Resume Bullets Turn Into Weird Symbols: Troubleshooting Guide and Fixes

Why Resume Formatting Errors Can Cost You the Job

Imagine spending weeks perfecting your resume, only to have it arrive looking like a cryptic puzzle. When resume bullets turn into weird symbols, such as black squares, question marks, or random characters, it creates an immediate negative impression on the hiring manager. In the competitive job market of 2026, recruiters often spend less than ten seconds scanning a document before making a judgment. If the visual presentation is compromised by garbled text or corrupted formatting, the reader is likely to assume a lack of attention to detail or technical incompetence, regardless of your qualifications.

Beyond the aesthetic damage, these formatting glitches pose a significant threat to your application's visibility. Most companies utilize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to parse resumes into a standardized database. If your bullet points are recognized as foreign symbols or unrecognizable data, the ATS may fail to extract critical information about your skills and experience. Consequently, your resume might be rejected before a human ever sees it. Fixing these issues is not just about visual polish; it is about ensuring the structural integrity of your professional data so that it passes through automated filters and reaches the decision-maker intact.

Identifying the Root Cause of Symbol Corruption

Before applying a fix, it is crucial to understand why your text is transforming into gibberish. Symbol corruption almost always stems from a disconnect between the software used to create the file and the software used to view it. This usually involves differences in how characters are encoded or how rendering engines interpret specific formatting commands. By diagnosing the specific type of incompatibility, you can apply the correct remedy rather than just guessing, saving time and preventing recurring issues in future applications.

The most common culprits are a clash of file formats or operating system differences between your computer and the recruiter’s. For instance, a document created on a Windows machine using a specific font might look perfect locally, but if that font is missing on a Mac or if the file is opened in a different word processor, the system may substitute the missing glyphs with placeholder symbols. Understanding the interaction between file formats, encoding standards, and software versions is the key to solving this frustrating problem.

Analyzing Common File Format Incompatibilities

File format incompatibility is a leading cause of resume formatting errors. When you create a document in one program and send it out, you are essentially packaging data to be decoded by another program. If the receiving program does not fully support the features or standards used in the original creation, the result is often visual corruption. This is particularly common when moving files between different versions of Microsoft Office, or between Microsoft Word and other word processors like LibreOffice or Google Docs.

Recruiters may open your document using software that is older or simply different from yours. For example, if you use a newer version of Word with advanced layout features, but the recruiter uses Word 2010 or a basic text editor, the rendering engine may not know how to display certain visual elements, defaulting to strange symbols instead. To mitigate this, one must understand the two major technical factors that drive these incompatibilities: character encoding and the specific rendering behaviors of different file extensions.

Encoding Mismatches: ANSI vs. UTF-8

The invisible "code" that tells a computer which symbol corresponds to a specific character is called character encoding. Historically, Windows used ANSI encoding, which supports standard English characters and some regional symbols. However, modern web standards and many newer applications prefer UTF-8, a universal standard that supports a vast range of characters and symbols from every language. If your resume was saved in ANSI but the recruiter's software expects UTF-8 (or vice versa), the computer may misinterpret the bullet points, turning them into black diamonds with question marks or other random glyphs.

To prevent this, you should ensure your document is saved using a universal encoding standard. While most modern word processors default to UTF-8, legacy settings can sometimes force an older encoding. If you are copying text from other sources (like a website or PDF), you might inadvertently bring over non-standard characters that your word processor doesn't know how to handle. Ensuring your document is "clean" and uses standard Unicode characters for bullet points (such as the standard round or square bullets) rather than custom symbols helps guarantee that the file will be readable regardless of the recipient's encoding settings.

Differences Between .doc, .docx, and .pdf Rendering

The file extension you choose dictates how the document is rendered. The older .doc format is a binary file type that stores information in a proprietary way, often leading to compatibility issues with modern software. The .docx format is newer and relies on XML, which is generally more robust and standardized. However, even .docx can break if the recipient has a conflicting office suite. This is where the .pdf (Portable Document Format) shines, as it is designed to lock the visual appearance of a document, regardless of the software used to view it.

However, there is a trade-off. While PDFs preserve the look of your resume, they are not always as easily parsed by older ATS versions as .docx files are. Conversely, .doc files offer high compatibility with older systems but risk visual corruption if fonts are missing. The "weird symbols" often appear when a .doc or .docx file relies on a font that is not installed on the recruiter's computer. The system then replaces the missing font with a default one, which may not support the specific bullet glyphs, resulting in empty boxes or symbols.

Software-Specific Glitches and Compatibility Modes

Sometimes the issue isn't the file format itself, but the specific software settings used to create or open the file. Modern software includes "compatibility modes" and "assistants" that attempt to simplify formatting but often complicate it. Microsoft Word and Google Docs handle lists and special characters very differently under the hood. A glitch can occur if a document created in one environment is aggressively edited in another, leading to nested lists or corrupted paragraph markers that display as symbols.

These glitches are frequently invisible to the writer but glaringly obvious to the reader. For instance, pasting content from an email or a web page into a resume template can carry over invisible formatting codes. These hidden codes can interfere with the standard bullet list function, causing the software to display a symbol it thinks is correct but looks like gibberish to the human eye. Identifying these software-specific behaviors is the next step in troubleshooting.

Issues with Microsoft Word Compatibility Mode

Microsoft Word’s Compatibility Mode is designed to allow users to edit older .doc files without changing their formatting. While helpful for preserving legacy documents, it can restrict access to newer features, including modern font rendering and list formatting. If you are working in Compatibility Mode (which usually displays "Compatibility Mode" next to the file name in the title bar), you might be using an older set of rendering rules. This can cause bullet points to behave erratically when you eventually switch the file to the modern .docx format.

When you switch an older file out of Compatibility Mode, Word sometimes struggles to translate the old list structures to the new XML-based structure. This can result in bullets that are actually images or strange symbols embedded in the text rather than true list characters. To avoid this, it is best to start new documents in the current format or convert older files permanently and then re-apply standard list formatting to ensure the underlying code is clean and compatible with modern systems.

How Google Docs Handles Custom Bullet Lists

Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, but it handles custom formatting differently than Microsoft Word. Sometimes, when a user creates a custom bullet style in Google Docs, it may render as a specific Unicode character. While this looks fine within the Google Docs interface, it relies on the browser and the operating system to render that character. If the resume is exported to a .docx format, Google Docs attempts to translate that custom bullet into a Word-compatible object, which can sometimes fail and result in a symbol that Word doesn't recognize.

Another common issue in Google Docs is the "Check Mark" or "Square" bullet options. These are technically specific Unicode characters. If the recipient opens the file in a program that does not support that specific Unicode range, or if the font substitution occurs, you may see a question mark inside a box. The safest approach when using Google Docs is to stick to the standard "List" options (bullets and numbering) and avoid custom symbols. Furthermore, ensure that you export the file directly as a PDF if you want to lock in the visual appearance exactly as it appears in the browser.

Step-by-Step Fixes for Corrupted Resume Bullets

If you are currently facing the issue of corrupted bullets, there are immediate actions you can take to clean up your document. The goal is to remove the corrupted formatting and replace it with standard, universal characters that every system can read. These fixes range from simple re-formatting within your word processor to changing how you export the final file. By following these steps, you can rescue a damaged resume and ensure it looks professional for the next applicant review.

We will cover two main categories of fixes: restoring standard formatting within the editor and ensuring clean exports. The first method involves digging into the tools provided by your software to strip away bad code. The second involves choosing the right file format to send to the employer. Both are essential skills for any job seeker in 2026.

Restoring Standard Formatting in Word Processors

The most direct way to fix weird symbols is to intervene within the word processor itself. This method focuses on removing the visual corruption and replacing it with bullet points that are part of the software's standard library. This process usually involves clearing the formatting of the affected lines and re-applying the list structure using the built-in tools. It is a manual process, but it guarantees that the text is clean and free of hidden, problematic characters.

Start by identifying the specific lines that are showing symbols instead of bullets. Often, the corruption is contained to the list itself, while the body text remains fine. Do not try to manually delete the symbols one by one, as this usually leaves behind the hidden code that caused the problem in the first place. Instead, follow the steps below to strip the formatting and rebuild the list cleanly.

Re-applying Standard Bullet Styles via the Ribbon

First, highlight the entire section of text that contains the weird symbols. Do not include the headers or other paragraphs, just the lines with the corrupted bullets. Once highlighted, look at the "Home" tab in your word processor (specifically Microsoft Word or similar). Locate the "Bullets and Numbering" section in the ribbon. Even if the text currently looks like symbols, the tool is still active. Click the drop-down menu for bullets and select a standard bullet style, such as the simple round or solid square.

This action usually forces the software to overwrite the current bullet style with the new one you selected. However, if the corruption is deep, simply changing the style might not work. In that case, you must remove the list formatting entirely. To do this, with the text still highlighted, click the "Bullets" button in the ribbon to toggle it off. This will remove the list structure, turning the symbols into plain text. At this point, you can manually remove the plain text symbols (the weird characters). Then, with the text still highlighted, click the "Bullets" button again to re-apply a fresh list.

Clearing All Formatting to Remove Hidden Characters

If re-applying the bullet style doesn't fix the issue, the problem likely lies in deep-seated formatting codes (sometimes called "field codes" or "non-printing characters"). The nuclear option to fix this is the "Clear All Formatting" feature. In Microsoft Word, this is found in the "Home" tab, usually represented by a letter "A" with a pink eraser icon (or simply right-clicking the text and selecting "Font" to clear hidden attributes). Highlight your corrupted list, click this button, and the text will revert to the default plain text style, stripping away all font changes, colors, and hidden symbols.

Once your text is plain, you will likely see the weird symbols still sitting there as ordinary characters. You can now simply delete them. After deleting the symbols, ensure your list items are separated by line breaks (but not hard returns that break the list structure). Now, re-highlight the clean text and apply the standard bullet formatting from the ribbon. This process effectively "resets" the paragraph, removing the corrupted code and replacing it with a clean, standard format that is safe for the ATS and the human eye.

Ensuring ATS-Friendly File Exports

Sometimes, the issue isn't in your file, but in the way you are sending it. Even a perfectly formatted Word document can look like a mess if the recipient opens it in an incompatible program. To prevent this, you must optimize your export settings. This means choosing file formats that are universally recognized and less prone to corruption. The two most important considerations are the file format itself (PDF vs. Word) and ensuring the file uses standard character encoding (Unicode).

When you export, you are essentially making a final copy of your data. If you export to a format that allows for easy editing (like a legacy .doc file), you leave the door open for formatting errors. If you export to a format designed for printing (like PDF), you lock the visual appearance. However, you must balance visual locking with ATS readability. Understanding these trade-offs is crucial for submitting the perfect resume.

Why "Save As" PDF is Often the Safer Choice

PDF (Portable Document Format) is widely considered the safer choice for resumes because it acts like a photograph of your document. It embeds the fonts and fixes the layout, meaning that no matter what computer the recruiter uses, the document will look exactly the same. This eliminates the risk of the recruiter seeing black squares or missing fonts because the file contains its own visual instructions. For visual-heavy resumes, PDF is the gold standard for preserving your hard work.

However, there is a specific setting you must use to ensure the PDF is ATS-friendly. You must ensure the PDF is created as "Text-based" rather than "Image-based." If you "Print to PDF" using a virtual printer rather than using the Word "Save As" feature, the ATS might read the file as a flat image, which it cannot parse. Always use the native "Save As > PDF" option in your word processor. Furthermore, within the options of that save menu, look for a setting that says "ISO 19005-1 compliant (PDF/A)" or "Create bookmarks using headings," as these ensure the text data is preserved.

Verified Best Practices for Unicode Compliance

Unicode compliance is the technical standard that ensures your special characters (like bullet points) are readable across all platforms. To verify your file is compliant, you should stick to the most common, standard fonts provided by your operating system, such as Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Verdana. These fonts have the highest probability of being present on the recruiter's computer. If you use a custom or decorative font for your bullets, and that font is missing, the computer will substitute it, often with a symbol that looks like a square or question mark.

Another best practice is to avoid "fancy" bullet symbols found in wingdings or other symbol fonts. Stick to the standard bullet points provided in the default list menu of your word processor. These are mapped to standard Unicode values that are universally supported. If you are using a modern tool like AI ResumeMaker, this is handled automatically, as the templates are pre-configured to use high-compatibility fonts and standard characters. By sticking to standard alphanumeric characters and simple punctuation, you ensure that the ATS can read your resume without errors.

Preventing Future Errors with AI-Driven Tools

While manual fixes are effective, the best strategy is prevention. Using modern, AI-driven tools can eliminate the root causes of formatting errors before they ever happen. These tools are built with compatibility in mind, ensuring that the resume is not only visually appealing but also technically sound. By leveraging automation, job seekers in 2026 can bypass the tedious manual formatting steps and focus on the content of their application.

AI tools are specifically designed to bridge the gap between creative presentation and technical parsing. They understand the requirements of Applicant Tracking Systems and the rendering limitations of different file types. By utilizing a dedicated platform, you can ensure that your resume is generated in a "clean" state, free from the hidden codes and formatting glitches that plague documents created manually.

Leveraging AI for Flawless Resume Generation

Artificial Intelligence has revolutionized the way resumes are created. Instead of manually selecting fonts and adjusting margins, AI-driven platforms use algorithms to structure the document perfectly. These platforms ensure that every element, from the header to the bullet points, is generated using code that is optimized for both human readers and machine parsers. This eliminates the possibility of "ghost formatting"—hidden codes that cause symbol corruption because the AI constructs the document from the ground up using best-practice standards.

Furthermore, AI tools can adapt your content for different roles without breaking the formatting. When you tailor your resume, you are often copying and pasting text, which is where many formatting errors originate. AI tools handle text insertion dynamically, ensuring that pasting new content never disrupts the underlying structure. This allows for the rapid creation of multiple resume versions, each technically flawless.

Ensuring Compatibility with AI ResumeMaker Templates

AI ResumeMaker is an example of a tool designed to solve these specific technical problems. The templates within AI ResumeMaker are pre-tested for compatibility with the most common ATS software and operating systems. When you choose a template, you are selecting a framework that uses standard, Unicode-compliant fonts and list structures. This means that the bullet points generated by the tool are not just visual elements, but correctly coded text characters that will render correctly on any device.

By using a platform like AI ResumeMaker, you remove the guesswork of font selection and encoding. The system automatically applies the correct formatting styles, ensuring that when you export the file, it meets the rigorous standards of modern hiring technology. This is particularly helpful for users who may not be tech-savvy, as it protects them from the common pitfalls of manual formatting.

Exporting Clean Files from AI ResumeMaker

One of the most critical features of a good AI resume tool is the export engine. AI ResumeMaker offers multiple export formats, including PDF, Word, and PNG. The PDF export is specifically optimized to be "text-rich," meaning it keeps the text selectable and readable for ATS, while also locking the visual layout. This solves the age-old dilemma of choosing between a pretty PDF and a parsable Word doc. You get the best of both worlds: a visually stunning document that the ATS can still read.

When using AI ResumeMaker, the export process handles the heavy lifting of standardization. It ensures that the file is saved with the correct encoding (UTF-8) and that all fonts are embedded or standard. This guarantees that the "weird symbols" phenomenon is virtually impossible. You simply generate your content, select your preferred format, and download the file, confident that it will look exactly the same on the recruiter's screen as it does on yours.

Optimizing Content for Applicant Tracking Systems

Formatting is only half the battle; the content must also be optimized for the systems that read it. AI tools don't just fix bullets; they analyze the text to ensure it matches the job description. This process, known as keyword optimization, increases the likelihood that your resume will rank highly in the ATS. However, this optimization must not come at the cost of readability. AI algorithms balance the density of keywords with natural language flow, ensuring the resume sounds human.

By using AI to optimize content, you ensure that the structure of your resume supports the keywords. The AI knows where to place skills and experience to ensure they are picked up by the parser. This strategic placement is often missed in manual resumes, where the focus is usually on visual placement rather than data hierarchy.

How AI ResumeMaker Enhances Keyword Optimization

AI ResumeMaker goes beyond simple formatting to actively improve your content. The tool analyzes your input against the job requirements you provide, suggesting relevant keywords and phrases to include in your bullet points. This ensures that your resume is not only visually clean but also contextually relevant to the specific role you are applying for. By integrating these keywords directly into the generated bullet points, the tool helps you pass the initial ATS screening process.

This feature is particularly valuable for career switchers or students who may not be familiar with the industry-specific terminology. Instead of guessing which words matter, the AI provides data-driven suggestions. This results in a resume that speaks the language of the industry, increasing the chances of securing an interview.

Using the Mock Interview Feature to Verify Readability

While fixing symbols is a technical task, ensuring the resume reads well is a qualitative one. AI ResumeMaker includes a Mock Interview feature that serves as a unique verification tool. While primarily designed for interview prep, this feature relies on the AI reading and understanding your resume content. If the AI can successfully analyze your bullet points to generate relevant interview questions, it implies that your resume is logically structured and clear.

Using this feature allows you to "stress test" your resume. If the AI struggles to extract meaning from your bullet points or generates irrelevant questions, it may indicate that your phrasing is confusing or your formatting is obstructing the text. It is a feedback loop that ensures your resume is not just free of symbols, but also rich in clear, communicative content.

Summary: Securing Your Resume's Professional Appearance

Dealing with resume bullets that turn into weird symbols can be a stressful experience, especially when you are in the middle of an important job search. However, this issue is almost always solvable with a systematic approach. The root causes usually involve encoding mismatches, font incompatibilities, or software glitches. By understanding these causes, you can move from frustration to action, applying specific fixes to restore your document's integrity.

The most reliable path to a flawless resume is a combination of manual knowledge and modern technology. Whether you choose to manually clear formatting and re-apply standard bullets, or opt for the streamlined efficiency of an AI-driven generator, the goal remains the same: ensuring your qualifications are presented clearly and professionally. By adhering to Unicode standards, prioritizing ATS-friendly PDF exports, and leveraging tools like AI ResumeMaker, you can eliminate the risk of symbol corruption. In the competitive job landscape of 2026, a technically perfect resume ensures that the only thing the recruiter focuses on is your potential.

Resume Bullets Turn Into Weird Symbols: Troubleshooting Guide and Fixes

Q1: Why do my resume bullets turn into weird symbols, and how can I fix them?

Bullet points often change into strange characters like “•” or question marks due to encoding mismatches. This usually happens when a file created in one text editor (like Apple Pages or Google Docs) is opened in another (like Microsoft Word) without proper compatibility. It’s a formatting error where the program misreads the font data, turning standard bullet points into unreadable symbols. This is a common frustration for job seekers trying to present a polished document.

To fix this permanently, use the AI Resume Generation feature in AI ResumeMaker. Our system creates documents with stable, HR-friendly formatting that prevents encoding errors. You can generate a fresh resume draft, select a template, and then export it to a standard format like PDF or Word. This ensures that when recruiters open your file, they see the professional, clean layout you intended, free from distracting symbols.

Q2: Can I still apply for jobs if my resume has these symbol errors?

While you can technically apply, it is highly unadvisable. A resume filled with weird symbols looks unprofessional and suggests a lack of attention to detail. Recruiters often view this as a red flag, assuming the candidate doesn't care about their application's presentation. In a competitive job market, first impressions are critical, and garbled text can cause them to skip over your qualifications entirely, regardless of your experience.

Instead of risking it, let AI ResumeMaker's Resume Optimization tool scan and repair your document. The AI analyzes your content, corrects formatting issues, and highlights your skills using optimized keywords for the specific role you are targeting. By using our optimized templates, you ensure your resume passes both the human eye test and any Applicant Tracking System (ATS) scans, which can be confused by symbol errors, increasing your chances of landing an interview.

Q3: What is the best file format to prevent bullets from turning into symbols?

The universal standard for preventing symbol errors is the PDF format. Unlike Word documents (.doc or .docx), which can change based on the recipient’s software version or font library, PDFs preserve the exact visual layout you designed. They act like an image of your document, ensuring consistency across all devices and operating systems. This is the safest way to send your resume to ensure the hiring manager sees it exactly as you do.

Our platform is designed with this in mind. After you build your resume using our AI Resume Generation tools, you can export it directly to PDF with a single click. This not only solves your formatting issues but also integrates seamlessly into a broader job search strategy. You can follow up by using our AI Cover Letter Generation feature, which also exports perfectly to PDF, ensuring your entire application package is professional and error-free.

Q4: I’m a recent graduate on a tight budget. What’s a free way to avoid these formatting headaches?

For new grads, the best free strategy is to copy your resume content into a plain text editor first to strip out hidden, complex formatting. Then, paste it into a simple template in Google Docs or Microsoft Word, using their default bullet points rather than custom symbols or icons. Avoid switching between different word processing programs, as this is the primary cause of corruption. Stick to one platform and one standard font to maintain stability.

For a more robust, long-term solution, AI ResumeMaker offers tools that streamline this process. Our platform helps you bypass these technical frustrations entirely by focusing on content generation and Career Planning. You can use our system to draft a strong initial resume and match it to job descriptions, ensuring your focus remains on landing the job rather than fighting with software. This approach saves time and ensures your application reflects your true potential.

Q5: How can I make sure my resume looks good on the recruiter’s end?

There is no guaranteed way to control a recruiter's computer, but you can maximize compatibility by sticking to system-standard fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri. These fonts are pre-installed on virtually all computers, drastically reducing the chance they will be replaced by default alternatives, which often causes symbol errors. Keep formatting simple: use standard bullets, avoid complex tables or text boxes, and always test your document by sending it to a friend and asking them to open it.

For a foolproof method, leverage AI ResumeMaker’s professional templates. They are specifically designed to be ATS-friendly and visually stable across all systems. Once your resume is ready, you can use our Mock Interview feature to prepare for the next step. By simulating real interview scenarios, we ensure that when a recruiter does open your perfectly formatted resume and calls you, you are fully prepared to discuss the experience you’ve so professionally presented.