Grammar and Spelling are Part of a Great User Experience

Here at SubHub we’re currently recruiting for our first full-time designer -- something that’s overdue, as many of our services are not yet as beautiful or as user-friendly as they ideally could be.

The CVs and links to portfolio websites are flooding in now and we are seeing some really good talent. But it amazes me to see how little consideration is given by many applicants to issues of grammar and spelling.

I don’t think there is much dispute that clear and coherent wording on a web page can do more than almost anything -- including a beautiful design -- to help a visitor easily understand what to do and to have a great experience.

So in accordance with the same principle would a candidate not equally want a prospective employer to have a great experience? Would the candidate not pay careful attention to grammar and spelling in his or her CV, cover note and portfolio?

If, for example, a candidate doesn’t know the difference between “your” and “you’re,” I’m thinking that by hiring this person I’m potentially taking on years of proofreading overhead. They’d better be supernaturally good at what they do to make up for that.

It puzzles me when a candidate submits work that’s misspelled or grammatically incorrect. Nowadays, there are spelling and grammar checkers built into just about every software package.

Did the candidate not notice the errors, which were probably automatically highlighted on their screen? Not a very good eye for detail then.

So they’re great with Photoshop and Illustrator, but can’t operate a spellchecker? Fail.

When the errors are on the candidate’s own portfolio site, which should show the candidate at his or her absolute best, then I think to myself: “Well then, I guess that’s their best.” Fail.

If you want to come work for my start-up, I want to know you’ve shown the bare minimum of care. I want to know your work will reflect well on our company.

I’m not asking you to build a rocket to the moon (maybe for my next start-up). Just use proper English, that’s all. If not for my sake, then for your own sake.