How to create a plain text resume using a template and some tips.

Your resume is an important part of the job application process.If you are unsure of what a plain text resume is, it is a good idea to know what an employer is looking for when they ask for one.In this article, we explain what a plain text resume is and how to format one correctly with a template, example and tips.

A plain text resume is a resume written in a text file format.It doesn't have special formatting like colors, special lines or multiple columns.

When posting a resume to a job board and when an employer requests one are two main reasons you need a plain text resume.

When large companies receive hundreds, sometimes thousands of resumes for one position, they use a system to sort them and store them based on their search criteria.The scans work well without formatting.Companies may require you to send your resume as plain text in the body of an email because they have a rule for opening attachments.

It is a good idea to submit your resume as a plain text file if you are posting it to a job board.When uploading a resume to a job board, a "Bot" will extract the information from the file and send it to the board.The bot will sometimes misplace information when it fills in sections, requiring you to go through and edit.The bots should organize the information into the correct fields if you uploaded a plain text file.It will save you a lot of time.

If you want to create a plain text document, be sure to read the job description carefully.Some may want a formatted Microsoft Word document, some may require an attached plain text document and others may request for you to paste the text into an email.

When you turn your resume into a plain text document, you will need to fix some formatting.The steps are listed here.

If you are sending a plain text resume through email, you will need to format it a bit more so that it is readable for your recipient.Long lines of text are created by some email services.Here is how to format a plain text document.

Changing the margins to these numbers will keep your text lines from being longer than 65 characters, which will eliminate long lines of text and other formatting issues in an email.

Mention the type of role you are seeking with brief details about your years of experience, education and impressive work accomplishments.

The Social Media Marketing Manager with XYZ Inc. will be responsible for implementing successful digital marketing campaigns and provide exceptional thought leadership.

If you want your resume to convert correctly from a word document to plain text, stick to characters on your keyboard that include numbers, letters, and the other characters visible on the keys.The italicized and bold fonts won't convert correctly.

To make the separation clear, use a series of double dashes.