Proofreading and checking – Page 2

Open the PDF and try to select and copy some text, then paste it into a plain text editor. If the text pastes correctly, in a sensible order, the PDF is text-based.

Problems to look for:

• Text cannot be selected at all, which usually means it is an image.
• Pasted text comes out in a jumbled order, often due to complex columns.
• Characters change into symbols when pasted.

PDFs downloaded from ResumeBuilder.ae are text-based, with standard headings, so the text can be selected and copied. If you converted your resume from a scanned image, it will not be readable by applicant tracking systems.

No. An ATS-readiness check looks at structure and completeness, such as standard headings and contact details, but it does not prove your writing is correct or persuasive.

Use both:

• The ATS check in ResumeBuilder.ae gives an internal, rule-based estimate out of 100, with its rules shown, so you can see what to fix in structure.
• Proofreading catches typos, wrong facts, unclear sentences and inconsistent formatting.

A resume can be well structured and still contain a wrong phone number or a misspelled company name. The score is not an official employer or ATS vendor score, so always read the final document yourself.

The most common are confusing "its" and "it's", adding apostrophes to plurals, and misplacing them in time phrases.

Check for:

• "Its" (belonging to it) versus "it's" (it is). Resumes rarely need "it's".
• Plurals with no apostrophe: "KPIs", "1990s", "managers", not "KPI's" or "manager's" when you mean more than one.
• "Five years' experience" with the apostrophe after the s, or "one year's experience".
• Company possessives: "the company's revenue", "clients' accounts" for more than one client.

Search your resume for every apostrophe and confirm each one is needed and in the right place.

Run through a short, fixed checklist every time, because the last-minute version is often the one with new mistakes.

Final checklist:

• Name, phone, email and location correct and tested.
• Headline and summary match this job.
• No leftover company names or terms from another application.
• Job titles, employers and dates correct and consistent.
• No typos in headings, names or the first lines of each section.
• No placeholders, brackets or sample text.
• Tense and formatting consistent.
• PDF opens, all pages show, text can be selected.
• File name is clear and professional.
• The employer's instructions, such as format or reference numbers, are followed.

Keeping this list saved means you can check each application in a few minutes, even when you are applying in a hurry.

Yes. Listening to your resume read by your computer or phone helps you notice missing words, repeated words and awkward sentences, because the voice reads exactly what is written.

How to use it:

• Copy your resume text into a document or open the PDF in a reader with a read-aloud feature.
• Follow along on screen as it reads.
• Pause and fix anything that sounds wrong or unclear.

It is especially useful if English is your second language or if you have already read the text many times. Note that it will not catch every spelling error in names or numbers, so do a visual check too.

It depends on the reader and the role, but it rarely helps. Some readers ignore a minor slip; others see it as a sign of carelessness, especially for jobs that need attention to detail, such as finance, legal, administration or writing roles.

Where errors matter most:

• Your name, contact details and headings.
• Company names and job titles.
• The summary, which is read first.
• Jobs where accuracy is a core requirement.

There is no reliable rule about how many errors are tolerated, so aim for none. If you find a typo after sending, fix it for future applications; resend only if it affects facts or contact details.

Ask a fluent, ideally native, reader of that language to check it, and review the final PDF carefully for layout. Spell-checkers and grammar tools may be weaker in some languages.

Checks for non-English resumes:

• Correct spelling and grammar in that language.
• Professional terms that match how they are used in your industry and country.
• Consistent numbers and date formats.
• Right-to-left layout for Arabic, with numbers, dates and English terms displayed correctly.
• Names and qualifications matching your official documents.

In ResumeBuilder.ae, you choose the resume language on the Design tab, and Arabic is laid out right to left. Always check the preview and the final PDF.

Ask a non-specialist to read it and tell you what you do and what you achieved. The first reader of your resume may be a recruiter or HR person, not an expert.

Check for:

• Abbreviations they did not understand.
• Internal project names or system names.
• Bullets where they could not say what the result was.
• A summary that does not clearly state your role and level.

If they struggle, add brief explanations or replace jargon with standard terms. Keep the technical detail that a specialist hiring manager will look for, but make the main message clear to anyone.

Yes, as a helper, but check every change it suggests. AI tools are good at spotting grammar and spelling problems, but they can also change your meaning, add claims or remove useful detail.

Safe approach:

• Ask the tool to point out errors, not to rewrite the whole resume.
• Compare each suggestion with your original.
• Reject changes that alter facts, numbers, titles or the level of your role.
• Remove personal contact details before pasting text into an online tool.

After using the tool, do a final human read. You are responsible for every word on the resume.

Test each link exactly as it appears on the final PDF, both by clicking it and by typing it into a browser. A reader may do either.

Check:

• The address is spelled correctly and opens the right page.
• Your profile or portfolio is public or viewable by people without an account, if intended.
• The page is up to date and matches your resume.
• Long links are shortened in a clean way, such as a custom LinkedIn address.

Do this again shortly before sending, because profile settings or websites can change. A broken link is a small mistake, but it can stop a reader from seeing your best work.

Look at the whole page as a picture, zoomed out, before reading any words. Layout problems are easier to see this way.

Check for:

• Uneven spacing between sections or entries.
• Bullets or dates that are not aligned.
• A heading left alone at the bottom of a page, with its content on the next page.
• One or two lines on an otherwise empty last page.
• Text that looks crowded or too small.
• Inconsistent bold, italics or font sizes.

Fix these in the editor and check the PDF again. A neat, balanced page makes a good first impression before anyone reads a word.

Do both. Read the whole resume once for flow and overall message, then check section by section for detailed errors. Each approach catches different problems.

Whole-resume read:

• Does the story make sense from top to bottom?
• Is the most important information easy to find?

Section-by-section checks:

• Contact details: every character correct.
• Experience: titles, employers, dates, tense and bullet grammar.
• Education and certifications: names and years match documents.
• Skills: spelling of tools and consistent naming.

Breaking the work up also makes it less tiring, which helps you stay alert to small mistakes.

Read only the first word of each bullet from top to bottom, then use your word processor's search to count common words. Repetition is easy to miss when reading normally.

Common repeats:

• "Managed", "responsible", "handled" and "worked" at the start of bullets.
• "Team" or "successfully" in many bullets.
• The same skill named many times.

When you find a word repeated four or five times, vary some uses or rewrite bullets to focus on the result. Some repetition of key terms is fine, but a varied resume reads more naturally and shows a wider range of experience.

Keep your resume open while filling in the form, and copy key facts directly from it. Afterwards, compare the two for titles, employers, dates and qualifications.

Common mismatches:

• Different start or end months for a job.
• Highest qualification listed differently.
• Job titles shortened or changed on the form.
• Different phone number or email address.

Employers may compare the two, and differences can look like inaccuracy even when they are innocent. If the form asks for more detail than your resume, such as exact salary history or full addresses, make sure the facts you give still agree with your resume.

Give it to someone for a short glance, take it away, and ask what they remember. If they cannot name your role, level and one or two strengths, the top of your resume needs work.

What to adjust if the test fails:

• Make your headline and summary state your role and level clearly.
• Move your strongest result higher.
• Remove clutter near the top, such as long objective statements.
• Make section headings standard and easy to find.

You can also do this yourself after a break: look at the page briefly and note what stands out first. That is usually what a busy reader will notice too.

Go through each entry and confirm it has every basic detail a reader expects. Missing pieces are easy to overlook because you already know the answers.

For each job, check:

• Job title, employer, location and dates.
• At least one or two bullets for relevant roles.

For education and certifications, check:

• Qualification name, institution and year, or "Expected" date.

For the resume overall, check:

• Name, phone, email and city or country.
• A summary that names your role.
• Skills that match the posting.

The builder's checklist before payment flags missing contact details, but the rest of the completeness check is up to you.