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Resume Proofreading Checklist

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{Click here to read the original article on About.com.}

Before you send or upload a resume to apply for a job, it’s important to proofread it so it’s perfect. A typo or grammatical error can cost you a job interview.

Resume Proofreading Checklist

Review this list of common resume mistakes to make sure that your resume is well-written and error free.

Spelling Mistakes

  • Don’t use words with which you aren’t familiar.
  • Use a dictionary as you write.
  • Perform a spell check on your finished resume.
  • Carefully read every word in your resume. If you write “from” instead of “form,” your spell check will be unable to detect your mistake.
  • Have a friend or two proofread your resume for you.

Punctuation Mistakes

  • Check for periods at the end of all full sentences.
  • Be consistent in your use of punctuation.
  • Always put periods and commas within quotation marks (i.e., Won awards, including the “John H. Malcom Memorial Service Award.”)
  • Avoid using exclamation points.

Grammatical Mistakes

  • Do not switch tenses within your resume – be sure they are consistent for each job you list. The duties you currently perform should be in the present tense (i.e., write reports), but ones you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense (i.e., wrote reports).
  • Capitalize all proper nouns.
  • When expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and nine (i.e., one, five, seven), but use numerals for all numbers 10 and above (i.e., 10, 25, 108).
  • If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral (i.e., Eleven service awards won while employed.).
  • Make sure your date formats are consistent (i.e., 11/22/14 or November 22, 2014, or 11.22.14. Choose one and stick with it.).

Check for Word Usage

  • Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words:

       1. accept (to receive)
       2. except (to exclude)
       3. all right (correct)
       4. alright (this is not a word)
       5. affect (to bring about change)
       6. effect (result)
       7. personal (private)
       8. personnel (staff members)
       9. role (a character assigned or a function)
       10. roll (to revolve).

  • Use action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed staff).

Check Dates, Contact Information, Abbreviation and Spacing

  • Check dates of all prior employment.
  • Check your address and phone number – are they still current and correct?
  • Check the number of spaces separating your categories: are they consistent?
  • Check abbreviation of state names. All state abbreviations are two letters – no periods. For example, New York is abbreviated NY, California is CA, and Florida is FL. Look up other state abbreviations.

Resume Design Is Important

  • Don’t overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space.
  • Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.
  • Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum — two at the most.
  • Use a font that is easy to read. Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of the page to “rag.”
  • Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features.
  • Make sure your name, address, phone number and email address appear on your resume and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.
  • For paper resume, print your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality printer. Print on one side of the paper only.

What To Omit From a Resume

  • Salary history.
  • Gender, age, race, marital status, or other similar personal information.