Eighty-two percent of employees polled said they’d be prepared, yet only 20 percent had updated their resumes in the last three months. Forty-four percent hadn’t revised their documents in more than a year.

If you suddenly needed to look for a new position, would you be equipped to do so? Get a personalized assessment and preparation tips by using the “Job-Hunt Readiness Evaluator” from Robert Half International and Upwardly Mobile, Inc. The new online tool can be found at www.rhi.com/jobhuntreadiness.

Another survey from Robert Half International further underscores the importance of having an up-to-date, succinct and error-free resume. Executives now take six minutes, on average, to evaluate each resume they receive, according to the survey. Given the glut of applications that hiring managers receive today, six minutes (6.4 to be exact) is a significant time investment.

Concerned about costly hiring mistakes, busy employers are going over resumes with a fine-tooth comb to ensure that they select only the most qualified applicants to interview. Put simply, one typo can damage your chances. Guard against errors with these proofreading strategies:

Use spell-check — as a starting point. Spell-check is great, but don’t rely on a computer program to do all your proofreading for you. It won’t catch every type of error, such as words that are spelled correctly but misused or misplaced.

Print it. Proofread your resume both on screen and on paper. It’s easier to catch typos on a printed page than a monitor.

Edit line by line. Take a tip from professional proofreaders who frequently read each sentence in a document backwards to force them to zero in on each word. Also, some conscientious candidates proofread with a ruler in hand to focus on individual sentences or bullet points.

Ask for help. As an added safeguard, request assistance from a trusted (and detail-oriented) friend, relative or member of your professional network. A fresh pair of eyes will often find mistakes or inconsistencies you inadvertently overlooked.

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