Meet Lauri: Our Amazing Proofreader
Our resumes are independently proofread immediately before the final document is delivered. It’s important to have a fresh set of eyes; someone who has not previously seen the resume. Lauri is our amazing proofreader. She is in charge of quality control and she catches almost everything. But remember, we are still human.
What’s your background?
I attended college to be a teacher, graduating summa cum laude and inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. After my career in teaching I was an editorial assistant for Golf Digest magazine, working as a proofreader and interfacing directly with writers and editors. With an international audience reading their publication, they had high expectations. Since then, everywhere I’ve worked I’ve caught mistakes. Because of that I’m constantly being asked to review materials, from letters written by company presidents to policy and procedures manuals.
How exactly do you go about proofreading a resume?
Some people have a natural ability to catch errors just by looking at a page of writing. I’m one of them and have always been that way. Even when I read a published books and novels, any mistake jumps out and bites me! I guess that’s a by-product of being a perfectionist. I’m an expert on rules of grammar, punctuation, subject and verb agreement, etc. And I love it!
What’s your pet peeve?
I’m amazed at the number of fonts, colors and tables jobseekers use as a way to catch someone’s eye. It makes their resumes really busy, distracting, and sometimes hard to read – the opposite of what they want to achieve. Many people don’t understand know how to consistently format their work. These resumes are the hardest to edit.
Do you have a great proofreading tip?
My best tip is “just do it”. It’s amazing how many people don’t. Whether it’s a resume, an email, or a thank you note you have to read over what you are sending! It’s one thing when you’re sending a text message, but anything that is going to someone you care about or need to impress should be read at least one more time again.
What resources do you use when you’re unsure about a word or punctuation?
I check the Internet. Many resumes I proofread are industry specific and contain technical words, so any time a company, society, group, association, school, etc. or even a word I don’t recognize is listed, I check for spelling and usage.
Why do you think The Resume Sage resumes are so powerful?
There is boldness and confidence in the writing. I think that’s because they are such great interviewers. David Pinkley is the best interviewer I’ve ever met. He digs deep to get to the essence of who someone is and what they are best at doing. After my own interview, I felt he knew more about me than some of my best friends do. He also has spent so many years as a headhunter, he is able to tailor resumes to catch the attention of the most discerning and demanding recruiters and executives.
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Where did you learn to write such powerful resumes?