You've been out of work for a while now and you really need a job. You've compiled a written list (aka, your resume) of your skills, education and previous work experience that you feel would be useful to a potential employer. You consider your resume a fair (possibly stellar) representation of yourself as a hard worker.
You've submitted it to all the possible employers you'd love to get a chance to interview with. But you don't get a call back, and you can't figure out why.
Here's one VERY common reason you don't get a response:
It's full of typos. You're what I call a "TLC" or a "Typo Laden Candidate".
I've been a recruiter for many years now and I will tell you very candidly that when I get a resume, cover letter, or even a short email from a job candidate full of typos?
I get mad
It may sound harsh – but truthfully, my first instinct is to shred it. This is my first knee jerk reaction when I am presented with pages full of nightmarish boo-boos. However, because I am what I would consider to be a "fair" recruiter, I will actually stop and take some time to try and see past all the mistakes so that I can determine if there's a viable candidate somewhere underneath the mess I've been presented with. It's quite frankly extremely rare that I can manage to see past this obvious, glaringly blatant problem. And you have to trust me; I am not the only recruiter that operates like this.
We all do it
I can hear some of you out there getting upset as you're reading this. You're probably saying:
"Well that's hardly fair. I wasn't an English or Journalism major in college! Heck, I wasn't even lucky enough to go to college. How dare those snooty recruiter and HR types judge me because of a few typos! That's not really who I am! I've got a lot of valuable skills to bring to the table. Any company would be downright lucky to have me as their employee!"
Hmmmm, is that so?
Well just hang on there buckaroo. I'd like to explain some basic things so that you'll have a better picture of WHY typos are so incredibly offensive to us and WHY they will ultimately land your resume in the Shredded Bin of Resume Purgatory.
Checking your spelling is simple and easy
First of all, I feel I need to point out for the sake of fairness, just in case somebody out there truly isn't familiar with this concept, there's this little ditty of a button that was invented a while back called "Spell Check". It usually appears in the form of the letters "ABC" accompanied by a check mark underneath. It's in any and all of the programs you chose to create your resume… Or cover letter… Or even your short email.
Pressing this glorious button is really rather effortless, and delightfully critiques your document in seconds. Yes, you will have to go through and click on the yellow highlighted words the little Spell Check button has told you are possibly incorrect, but this takes like what... All of three minutes of your time?
Pffft. That's hardly anything considering the damage that leaving typos all over your resume can do.
It takes a lot of time to hire someone
In contrast to the three minutes of your time it will take to complete this final task before submission to a potential employer, there are many steps recruiters must take to even get you in the door for an interview. It takes me a lot of time to go through those steps. Possibly hours depending on the particular candidate. My company had to pay me to go through those steps when you, oh Typo Laden Resume Candidate purposefully chose not to press the "Spell Check" button on your documents before you submitted them.
Are you kidding me? Do you see how lazy that makes you look? Why would we want to hire somebody that's lazy, and obviously can't pay attention to detail?
Employers are ultimately looking for one thing- they want people that are willing to step up and represent their company in a way that will be fruitful, not damaging. When a resume crosses our desk that's a hot typographical mess, we simply don't feel inclined to take the risk with you. We already know that you're going to make a fool not only of yourself (because you've already accomplished that), but ultimately our company.
We can't depend on you to represent us
Plain and simple.
Envision this if you will...for us to entrust a Typo Laden Candidate with the reputation of our company, it essentially feels like we're handing the keys of the brand new family Cadillac over to a twelve year old kid and then telling the kid "Okay! Go ahead and drive! And be sure not to hit anything!"
Sure...that'll go well.
Don't be a TLC. Stop and take a few minutes to do the extra step of checking for typos. And then hand it to somebody you trust to read over as well, just for a double check.
Take the time to make a good resume. Because what will initially take you mere minutes can ultimately save you MONTHS of unemployment.
Happy job hunting!
Fairly ironic in a post about typos that you end a statement sentence fragment with a question mark: “I've been a recruiter for many years now and I will tell you very candidly that when I get a resume, cover letter, or even a short email from a job candidate full of typos?”
OMG! Too funny.
There’s also a misplaced modifier in that very sentence. It should be something more like, “when I get from a job candidate a resume, cover letter, or even a short email full of typos,” rather than “…or even a short email from a job candidate full of typos.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve never see a job candidate who was full of typos. Maybe their writing was, but that’s a different matter.
Yeah, really. Getting advise on grammar and typos from someone who’s quality of grammar is less than stellar is highly suspect!
The question mark was to add sarcasm. Read it again with teenage sarcasm, “hello”. However, it could be a grammar error.
…”grammatical” error…adjective, not a noun. Phew!
Jeff, I was about to comment the same thing. However, I think it may be attributed to her “irreverent and snarky personality” and in all likelihood was intended to be ironic humor. I wasn’t particularly entertained by it, but that sort of thing doesn’t translate well over the internet. Especially if you aren’t familiar with an author’s writing style prior to reading an article.
I think it was meant as a question with the “I get mad” as the answer.
I agree. “I get mad” is the ANSWER to the question above it. . .
I’d just like to add that a shockingly large percentage of typos wind up in people’s headers. In addition to all the other things Spell Check WON’T catch, it’s not going to notice if you spell your own email address wrong or screw up your phone number. Seriously – a lot of the time when job seekers complain that NOBODY is calling them, it’s because they neglected to triple-check their own contact info.
That definitely does happen, check out our real resume mistake stories! http://www.snagajob.com/resources/real-resume-application-mistakes/
This very thing caused my lack of interview invitations for close to a year, before I caught a mistake in my email address on my resume…talk about feeling stupid!
Better late than never! Glad you were able to fit it
There is some helpful and well placed information here. How ever the snark factor is a bit off -puting.
Personally I view it this way, if an employer wants a potential employee canidate to be professional lead by example. Otherwise, well hypocrisy is just one of the many thoughts that cross my mind after reading this article.
I’d like to know what happened to going into places and applying for jobs. Personally, I’d much rather go in ask them if they are hiring and would it be possible to get an application to fill out.I really get tired and frustrated with everyone saying you have to go on-line.Not everyone has access to a computer, and until recently, I was someone who didn’t have access, even though I do now I still prefer in person, paper, and pen!
I know it just speeds up and automates the employers job of recruiting but it also seems to allow the HR people to simply ignore applicants they don’t want to pursue without having to say “No thanks.” to anyone in person.
I feel like it is also the cowards way out.
At the same time it allows a bigger company the chance to have these applicants looked over by some HR people instead of just a first line manager who may not have any HR skills at all.
The job I just got came from a contact I made on LinkedIn.com and the interview took about ten minutes and the interviewer asked “When would you like to start and how many days a week would you like to work?”
It is one of the best jobs I have had since I officially retired and the nicest bunch of people I have ever gotten to work with.
Just keep plugging along and make those contacts.
Something good will happen.
Rich (who did not use a spellchecker, just his third grade skills.)
However math was my foreign language.
Karen, I can’t believe in today’s times you would come up with the excuse of someone not having access to a computer. There are internet cafes everywhere and for the places that are stuck a bit in the dark ages I haven’t been in a place, in the lower 48 states, that doesn’t have a library. It is one of them things that if there is enough will, you will find a way.
I had my school make up my resume and the spelling and grammar are just right. The only reason I can see why I have not been hired since I graduated with honors is because I don’t have enough experience and there is too much time passed since I last worked. In this day and age, it is hardly my fault. I want to work very much, but I never hear back from those with whom I apply and I have virtually given up. Me and a million other just-grads.
AMEN, Marian. I graduated with honors, too. I feel the employers I have interviewed with haven’t given me a chance to show them what I can do. I an NOT giving up, though. I paid too much for my education to give up.
Personally, I agree with what Karen wrote about applying in person. I’m currently looking for work and am doing most of it online simply because I have NOTHING coming in and can’t afford the gas to be driving all over. I do agree that in the “old days” it seemed easier to be able to walk in to a prospective employer’s business, get an application, fill it out and alot of the times get an interview or be hired on the spot! Now most say apply “online only” so we have to get access to a computer, look for the website, fill out questionaires, post a resume and whatever else! Seems to take forever. Then we have to wait for them to call for an interview. Whew!
Recruiter WHO steps up, people WHO…. “who” not “that” is the correct usage when referring to a person.
Just so you know, you’ve ended two sentences with a preposition,
If the people making all the typos online are the same one’s making them on written applications, most companies would trash those applications as well. Have you tried to do a long response to an email on your Blackberry lately?
Typos in communication take away from content and meaning and indicate a careless attitude. Companies want employees who are careful and mindful of their responsibility to represent their employer well.
Incorrectly using ellipses while blasting away at simple punctuation or spelling errors is tragic poetry.
To: “Joe”
EXACTLY! I was thinking the exact thing as I read the comments! Glass houses and stones and all of that…
Me personally I cant stand the online applications. They are so impersonal. When you are done you don’t have a name or number you can call and check on your status. Quite frankly that makes the company seem lazy, because they don’t want to take the time to see the person who is applying for the job.
What a jerk.
Yes, ma’am!! I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU!! Technology has made people so lazy, and some persons think it doesn’t matter. But, like you, I feel that if you can’t pay attention to small details like spelling and punctuation, I don’t want you to be handling my cash. I recently had a “friend” ask me to read his “business plan”, asking investors for 6 million bucks to start up a “resort ranch”. When I pointed out that he had forgotten to place a comma in a sentence, he replied, “Oh, a comma doesn’t matter”, to which I replied, “If you’re asking ME for 6 big ones, you’d better believe that comma matters!” He was so insulted that we are no longer friends!! Over a comma? No, over my daring to call attention to his carelessness, after he ASKED me to proofread it!! Go figure!
I understand what she is trying to say, however resumes should not be the only basis for hiring someone. I know people with the so-called “perfect resume” that have sorry attitudes, and are lazy. Guess what though? They still manage to get the job and afterwards end up getting fired. The only thing I completely abhor, about this blog is the fact that YOU Mrs. Karen, would actually take the time to believe that a piece of paper shows exactly how a person is. I meant no disrespect, but I cannot stand when people make excuses like that. I tend to not get jobs due to my lack of work experience in that department. Which, is another reason why I give up on my job searches. Employers, are just as lazy for not wanting to take the time and show someone what to do. So, to say what you just said is why people do not find the right job is just a way to “tickle a persons ears”.
Hi Tiara! A perfect resume is your best bet for getting that interview. Once you get in there, it is up to you to show off your personality and work ethic. We hear from hiring managers all the time, complaining that if an applicant won’t take the time and effort to check and make sure their resume is error free they are showing them that they may not be taking this search seriously. In a competitive market, everything counts and having someone check your application could really make a difference in the hiring process. Don’t give up on your search! You are not alone with your frustrations, but we are here to help you.
Articles like this are why I have no more respect for snagajob.com. Real people are hurting financially these days. It’s not cute to be snarky when claiming to be helpful. The article comes off as insulting and disrespectful to the countless struggling to find employment. I pray the author does not one day find herself the butt of her own joke as part of the unemployed. The way this economy is headed she may soon need to survive off her smug self elevating attitude when the calls fail to come in and she suddenly can’t explain why.
Hi Ty – I am sorry you feel that way. The number one thing we hear from hiring managers is that too many resumes have spelling and grammatical errors and we cannot stress enough the importance of having someone look over your resume. We have approached this subject from many angles, you may find this article beneficial http://www.snagajob.com/resources/guest-post-your-poor-spelling-is-costing-you-the-job/. Same basic message, different voice. Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help you with.
They won’t call -Positions filled by unqualified friends and families.
Hi Collin, while referrals are definitely a great way to get your application considered by a hiring manager, most of the time people are careful to only refer people who they believe will be great employees.
I thought the writer of the article was completely accurate. A resume is an opportunity to present yourself to make a lasting positive impression. Reverse the roles for a moment. The competition for jobs is very high and a recruiter probably receives numerous resumes for any advertised postion. They have to work through the initial screening process quickly so you do not want your resume standing out as poorly prepared. The applicant does not have control over many aspects in the application process but they do have control over the appearance of their resume. Look at the resume as the applicant’s job, and a well prepared resume reflects professionalism, attention to detail, interest in the postion, and someone who is likely to be conscientious. Always present your best because you may not get a second chance.
Great points David!
You have shown what is wrong with this country, People are so judgemental of others. A comment I remember from the school I went to. Before you take the speck out of the other person’s eye you need to take the mote out of yours. An example of this I received an email from a human resources manager and it was very obvious that they dont follow the advice they give others becasue they dont stop and check the mistakes they make. They need to clean up their act before they complain about others? They need to remember they are human also
oh my gosh MR. Michael!! If I had been your teacher in 4th grade, I would have kept you in at recess to redo the entire response!! Please have another check your work if your teacher does not. You kids need to step up and review, reread, rewrite.
Judge not least ye be judged
So is there someone that would like to critique my resume??
I have been out or work for three years. I have had my resume reviewed by several professonial people and feel that it’s in good shape. But for some reason I can’t get hired. I have been turned down becasue they needed someone with my exact qualifactions! I’m 56 years old and am sure that is a big issue although that is not suppose to matter but it dose. Any ideas how an educated, experience man can get a respectable position in Chattanooga Tennessee?
Hi Ron. I am sorry to hear your search has been frustrating. It sounds like you are on the right track by getting professionals to go over your resume. We have a few articles I think can help you: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/frustrated-with-your-job-search-youre-not-alone/. You can check our website http://www.snagajob.com/states for jobs specific to your area. Good luck and keep us posted in your search!
I graduate from college in 2009 and I still haven’t been hired not even in the field I went to school for. People are being so picky these days. The thing that has really been getting me is these LONG questionaires. Seems like it takes forever to do them and if u don’t pass them the employer doesn’t even get to look at an application. Another thing is some employers don’t want to train people anymore. The want somebody that already knows what they are doing. I don’t know what I’m gonna do if I can’t get a job soon.
Hi Kimmi! I am sorry to hear things are frustrating for you. The questionnaires are important; employers are looking for specific qualities that can be measured by your answers. Be sure take the time to answer every question honestly and be through. Also, I cannot stress enough the importance of making sure your application is free of spelling and grammatical errors. Having someone other than yourself look over the application can be invaluable in throughout your process. These tips can help: http://tinyurl.com/76fzuze & http://tinyurl.com/7j8pgkd . Good luck, I have my fingers crossed!
I agree, people should take the time to make sure everything is accurate-I mean if you really want the job!
I do not agree with the advice given by Karen! I have been looking for a job, for a long time now. The economy has much to do with hiring today! My resume has no typographical errors! I do pay close attention to detail, and have never had any complaints. I do agree with Harold Fuller, no one wants to take the time for walk ins, most say apply "online only" so we have to get access to a computer, look for the website, fill out questionaires, post a resume and whatever else! Seems to take forever. Then we have to wait for them to call for an interview. I know my case is not the same as everyone, as each one of us is different, and we all have different issues. The majority of applicants, do agree with my comment though!
Number 1 I’ve used spell check and the resume still had misspelled words. Number 2 comeing from a generation that did not have computers it doesn’t take 3 minutes to write a resume but several weeks .My 3rd concern why is it that people who do not have a grasp fo the english language getting the jobs and I am not getting interviews.
Hi Kristine! You are correct, spell check does not catch everything. It is always a good idea to have another set of eyes look over your resume. Sometimes you can review a document over and over and miss something obvious. Do you have a friend or family member who can take a look for you? Good luck with your search! These tips can help: http://tinyurl.com/76fzuze & http://tinyurl.com/7j8pgkd
@ Kristine. Exactly! Most jobs in my line of work are being filled by people who can not read or write English. They can barely speak it.
I’m still angry I have finally tackled the resume and even get called back for the second interview
But why does it stop. There? Could there be something in or from my previous employers
Statements that have kept me unemployed for almost three years. Please help me. I want
And need a job and if they run credit checks I’ve lost car and credit score
Due to no income.
Hi Traci! Sorry to hear about your frustrations. If you think your previous employers are giving negative feedback, try contacting them to clear the air. Be honest in your interviews and focus on how you’ve learned from your mistakes.
Look at your section headed “Employers are looking…” people are not “that” people are “who”
I have read a lot of the comments on this resume information blog, I agree with some of it but for the most part I do not. I have been looking for a job now for over two years, I have over 20 years experience in clerical back ground work in the insurance world and still I can not get a job. I believe that companies do not want the experienced or the over 50 years of age group of people, they think that they will have to pay more. This is not so I would take anything that I am qualified to do. All I am asking for is a chance. Stop discrimination
Stephanie’s anger and sarcastic writing style clearly reflect the narcissistic, artificially-elitist attitude she attempts to lord over job seekers. Ironic how many “I”s she uses in her blog. (BTW, Stephanie, too much info about your personal health history; n/a to any applicant.) It’s all about her ego and short attention span due to her implied “enormous workload.” Her writing abilities and conveyance of useful information is an excellent example of “the dumbing down of America.” Scripted, computer-programmed responses lacking insight and comprehensive understanding in resolving real-life issues. Her comments reflect today’s fragmented, abbreviated, sound-byte mindset. A sad testament to American’s present educational and workforce body. It is no wonder our country has deteriorated so in the past twenty years after reading her “expert advice.” Humiliation and ruthless egocentric tactics should be left to the reality shows.
My comments delivered to you in a similar tone you conveyed in your article!
Kate, a blog is a form of self expression. I don’t see anywhere on Stephanie’s blog where she’s purporting to help job seekers there. It’s an outlet and entertainment. Therefore, she can write as much as she wants about her health history. In that context, she can use “I” as much as she wants. The “n/a to any applicant” comment is immaterial. She’s ranting about resumes, not publishing a refereed paper. It’s fine if it’s not your taste – just don’t read it. Easy fix. But don’t make it out to be a failure at something it’s not meant to be.
Wow, I’m surprised at people’s comments!! This “hate” trend has gone on for too long. We- as humans- need to stop ripping each other apart, especially over things so trivial!
I agree with Stephanie’s point about resumes being full of typos. Granted, people can look over a couple. That’s not a problem. But if a resume looks like something that was just posted as a Youtube comment or a tweet, then it does give off the “unprofessional” vibe.
Now, if you are dyslexic or a non-English native speaker, then it will help to have a friend (or professionals if need be) look over it.
However, the internet has generally allowed us to be poor writers/communicators. Surely you can look at the Yahoo! Answer Center, Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, text messages and more, and understand why many employers are less likely to read a typo-filled resume.
I felt this article was a bit rude and disrespectful. It seemed to be more of a rant than quality advice. I am not one to make typos, but reading this piece of work made me feel sorry for those that do. I don’t think I will be reading this article again.
I am from the UK and I find the whole employment process here in the USA quite horrifying to be honest..I haven’t been in the UK for nearly a year so maybe it’s a lot different now,but I suspect not too much apart from the higher salary jobs that is. The majority of jobs I know of in the UK do not rely on psychological trickery to employ people..that’s all the assessment tests are about to my mind..catching people unawares so employers can eliminate as many people as possible..whom by the way are probably a whole lot more suitable and capable than the people these nasty games say are employable. Last time I was in the UK it was the good old paper in the hand application form..the face to face interview..the firm hand shake..etc..It’s too much trouble in this day and age though for most employers it seems in the USA..So they leave it to a computer program to decide who will even get a reply let alone an interview. I find it sad it’s come to the point where you have to lie in these tests to get anywhere..I want to be honest,but how can I be when you are slitting your own throat in the process? In fact most people have to at the very least bend the truth to even get noticed vaguely. Put it this way..if it meant bending the facts some and telling a few untruths to put it diplomatically how many of us would do just that to land a job right now? If we could get away with it..I wonder what percentage would say they would I’m guessing quite high. I was filling assessments quite happily until I was told to not be so honest in the answers I gave..Or I’d keep on failing.