Many job applicants don't get the interview or the job because of spelling errors on their resume. Amazing and as simple as it seems these are the little flies in the ointment that may do you in - both in your job search and searches, promotions in your career and even to the point of just getting the interview from management or the human resources h.r. department.

You might think that in this day of powerful easy to use word processors and office suites - such as the powerful and elaborate Microsoft Office / Suite/ Service, Online word processors and even free open source products such as "Open Office" that spelling errors as well as resume written presentation would be long ago issues. They are not. Even if you are , what you perceive , as a dedicated thorough person and worker in the business setting spelling , format and presentation errors scream out to the evaluator that this is a sloppy person with poor work habits who does not pay attention to detail and as well lacks attention in completing habits. Even if you do get the interview or the job you are left with a serious handicap of a poor first impression to overcome. It is always said that first impressions are lasting impressions. First impressions are very difficult and take a great amount of energy and effort to overcome. Why place yourself with a barrier and handicap to begin with. It's all wasted and lost effort. Ensure that your resume and / or job application have correct spelling. In the case of your resume it's both proper spelling and formatting of paragraphs and sentences.

How do these spelling errors occur? Remarkably there are numerous spelling errors in the programming of the actual software of the popular word processors. These spelling errors are so predictable in occurrence that it is common for professional human resources h.r. staff and management screeners of resumes and job applications to actually search for these markers on the pages as a matter of standard and accepted hiring and screening procedures. Next the replacement of spelling errors by the word processors is such a rapid and automatic event that you may well trust the word processor without question. After all these products are the results of evolution of office software products for over 20 years. You may reason that the once very expensive office software suite along with your powerful computer with that high end core duo processor, 8 gigs of ram and Microsoft Vista knows more about spelling, sentence and paragraph formatting than you will ever know. True. It is also true that even the best computer typist is bound to make a few errors - no matter what they believe. The beauty of these powerful word processing products that they present the user with the "lazy man's way of writing and presentation." The word processor may well correct most mistakes, be convenient and cover most mistakes. However in your case, it may only take one mistake to do you in.

On examination you will discover that these products will often slip a word incorrectly, or assume that the wrong spelling or the word should be the correct spelling of a word taken totally out of context from your sentence or paragraph. You may misspell the word shirk for example in a sentence and find that the word processor inserts the correct spelling for an out of context word "shark". Lastly there are regional differences in spelling which you may consider correct whereas the authority reviewing the document, may consider wrong spelling. For example the correct British or Canadian spelling for the word color is "color", the correct spelling for the word labor in these other locales is "labor". You are correct in your spelling and diction, whereas in this case you may well be marked "wrong" by the reviewer.

What can be done to prevent being sunk before launch with your resume, or other document? It all comes down to attention to detail and thoroughness. First read the resume carefully, even read it out loud. Have another person read and review the finished work. In the case of a job application, where the application is done on paper this may not be possible. In addition if you have to bring along a second person to the site to help you fill out and review the application - this may not be a good idea as it shows lack of reliance and job employment skills as an individual working alone. On the other hand if you are filling out an online job application - which is often the case now in the routine automated world of employment searches and hiring, a second person can well help you in your application - both words and well rounded answers as well as correcting spelling mistakes. One last procedure and tactic that professional proofreaders employ is to actually read and the resume backwards from the last sentence to its beginning.

In the end, for the most part, proper spelling, formatting and presentation on your job resume and application come down to attention to detail and thoroughness. If you want the job, interview or promotion it is well worth the effort.

Shaun Stevens Human Resources Coordinator
Ace Training Net http://www.ace-training.net/
Winnipeg Job Bank