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Different
word processing software
applications mean your résumé could lose some formatting like boldface,
italics and bullets when you cut and paste it into web-based job
boards. Fortunately, you can format your résumé in plain text so
that the content, which is of course the most important part, is clearly
communicated to the recruiter.
How Do I Format My Résumé in Plain Text (TXT)?
To create an unformatted résumé , you need to type your résumé using
your favorite word-processing software, and then save it as a text-only
(TXT) document (sometimes also called Rich Text Format or RTF). This
should be an option under your "save" or "save as"
command. You can also use a simple text program to compose your résumé .
You can also copy your entire résumé and then paste it into a text
editor. Both Macintosh and Windows machines have an editor called
Notepad. If you cannot locate this application, then select your
entire résumé within your word processor and change the font to Courier
(or New Courier). This is a fixed-width font.
Your résumé may appear difficult to read when put into a text-only
format. For example tabs and margins may be different from your
original formatted résumé . If this is the case, you will need to
reformat your résumé. Here are some tips to make sure your
personal information is readable and you look your best to the potential
employer:
Special Characters - Special characters (such as "smart
quotes" or mathematical symbols) do not get accurately transferred in
the text save; avoid using special characters.
Tabs - Use your spacebar for the most control with spacing as the
length of the tab character is inconsistent.
Alignment - To indent a sentence or
center a heading, again use the spacebar for the most control. Keep
in mind that the default for plain text is to make everything left
justified, which is the preferred format for scanning résumé s and
online viewing. Therefore, indenting and centering should be used
with discretion.
Margins - If some portions of your résumé are right justified, you
will need to control the right margin. A safe line length is 72
characters per line.
Word Wrap - Use hard carriage returns to insert line breaks instead of
relying on the word wrap feature.
Fonts - Fonts will become whatever a computer uses as its default face
and size, so boldface, italics, and various sizes will not appear in the
plain text version.
Bullets - Bullets often turn into
an "&" or other symbol in a text translation. Use a
hyphen "-" instead.
Spell Check - Spell check your document before you save it as a text
file.
Test - Copy and paste your résumé into the body of an email and send
it to yourself. If there are still portions that are unclear,
consider revising it.
Proofread - Make sure to proofread your entire résumé after you
paste it and before submitting to your potential employer or job board.
Remember, a solid background and relevant
experience is what your potential employer cares about.
In
addition, if you are selected for an interview, you may have a chance to
present a formatted résumé that allows for some personal style. |
