RESUME CHECKLIST
Resume writing services provide a great way to ensure your resume is expertly crafted and error free. However, if you’d rather do the writing yourself there’s a chance that writing errors get overlooked – after all, nobody’s perfect.
As a certified resume writer I spend a lot of time writing and editing documents. Even when I consider something finished, I ALWAYS go away, clear my head (drink a cup of tea or go for a walk) then return one more time and read the document through. 5 times out of 10 i’ll still spot one or two additional minor errors that I missed before.
To help you with the proofreading process, I’ve compiled a resume checklist you can use to make sure your resume is ready to go out and start earning you interviews. And, since I’m also a certified resume writer, I’ve also included some resume-writing quality checks that, hopefully, your resume will pass with flying colors.
Missing or Incorrect Contact Details Section
You’d honestly be surprised how many people’s contact details contain mistakes…yes, even intelligent normal human beings.
- Make sure your phone number is correct, that it contains an area code, and that the digits are spaced by either a hyphen or a period, e.g. 866-706-0973
- Only include one contact phone number. Make sure it’s a number that is likely to be answered, and has a voicemail system set up – also check to see if the voicemail works!
- If you list a home phone number, be sure to give strict orders to all family members on how to politely answer the phone and take a message properly.
- Check that the email address is correct. Check it twice. No, in fact, three times…at least!
Spelling and Grammar
Resumes are special; they don’t need to follow usual grammar rules. In favor or keeping a document short, a resume may include abbreviations, contractions, fragmented sentences, along with many other literary faux pas. This ultimately renders a spell check software useless. What’s more, your computer’s built-in spell check often misses numerous errors anyway, even in a conventional document. So, even if you paid for a resume writing service, it’s time to go old school and manually check your resume for any silly mistakes.
Common mistakes over looked by spellcheck
| now instead of know | of instead of off | |||
| advice instead of advise | god instead of good | |||
| know instead of now | manger instead of manager | |||
| a dress when you mean address | pubic when you mean public | |||
| son instead of soon | moth instead of month |
- Read your resume backwards, starting from the bottom right of each page, and work your way left one word at a time. This helps incorrectly used words like manger instead of manager stand out
- Check for capitalization at the start of each new sentence
- Ensure where bullet pointed sentences are listed out, each sentence ends with a period, or that none of the sentence are closed. Do not have some sentences closed and some left open
- Make sure there is consistency in the tense used, i.e. if verbs are in present or past tense. For example, Conducts, Manages, Promote, Implemented – notice how implemented is in past tense but the others are all present tense?
Formatting & Styling
Subtle formatting and styling inconsistencies are easily overlooked, however they do affect the way a resume is interpreted by the reader. Have you ever looked at a document and thought it was a bit scruffy? It’s probably caused by subtle differences in styling and formatting. These often include the inconsistent use of underlining, emboldening or italicizing text, or variations in the size or fonts and spacing of document features.
- Make sure the formatting used for company names, dates of employment and job titles is consistent for each job
- Check that page breaks are all the same length
- Ensure page borders are consistentEnsure spacing between sections are equal
- Check for font size variations, e.g. section headings being different sizes
- Ensure formatting enhancements don’t overrun onto surrounding text. Common mistakes include parentheses with one bracket in bold or italicized: (example) and (Italy is great)
Use this resume checklist to work your way through your resume, making necessary edits. Once you’ve proofread your entire document, be sure to save the updated version. You can now finally begin sending out your polished new resume, safe with the confidence that it’s error free and you’re not going to look stupid! Good luck!
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