Tame The Typo's to Stay in the Game

Brenda Griffin  Get A Job Expert

     You worked for hours and hours crafting the perfect resume and cover letter for the perfect job.  Your focus was intense. You really wanted this job.  So you poured yourself into every word.

     Excited and eager, your masterpiece complete, you were ready to hit send.  So you did! With much pride and anticipation.  Then suddenly, you saw it - a typo!

     Sounds like no big deal, right?  Not quite.

     The number one complaint of hiring managers is typo's.  In fact for some companies, typo's go beyond annoyance to show-stopping.  Typo resumes end up in the "no go" pile. 

     What's the no go pile?  The pile where you won't get the interview, won't get the job....you're done.  "No go for you."  (Think soup Nazi on Seinfeld shouting at customers, "No soup for you!")  With typo resumes, hiring managers are shouting, "No job for you!"

     Why all the drama, it's just a small typo, right?  Or is it "just" a small typo.  Consider the employers point of view.  They take time out of their day to screen resumes, lots of them. They are looking for professionals to invite to their team.  Nothing shouts sloppy, careless and unprofessional more than a typo.  Typo resumes waste their time, and their time is valuable.

     You might be thinking, "Why the fuss? Everybody makes mistakes."  Because they are so easy to fix! There are no excuses. And if they're that easy to fix, why don't you just do it!  It is a matter of respect at this point. 

     If you have already hit send, it's still possible to do damage control.  Admit your mistake!  It's out there for all to see, so don't pretend it didn't happen.  Call the person you were sending it to and apologize for the error.  Explain that you will immediately correct it and resend a revised addition.  Then do it.

     This prompt action will get their attention - you are on top of your game and quick to recover!  After all, we are all human. But by not calling, you are taking a risk.  So pick up the phone and face music!

     So, how can you avoid showing disrespect in the first place?  Double check and triple check correspondence to employers.  Start with a spell check.  Then go to bottom of each piece and read every work backwards until you get to the top.  This will slow you down and force you to concentrate on the details.  Then, have someone else do a final review.

     Set yourself up for success.  Tame the typos. Show respect.