Plain Text Resume

Since a plain text resume lacks formatting, it’s more difficult to make it stand out. If you’ve created a resume in another format (like Microsoft Word or PDF), saving it in text format can result in some messy formatting which requires work to fix. A plain text cover letter and resume are used to respond to a job posting that asks you to apply online or email your application. A plain text resume or cover letter is very simple and contains no bullets, bold, italics or lines. The content focuses less on the look of the document and more on the skills and abilities of the person applying. Here's an example of text resume format. If you want to compare the difference between this and the traditional format, you can see the same resume in the traditional style here. Plain text resumes are not attractive to human readers, but the simple format is easy for computers to read.

A plain text cover letter and resume are used to respond to a job posting that asks you to apply online or email your application.

A plain text resume or cover letter is very simple and contains no bullets, bold, italics or lines. The content focuses less on the look of the document and more on the skills and abilities of the person applying for the job.

You should always use a plain text resume and cover letter format when applying to a job online. You can also use plain text when e-mailing your application when you don’t know what computer programs the employer uses.

Text

Plain Text Format

  • Line up all text to the left-hand margin.
  • Replace bullets with symbols such as asterisks **, dashes – or plus signs ++.
  • Use equal signs to separate sections or place at least two lines of space between sections.
  • Use CAPITAL letters for resume headings and job titles.
  • Remove your name, contact information and page numbers from the second page. Once your cover letter and resume is copied into an online form, it will become one long page.

Email Plain Text

  • Use the position title and job number for the email subject line. E.g. Administrative Assistant (Job #1234)
  • Copy and paste your plain text cover letter into the body of the email.
  • Put a line of dashes below the cover letter and before your resume.
  • Copy and paste your resume below the line of dashes.
  • If requested, you can also attach your cover letter and resume to the email in a specified file format.

Plain Text Copy

Applying Online

  • Copy and paste your plain text cover letter into the text box.
  • Put a line of dashes below the cover letter and before your resume.
  • Copy and paste your resume below the line of dashes.

Plain Text Resume

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Plain Text Resume Sample

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Here's an example of text resume format. If you want to compare the difference between this and the traditional format, you can see the same resume in the traditional style here. Plain text resumes are not attractive to human readers, but the simple format is easy for computers to read.

JANE SOMEBODY
123 Anywhere Street, City, State
(555) 000-0000
janesomebody@emailprovider.com

PROFILE
State the type of job you are seeking and highlight several of your most important, impressive and marketable skills.

SUMMARY OF SKILLS
- Include your most marketable skills and accomplishments here.
- Ensure the skills you list are relevant to the type of job you are seeking.
- Be as specific as possible.
- Ensure that this section is full of the keywords employers will likely use when sorting resumes.
- If keywords are commonly stated more than on way, you must use both forms of the word (for example, Master of Business Administration and MBA)

WORK EXPERIENCE

Administrative Assistant, ABC Company, City, State, 2006 to present
- Use a combination of verbs and nouns to describe job duties and accomplishments that are most relevant to the work you are currently seeking.
- Don't forget to include a variety of targeted keywords
- List jobs in reverse chronological order; your most recent job goes first.

Administrative Assistant, XYZ Company, City, State, 2000 to 2006
- Continue to use verbs and nouns to describe job duties and accomplishments that are most relevant to the work you are currently seeking and target important keywords.

Customer Service Representative, Another Company, City, State, 1998 to 2000
- Continue to use verbs and nouns to describe job duties and include important keywords.
- Normally you should only include your most recent ten years of work experience on your resume. There are exceptions, but typically employers are most interested in your most recent experience, and going back more than ten years on your resume can age you.

EDUCATION
Administrative Assistant Certificate, Any College, City, State

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
- Only include this section if it adds information that is relevant to the job you are seeking.
- You may also include hobbies here, but only if they are positive and relevant to the job you are seeking.

REFERENCES
available upon request

When you're writing plain text resumes, it's important to follow a few formatting guidelines and to fill your text resume with targeted keywords. You'll find more details about text resume format here, and you can find information on how employers use this type of resume and how to include keywords in your plain text resume here.

Plain Text Resume Meaning

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