When I was 16 years old (1980), I worked as a proofreader for a small weekly newspaper. As a grown up (2018), I read a lot of resumes from attorneys.

If a typo got through to print back in the day, I would stew about it for days. The mistake was there forever, or so it seemed.

Today, I expect typos. On resumes! From attorneys who graduated from Top 20 law schools. It may surprise you that the worst offenders are not unemployed lawyers with below market pedigree.

On the contrary, the sloppiest resumes often come from passive candidates who are not actively seeking a new position. Frequently, the most desirable attorneys are the busiest, and they are usually putting together a resume at my request in response to a specific opportunity.

I started this column with the notion of scolding everyone and reminding you to proof a resume closely before sending it anywhere. But I think there is a more interesting point to make. It's this: High achievers in 2018 succeed largely by embracing a business culture in which responsiveness and speed to market are prized. The deadline for everything is now. The term “turnaround time” connotes delay. Precision is secondary.

Clients want their attorneys to be right, not perfect. Quick, not methodical. Brief, not detailed. Part of this relates to how law firms invoice, which remains predominantly by the hour and minute. But the pressure of response time weighs even heavier on in-house counsel, as the buck stops with you and your job is to provide an answer, not analysis.

Moreover, I am seeing an increasing use of texting for business purposes. Is email not fast enough? Of course it is, but a text is viewed as more urgent. It cuts through the clutter. And it's a mode of communication that fully embraces typos and brevity as the norm.

None of this is a complaint from a former proofreader. It's an observation from a recruiter and client service provider. Speed wins. Typos are tolerated—even if they still make me cringe!

Mike Evers recruits attorneys for corporate legal departments throughout the United States. Visit www.everslegal.com. His firm also offers experienced in-house counsel to companies on an adjunct basis.