Dysorthography and CVs

The CV and cover letter are often the first contact with a recruiter. For a person with dysorthography, the fear that a spelling mistake could ruin their application is very real. The good news: with a sound method, the right tools and an external proofread, it is entirely possible to produce flawless documents.

Why it is stressful

Many recruiters say they are sensitive to spelling mistakes in a CV. For a person with dysorthography, this pressure can make the task very distressing, and may even lead them to put off applying for jobs. Yet the CV is one of the few pieces of writing that can be prepared without time pressure.

This is a huge advantage: you can work on it, correct it and have it proofread as many times as necessary before sending it. Once finalised, it will serve as the basis for many applications. The initial effort therefore pays off quickly.

See the shame of writing.

A short, structured CV

A good CV generally fits on one page and gets straight to the point. Recruiters read quickly, and a clear, well-spaced document with well-defined headings is more effective than a long text. This need for brevity is good news for you: less text means fewer opportunities for errors.

Favour lists, keywords and short sentences over long paragraphs. Use action verbs in the infinitive or noun phrases, which limit complicated agreements. A well-designed CV template can help you structure the whole document.

Highlight your skills, achievements and concrete results: this is what the recruiter is looking for.

Correction tools

Always run your CV and cover letter through an advanced spell checker, which picks up agreements, homophones and verb conjugation. The spell checkers built into word processors are a good start, but they let through many errors. A more comprehensive tool will give you real peace of mind.

Text-to-speech, which reads your text aloud, also helps you spot errors you cannot see on screen. For the cover letter, voice dictation can help you put your ideas into words more easily.

See spell checkers and voice dictation.

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External proofreading

Even with the best tools, a human proofread remains essential for a document this important. Ask a relative, a friend or a former colleague who is comfortable with spelling to read your CV. A fresh pair of eyes often spots what you missed.

Careers advisers at employment support organisations can also proofread and improve your CV. Some charities and job integration services offer this kind of support free of charge. Do not hesitate to ask them.

Having your work proofread is not a sign of weakness: many candidates do it, whether they are dyslexic or not.

The cover letter

The cover letter is longer and more personal than the CV, and often more stressful. Start by listing your main ideas, then write simple sentences for each one. A clear three-part plan (you, them, us) helps to structure the text.

Keep a well-corrected base letter, which you will adapt for each job advert. Only a few sentences will change from one application to the next, which limits the proofreading work. Always check the changed parts carefully, especially the name of the company and the job title.

More and more recruiters also accept applications without a cover letter, or through an online form.

Should you mention your dysorthography?

You are under no obligation to mention your dysorthography in your CV or cover letter. Most candidates choose not to raise it at this stage. It is a personal choice, which depends on the job and on how comfortable you are talking about it.

If you hold recognition as a disabled worker (RQTH), you may choose to mention it, particularly when applying for jobs that target these profiles. Some companies have active policies for recruiting disabled people. In that case, mentioning it can be an asset.

See the RQTH and the job interview.

Highlighting your strengths

A person with dysorthography often develops valuable qualities: perseverance, adaptability, ease in speaking, creativity and organisational skills. These qualities deserve a place in your CV and cover letter. They are what will make the difference to the recruiter.

Also consider highlighting your digital skills, which have often been developed to compensate for your difficulties. Mastering correction, dictation or organisation tools is a genuine professional skill.

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