Spelling errors on your CV will cost you that job!
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Spelling errors on your CV will cost you that job!
From The Times today:
So, boys and girls, perhaps you'll forgive me when I have a go at you about your poor English occasionally?
Scroggs
Graduates spoil job chances with spelling mistakes
By Helen Nugent
NINE out of ten graduates are turned down for a job because their CVs are full of errors of spelling and grammar, according to a study released today.
Graduates and final-year students who are willing to get into debt by up to £21,000 in order to study at university are ill-equipped to get a job that will enable them to pay off their loans, Lewis, a public relations and marketing company, has found. It analysed more than 1,000 applications from undergraduates and graduates seeking trainee positions. More than 90 per cent of applicants had disqualified themselves before the end of the first page of the CV.
The worst application contained 17 spelling mistakes in the covering letter. Other graduates and students addressed their letters to the wrong person or referred to the wrong job.
Toni Castle, human resources director at Lewis, said: “In many ways the best educated people in this country are also the greenest when they leave higher education.”
In an effort to capture the attention of a potential employer, many applicants had tried too hard, Lewis found. One graduate wrote: “I exist! I live! Seize me!” Another had burnt the edges of the CV, saying “As you can see from the singe marks on my application, I’m red hot.”
Lewis receives about 100 CVs each week, but contacts only a handful of applicants.
Even those selected for interview rarely secure a job. The survey found that many graduates had done little or no research into their chosen company. Miss Castle said: “This week a Swedish applicant demonstrated a better understanding of the UK media than his UK counterpart by knowing facts such as the differences in readership of The Times and other national newspapers.”
The poor standard of graduates attempting to enter the workforce will come as a blow to the Government, which wants to get 50 per cent of young people into higher education by 2010. The survey’s findings also undermine government assertions that degree-holders receive better pay later in life: ministers say that over their working lives graduates stand to earn £400,000 more than workers who did not attend university.
Lewis says that falling standards in graduate literacy also cast doubt on plans to increase tuition fees to £3,000 a year from 2006. Margaret Hodge, the Higher Education Minister, has said that increased student debt is justified by graduates’ higher incomes.
“On our evidence students are needlessly acquiring debt at university,” Miss Castle said. “They’re simply not acquiring the skills worthy of a job that will enable them to pay off their loans.”
Chris Lewis, the founder of Lewis, added: “The falling standard of literacy is a most alarming development. In an age of increased course fees, this needs to be urgently addressed. How else can you explain this introduction from an arts graduate: ‘I’m looking for a career in pubic relations.’ ”
A spokeswoman for the Department for Education and Skills said: “Going to university is a shrewd investment for young people to make. The UK is renowned for the quality of higher education.”
Typical "attenion to detail"
“My name is: ____________, today’s date: xx xx 2002”
“I have ... a passion for people and money.”
“Address: ... East Grinsread (sic). “Skills: Attenion to detail.”
“I no you are probably really busy ... but I am looking to get a job in the PR industry ... I have just completed at GNVQ in Media and Communication. To succeed on the course I found it was essential to poses good communication skills ... i have a grat grounding to work within an office environment.”
“My life doesn’t just consist of fun and games, I do a little work as well. Have a look at my timetable. But that’s only when I’m not partying!"
“Excuse me, but I was surfing the internet when I have seen something strange on the web. I want to join you."
“Those who believe, naively (don’t you just hate the way computers don’t allow you to type umlauts), nudge, nudge, wink, wink ...”
“I poses a basic understanding of French ... to maximise to achieve the maximum given tight deadlines in a organised manor. I have a grate passion to persue a career in marketing ... the type of carer I would like to pursue ...”
“As you can see from the singe marks on my application, I’m red hot.”
By Helen Nugent
NINE out of ten graduates are turned down for a job because their CVs are full of errors of spelling and grammar, according to a study released today.
Graduates and final-year students who are willing to get into debt by up to £21,000 in order to study at university are ill-equipped to get a job that will enable them to pay off their loans, Lewis, a public relations and marketing company, has found. It analysed more than 1,000 applications from undergraduates and graduates seeking trainee positions. More than 90 per cent of applicants had disqualified themselves before the end of the first page of the CV.
The worst application contained 17 spelling mistakes in the covering letter. Other graduates and students addressed their letters to the wrong person or referred to the wrong job.
Toni Castle, human resources director at Lewis, said: “In many ways the best educated people in this country are also the greenest when they leave higher education.”
In an effort to capture the attention of a potential employer, many applicants had tried too hard, Lewis found. One graduate wrote: “I exist! I live! Seize me!” Another had burnt the edges of the CV, saying “As you can see from the singe marks on my application, I’m red hot.”
Lewis receives about 100 CVs each week, but contacts only a handful of applicants.
Even those selected for interview rarely secure a job. The survey found that many graduates had done little or no research into their chosen company. Miss Castle said: “This week a Swedish applicant demonstrated a better understanding of the UK media than his UK counterpart by knowing facts such as the differences in readership of The Times and other national newspapers.”
The poor standard of graduates attempting to enter the workforce will come as a blow to the Government, which wants to get 50 per cent of young people into higher education by 2010. The survey’s findings also undermine government assertions that degree-holders receive better pay later in life: ministers say that over their working lives graduates stand to earn £400,000 more than workers who did not attend university.
Lewis says that falling standards in graduate literacy also cast doubt on plans to increase tuition fees to £3,000 a year from 2006. Margaret Hodge, the Higher Education Minister, has said that increased student debt is justified by graduates’ higher incomes.
“On our evidence students are needlessly acquiring debt at university,” Miss Castle said. “They’re simply not acquiring the skills worthy of a job that will enable them to pay off their loans.”
Chris Lewis, the founder of Lewis, added: “The falling standard of literacy is a most alarming development. In an age of increased course fees, this needs to be urgently addressed. How else can you explain this introduction from an arts graduate: ‘I’m looking for a career in pubic relations.’ ”
A spokeswoman for the Department for Education and Skills said: “Going to university is a shrewd investment for young people to make. The UK is renowned for the quality of higher education.”
Typical "attenion to detail"
“My name is: ____________, today’s date: xx xx 2002”
“I have ... a passion for people and money.”
“Address: ... East Grinsread (sic). “Skills: Attenion to detail.”
“I no you are probably really busy ... but I am looking to get a job in the PR industry ... I have just completed at GNVQ in Media and Communication. To succeed on the course I found it was essential to poses good communication skills ... i have a grat grounding to work within an office environment.”
“My life doesn’t just consist of fun and games, I do a little work as well. Have a look at my timetable. But that’s only when I’m not partying!"
“Excuse me, but I was surfing the internet when I have seen something strange on the web. I want to join you."
“Those who believe, naively (don’t you just hate the way computers don’t allow you to type umlauts), nudge, nudge, wink, wink ...”
“I poses a basic understanding of French ... to maximise to achieve the maximum given tight deadlines in a organised manor. I have a grate passion to persue a career in marketing ... the type of carer I would like to pursue ...”
“As you can see from the singe marks on my application, I’m red hot.”
Scroggs
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Literacy or manners?
Scroggs
I have sent out 147 CV's. I can assure you that there are no typographical, grammatical or any other types of errors in any of my applications.
Guess how many replies I have received.
Two. From Air2000. On the same day, in different envelopes, in response to the same application.
I have started sending out SAEs, I am about to start sending "PFO" letters with suitable spaces to personalise them a bit.
I try to be polite, I try to save them money, but they don't even have the decency to respond when I cover the costs.
I appreciate your point of view, but, as my mum taught me, good manners cost nothing.
I agree, wholeheartedly, that basic grammatical rules should be adherred to, but lay off us for a while please, "us wannabees" are not the only ones at fault in this industry.
I have sent out 147 CV's. I can assure you that there are no typographical, grammatical or any other types of errors in any of my applications.
Guess how many replies I have received.
Two. From Air2000. On the same day, in different envelopes, in response to the same application.
I have started sending out SAEs, I am about to start sending "PFO" letters with suitable spaces to personalise them a bit.
I try to be polite, I try to save them money, but they don't even have the decency to respond when I cover the costs.
I appreciate your point of view, but, as my mum taught me, good manners cost nothing.
I agree, wholeheartedly, that basic grammatical rules should be adherred to, but lay off us for a while please, "us wannabees" are not the only ones at fault in this industry.
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In modern Britain remember that you can get an A grade in GCSE english just for getting your name right.
Exam standards are definately far lower now than the old O level days.
Everyone's got to be equal haven't they socialist government ?
Exam standards are definately far lower now than the old O level days.
Everyone's got to be equal haven't they socialist government ?
High Flying Bird
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Well said Scroggs. But look who we have as mentors - I was reading a paper published by my supervisor recently and that had a number of spelling mistakes and punctuation errors. Not only had he missed them, but the referees for publication and the editor.
I don't think we can say that now we're in the days of spell-checkers on our PCs we have it easy either. Word has a number of errors in its English dictionary, including liason rather than liaison.
However, the figures given by Lewis mean the 10% of us who know how to use a dictionary have a head start. Well, if we want to work for them... There must be some kind of correlation between the type of work you're applying for and the ability to use English.
I don't think we can say that now we're in the days of spell-checkers on our PCs we have it easy either. Word has a number of errors in its English dictionary, including liason rather than liaison.
However, the figures given by Lewis mean the 10% of us who know how to use a dictionary have a head start. Well, if we want to work for them... There must be some kind of correlation between the type of work you're applying for and the ability to use English.
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Grass strip - That has to have been intentional, surely!
Scroggs - I agree totally that bad grammar/spelling should be an automatic rejection. I think pointing out mistakes on a message board is harsh as typos and mistakes are easy when working quickly.
However, as bh says bad grammar may be rejected but even perfect letters and CVs (even combined with good JARs and a first time IR) are not getting sniffed at these days.
WDJ
sorry - managed to put a wannabe moan in a perfectly good thread. You are, of course, correct bad spelling is asking for trouble.
Scroggs - I agree totally that bad grammar/spelling should be an automatic rejection. I think pointing out mistakes on a message board is harsh as typos and mistakes are easy when working quickly.
However, as bh says bad grammar may be rejected but even perfect letters and CVs (even combined with good JARs and a first time IR) are not getting sniffed at these days.
WDJ
sorry - managed to put a wannabe moan in a perfectly good thread. You are, of course, correct bad spelling is asking for trouble.
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Fair point on the spelling/grammar front. Not the best advert for yourself.
However, I still think the burnt CV was rather original and funny - might give it a try sometime, but with an aviation twist. They've already all said no, so what have I got to lose - somebody somewhere must have a sense of humour.
However, I still think the burnt CV was rather original and funny - might give it a try sometime, but with an aviation twist. They've already all said no, so what have I got to lose - somebody somewhere must have a sense of humour.
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White Knight - Don't get me started on lowering exam standards. I once had to interview a girl to work as a secretary, on her application form she wrote about how she would be "greatfull" for an "oppertunity" to work for us. Throughout the interview she kept saying "anythinK" and "nothinK". To my boss' immense amusement she had achieved a better English GCSE grade than I had!! (a B, I got a C). I appreciate that it was probably easier when I took it (1994) than in previous years, but this was quite worrying.
You are probably wondering why we interviewed her if her application form was so bad... because it was just about the best one we received!!
The recruitment guy at bmi once told me he had received a teddy bear holding an applicants CV! Also, one day a large box appeared by courier, when opened out floated a helium balloon with CV attached to the bottom!
Please don't resort to this, no matter how desperate.
WDJ
You are probably wondering why we interviewed her if her application form was so bad... because it was just about the best one we received!!
The recruitment guy at bmi once told me he had received a teddy bear holding an applicants CV! Also, one day a large box appeared by courier, when opened out floated a helium balloon with CV attached to the bottom!
Please don't resort to this, no matter how desperate.
WDJ
I used to work with someone who also used the word somefink a lot. Claimed to have an 'O' Level in Geography, only to say: "I spose the distance from London to Cornwall is about the same as Hollywood to Buenos Aires"
Yikes.
Yikes.
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We once received a complaint letter where I used to work stating "All your staff are thick, they can't even spell properley!" and another one complaining about an excursion called Go Greke!
I don't think that bad grammar is a reflection on exam standards as I have known people of all ages make really basic mistakes. I think that one of the biggest problems is laziness and people not taking the time to check through what they have written.
I don't think that bad grammar is a reflection on exam standards as I have known people of all ages make really basic mistakes. I think that one of the biggest problems is laziness and people not taking the time to check through what they have written.
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If the problem with poor spelling and grammar is as widespread as everyone says, how do you suppose the people reading the poorly-written CVs actually know they're poorly-written?
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Haha, I like the helium balloon with CV attached idea.
Actually, I would imagine that would go down quite well if the CV was properly put together and the applicant was after a marketing job for instance.
Actually, I would imagine that would go down quite well if the CV was properly put together and the applicant was after a marketing job for instance.
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Q- Employ the chap/chapess wiith the best grammatically compiled CV, or the one with best qualifications.
A- :confused
Drat and double –drat, spelling error (wiith) never mind it won’t get read anyway.
A- :confused
Drat and double –drat, spelling error (wiith) never mind it won’t get read anyway.
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I receive a great many e-mails and private messages from wannabes, not to mention posts within this forum, many of them asking what it is they have to do to get a job. As the Times' article suggests, the first, and arguably most important, thing is to make sure your communication is legible and readable. Communicating by computer takes care of the legibility, unfortunately the readability is less certain. I could present you with many examples of unreadable and illiterate English sent to me by British-national students who are hoping to impress me both with their enthusiasm and with their written description of themselves.
I'm well aware that the vast majority of you understand how important the impression you give through your written presentations is. Too many, though, still think that criticism of their written English is somehow unfair or unsporting, and bears little relationship to the requirements of the job they're applying for.
Well, now you have an authoritative view on the subject. Ignore it at your peril!
Scroggs
I'm well aware that the vast majority of you understand how important the impression you give through your written presentations is. Too many, though, still think that criticism of their written English is somehow unfair or unsporting, and bears little relationship to the requirements of the job they're applying for.
Well, now you have an authoritative view on the subject. Ignore it at your peril!
Scroggs
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I'm not sure I'm in the right forum here, but I have just been looking at the Malgus website, and it was full of spelling mistakes, even on the page that describes what Malgus is!
I know that it is of the utmost importance for applicants to impress potential employers/sponsors with their grammatical accuracy/competence, but I was seriously shocked that a serious company (like I assume Malgus to be) can let these glaring mistakes occur! It just screams warning signs to me...
I know that it is of the utmost importance for applicants to impress potential employers/sponsors with their grammatical accuracy/competence, but I was seriously shocked that a serious company (like I assume Malgus to be) can let these glaring mistakes occur! It just screams warning signs to me...
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So when "The Times" talk about drunk pilots in charge of aircraft we are to ignore them, or slate them for sensationalism. But when they talk about poor spelling and grammar we are to hang on their every word?
"Consistency is not a dirty word, Blackadder. Crevice is a dirty word."
"Consistency is not a dirty word, Blackadder. Crevice is a dirty word."
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Your post is pointless, benhurr. The issue of the BA pilot was about a subject that neither the media nor the majority of its audience had sufficient knowledge to discriminate truth from hyberbole. Conversely, the issue of the use of good English in applications is broadly understood by the majority of educated people; the article's main use here was to highlight the surprising proportion of degree-qualified applicants that fail to progress because their use of the English language is inadequate.
If you wish to ignore this article's central points, and risk rejection for the sake of some detailed proof-reading of your submissions, then go ahead. It's no skin off my nose! But don't suggest to others that this article is incorrect or misleading; that would be disengenuous in the extreme.
Scroggs
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If you wish to ignore this article's central points, and risk rejection for the sake of some detailed proof-reading of your submissions, then go ahead. It's no skin off my nose! But don't suggest to others that this article is incorrect or misleading; that would be disengenuous in the extreme.
Scroggs
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Scroggs
My point actually was, granted I didn't put it across particularly well, that people who have passed their JAA examinations surely have the intelligence to understand that making such basic errors as those highlighted, might hinder their chances of employment.
Yes my post might well have been pointless, but there again, I can spell irrelevant.
Although, I hope that you understand that there is a certain amount of tongue in my cheek during this response, I do wonder on the literacy of some of the people who are judging my applications. Would I get binned for spelling disingenuous correctly if you were the person proof reading my application?
My point actually was, granted I didn't put it across particularly well, that people who have passed their JAA examinations surely have the intelligence to understand that making such basic errors as those highlighted, might hinder their chances of employment.
Yes my post might well have been pointless, but there again, I can spell irrelevant.
Although, I hope that you understand that there is a certain amount of tongue in my cheek during this response, I do wonder on the literacy of some of the people who are judging my applications. Would I get binned for spelling disingenuous correctly if you were the person proof reading my application?
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The problem is that kids these days (yes, I know I sound cliched) are not encouraged to read books any more. Even when I was a child it wasn't that common, but is now becoming even less so due to other distractions such as TV and computer games. No I don't have anything against TV and computer games, I just wish kids were encouraged to indulge in reading as well (and don't even get me started on physical activity).
People do not learn to spell at university, or even at school (apart from a basic vocabulary). They learn to spell from reading lots of examples of their written language. My ex-husband, who is a couple of years younger than me, confessed to me when we were living together that he couldn't remember reading a single novel as a child. I persuaded him to start reading, but it would take him months to read a novel as he was so unpractised his reading was extremely slow. Needless to say, his spelling was terrible. He had a university education, and was by no means thick. The problem is with society not just with the education system.
OK, rant over,
T'Bird
People do not learn to spell at university, or even at school (apart from a basic vocabulary). They learn to spell from reading lots of examples of their written language. My ex-husband, who is a couple of years younger than me, confessed to me when we were living together that he couldn't remember reading a single novel as a child. I persuaded him to start reading, but it would take him months to read a novel as he was so unpractised his reading was extremely slow. Needless to say, his spelling was terrible. He had a university education, and was by no means thick. The problem is with society not just with the education system.
OK, rant over,
T'Bird