Quick answer: A plain text resume is a version of your resume with all formatting removed, saved as a .txt file. It contains only standard keyboard characters: no bold, fonts, bullets, tables, or graphics. Use it when pasting into online application forms, emailing a resume in the message body, or when an employer or older system asks for text only.
A plain text resume is your resume with the makeup off. No fonts, no colors, no carefully chosen accent line that took you 40 minutes in a design tool. Just words, spaces, and a few dashes doing their very best.
It sounds old-fashioned, and in some ways it is. But plenty of job portals still ask you to paste your resume into a text box, and that is where a messy copy-and-paste can turn your nice formatting into a wall of strange symbols. This guide explains the plain text resume format, when you need one, how to create it in a few minutes, and gives you a template you can copy.
What Is a Plain Text Resume (ASCII Resume)?
A plain text resume, also called an ASCII resume or .txt resume, is a resume saved in the simplest file format there is. ASCII is the basic character set that nearly every computer, email program, and website can read the same way.
That means a plain text resume:
- Uses only letters, numbers, and standard keyboard symbols (like * - + = and #)
- Has no bold, italics, underlining, font sizes, or colors
- Has no tables, columns, text boxes, images, or icons
- Is left-aligned, with structure created by capital letters, blank lines, and simple symbols
- Looks the same in Notepad, Gmail, or an applicant tracking system
The recipient's software decides the font and size, so you control only the words and the spacing.
When Do You Need a Plain Text Resume?
Most of the time you will send a PDF or Word file. A plain text version is a backup for specific situations:
- Online application forms that ask you to paste your resume into a text box
- Older or government job portals that strip formatting from uploads
- Email applications where the employer asks you not to send attachments, so you paste your resume into the message body
- Employer requests for a .txt file
- Profile builders on some job boards that import text from your resume
You do not need one when you can upload a PDF or Word document, when you are emailing a recruiter who expects an attachment, or when applying for creative roles where presentation matters. (For those, see our guide to creative resumes.)
Think of it as a spare tire: you hope you rarely need it, but you are very glad it is in the trunk.
Plain Text Resume Format Rules
Follow these rules and your resume will survive almost any system:
- Left-align everything. Centered text and indents usually collapse.
- Use ALL CAPS for section headings instead of bold (WORK EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, SKILLS).
- Replace bullets with asterisks, hyphens, or plus signs. Fancy bullet symbols often turn into question marks or boxes.
- Avoid tabs. Use a single space or line breaks instead; tabs are often removed or misread.
- Use straight quotes and apostrophes. Curly "smart" quotes, em dashes, and special symbols can turn into strange characters.
- Separate sections with one blank line, or a simple divider line made of dashes or equals signs.
- Keep lines short. Career guides commonly recommend about 65 characters per line if you are sending it by email, so lines do not wrap awkwardly.
- Skip headers, footers, and page numbers. Page breaks are unpredictable in plain text.
- Put dates on the same line as the job title or on their own line, not aligned to the right with tabs.
How to Create a Plain Text Resume (Step by Step)
Method 1: Save As plain text
- Open your finished resume in Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
- Run spell check first. Plain text editors will not catch typos for you.
- In Word, choose File > Save As and select Plain Text (.txt). In Google Docs, choose File > Download > Plain text (.txt).
- If Word shows a File Conversion box, accept the default encoding.
- Open the new file in Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac, switched to plain text mode via Format > Make Plain Text).
- Clean it up using the rules above.
Method 2: Copy and paste
- Open your resume and select all the text.
- Copy it and paste into Notepad or TextEdit (in plain text mode).
- Fix spacing, replace bullets, and convert headings to capital letters.
- Save with a professional name like Firstname-Lastname-Resume.txt.
Test before you send
- Email it to yourself by pasting it into the message body. Check for broken lines, odd symbols, or squashed sections.
- Paste it into a text box on a site you trust and see how it looks.
- Read it top to bottom. Does the order still make sense without visual cues?
Plain Text Resume Template
Copy this into a plain text editor and replace the bracketed text. Everything is left-aligned and uses only standard characters.
[FIRST LAST NAME]
[City, State] | [Phone] | [Email]
[LinkedIn URL]
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
--------------------
[Job title] with [X] years of experience in [specialty].
Known for [key strength or result]. Seeking [target role].
WORK EXPERIENCE
---------------
[Job Title], [Company Name], [City, State]
[Month Year] - Present
* [Action verb + task + result]
* [Action verb + task + result]
* [Action verb + task + result]
[Job Title], [Company Name], [City, State]
[Month Year] - [Month Year]
* [Action verb + task + result]
* [Action verb + task + result]
EDUCATION
---------
[Degree], [School Name], [Year]
SKILLS
------
[Skill], [Skill], [Skill], [Tool], [Tool], [Certification]
Plain text resume example
JORDAN RIVERA
Phoenix, AZ | (555) 321-7788 | jordan.rivera@email.com
linkedin.com/in/jordanrivera
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
--------------------
Customer support lead with 6 years of experience in SaaS.
Builds help-center content and coaches agents to resolve
issues faster. Seeking a Customer Success Manager role.
WORK EXPERIENCE
---------------
Customer Support Lead, BrightDesk Software, Phoenix, AZ
Mar 2022 - Present
* Lead a team of 8 agents across email and live chat
* Wrote 40+ help-center articles that reduced repeat tickets
* Built onboarding checklist used for all new support hires
Customer Support Specialist, CloudCart, Tempe, AZ
Jun 2019 - Feb 2022
* Resolved billing and technical tickets for small businesses
* Promoted to senior specialist after 18 months
EDUCATION
---------
B.A. Communication, Arizona State University, 2019
SKILLS
------
Zendesk, Intercom, Salesforce, knowledge base writing,
de-escalation, onboarding, Excel
Notice that the content is exactly what a good formatted resume would say. Plain text changes the packaging, not the substance. Strong bullets still matter, so see our guide on resume bullet points that turn duties into results.
Plain Text Resumes and ATS
(Switches to serious face.) A plain text resume is about as ATS-friendly as a document can get, because there is nothing for the software to misread. But modern applicant tracking systems generally read clean PDF and Word files well too, so a .txt file is a backup, not a requirement.
What actually helps you get through ATS is the same in any format:
- Standard section headings the system recognizes
- Keywords from the job description, used naturally (see resume keywords optimization)
- Clear job titles, company names, and dates
- No important information hidden in images or graphics
For a deeper look at how screening software really works, read the truth about ATS.
Pros and Cons of a Plain Text Resume
Pros:
- Readable by virtually any system, browser, or email client
- No risk of broken formatting when pasted into online forms
- Quick to create from your existing resume
Cons:
- Plain to look at, with no visual hierarchy beyond capitals and spacing
- No bold or italics to emphasize key achievements
- Not ideal for direct submissions to people who expect a polished document
The smart move is to keep both: a formatted PDF for humans and a .txt file ready for forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a plain text resume the same as an ASCII resume?
Yes. Both terms describe a resume saved with only standard characters and no formatting, usually as a .txt file. "ASCII" refers to the basic character set that almost every computer reads the same way.
Do employers still ask for plain text resumes?
Some do, especially government portals, older applicant tracking systems, and online forms that ask you to paste your resume into a box. Most employers today accept PDF or Word files, so a plain text version is mainly a backup.
Should I send a plain text resume or a PDF?
Send a PDF or Word document whenever you can upload a file, unless the employer asks otherwise. Use plain text when pasting into a text box, sending your resume in an email body, or when a .txt file is specifically requested.
How do I convert my resume to plain text?
In Word, use File > Save As and choose Plain Text (.txt). In Google Docs, use File > Download > Plain text. Then open the file in Notepad or TextEdit, replace bullets with asterisks or hyphens, and use capital letters for section headings.
Can a plain text resume still stand out?
Yes, through content rather than design. A focused summary, quantified achievements, and keywords that match the job description make a plain text resume just as persuasive. Clean spacing and consistent structure also make it easy to read.
How do I make bullet points in a plain text resume?
Use an asterisk (*), hyphen (-), or plus sign (+) followed by a space at the start of each line. Avoid special bullet symbols, which can turn into question marks or boxes in some systems.
Keep a Polished Version Ready Too
A plain text resume is your behind-the-scenes backup. For everything else, our Resume Builder creates clean, ATS-friendly resumes with AI help on bullets and summaries, so your formatted version and your text-only version say the same strong things.