There are 2 basic file formats for your Internet Resume. In the absence of any direction by the employer/recruiter, use these 2 methods in your on-line job search:

• ASCII text format is very plain text, used to:
  • Cut-and-paste into the body of an e-mail message to send your resume to potential employers, etc. and
  • Cut-and-paste into the resume/profile forms on Web job sites and employer Web sites.
    
    
• HTML format turns your resume into a Web page, allowing you to add bolding, color, and special formatting for:
  • Your personal resume Web page (be sure that it's a Cyber-Safe Resume!)
  • Cut-and-paste into the resume/profile forms on the Web job sites and employer Web sites that allow use of HTML.
    

Both of these file formats are very common on the Internet, and, consequently, are usually also very reliable. Use them unless an employer/recruiter has requested a different format from you. See more detailed information below.

Formatting Your Internet Resume:

Start with the file you saved when you created your traditional printed resume, assuming that you have one. It is probably a Microsoft Word document, or it may be any other word processing program (e.g. WordPerfect, etc.). Hopefully, it presents you in the best light possible and has also been spell-checked and proofread very carefully.

• ASCII format for e-mail --
  • Converting a Word document --
    
    • Quick method --
      • Open your Word document in Microsoft Word
      • Save it as an ASCII text file >>
        File -- Save As -- Save as Type: Text Only with Line Breaks (*.txt)
      • Close the document and Word.
      • Open Accessories -- Notepad
      • Open the file you just created
      • Jazz it up a bit with the techniques in ASCII Resume Polishing.
        
        
    • Longer (but reliable) method -- the step-by-step process

      This method usually works for documents from most other word processing programs, also.

• HTML format for a Web page --
  • Quick method --
    • Open your Word document in Word.
    • Save it as an HTML file: see above, except select Save as Type: Web Page (*.htm, *.html).
  • Medium method -- learn a few HTML tags and edit your document yourself, or, if you have Netscape Communicator:
    • Open Netscape Communicator and then >>
      • Follow the directions for viewing your HTML Personal Resume Web Page in the Navigator browser.
      • Select File -- Edit and Netscape Composer will open, with your resume in the main window, ready for you to edit it with Composer.
  • Longest method -- use a software program like Dreamweaver, HomeSite, or Microsoft Frontpage to format your resume as a web page. You will learn a potentially saleable (or at least useful) skill with this method.
    

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