How to Format a Resume When Applying for Jobs Online

Formatting a resume when applying for jobs online is a different process than creating a hard copy. While design and eye appeal are often key to creating resumes, the key word for online resumes is "simple." Read on to learn how to format a simple resume that will help you stand out online.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Open your previously created resume in your word processing program.

2. Click on the "File" tab and click on the "Save As" selection to save the document in a new format.

3. Type a new file name in the space provided in the window, such as "Text Version of Resume". Now click on the arrow in the "Save as type" area and scroll down to find "Text Only" or "Plain Text," which will have (*.txt) after it. Select the text format and click "Save." Close the original document, but not the program.

4. Click "Open" on the "File" tab and open the document that you just named and created.

5. Change any formatting that needs converting. The resume will no longer have italics, underlining or bold type, so capitalize any headings and other phrases you want to emphasize. Replace any bullet points with *, + or -. Also change any curved quotes to straight quotes by clicking on "Format," then "AutoFormat" and "Options". Unselect "Replace Straight Quotes With Smart Quotes" and click "Okay" to change them to straight quotes.

6. Make any other needed changes to the resume. Odd spacing needs to be corrected. As well, sections in tables or using special formatting may have been deleted altogether and need to be replaced in plain text. Set the font to a standard size and type, such as Times New Roman 12 pt.

7. Format the document further if you are applying to jobs online that require the resume to be in the body of the sent email.

8. Open the resume in your word processor and select the entire document, then change the font to Courier, 12 pt. Click on the "Format" or "File" tab, click on "Page Setup" and change the margins. Set the left to one inch and the right to 1.75 inches to stimulate the email screen. If you have a Yahoo! email account, set the right margin to 2.5 inches. After the margins are set, you can change the document back to a standard font. Save the document in this format for any jobs online that require a resume in the body of the email.

9. Open the resume document when you are ready to apply to the job. Copy and paste from the line shortened document to put your document in the body of an email. Use the text format as an attachment or to paste into resume-posting websites.

Tips & Warnings

• When applying for jobs, make sure that your computer's anti-virus software is updated and working correctly, to avoid sending viruses along with your resumes.