Sometimes you may be asked to fill out a job application directly on a company's website and need to convert your resume from a Word document to a plain text.

Below are the steps to convert your MS Word document to Plain Text: 

1. Open your existing Word resume document.
2. Using the main toolbar “File” menu, scroll down and select “Save As”
3. Using the “Save As” box, proceed as follows:
   1. In the “Save In” window, select the location where you want to store the new file (suggestion: “Desktop”).
   2. In the “File Name” window, assign the new file a name (suggestion: “Plain Text Resume”).
   3. In the “Save as Type” window, scroll down and select “Text Only” or “Plain Text”.
   4. Click on “Save” to save the new plain text file to your Desktop.
4. A screen may appear advising you that the “file you are about to save may contain features that are not compatible with a text only format.  Do you want to save the document in this format?”  If this occurs, click “Yes”.  You may also see a File Conversion box.  If so, accept the default settings and click OK to continue.
5. Close the original Word file and open the new file on your Desktop.
6. Now to polish your Plain Text resume.
7. Align your text to the left, keeping each line to no more than 60 letters.
8. The tab key won’t work and don’t bother trying to center anything.
9. Use asterisk to replace bullets or the hyphen to make separations.
10. Utilize all capitalizing, underlining with hyphens, and making the most of the white space.

Partial sample:

Robin Rambler

123 State Street

Chicago, IL  60611

(312)456-7890

robinrambler@luc.edu

OBJECTIVE

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To obtain a position in finance.

EDUCATION

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Loyola University Chicago

*Bachelor of Business Administration

**anticipated May 2008

***major: Finance

EXPERIENCE

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ROCKWOOD INSURANCE, Chicago, IL

Financial Analyst, 10/2004-present

+Developed new financial structure for analyzing vendors.

+Maintained financial records of various clients.