ASCII Resume Format: Embracing the Clear and Simple

Judging from the sound of it, ASCII may be some complicated doohickey that companies ask applicants to operate so that 95% of them will be eliminated presto.

Alright, enough of the scary thing. ASCII (As-kee) is actually a plain text language in which everything you write is stripped of its formatting and embellishments. In simple words, it is writing in a computer's notepad. You can't choose a font, use bullets, align a paragraph, and not even italicize a word. The major advantage of this style is that employers will not get distracted by the diversity of the overall layout and can make more unbiased choice towards the job candidates. And most of all, this ASCII resume format enables some legendary computer software to scan for keywords in your application paper.

Online applicants may feel stuck clueless and hampered by this askee thing forever, not knowing that the mechanism is plain simple: write your resume in notepad. Moreover, if you want to be one of the strongest contenders in the electronic job market, you may want to learn more tips in mastering the art of online application:

1. This is not Microsoft Word

First of all, it is advised that you write your document first in MS Word. However, don't use any button from the ribbon above because chances are, the style will only be eliminated. Practices starting a paragraph without punching in the tab. Tabs don't actually work once you paste them on Notepad. You may not be able to utilize several Word features in for your application. However, you can maximize the use of built-in thesaurus (a.k.a. right click synonyms) to improve your diction and generate a compelling content despite the very simple style.

2. Alternative to bullets

Since you cannot use bullets, dividers, and borders, here you can take advantage of some symbols like '+', '_' and '*'. They keep your copy coherent and organized as much as borders can do. You will never run out of resources once you know your keyboard well. So don't fret for not having to use your favorite diamond bullets and be thankful instead that you can still utilize some overlooked characters.

3. On formatting

One rule: never use anything that is not in your keyboard. Since the aim of ASCII resume format is to simplify the layout to make people concentrate more on the content, it is wise to invest more on keeping an engaging and impressing substance in your self-advertisement. Don't worry much about the presentation if it's very plain. If you badly needed to center or indent the word, use a space bar. All caps are also good for emphasis, but only use them for highly important details like your name and the name of the section.

4. The Magic of Word Wrap

Now you finish your e-resume and think it's already perfected, so you copy-pasted to Notepad. But to your surprise, the layout appeared to be too broad for the document. What to do? Go to Format menu and click Word Wrap. Set the margins at 0 and 65. Then, put a line break by punching enter every after 65 characters or less. In that way, you won't have to deal with an odd-looking layout and know exactly how your document will look like in print.

Using the ASCII resume format may look a little bit of a hassle, but you can almost be sure of a rewarding online job hunting once you got the hang of it.

Nelson Mullins is a former corporate hiring and recruitment expert who regularly writes articles on resumes, resume writing, personality development, and career in general. He is a father of three who also enjoys photography and biking. Nelson believes that while the employment world continues to be a rat race for applicants, it is important to always be equipped with new ideas on sustaining career growth and opportunities.

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5 Common Resume Formatting Mistakes - Tips to Create a Clear, Compelling Resume

In today's competitive job market, job seekers are more concerned than ever before that their resumes will be read -- and get the critical call back. Unfortunately, common formatting errors can produce an unprofessional impression, and lead the Hiring Authority to dismiss your resume - before the resume has even been read.

Needless to say, a lot of resumes cross my desk in a week. I'd like to use that experience to point out a few common formatting issues that can make your resume look lower level, and ensure that your resume clearly represents what you've accomplished in your career.

1) Death by Bullets:

This is by far the most common formatting issue that I see.

The tendency to bullet everything is natural. But, remember the line from the great Pixar classic, The Incredibles - "If everyone is special, no one is." If everything on your resume is bulleted, nothing stands out - there's no simple, straightforward visual cue to separate duties and responsibilities from critical accomplishments.

So be sure to make the distinction clear. One simple solution is to use paragraphs for duties and responsibilities - and save the bullets for the core accomplishments.

2) Unwieldy Chunks of Text:

On the other end of the spectrum is the resume that reads like a detailed essays - no bullets, and long, dense, paragraphs that are difficult to navigate.
This is particularly common in resumes for highly-technical and engineering professionals. This resume presents the same challenges as "death by bullets" - the resume can't be easily navigated for critical information.

But, unfortunately, this formatting may look so forbidding that the Hiring Authority will put off reading it until later. Later, in the hiring process, often doesn't happen.

3) Wasting the First Page:

The first page of the resume is the most critical real estate in the document. It is absolutely critical that the first page is well utilized to demonstrate the unique value you provide to a prospective employer.

But, too often, the first page can be wasted with overly long keywords lists, education, and miscellaneous information best left for the end of the document.

Only lead with education if you're a new graduate, or if you're changing careers and recent education is your most critical selling point.

4) Highlighted Accomplishments:

"Cherry picking" accomplishments seems like a great idea - why not give the reader the highlights upfront?

But this approach has serious drawbacks for most careers. There's no context for achievements - cutting costs by 250% is a very different accomplishment in a Fortune 100 organization than in a startup, for example.

In addition, this strategy is primarily used if a job seeker - for whatever reason - has not delivered great achievements in recent positions. Hiring Authorities are, therefore, wary of this format.

5) Unclear Layout:

Finally, there's a broad range of cluttered, busy layouts. There's the view that this "unique" approach to formatting will get the resume the attention it deserves. Unfortunately, there is often the opposite result - by making the Hiring Authority work too hard to find the critical information, your resume may be "put off until later." As we've discussed, later often never happens.

Consider these common issues when you're writing your resume. A clean, clear resume is an excellent first step to presenting your career achievements. I'll discuss resume content and other resume issues in future articles.

My goal is to help technology's "best and brightest" take their careers to the next level.
As a technical resume authority and former recruiter, I am committed to crafting compelling resumes, cover letters, and other career documents that capture your career essentials, seize and hold the hiring authority's attention, and open the door for the 1st interview.
For more information, please contact me at http://www.quantumtechresumes.com/.
Follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/QuanTechResume.

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