want to help you from being held back in your business goals. My goal is to highlight common pitfalls, show you how to overcome them, and improve your chances of being successful in business.

Would you hire a person who has poor grammar or a spelling mistake on his/her cover letter or resume? Would you do business with or buy from someone who had a spelling error or grammatical error in his/her presentation or letter of introduction?

 

If you think proofreading is important, please like my National Proofreading Day page on Facebook!

 

Judy Beaver, The Office Pro

Founder of National Proofreading Day