Display of Markup in MS Word

"However, when I send the file to a job board to build my profile, the markup markings are visible in their copy of the file! This happens even after I saved the suspect file with Markup deselected. What can I do to eliminate the Markup markings that automatically appear in a reopened file? How can I prevent them from appearing in a file transmitted to job boards? How can I get rid of them altogether?"

-------

Spellcheck and Grammar Markups in Word:

This is built into MS Word. What I think you should do is print it is save it as a PDF document to your Desktop (or wherever you prefer).

Screenshot of Print Screen:

"The Littles: That does it! There is no reason I cannot send my cover letter and resume as PDFs. It adds a number of steps not required before to send my resume to a potential employer, but to get my resume out without the markups makes the extra steps tolerable. I wonder whether upgrading from Sonoma (v. 14.6.1) to Sequoia (v. 15.4) would eliminate the pesky MSWord markups that invade my files? Or maybe there is a newer version of MSWord that prevents the dreaded markup invasions. Thank you!"

-------

You are welcome.

No. Upgrading would make no difference. These spelling a grammar thing will show on the readers side, if they have Spelling & Grammar settings enabled (and they likely do). PDF is short for (Post Data Format), meaning all has been completed, and it is seen as a file with no headers, footers, indents or misspellings.

It is wishful thinking that a human is looking at every résumé submission to a job board, but in reality, they use automated applicant tracking software that can be programmed to scan a PDF or Word document for selected keywords, job titles, and even the total amount of experience from the date ranges for each job experience.

What that means is the scanning software will filter out about 95%+ of applications and may even stop processing after it has passed through 50 applications. Those will get a 15-second or longer human read of their CV. The best applicant isn't always the most qualified, but what that HR department decides matches the most programmed criteria, and gets through the interview process.

My recollection is that in Word you must accept the changes in order to eliminate the markup. Deselecting "Markup" is only turning off the markup display; and as you found out it can be turned back on.

“[…]There is no reason I cannot send my cover letter and resume as PDFs. It adds a number of steps not required before to send my resume to a potential employer, but to get my resume out without the markups makes the extra steps tolerable.[…]”

———-

Keywords Vs Merit:

Employers would search for keywords, and not so much merit(like did in the olde days). Nowadays, everything is going AI. I wonder where that would take an applicant for a job? So, if you were to support software and work in a call center, just what are the keywords to use?

The posted job description may contain "keywords or expressions" about what they seek in an applicant and one may be able to weave that into the cover letter (always in the same document as the CV) or the CV itself.

The average job posting wants someone with 3 - 5 years of experience (unless otherwise stated) to fit the salary budget of the intended position. Unless you have specific skills in that 51 years that simply are not available and in high demand, the processing software may exclude your CV.

Unfortunately, these skills that you have may be exactly what the actual hiring manager seeks, but they will unlikely see the CV because HR is in control of most organizations and would hold 51 years of experience as disqualifying, if for no other reason than they do not want to offer you far less compensation than perhaps you deserve in salary.

”It has been years since I heard the term ‘in the olde days 😂.’ I was aware of the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) looking for keywords. I have "saturated" my résumé with applicable key words (skills) I gleaned from over 100 applications. I hope that will at least pass the ATS.”

———-

Not oh so long a go on a thing called the Internet, you’d eMail the resume, and it would be reviewed by one’s eyes. Or you’d just walk in for an interview and would never have to apply online.

You are welcome.