How to react when you notice a typo in your freshly-submitted resume

Not for the faint of heart, the search for a new job can have you on edge! It involves many time-consuming steps, and it can take weeks—or even months—for the perfect job opportunity to pop up. So, after all your hard work, once you’ve hit send on your application, you probably feel ready to lean back in your chair for a much-deserved breather while you wait to hear back from the hiring manager.

But what happens when the unexpected happens? You realize your resume has a typo. What can you do to rectify the situation and save your reputation (and your chances of getting hired)? Just follow this advice from one of the leading providers of jobs in Decatur GA.

It depends on the size of the typo

Of course, you want your resume to be perfect. But if you scan back over your resume only to discover you left out punctuation or misspelled a word, it’s not a huge deal. If your resume only contains one or two small mistakes, a hiring manager is not going to hold it against you—we’re all human, after all. In other words, don’t sweat the small stuff. One or two tiny typos isn’t a huge deal.

What happens if it’s a big mistake?

If you notice your resume has a glaring error, such as an incorrect employment date, job title, degree or another major flaw, take a second and breathe. Then simply fix the mistake (and double and triple-check that everything looks as it should), then send a follow-up email with your updated resume. In the subject line of your email, include the word resending. Then, simply include a quick note in the body of the email to, “Please use this updated version of my resume, and discard the previous version sent.” Straight, simple and to the point.

Even better, prevent mistakes in the first place

There’s definite credence in saving yourself future stress by avoiding this situation in the first place. Since you’ll be tweaking your resume a bit each time you apply to a job, it’s important to build a review into your process. Once you’ve added all the information you need to, and moved everything around where it should be, take a step back for a second. Come back to your resume with fresh eyes and review it, backward and forwards (literally). Then, ask for a second review from a friend or family member. Take all pains to be sure the version you sent out is right the first time.

Let your recruiter help

Your recruiter wants you to succeed, and for that reason, he or she is also part job coach. Your recruiter can review your resume and help you make sure it’s polished and ready to go.

Looking for a recruiter in the Atlanta area?

If you don’t have a recruiter, let Snelling Georgia help! We’ll work with you to find a job you love—and prepare for upcoming interviews! To learn more, contact us today!

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