I would like to expand upon a recent blog by my colleague Rebecca over at Totaljobs covering the importance of making the right first impressions when applying for a role.
What I am about to say my sound petty but believe me is something that effects quite a lot of applications that I have seen in recent years. The issue I speek of is application lotters and CV's that peple have clearly not even run a spoll chek over. With most employers experiencing massive volumes of applicants to single vacancies at the current time, giving them the excuse to dismiss your application because of avoidable errors is not going to help you secure an interview. Compounding this are recent news stories outlining poor numeracy and literacy as being a major issue for some of the country's largest employers. Clearly, and I might add rightly, attention to detail is seen by employers as vital in potential applicants.
Take a few minutes to reread and check your CV and application letter before sending it out and you might just spot an obvious errar that could have stopped you from being invited in for interview.
Most agencies re-format your CV, so the biggest problem really is getting the agency to submit your details, as the latest buzz phrase is, employers are only looking for candidates with a stable work history! I have never not worked, but because of market conditions, and my desire to work in a certain sector I have been temping but still get told by CV isn't stable enough - well I'm sorry but that's the nature of temp work, couple of months there, and a few weeks here .... I suspect the real truth is that my CV is less likely to be converted to cash in their eyes, when in fact I'm probably more employable due to my experience and adaptability.
I'm afraid the same comments can be made of recruiters - a significant proportion of them cannot spell.
I would hope these words were heeded by HR departments and recruiters who dont proof read their own wording and are seemingly unable to turn you down with a correctly spelled refusal, or a poorly written job ad. I dont know how many times I've seen 'their' and 'there' confused in a role description ie, to help out in there sales department!!. God knows, if they cant get it right, why should applicants bother!
If you have a web form to fill out, compose your document in any MS office or Open Office application, spell check it using the software (assuming that you have Britich Englsih dictionaries installed, wink wink!), then copy & paste it into the from.
Just like wot i dee dent here :)
I take it that 'spoll chek' was deliberate? LOL
spoll chek - LOL
Yes, peas ensure that you use spell cheque so it can pick miss takes.
Your talking about the fine details in your article and you havent even managed to run the "SPELL CHECK" yourself. It's Spell not "spoll"!
v bwbvb hjukv bnj c fghb c fhgmc
This goes to David, the author of this piece. How do you explain the errors in your article or do i take it that people make typo's sometimes? So much for someone who is speaking about paying attention to details and spell checking meanwhile his very article isn't even spell checked (Chek and spoll for example). Talking about paying attention to details, i am almost 99% and i pride myself for that however, the interviews are still not coming through or better still, after a phone call and the recruitment consultant hears me speaking with an accent different from theirs, the story changes. Blame it on something else please. However, i am open to learning and would take all you guys have to say on board.
I think they may loose a good candidate because of a minor mistake or name.I have eye for details if that is the case but my last name worries me but I do not have to drop it because of a job.
Remember remember the F7 key in MS Office programmes . . .
it also helps if you make sure that your PC Word doc is clean and dosnt' mess with any documents cv cover letter that you e mail to protential recruiters
make sure that you run system checks on your PC and always print out what you are sending before you e mail
there is one more thing as your cv is only skimmed and half the time not by a person keep it simple keep it short and lie through your teeth the aim is to get an interview don't be judged by someone to busy and lazy to not read your application
Hello I seem to pass first two stages of a phone interview but seem to fail at the "can you give me a time when you were under pressure and you coped" and that is where I let myself down
David, I guess the errors in yours such as effect instead of affect, spoll instead of spell, countries instead of country's, etc. were deliberate. If not, am cringing for you. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
Hello,
Thanks for giving me tips. you people are doing grate job.
David, Do you also write the advertisements for jobs that contain spelling mistakes and words missing? I started reading your blog with interest but you soon let yourself down on the spelling so like the CV I just binned it.
Oh god don;t even get me started on spelling.
I have sent numerous CV/Cover letters out only to read through them after and find out that the document is completely ruined or there are spelling mistakes. And this is after me checking it like a thousand times. It really gets me down and I know it shouldn't but like the guy is saying they will just see that spelling mistake and count you out straight away.
What annoys me also is the fact that spell checker is also stupid and doesn't realise when you put the wrong word in...
oh dear! devil might be in the detail but you also need to be switched on enough to get the joke/job! I am assuming that YOU are joking.... if not then I we are all cringing for you!! haha :)
I have been applying for jobs via internet only. I do not follow up with the agencies as it satates at the bottom of the page that due to high volume of applicants if we do not hear from them in next 5 days then assume that your application has not been successful. I do not understand why I do not even get called by agencies ( when I started looking for job they all called me and took my details and I do nto hear from them since ). I have actually looked at my CV and tripple checked for any errors or oddities but do nto understand why?
This is certainly an important point and I have been appalled so many a time at the poor level of literacy around me --and often enough, the recruiters themselves fall into the trap wide open! BUT it is not enough to explain the difference between interviewed and ignored. Trust me, spelling/grammar are my very strong point, my CV is checked and so are any letters I send out, and yet I have now been unemployed over 7 months with only 3 interviews in total, and all in the first 3 months...
Nathalie
I hope the errors in the first sentence of the second paragraph were also intentional.
Statuess,
Thank goodness some people get the joke. Some mistakes can be immediately obvious, others a little more "sutell".
That is a very good point Geoff Reen, about some employers not being able to spell!
I cant believe the number of people who didn't get the joke! Of course the spelling errors were deliberate - you bunch of wallies!!!!!!!!!!
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