Survey: A single typo will doom your job search

MENLO PARK
September 6, 2006 7:34am

Ever wonder why you never got that job interview? Could be your resume was tossed as soon as the hiring manager saw the first typo.

The adage "it's not what you say, but how you say it" holds particular weight when it comes to resumes, a recent survey shows.

Eighty-four percent of executives polled said it takes just one or two typographical errors in a resume to remove a candidate from consideration for a job opening; 47 percent said a single typo could be the deciding factor.

Executives were asked, "How many typos in a resume does it take for you to decide not to consider a job candidate for a position with your company?"

Nearly half (47 percent) said it takes just a single typo to toss the resume. Another 37 percent said the resume headed to the rejection pile after two typos.

Only 7 percent would forgive three typos and just 6 percent had no problem with four or more typos.

"Resumes often are a job seeker's first contact with prospective employers," says Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam, the company that paid for the survey. "Candidates who submit application materials with typographical or grammatical errors may be seen as lacking professionalism and attention to detail, and thus spoil their chances for an interview or further consideration."

Ms. Domeyer says that in addition to running a computer spell-check, it is crucial for job seekers to proofread their resumes and ask friends and family members to do the same.

"A fresh pair of eyes can help candidates spot mistakes overlooked by the spell-checking function," she says. "I've often seen simple errors -- such as a job seeker applying for the position of 'office manger' -- derail even the most talented applicants."

The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a unit of Robert Half International (NYSE: RHI) of Menlo Park. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 150 senior executives at the nation's 1,000 largest companies.