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the PDF files below require the Adobe®
Reader®
to open and view - if you don't already have Adobe®
Reader®
on your system, you can
download it
for FREE.
Want to have your resume in
these electronic formats?
A Word Processed
Resume is created in a word processing software program, such as Microsoft
Word or WordPerfect. The following examples are in PDF format (retaining all
the original format and design of a Word document) for online viewing.
Example MS Word Resume - two page design (opens in
PDF)
Example MS Word Resume - two page design (opens
in PDF)
Example MS Word Resume - one page
design
(opens in PDF)
Example MS Word Resume - one page design (opens
in PDF)
Example MS Word Resume -
one page design
(opens in PDF)
- Example High School Graduate Resume - (PDF file)
-
Example College Graduate
Resume - (PDF file)
About Word Processed Resumes
Your document's original
creation will probably begin in a word processing software program.
Using word processing
software allows a great amount of control and creativity, and has a huge
impact on your document's final appearance.
Your word processed resume
is usually the first choice for printing and use in hardcopy submissions.
The drawback to submitting a
word processed resume online (submitting as an attached file) is that it can be difficult to know what
software your recipient has on his or her computer
system. Without the appropriate software installed, your recipient may not
be able to open, download, view, read or print your document.
Many ads will request that
online resume submissions be in compliance to a particular word processing
software program, such as Microsoft Word or WordPerfect. In the event that
the word processing software required is different from what you've used to
create your resume, you still have options available for submitting an
online
document that your recipient will be able to access. For example, you
can:
-
Convert your
resume to PDF and submit your resume as an attached PDF file
-
Convert your
resume to ASCII and submit your
resume as an attached "Text Only"
document
-
Copy and paste your resume into the body of an e-mail
message
-
Direct your recipient to your Resume Web page
-
Or all of the above
When To Use A Word Processed
Resume
You'll use your word processed
resume file for hardcopy submissions of your resume (snail mail).
You'll use your word
processed resume as an attached file with e-mail submissions.
And you'll use your word
processed resume for upload to
resume database sites that allow the submission of word processed
documents.
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Want your own Resume Web page?
About HTML Resumes
An HTML resume is formatted
for posting on the World Wide Web. One of the positive aspects of a resume
Web page, from a potential employer's point-of-view, is that it doesn't
require your recipient to download a file and reduces the risk of virus
transmission. It can be read, printed (although it won't print quite as cleanly as a
word processed file), or saved to a favorites folder. The Resume Web page also provides an
easy avenue for response, because the candidate's e-mail address can be
hyperlinked (clicking on the e-mail address will bring up an e-mail creation
window).
The HTML resume permits
greater layout and formatting options than an ASCII resume (more
attractive), but somewhat less than a word processed resume.
The HTML resume provides a
quick and convenient option for getting your resume in front of potential
employers and companies of interest.
When To Use An HTML or Resume Web
Page
You'll use your resume Web page by
including the URL (Web site address) in all your online and print
correspondence or communications with potential employers and companies of
interest. For example, added to an ASCII file as part of your contact
information, it can offer your recipient another option for viewing your
document - with greater layout and format than the ASCII resume offers. As
part of your e-mail signature, it can encourage recipient's to view your
resume without requiring your reader to download a file.
When
transferring a resume to the Internet, what are some problems to look out for?
In most
cases, the resume that ends up on the Internet begins its life as a word-processed
document. Most word processing software have the ability to "save as" or
"convert" a file to both ASCII and HTML formats. Problems arise when the
resulting converted files are posted to the Internet "as is." Both formats need
reformatting before they're ready for the Net. If this isn't done properly, the resulting
presentation won't look its best and might not be readable at all.
Once a
word-processed file is converted to ASCII text, it loses all high level formatting. All
tabs, bold, underlining, italics, bullets, etc. will be gone. It must be edited to make
what's left as attractive (and readable) as possible.
Once a
word-processed file is converted to HTML, unlike the ASCII file, it still retains most of
its high level formatting. But since HTML code is not nearly as rich in formatting
features as word processing applications, it will lose some of its formatting which will
need to be corrected before it's ready to take on its new life as a Web page. This can be
done with the word processor that was used to create the original file. Alternatively, it
can be imported into FrontPage or one of the other HTML editors for this final
preparation. During the final preparation step, other features can be added to the file.
These include the addition of a hyperlink for your e-mail address, adding a META tag for
"keywords" and a META tag for "page description" at the top of the
page so search engine robots can pick them up and index them (if confidentiality isn't an
issue). Other features that can be easily added at this time include a colored or graphic
background and different font colors.
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An actual "ASCII Resume" is
in text only format and is normally submitted as an attached .txt file or is
copied and pasted from a .txt file into the body of an e-mail message. The
following examples of "Plain Text" resumes are in HTML (Web page) or PDF format for online viewing.
Example of ASCII. Plain Text or Scannable Resume (Web page)
Another example of an ASCII,
Plain Text
or Scannable Resume (Web page)
ASCII or Plain Text
Resume in the body of an E-mail Message
(Web page)
Example of ASCII, Plain Text or Scannable Resume (PDF file) - long line lengths, for
mediums that allow line wrapping
Example of ASCII, Plain Text or Scannable Resume (PDF file) - short line lengths
with some formatting for use in mediums (such as some of the online resume
sites that require the use of their box forms) that don't allow line
wrapping.
Another example of an ASCII,
Plain Text or Scannable Resume (PDF file)
ASCII or Plain Text Resume in the body of an E-mail Message (PDF file)
the PDF files above require the Adobe®
Reader®
to open and view - if you don't already have Adobe®
Reader®
on your system, you can
download it
for FREE.
About ASCII (text only) Resumes
ASCII resumes are plain text
files that potential employers like because: 1) they're a smaller file to
download and store, 2) they have a lower risk of virus transmission, and 3)
they can be easily scanned into company database systems (scannable resume).
An ASCII resume is void of
highlighting effects such as processed bullets (asterisks work),
underlining, italics and bolding. The use of adequate white space is
important in creating an effective ASCII resume, particularly when you
consider that an ASCII resume will not only be "read" by a scanner, but
hopefully by a human eye as well.
To create an ASCII version
of your resume, simply pull up your resume in the word processing program
from which it was created (such as Microsoft Word), click on "Save As..."
and choose "Plain Text." This will give your document a .txt extension.
Next, open the text document in a plain text viewer, such as Notepad. From
here, you'll want to "clean up" your document by adding white space and
removing any remaining formatting blips (such as bullets that have turned
into asterisks - you can leave them, but they no longer serve a function).
Save your file. This should give you an ASCII resume with long line
lengths like the
ASCII resume example above.
Next, reduce your right margin so that it
allows no more than 65 characters per line (including spaces) before the
line wraps. You'll want to place a hard return after each of these lines to
create an ASCII resume with short line restrictions. Save this file under a
different name. This file is necessary for those online formats that don't
permit line wrapping, such as the
second ASCII resume example above.
To
maximize scan-ability:
-
Use
white or light-colored 8-1/2 x 11 paper, printed on one side only.
-
Provide
laser printer original or high quality photocopy.
-
Don't
fold or staple.
-
Use a
standard typeface such as Helvetica, Arial, or Times New Roman.
-
Use a
font size of 11 to 14 points.
-
Don't
condense spacing so that characters touch each other.
-
Refrain
from using italics and underlining.
-
Avoid
vertical and horizontal lines, graphics, and boxes.
-
Avoid
multi-column formats.
-
Use
plenty of white space between groups of information.
Job candidates often don't
like ASCII resumes because of the limited design and layout capabilities
(they're "plain" text). ASCII resumes simply aren't as attractive as
word processed or HTML resumes. However, the ASCII resume is a very
useful file for submission of a resume document via e-mail (either as an
attached file or as part of the body of an e-mail message), for uploading
into online resume database sites (see a list of such sites on the
Career Resources
page), and for submission to ads that require ASCII or "Text Only" resume
submissions.
When to Use An ASCII or Scannable
Resume
You'll use an ASCII resume
whenever an ad (online or in print) requires an "ASCII," "Text Only," or
"Plain Text" submission, or for companies that request a "scannable resume."
You'll use the ASCII resume to copy and paste your information into an
e-mail message (see
example) for all ads that state "No file attachments," or as a way to
bypass Spam filters that will delete all incoming e-mails with attachments.
You'll use the ASCII resume as a file attachment when submitting your resume
online but when uncertain of your recipient's software or operating system,
since an ASCII file can be read cleanly across all platforms (hopefully
you'll include other options for accessing your resume, too, such as a
resume Web page).
And you'll use your
ASCII resume to copy and paste your information into online resume databases
(see
Career Resources
for a list of such sites).
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the PDF files above require the Adobe®
Reader®
to open and view - if you don't already have Adobe®
Reader®
on your system, you can
download it
for FREE.
About PDF Resumes
PDF stands for "Portable
Document Format," and is commonly used on the Internet
for the secure and reliable distribution
and exchange of electronic documents and forms. PDF is a universal file
format that preserves the fonts, images, graphics, and layout of any source
document, regardless of the application and platform used to create it.
Therefore, a resume created in Microsoft Word, for
example, and saved in PDF will retain all of its original layout, format and
design - even if your recipient doesn't have Microsoft Word installed on his
or her computer. PDF files require the use of the free Adobe®
Reader®
to open, view and print.
In order to edit an
unprotected PDF file, Adobe®
Acrobat®
software is required. Be wary of resume services that only provide a resume
in this format, unless you have access to Adobe®
Acrobat®.
When To Use A PDF Resume
You'll use your PDF resume
to post a non-HTML document on the Internet as a Web page, retaining all of
its original, word processed design.
You'll use your PDF resume
as a file attachment when uncertain of your recipients' software or
operating system requirements, since the majority of Internet users have the
Adobe®
Reader®
software installed.
(Back
to top...)
Should I Hire a Professional Resume
Writer? / 1st-Writer.com Services
See more articles on
job hunting
For Information on
1st-Writer.com's services, or
to answer any questions you may have, please feel free to
E-mail Sue Campbell. I'll be glad to help.
Over 15 years experience as a professional resume writer and career
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