Wait! Before you submit your resume into turnitin.com or Google Classroom or hand it over to your counselor, make sure it's perfect! Your resume represents your level of professionalism, so even simple mistakes like a grammatical error or typo can cost you. 

Proofread Effectively

1. Slowly read your resume from the beginning, checking for spelling and grammatical errors. 

2. Turn on a spell check (Grammarly, ProWritingAid, or even Chatgpt); Also, closely check it on your own! 

3. Read the resume backwards, sentence by sentence. This is a useful proofreading technique since it forces you to slow down and pay close attention to each phrase and sentence. 

Review this list of common resume mistakes 

1. Spelling Mistakes 

2. Punctuation Mistakes 

   • Check for periods at the end of all full sentences (no periods with fragments)

   • Be consistent in your use of punctuation.

   • Avoid using exclamation points!!!!

   • Try to avoid using comma splices (where two complete sentences are connected with a comma).

3. Grammatical Mistakes

   • Do not switch tenses (e.g. Volunteer Activities) 

   • Capitalize all proper nouns.

   • 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 awards won in Robotics.).

   • IF you used specific dates anywhere, make sure your date formats are consistent (i.e., 11/22/23 or November 22, 2023, or 11.22.23. Choose one and stick with it.).

Check for Word Usage

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

  • accept (to receive)

  • except (to exclude)

  • all right (correct)

  • alright (this is not a word)

  • affect (a verb: to bring about change)

  • effect (a noun: result)

  • personal (private)

  • personnel (staff members)

  • role (a character assigned or a function)

  • roll (to revolve).

Check Dates, Contact Information, Abbreviations, and Spacing

• 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, South Sioux City is abbreviated SSC; Nebraska is NE.

Resume Design

• Don't make your font too small.

• Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum -- two at the most.

• Use a conservative font that is easy to read, like Times New Roman or Verdana. 

• Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. 

• 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 a paper resume, print your resume using a good-quality printer. Print on one side only.

What to Omit from a Resume

• Omit sex, age, race, or other similar personal information.