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Original poster

Woud you reject a job application due to incorrect line spacing in a couple of typos?

129 replies

tigermoth · 23/05/2007 19:15

I am just curious to know as this has just happened to me.

I applied for a post with a public sector organisation in Exeter. The post was in the marketing and communications field. I know my background fitted the requirements of the post very well.

The person spec was a long one so my answer ran into four or five pages. I checked my text thoroughly (a lot more thoroughly than I check my posts on mumsnet!) and of cause I did a spell check. It took me over a day to write the supporting statement and I know it read well.

I was not shortlisted for interview, and when I emailed to ask for feedback I was told that my application was rejected at the very first hurdle because I had 'a missing paragraph space' between two paragraphs and on page one I had mis-spelled Exeter as Exert.

The email goes on to say 'Had
the application been accurate you would have been a strong candidate. I cannot say you would definately have been shortlisted as we did have a very strong field and it would have been a panel decision. However I
can say that I think your application responded well to the criteria we
set'

Oh well, you live and learn I guess. Next time I will have to be more careful when I run a computer spell check and ensure place name words like 'Exeter' do not get bastardised, not even the once.

I have just checked the form on screen and can see no evidence of lack of spacing between two paragraphs. I can only assume this happened when it was printed out.

It was not the be all and end all of jobs and I won't dwell on what might have been.
But still, I am pretty amazed at this feedback. I understand that in communications posts, excellent written skills are a must, but honestly, these were typos!

Also, there was nothing in the application pack to suggest that shortlisting would be dependent on 100% perfect presentation.

I am interested to know if the above is a common reason for rejection - any comments please!

OP posts:
gess · 23/05/2007 19:17

Bloody hell. They must have been really over-subscribed with applicants.

Original poster
tigermoth · 23/05/2007 19:17

As you can see I am in a hurry, hence bad grammar in topic heading (before anyone says anything).

I really and truly wasn't this hasty when I wrote my supporting statement.

OP posts:
zippitippi · 23/05/2007 19:19

oh well imagine what it would have been like working there...tight bottomed

Kathyis6incheshigh · 23/05/2007 19:19

The line-spacing thing seems a bit odd to me but 'Exert' would come across as sloppy.

scatterbrain · 23/05/2007 19:19

Oh bloody hell tigermoth - that's extremely picky of them !

I didn't get an interview for a job I was a very strong candidate for a few weeks ago - they refused to give me feedback on why - but I spotted a typo in my online application - and a few words had dropped off the end - so I wonder whether I have been similarly treated !

It's obviously a buyers market !!

gess · 23/05/2007 19:20

I just applied for something and only spotted the typos when I printed it out just before sending (tiny font). Wondering if I missed anymore now......

Twiglett · 23/05/2007 19:23

Yes I would have

Particularly as you were applying for a marketing post where attention to detail was crucial

In my company we used to reject any application that did not look right so spelling errors and layout errors would typos that had not been picked up by applicant would have made you fall at the first hurdle too

Twiglett · 23/05/2007 19:24

In Marketing roles it is essential to have a great eye for detail I'm afraid

raspberryberet · 23/05/2007 19:24

I once worked for a Human Resources Manager who routinely rejected CVs which were badly spelled or which contained typos. He felt that if someone didn't take the time and care to read and check such an important document as a CV before sending it in, they wouldn't take the time and care needed in a job ... in any job. It didn't matter how good their qualifications or how perfectly they fitted the job description, he simply felt that it showed a sloppy attitude. He would have had a field-day with someone who got their own town wrong!

(Not saying that you have a sloppy attitude, though - just giving a possible reason why your CV may have been rejected).

Twiglett · 23/05/2007 19:24

and I haven't worked for almost 5 years so its nothing new

Desiderata · 23/05/2007 19:27

Yes, tough call as you'd spent so long on it, but I would reject an application on those grounds.

gess · 23/05/2007 19:27

We used to reject anyone who sent an application to "the principle" rather than "principal". God there were loads!

ScummiMummi · 23/05/2007 19:28

Oh bad luck, tigermoth. Sounds very harsh to me. I guess they just pick on any tiny thing if there is a surplus of applicants. I hope something even better will come along for you soon.

Mrbatters · 23/05/2007 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CountessDracula · 23/05/2007 19:36

Sorry I would have binned your application too

I once binned a cv based on the fact that the person had put "snack making" under their hobbies.

Twiglett · 23/05/2007 19:37

sorry Mrbatters I strongly disagree which is why it is so very important to check print-out, recheck, sleep on it and check again (at least one of those reading backwards to pick up typos)

if you don't present yourself in the best possible light then why should the prospective employer believe you would do the job with an attention to detail

there are no 2 ways about it I'm afraid .. and if I returned to work tomorrow I would immediately reject a similar cv

belgo · 23/05/2007 19:39

I agree with twiglett.

I don't think it's surprising that you are rejected on this basis, especially considering it was for a marketing and communications position. Like someone else said, accuracy and attention to detail are very important. Live and learn, and don't rely on spell check.

belgo · 23/05/2007 19:41

lol at someone putting 'snack making'

at least they didn't put 'snack eating'!

Original poster
tigermoth · 23/05/2007 19:41

yes, zippi, I did think that. I worked in a similar organisation many years ago and remember people being very picky.

I am so glad I asked for feedback. At least now I know that 101% presentation is a must in future applications.

I try to be careful when I complete a job application and always run a spell check, but I never agonise over one or two spelling mistakes or typos. But if a correctly spelt and punctuated application form is such a must, then that's easy for me to fix when I apply for future jobs.

But I do think this requirement should have been stated in the application pack.

Incidently I've had feedback for 7 or 8 communication/markeing jobs I've applied for in the last year. Not one time has anyone ever cited spelling, grammar or formatting errors on my application as a reason for initial rejection. And, when I have been shortlisted for interview with other organisations, I don't think my application form was necessarily word perfect.

But some people out there do care - I see that, and Twiglett has comfirmed it.

The application pack also states that the organisation reserves the right to offer the post to an internal candidate who will not go through the interview process, so perhaps they already have someone lined up for the post.

OP posts:
nickytwotimes · 23/05/2007 19:43

tiger, i'm afraid i would have binned it too - applications are too important to have any errors. at least they were honest enough to tell you the problem. hope it works out better next time.

ScummiMummi · 23/05/2007 19:43

Well, imo, this employer has missed out bigtime by binning the moth's application. Good grief, we are talking about the woman who named "twister" the ice lolly, here! She is a marketing legend. My sons mention this fact with wonder every time we buy a twister.

zippitippi · 23/05/2007 19:46

I think online applications are really hard because in some cases they print out nothing like the screen format and I wonder what they appear like when they print or email them at the other end..how do you know what they look like when the boxes become lists etc

and some don't let you print them before submitting etc

i am resigned to never getting a job tbh..but I'm sure you will get something suitable tigermoth

MerryMarigold · 23/05/2007 19:47

well, i do think it was a little unfair too tigermoth. i think it's fair enough on a cv, but on a long supporting statement it's not really all that fair.

i used to work in marketing too, but for my part of the job attention to detail wasn't all that important. i guess it depends on what the job entailed.

if i was looking i would have gone more for the syle of writing, the content of the application, qualifications etc. as people can have the occasional bad day. possibly there was nothing here that made yours stand out beyond the others (sorry!). if they really had SO many to choose from then i suppose they had to chuck some out for fairly random reasons.

belgo · 23/05/2007 19:47

I don't think it is necessary to state that correct spelling and punctuation is necessary on an application.

Correct spelling and punctuation are basic rules of a job application.

ScummiMummi · 23/05/2007 19:49

That's so true, zippi. Public sector organisations rarely if ever provide application forms in user friendly formats, ime.