Step 1: Save Your MS Word Resume as Plain Text

Here's how to convert to Plain Text:

MS Word 2007

1. Open the MS Word document that contains your resume.
2. Click the Office button (the colorful logo in a circle found in the upper left corner of your MS Word window).
3. Click Save As and select Other Formats.
4. At the bottom of the window that pops up on your screen, type in a new name for this document in the File Name field, such as "ResPlainText."
5. Under this is the Save As Type pull-down menu. Scroll down this list to select "Plain Text (*.txt)."
6. Click Save to perform the conversion, while still preserving the original document (.docx) you use for your hardcopy resume.
7. When the File Conversion window appears, click OK without changing any of the settings.

MS Word 97-2003

1. Open the MS Word document that contains your resume.
2. Click File in your toolbar and select Save As.
3. Type in a new name for this document in File Name, such as "ResPlainText."
4. Under this is the Save As Type pull-down menu. Scroll down this list to select "Plain Text (*.txt)."
5. Click Save to create the Plain Text (*txt) version of your resume, while still preserving the original document (.doc) you use for your hardcopy resume.

After creating your resume as Plain Text, what appears in your document window is your resume stripped of any fancy formatting. You are now ready to make a few final adjustments (see next page) before posting it online.

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