Job searching can be a stressful experience. You’ve got to make sure your resume is polished, you need some good cover letters, and of course, there’s the interview where you’ll have to sell yourself as well as possible in under five minutes.
But what if you make a typo on one of these important documents? Is it that big of a deal? Should you even care about typos at all? Well, let’s take a closer look at how bad it is to have mistakes on your resume or cover letter.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Even small typos in your cover letter can have a negative impact on your job prospects. |
| Proofread your cover letter carefully and ask someone else to review it as well. |
| Consider using a tool like Grammarly to catch errors and improve your writing. |
| Tailor your cover letter to the specific job and employer to maximize your chances of success. |
| If you do make a mistake in your cover letter, take steps to correct it as soon as possible. |
How Do You Spot A Typo In Your Job Application?
It’s a good idea to read the job description, ad, and application instructions word for word before starting on any cover letter. This will give you a clear idea of what the employer is looking for in terms of written communication. Make sure that your cover letter matches these guidelines as closely as possible.
But if you’re like me and have an attention span that can only be described as “a leaf in the wind,” then here are some tips for checking for typos:
Read each line out loud before typing it into your computer (this helps spot awkward phrasing).
Print out both your resume and cover letter so that they don’t look too long on paper (this helps prevent eye strain).
Proofread again after printing out both documents so that there won’t be any confusion about what information goes where during subsequent edits or reprints (this is important because most computers don’t come with spell check options).
Crafting a compelling cover letter is one of the most important steps in landing your dream job. As our guide on how a cover letter can help you get your desired job explains, a well-written cover letter can set you apart from other applicants and showcase your unique qualifications.
Is A Typo On A Resume Bad?
A typo on a resume is not a deal breaker. A typo on a resume is not a reason to not hire someone, or get a second interview with that person. It’s also not something that should prevent you from getting an offer if you’re the best candidate for the job.
A mistake like this can be difficult to forgive and forget, especially if it’s glaringly obvious (like if you forgot to capitalize one of your words). But as long as there isn’t more than one error, employers will often overlook them and focus more on whether or not they think you’d be able to do the job well.
What Is The Effect Of Making Typos In An Email To A Future Employer?
Typos in an email to a future employer can hurt your candidacy.
As we all know, typos are not the only way to make mistakes while writing. Many other errors could be considered careless and/or disrespectful of someone’s time, as well as distract from the message you’re trying to convey. For example:
Misspelled words (even if you think it’s just a minor spelling mistake) can be interpreted as a lack of attention to detail and professionalism;
Poor grammar skills make it seem like you didn’t care enough about your work or education;
Using lazy language (“u” instead of “you,” for example) can come across as unprofessional or disrespectful and certainly suggests that English isn’t your first language;
Will It Hurt Me To Send An Email With A Typo To A Potential Employer?
It depends on the context, of course. A typo in a cover letter could be just fine even good! if the rest of your application is strong and it’s clear that you’re still a great candidate for the position.
On the other hand, if your cover letter contains typos or errors that show up as part of an industry-specific phrase (e.g., “I was responsible for having all our products listed on Google”), then it might not be as easy for someone to overlook them as they might be if it were just a simple spelling error or missing comma.
If you make a mistake in either scenario (it doesn’t matter which), don’t fret too much about it; simply go back and proofread again before sending off your email or submitting your application materials through an online form like Monster’s CareerBuilder account.
A cover letter is your chance to make a great first impression with potential employers. In our career advice on how a cover letter is written, we offer tips and best practices for creating a professional and engaging cover letter that highlights your strengths and accomplishments.
Do Employers Care About Typos In Cover Letters?
It would be naive to say that typos don’t matter. If you’re applying for a job, and you make a typo in your cover letter, there’s a good chance it will be noticed and if it is noticed, there’s also a good chance that the person reading your application will draw some conclusions about your character from this sign of sloppiness.
It could mean that they’ll decide not to hire you because they don’t think they can trust someone who is so careless and makes careless mistakes at work. Or it might mean something simpler: the employer will just think less of them as a person if their cover letter includes typos!
In addition to this being an unfriendly message on its own merits (you should take pride in everything you do), making typos in your cover letters may also indicate that English isn’t your first language (it probably won’t matter too much if it is).
This might not seem like such an issue when considering yourself as an applicant but imagine how much more difficult things would get if employers become aware of this fact later down the line during interviews or other types of communication.
How Bad Is It To Have A Typo In A Cover Letter?
How bad is it to have a typo in a cover letter? It depends on the typo. If it’s simple, like when you accidentally type “you’re” instead of “you’re,” then it’s not too bad.
But if you write “you’re” instead of “your,” then that’s more complicated and could hurt your chances of getting hired because employers are busy and don’t want to deal with people who aren’t careful when they write.
Is It A Bad Idea To Send A Second Copy Of My Resume With The Corrected Errors After My First Attempt Had Multiple Typos On It?
Sure, there are plenty of reasons why it is a bad idea to send a second copy of your resume with the corrected errors after your first attempt had multiple typos on it. But here’s the thing: it’s also not a good idea to send in a cover letter that has typos in it.
Creating a standout cover letter requires careful attention to detail and a thorough understanding of what employers are looking for. Our career advice on how a cover letter should be provides a step-by-step guide for crafting a well-written and effective cover letter that showcases your skills and experience.
Should I Throw Away My Resume If I Made A Mistake On It?
If you make a mistake on your resume, don’t throw it away. Just correct the mistake and be on your way.
You can’t send a typo-free resume to potential employers if you’re worried about getting called out for making a mistake and there’s no need to worry about being called out anyway!
As long as you’re human and make typos sometimes, it’s not like an employer is going to reject someone who made an honest mistake in their cover letter or CV because they didn’t edit their document thoroughly enough.
They’ll probably just think “well, this person is more likely than others to have made other mistakes too,” which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
An effective cover letter can make all the difference in your job search. Our career advice on how an effective cover letter can affect an applicant’s chances of getting a job explains how a strong cover letter can help you stand out from other candidates and secure the position you want.
The Answer Depends On The Circumstances Surrounding The Typo
The answer depends on the circumstances surrounding the typo. If you’re sending a cover letter with your resume, and one of your cover letters contains a typo, that’s not great.
But it doesn’t mean that you should just throw away your whole application—or even all of your resumes or cover letters if there are multiple ones with typos.
Similarly, if you’re applying for a job online and you make a typo in the application form (e.g., misspelling “typo”), no one will see it except for other applicants who might go out of their way to look at other people’s applications and report them as spammy or fake accounts (which is another thing we’ll talk about later).
It doesn’t mean that anyone else saw it either it just means that there was an error somewhere along the line between when someone else reviewed your application and when HR got around to hiring someone else instead of you! That said…
The appearance and formatting of your cover letter can have a big impact on how it’s received by potential employers. Our career advice on how a cover letter should look like provides tips and examples for formatting your cover letter in a way that’s professional and visually appealing, helping you make a great first impression.
Conclusion
The answer depends on the circumstances surrounding the typo. If it’s just a spelling error and nothing else, then no, it’s not a big deal. But if you have multiple errors and typos throughout your application or cover letter? Then yes, it can be a real problem!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources on writing effective cover letters:
Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid – This article from LiveCareer outlines some common mistakes to avoid when writing your cover letter, including typos and grammatical errors.
Do Typos in a Cover Letter Matter? – This post from Career Tool Belt examines the impact of typos in a cover letter and offers some tips for minimizing errors.
You Discovered a Typo in Your Cover Letter: Now What? – This article from eWriteOnline provides guidance on what to do if you discover a mistake in your cover letter.
FAQs
What are the most common cover letter mistakes?
Some of the most common cover letter mistakes include using a generic or overly formal tone, failing to tailor the letter to the specific job or employer, and making spelling or grammatical errors.
How long should a cover letter be?
A cover letter should be concise and to the point, ideally no more than one page in length. However, it’s important to include all relevant information and make a strong case for why you’re the best candidate for the job.
Should I mention my salary expectations in my cover letter?
It’s generally not necessary to mention salary expectations in your cover letter, as this can come across as presumptuous or distract from your qualifications and experience.
Is it okay to use the same cover letter for multiple job applications?
While it can be tempting to use the same cover letter for multiple applications, it’s important to tailor your letter to the specific job and employer to maximize your chances of getting hired.
What should I do if I make a mistake in my cover letter?
If you discover a mistake in your cover letter, take steps to correct it as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of the mistake, this may involve sending a corrected version of the letter or reaching out to the employer directly to explain the error.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
