Plain text resume: the version you paste into application forms.
Some application forms ask you to paste your resume into a box. Formatting from a word processor can turn into a mess of symbols there. A plain text version keeps it readable anywhere.
A plain text resume is your resume with all formatting removed: no columns, tables, bullets symbols, bold or special characters, just text and line breaks. Make one by pasting your resume into a plain text editor, then rebuilding headings in capitals, using hyphens for bullets and checking line spacing. Use it for paste-in boxes and some email applications.
How to make one
- Paste into a plain text editor. This strips the formatting so you can see what remains.
- Rebuild headings. Use capital letters for section headings, with a blank line before each.
- Replace bullet symbols. Use a hyphen or asterisk at the start of each bullet.
- Remove special characters. Smart quotes, long dashes and symbols can turn into stray characters.
- Check line lengths. Keep lines short enough to read in a narrow box.
- Test it. Paste it into an email to yourself or a form preview before submitting.
Illustrative examples to adapt
Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.
Plain text layout
When to use: Pasting into an online form.
[Your name] [City, State] | [email] | [phone] | [LinkedIn URL] SUMMARY [Job title] with [number] years of [type of work]; [result you can prove]. EXPERIENCE [Job title], [Employer], [Month Year] to present - [Action verb] [what you did], which [result] - [Second bullet] EDUCATION [Degree], [School], [Year] SKILLS [Skill], [skill], [skill]
Pre-submit test note
When to use: Checking the pasted version.
Pasted into: [form or email] Headings readable: [yes or no] Stray characters found: [none or where] Line breaks kept: [yes or no]
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every sample on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Formatting that survives, and what does not
| Element | Survives a paste? | Plain text version |
|---|---|---|
| Bold and italics | No | Capital letters for headings. |
| Bullet symbols | Often not | Hyphens. |
| Tables and columns | No | One column of text. |
| Smart quotes and long dashes | Sometimes break | Straight quotes and plain hyphens. |
| Line breaks | Usually | Blank lines between sections. |
| Hyperlinks | As text only | Write the full URL. |
The same line, rewritten
Illustrative example with placeholders.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | Pasting directly from a two-column formatted resume into a web form. |
| Strong | Pasting a plain text version with capital headings, hyphen bullets and a full URL for your LinkedIn profile. |
Why it matters: Formatted text often scrambles in a paste-in box. The plain version reads cleanly for the reader and the system.
Before you send it
- No tables, columns or text boxes.
- Headings in capitals with blank lines between sections.
- Hyphens instead of bullet symbols.
- No smart quotes or special characters.
- URLs written out in full.
- Tested by pasting before submitting.
Mistakes to avoid
- Pasting a formatted resume straight into a form.
- Leaving symbols that become question marks or boxes.
- Running everything into one block without line breaks.
- Forgetting to update the plain text version when the main resume changes.
- Leaving links as words instead of full URLs.
Build yours
Questions people ask
What is a plain text resume?
When do I need a plain text resume?
How do I make a plain text resume?
Does a plain text resume help with applicant tracking systems?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. Advice is labelled as advice. Every sample uses a fictional person marked '(illustrative)' or a 'Your name' placeholder, and every employer, school, date and result is a bracketed placeholder for your own true details.
- What a specific employer screens for: always read the posting.
- Your results: we never invent numbers, and you should never copy a result you did not achieve.
- Outcomes: no resume, letter, profile or program can promise an interview or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 4, 2026.