You hit send. Then you noticed the typo in your email address, the wrong company name in the summary, or the outdated job title in the header. Now what?

The answer depends on what the mistake is and how far along you are in the process. Not every error requires action — and the wrong response can draw more attention to the problem than the mistake itself would have.

First: Assess Whether the Mistake Actually Matters

Before doing anything, categorize the error:

Mistakes that definitely need fixing:

  • Wrong contact information — incorrect email, phone number, or LinkedIn URL. The employer cannot reach you. This needs an immediate correction.
  • Wrong company name in your cover letter or summary — addressed the letter to "Google" when applying to "Microsoft." This signals lack of care and is worth correcting quickly.
  • Factual inaccuracies — wrong dates, incorrect job title, a skill you do not have. Correct these — they will surface in background checks or interviews.
  • The wrong resume version — sent a draft or a version tailored to a different role. If the error is significant (different target role, missing relevant experience), resend.

Mistakes that probably do not need action:

  • A typo in the body text — one misspelled word in a bullet point is unlikely to cost you an interview. Drawing attention to it might. Assess severity before acting.
  • Minor formatting inconsistency — one bullet that is slightly larger, a date format that differs from the others. These are invisible to most reviewers.
  • An outdated project or bullet point — not the strongest version of your experience, but factually correct. Note it for future applications; do not resurface it now.

How to Resend a Corrected Resume

If the mistake warrants correction, act within 24 hours of sending — the sooner the better, before the original is reviewed.

What to say in the follow-up email:

Subject: Corrected Resume — [Your Name] for [Position Title]

Hi [Hiring Manager's name or "Team"],

I noticed an error in the resume I submitted earlier today for the [Position Title] role — [brief, specific description: "my contact email was incorrect" / "I accidentally submitted an earlier draft"]. Please find the corrected version attached.

I apologize for the confusion and appreciate your time.

[Your name]

Keep it short. Do not over-explain or apologize excessively. One sentence naming the error, the corrected file attached, a brief apology. That is it.

What If You Applied Through a Portal and Cannot Email Directly?

Many applications go through ATS portals that do not give you a direct email address. Options:

  • Check for a company careers page contact — some list an HR email or a general contact
  • Find the recruiter on LinkedIn — if you can identify who posted the role, a brief direct message is appropriate for significant errors (wrong contact info, wrong company name)
  • Apply again with the corrected version — for job boards like Indeed or LinkedIn Easy Apply, you can sometimes withdraw the original application and reapply. Check whether the portal supports this before doing it — some ATS systems flag duplicate applications.
  • Let it go — for minor errors with no direct contact path, the energy spent trying to correct it may not be worth the disruption. Focus on doing well in the process if you advance.

What to Do in the Interview if the Mistake Comes Up

If an interviewer mentions the error, address it directly and move on quickly:

"Yes, I noticed that after I submitted — I sent a corrected version, but I apologize if there was any confusion. Here is the current, accurate version." Then hand them a printed copy of the correct resume and move on.

Do not dwell, do not over-apologize, and do not make it a bigger deal than it is. Interviewers hire people, not perfect documents.

How to Prevent This From Happening Again

Build a pre-send checklist and run through it before every application:

  1. Is my contact email correct and working?
  2. Does the company name in my cover letter and summary match the employer I am applying to?
  3. Is this the right version of my resume (tailored to this role, not a previous one)?
  4. Have I read through the resume once from bottom to top (the reverse-read catches errors your brain misses forward)?
  5. Is the file a PDF (not the .docx editing file)?
  6. Is the file named professionally — "Jane-Smith-Resume.pdf" not "Resume-v3-FINAL-FINAL.pdf"?

Running this checklist takes two minutes. It eliminates nearly every post-send correction situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a typo automatically disqualify me?

Rarely on its own. For roles where written communication is a core responsibility (content writer, communications manager, copyeditor), a typo carries more weight. For most roles, a single error in an otherwise strong resume is unlikely to be the deciding factor. What disqualifies is a pattern of errors — not a single instance.

Is it unprofessional to resend a resume?

No, if handled correctly. A brief, clear correction email that takes responsibility and provides the fix is professional. What looks unprofessional is a lengthy apologetic email or multiple correction attempts for minor errors.

I sent the wrong company name in my cover letter — is that a dealbreaker?

It is a significant error and worth correcting immediately. It signals that you are applying to many places without customizing — which most employers understand but do not want confirmed. Correct it within the hour if possible.

Can I edit my resume after submitting on Indeed or LinkedIn?

On LinkedIn: you can update your profile resume at any time, but Easy Apply submissions are snapshots — the submitted version cannot be changed. On Indeed: you can update your Indeed Resume profile, but applications already submitted use the version from the submission date. Contact the employer directly to send a corrected version if the error is significant.

What to Do Next