What is an ASCII text resume?

An ASCII text resume by definition is an electronic resume written in normal, plain text which can be read by any computer or software.

ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. The reason ASCII text is used to enter resume information, which can then be cut and paste into various submissions, is because of its universal nature. It is accepted by devices everywhere, thus making it safe for information transfer.

When sending your resume to multiple places, converting your resume to ASCII format ensures that it is displayed in the correct manner everywhere.

To convert your resume into an ASCII type resume, some changes need to be made. It can be made with only proper formatting(minimum 1-inch margin, 12pt font, left alignment, and no special formats such as bold, italics, or underline) and with a resume that does not contain any non-ASCII characters such as pictures, graphics or bullet points. Then save this document in a text-only format. To check how it will be viewed by the recruiter open it in notepad. Once satisfied, send it to the desired place.