The Plain Text Resume: Creating ASCII Resumes for Maximum Compatibility

In an age of sophisticated resume designs and PDF submissions, the plain text resume might seem obsolete. Yet this basic format remains relevant for specific situations where formatting compatibility matters more than visual presentation. Understanding when and how to create a plain text resume ensures you can submit applications to any system, regardless of its technical limitations.

Plain text resumes strip away all formatting to create pure, unformatted text that displays identically on any system, in any email client, or in any database. While they lack the visual appeal of formatted documents, they guarantee your content reaches its destination intact and readable.

What Is a Plain Text Resume?

A plain text resume is a document containing only ASCII characters—basic letters, numbers, and simple symbols—without any formatting.

Characteristics of Plain Text Resumes

What plain text includes:

Letters (A-Z, a-z)
Numbers (0-9)
Basic punctuation (periods, commas, hyphens, parentheses)
Spaces and line breaks
Simple symbols (asterisks, dashes, plus signs)

What plain text excludes:

Bold, italic, or underlined text
Different font styles or sizes
Bullet points (special characters)
Tables or columns
Graphics or images
Headers and footers
Indentation using tabs

How Plain Text Differs From Other Formats

Formatted resume (Word/PDF):

Multiple fonts and sizes
Bold and italic text
Bullet points and graphics
Visual hierarchy and design
May not display consistently across systems

Plain text resume (.txt):

Single font (whatever the viewer’s default is)
No text styling
Uses characters like asterisks for emphasis
No visual design elements
Displays identically everywhere

When You Need a Plain Text Resume

Several situations call for plain text versions of your resume.

Online Application Forms

Many job application systems require pasting resume content:

Text field submissions: Some applications have text boxes where you type or paste resume information. Formatted content often pastes with errors or stripped formatting, making plain text the cleaner option.

Email body submissions: When instructed to include your resume in an email body (not as an attachment), plain text ensures it displays correctly regardless of email client.

Older Application Systems

Legacy systems may not handle modern file formats:

Compatibility issues: Older applicant tracking systems may corrupt or misread formatted documents. Plain text eliminates these risks.

Government and institutional applications: Some government agencies or older organizations use systems designed before modern document formats existed.

Networking and Direct Contact

Plain text works well for quick sharing:

Email signatures: Brief resume summaries in email signatures need to be plain text.

Social media and messaging: Sharing resume highlights via LinkedIn messages, Twitter, or other platforms requires plain text.

Quick forwarding: When contacts forward your resume via email, plain text ensures it arrives intact.

LinkedIn Profile Import

LinkedIn and other platforms often import text:

Profile building: Many professionals copy from plain text resumes when building LinkedIn profiles or other online presences.

Profile consistency: Having a plain text version makes updating multiple profiles easier.

Recruiter Requirements

Some recruiters prefer text versions:

Database entry: Recruiters may enter your information into databases that strip formatting.

Quick review: Some recruiters prefer scanning text-only versions without design distractions.

Creating Your Plain Text Resume

Transform your formatted resume into effective plain text.

Step 1: Start With Your Formatted Resume

Begin with your polished, formatted resume as the content source.

What you’ll transfer:

All text content
Structure and organization
Key information

What you’ll adapt:

Formatting approaches
Visual elements
Layout structure

Step 2: Save As or Export to Text

Create the base text file:

From Microsoft Word:

File → Save As
Choose “Plain Text (.txt)” as file type
Accept encoding options (UTF-8 or Windows default usually works)

From Google Docs:

File → Download
Select “Plain Text (.txt)”

From PDF:

Copy all text (Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C)
Paste into a plain text editor (Notepad)

Step 3: Review Initial Conversion

After conversion, you’ll likely see problems:

Common issues:

Bullet points become strange symbols or disappear
Columns and tables scramble
Headers and sections lose distinction
Extra spaces or line breaks appear
Special characters become gibberish

This is normal—now you’ll clean it up.

Step 4: Choose a Text Editor

Use a simple text editor, not a word processor:

Good options:

Notepad (Windows)
TextEdit (Mac—switch to plain text mode)
Notepad++ (Windows)
VS Code or Sublime Text (cross-platform)

Avoid: Word processors like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, which add hidden formatting.

Step 5: Set Line Length

Plain text resumes should wrap at consistent line lengths:

Recommended line length: 65-70 characters per line

Why this matters:

Ensures readability in email clients
Prevents awkward mid-word wrapping
Creates consistent visual appearance

Step 6: Rebuild Structure

Recreate visual hierarchy using text-only techniques:

For section headings:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
=======================

*** PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE ***

---PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE---

For job entries:

Marketing Manager | ABC Company | 2020-Present

Marketing Manager
ABC Company, San Francisco, CA
2020-Present

For bullet points:

* Achieved 150% of sales target
* Managed team of 12 representatives
* Developed new CRM processes

- Achieved 150% of sales target
- Managed team of 12 representatives
- Developed new CRM processes

Plain Text Formatting Techniques

Master these techniques for effective plain text presentation.

Creating Visual Sections

Separate sections clearly without formatting:

Option 1: All caps with lines


PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
====================

Option 2: All caps with spacing



WORK EXPERIENCE

Option 3: Symbols and caps


*** SKILLS ***

Choose one approach and use it consistently throughout.

Handling Bullets and Lists

Replace graphical bullets with text alternatives:

Asterisks:

* First achievement
* Second achievement
* Third achievement

Hyphens:

- First achievement
- Second achievement
- Third achievement

Plus signs:

+ First achievement
+ Second achievement
+ Third achievement

Pick one style and maintain consistency.

Creating Emphasis

Without bold or italic, create emphasis differently:

All capitals:

Led RECORD-BREAKING campaign generating $2M revenue

Surrounding symbols:

Led *record-breaking* campaign generating $2M revenue

Position emphasis: Place your most important information at the beginning of lines where eyes naturally fall.

Use emphasis sparingly—overuse defeats the purpose.

Separating Information

Use spacing and characters to organize:

Pipe separators:

San Francisco, CA | [email protected] | (555) 123-4567

Slash separators:

Marketing / Advertising / Brand Strategy

Colon separators:

Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Fluent)

Handling Dates and Locations

Format dates and locations consistently:

Date formats:

2020-Present
January 2020 - December 2022
2020 to 2022

Location formats:

San Francisco, CA
Remote / San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, California

Plain Text Resume Template

Use this template as a starting point:

JOHN SMITH
San Francisco, CA | [email protected] | (555) 123-4567
linkedin.com/in/johnsmith

==================================================
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
==================================================

Results-driven marketing professional with 10+ years of
experience driving growth for B2B technology companies.
Expertise in demand generation, marketing automation, and
ABM strategy. Track record of exceeding targets while
optimizing budget efficiency.

==================================================
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
==================================================

MARKETING DIRECTOR
ABC Technology Company, San Francisco, CA
2020-Present

* Lead marketing team of 15 professionals across brand,
  demand generation, and product marketing
* Manage $3M annual budget with full P&L responsibility
* Achieved 150% of lead generation targets in 2022
* Launched ABM program generating $5M in enterprise pipeline
* Implemented marketing automation reducing manual effort by 40%

SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER
XYZ Software Inc., San Jose, CA
2016-2020

* Managed demand generation programs across digital channels
* Grew marketing qualified leads by 200% over three years
* Built and led team of 5 marketing specialists
* Developed content strategy increasing organic traffic by 150%
* Created partner marketing program with 25 channel partners

MARKETING MANAGER
123 Tech Startup, Palo Alto, CA
2013-2016

* Owned full marketing function at early-stage startup
* Established brand presence and marketing operations
* Generated first 500 customers through inbound marketing
* Managed agency relationships and marketing vendors

==================================================
EDUCATION
==================================================

MBA, Marketing Concentration
State University, 2013

Bachelor of Arts, Communications
University of California, 2009

==================================================
SKILLS
==================================================

Marketing: Demand Generation, Content Marketing, SEO/SEM,
Account-Based Marketing, Marketing Automation, Brand Strategy

Technical: Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, Google Analytics,
Tableau, SQL

Leadership: Team Management, Budget Management, Strategic
Planning, Cross-functional Collaboration

==================================================
CERTIFICATIONS
==================================================

* Google Analytics Certified
* HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certified
* Salesforce Marketing Cloud Certification

Converting Specific Elements

Handle common resume elements in plain text.

Contact Information

Original formatted:

Name centered in large font
Email | Phone | Location with icons

Plain text version:

JOHN SMITH
[email protected] | (555) 123-4567 | San Francisco, CA
linkedin.com/in/johnsmith

Professional Summary

Keep it readable:

Results-driven marketing professional with 10+ years
building high-performing teams and driving revenue growth.
Expertise in B2B technology marketing, demand generation,
and strategic planning.

Break at natural points and keep lines under 70 characters.

Work Experience Entries

Standard plain text format:

JOB TITLE
Company Name, Location
Dates

* Achievement one with quantified results
* Achievement two with specific impact
* Achievement three with relevant details

Skills Lists

Organized plain text:

Technical Skills: Python, SQL, Tableau, Excel, Power BI
Marketing Skills: SEO, Content Strategy, Analytics
Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Conversational)

Education

Clean format:

DEGREE NAME, Major
University Name, Year

* Relevant honors or activities

Testing Your Plain Text Resume

Verify your plain text resume works properly.

Test in Multiple Environments

Copy and paste into:

Different email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo)
LinkedIn profile sections
Job application text fields
Different text editors

Verify it displays correctly in each.

Check Line Breaks

Ensure:

Lines don’t break mid-word awkwardly
Sections remain distinct
Content is readable without horizontal scrolling

Verify Content Transfer

Confirm:

All information transferred correctly
No garbled characters appear
Special characters display properly
Contact information is accurate

Read for Flow

Review as a reader would:

Is it easy to scan?
Are sections clearly distinguished?
Does the hierarchy work?
Is important information visible?

Best Practices for Plain Text Resumes

Follow these guidelines for best results.

Do:

Maintain consistency: Use the same formatting approach throughout. If you use asterisks for bullets, use them everywhere.

Use white space effectively: Blank lines between sections create visual separation without formatting.

Keep lines reasonable: 65-70 characters prevents awkward wrapping in most display contexts.

Proofread carefully: Without formatting to guide the eye, errors stand out more—and they’re easier to miss during creation.

Save multiple copies: Keep your plain text version alongside your formatted versions for different use cases.

Don’t:

Don’t use tabs: Tabs display inconsistently across systems. Use spaces for alignment.

Don’t rely on alignment: Right-aligned text and columns don’t work in plain text. Use linear formatting.

Don’t include special characters: Curly quotes, em dashes, and special bullets may display as garbage characters.

Don’t forget to update: When you update your formatted resume, update the plain text version too.

Building a comprehensive job application toolkit—including both formatted and plain text resume versions—helps you apply efficiently to any opportunity. Resources like 0portfolio.com can help you organize your professional materials across different formats and platforms.

Common Plain Text Problems and Solutions

Address these frequent issues.

Problem: Strange Characters Appear

Cause: Special characters from formatted document don’t convert to ASCII.

Solution: Search and replace:

Curly quotes → straight quotes
Em dashes → hyphens or double hyphens
Ellipses → three periods
Special bullets → asterisks or hyphens

Problem: Layout Is Scrambled

Cause: Tables, columns, or complex formatting doesn’t convert.

Solution: Manually restructure using linear format. Remove any table-based organization.

Problem: Information Is Missing

Cause: Some elements may not copy correctly.

Solution: Compare plain text version against original and manually add anything missing.

Problem: Lines Break Awkwardly

Cause: Line lengths don’t match target environment.

Solution: Manually adjust line breaks to keep lines under 70 characters, breaking at natural points.

Problem: Sections Run Together

Cause: Not enough visual separation between sections.

Solution: Add blank lines and section headers with separator characters.

When to Use Each Resume Format

Know when each format is appropriate.

Use Plain Text When:

Pasting into online application text fields
Including resume in email body
Submitting to older systems with compatibility concerns
Building LinkedIn or other profile content
Sending to recruiters who request it

Use Formatted (PDF/Word) When:

Submitting as email attachments
Uploading to modern ATS systems
Sending directly to hiring managers
Presenting in professional contexts
When visual presentation matters

Maintain Both:

Keep updated versions of both formats ready:

Formatted version as your primary
Plain text version for specific needs

Checklist: Plain Text Resume Quality

Before using your plain text resume:

Content

All information from formatted version included
No garbled or special characters
Contact information accurate
All sections present

Formatting

Consistent approach throughout
Lines under 70 characters
Sections clearly separated
Readable visual hierarchy

Technical

Saved as .txt file
Tested in multiple environments
Displays correctly when copied
No hidden formatting

Final Review

Proofread for errors
Flows well when reading
Professional appearance
Ready for submission

Conclusion

The plain text resume may lack the visual sophistication of modern formatted documents, but it serves a specific and valuable purpose: ensuring your content reaches any system, in any context, exactly as you intend.

Creating a quality plain text resume requires intentional adaptation—not just stripping formatting from your existing resume, but thoughtfully restructuring content to work within the constraints of pure text. Done well, a plain text resume communicates professionalism and attention to detail even without design elements.

Maintain a plain text version alongside your primary formatted resume. When situations arise that require text-only submission, you’ll be ready. Your content—your skills, achievements, and qualifications—matters more than the format it’s delivered in.

Let your content shine through, regardless of the delivery method.

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