Electronic resume samples, examples, templates and formats are linked below, along with posting (pasting into online forms) and writing tips. Includes electronic resume templates you may download for free.

Electronic resume means that an otherwise-traditional paper resume is properly prepared for electronically storing, distributing, tracking and searching via the applicant-tracking software many job banks, employers and recruiters use these days.

To have the best chance at landing interviews, you must know how to format your electronic resume to take advantage of the software.

The four most practical reasons for creating an electronic resume are listed below.

1) So you may post (paste) the contents into online resume forms, such as at job banks and employer sites.
2) So you may paste the contents into email to send electronically to employers and recruiters.
3) So you may hire a resume distribution service to do both of the above for you.
4) So employers may easily scan the paper version of your electronic resume into applicant-tracking software, using optical scanners.

Other names for an electronic resume include:

ASCII (pronounced "as-key")
Email
E-resume
Scannable
Keyword
Plain-text (.txt file type)

Regardless of whether your electronic resume is in a chronological, functional, combination or technical format, it's the layout, fonts and keywords that count most for scanners and applicant-tracking software. That's what the links below are about.

See the Resume and Letter Center for scannable resume writing tips and samples from certified, professional writers. See also Resume Books, Resume Writing Software, Resume Writing Services and Resume Distribution Services.

25 Tips for a Better Electronic Resume
The creators of the Resume Maker brand of resume-generating software, offer these tips for composing an electronic resume (or any resume for that matter), with or without their software.

Advice and Samples
Scannable resume writing tips with samples. Includes lots of resume writing tips for other styles, along with dozens of before and after samples with critiques. Free from a professional resume writing service.

Assistance Creating Your Electronic Resume
Your resume is your calling card and an employer's very first impression of you. You don't get a second chance. If you don't feel comfortable writing your own electronic resume, consider letting ResumeEdge do it for you. ResumeEdge is the leading resume writing service on the Web and hires only professional, certified, resume writers. They'll work with you one-on-one until you're satisfied, guaranteed. See Resume Writing Services for more.

Consolidated Resume Writing Tips
If instead of piecing together resume writing tips from the Web, you'd prefer them all in one place with plenty of samples and examples, consider buying a good book on the topic. Click the link above for a list of good books.

Scannable Resume Design
Formatting and writing tips with a link to samples, in our Resume and Letter Center.

Download Entry Level Resume Template
Resume templates for many different majors in a choice of file formats, including plain text for electronic uses. Download for free from CollegeGrad.com, which caters to college students and recent grads. The only catch is that you must agree to honor the copyright terms, a reasonable request.

Download Resume Template
Microsoft offers several flavors of free resume templates, already formatted with example paragraphs you may edit and save. Although none are called electronic resume templates at this writing, many are formatted with that purpose in mind or easily converted to plain-text (.txt) resumes for the purpose. You can preview the templates in your browser, but must have Microsoft® Word installed on your computer to edit and save them. See also the tips for creating separate sections for your cover letter and resume in one Word document.

Electronic Resume Example
Plain and simple, as it's supposed to be. It's scannable and also suitable for posting into job-bank forms and pasting into email.

Electronic Resume Examples and Tutorials
Award winner, author, teacher, Webmaster and electronic resume expert Rebecca Smith, serves up free examples, tutorials and resources.

Electronic Resume Sample
A sample of a plain-text format that'll work well for email, job-bank posting and optical scanning.

Electronic Resume Samples
"After" samples of electronic resumes (scannable) improved by certified, professional, resume writers. Part of our Resume and Letter Center mentioned earlier on this page.

Electronic Resume Writing Software
Discover the easy, inexpensive way to write both the electronic and traditional versions of your resume. Some of these software packages also help you to easily create a Web-based resume, email and broadcast your electronic resume, job search multiple employment sites at once, write electronic and traditional employment business letters, organize interviewing, networking and job fair appointments, and even practice interviewing.

Electronic Resume Writing Tips
Monster.com offers lots of resume writing tips, including those for electronic resumes. Also offers traditional samples, including technical. Register with "My Monster" to manage your job search, post your resume and customize your jobs by email options. It's all free.

Scannable Resume Format
Guidelines for preparing your resume so employers can easily transfer it optically into a computer database (applicant-tracking software). Also includes tips for sending your resume in email or posting it in job-bank resume forms in ASCII (plain text).