Basic and Simple Resume Templates (+ Tips and Examples)

Master the simple resume format and design an effective resume from simple templates.

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Reviewed by

Chelsea Jay

Career and Leadership Coach

Updated on March 20, 2026

Written by

Cara Siera

Table of content:

For some, resume writing is a complex task that takes them out of their comfort zone.

Whether you’re writing a resume for the first time or just haven’t written one in a while, it doesn’t have to be complicated. This guide will show you exactly how to write a simple resume that does exactly what it is supposed to do: land you interviews!

We’ll also provide a simple resume sample that you can use as a starting point for your own resume.

What Is a Basic Resume?

A simple resume is your professional first impression. It should be clean, confident, and easy to read.

It’s usually one page, written in reverse-chronological order, and printed in black and white. It’s used to get straight to the point, displaying the basic information a hiring manager needs to know about the candidate.

To determine whether yours is a simple resume, compare it to the following checklist:

• Clean
• Easy-to-read format
• Avoids unnecessary design elements
• Straightforward and informative wording

• 💡 Our expert’s advice

  Your goal is to make the reader’s (hiring manager or recruiter) life easier! Right away you want them to be able to recognize what you do, what makes you stand out, and how you’ll address their needs!

Basic Resume Sample and Structure

Basic resumes contain just a few key pieces of information: contact information, work history, education, and skills.

You can use the following template to create your own. Simply copy and paste it into a text editor, replace the bracketed text with your information, and delete anything you don’t need.

[Your name]

[Your city/state] | [Your phone number] | [Your email address] | [Your LinkedIn URL]

Summary

[Job title] with [X] years of experience in [industry or field], specializing in [key skill(s)].

Skills

[Skill 1]
[Skill 2]
[Skill 3]
[Skill 4]
[Skill 5]

Experience

[Job title] | [Company name], [City/state] | [Year started]-[Year ended]

• [Description of job: action verb + responsibility = results]

Education

[Degree name] | [University Name], [City/state] | [Graduation year]

Why Choose a Simple Resume?

Your professional, simple resume has two challenges: to get past the robot and wow the human hiring manager.

Seventy-five percent of recruiters and 99% of Fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to help screen applications before they ever make it to human hands.

If you’re using a resume with complex graphics or tables, the ATS might not be able to parse it correctly. Simple resumes with clear headings and bullet points are more easily read by computers.

An online resume builder can help with this process, making it quick and easy to edit resume versions that are ATS-friendly. Once you pass the ATS, a simple format will help your hiring manager quickly find the information they’re looking for.

Who Should Use a Simple Resume?

Everyone can benefit from a clean, straightforward resume. Individuals with little work experience (including students and recent graduates), those in traditional fields, and career-changers stand to benefit the most.

Profile	Why a basic resume works
Students and recent graduates	Easy for first-time resume writers; allows focus on educational accomplishments
Entry-level candidates	Professional design highlights workplace readiness
Candidates in traditional fields	Demonstrates capabilities without distracting elements
Career-changers	Focuses on transferable skills without unnecessary details

The 5 Key Sections of a Basic Resume

When you write your resume, you don’t have to start from scratch. The “recipe” has 5 key ingredients. All you have to do is fill in your information in the following sections:

• Contact information: Name, location, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile URL.
• Summary: A few lines highlighting your skills, qualifications and accomplishments.
• Skills: Technical and interpersonal skills needed for the job.
• Work experience: A reverse-chronological list of your previous roles.
• Education: Degrees, school names, locations, and graduation years.

How To Write a Simple Resume (Step-by-Step)

Below is a step-by-step guide to writing your resume. But first, consider these important tips.

• Only include relevant information.
• Be consistent and use the same font and style choices throughout your resume.
• Start your bullet points with action verbs and include numbers wherever possible.
• Be concise, limiting your resume to one page.
• Proofread your resume so it does not contain mistakes.

Remember, you can use our resume templates and AI content generator to make resume writing even easier.

1. Choose a simple layout for your resume

A simple, good-looking resume can influence a reader to look just a little longer. Keep these tips in mind as you design your resume.

• Use reverse-chronological format. List experiences with the most recent first. This makes it easy to find information.
• Use a font that’s easy to read. Choose a familiar font like Arial or Times New Roman. Keep the size 10 to 12 points. 
• Use color sparingly. Too much color can be distracting and may not print well. Black and white is always a safe choice.
• Leave plenty of white space. Have margins of at least 0.5 inches around the edges and enough between sections that the text isn’t crowded.
• Use bullet points to organize your information and keep the text short.
• Start with a template. Pre-made templates take care of the formatting for you.

2. Add a clear header

Your resume should never use the word “resume” as a header. Instead, the header should include your name and contact information.

This includes your email address, phone number, LinkedIn profile URL, and relevant social media accounts highlighting your professional projects. You can also include a role title, especially if your previous job title matches the one you’re seeking.

Example

Matt Smith
Field Research Assistant
555-555-5555 | Msmith@email.com | linkedin.com/msmith

• 💡 Our expert’s advice

  You can also use this section to include a professional portfolio or website if you have one! Just make sure it’s up-to-date.

3. Write a short professional summary

Make your most compelling reasons for wanting the job easily accessible by including a professional summary statement at the top of the page.

This can include your years of experience, top skills, and any major accomplishments. Basically, the professional summary is what you bring to the table.

Example

Journalist with 4 years student experience as part of a nationally award-winning high school newspaper. Skilled in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, copy editing, and sports photography.

If you’re not sure what to highlight in your professional summary, give our AI resume summary generator a try. It provides instant suggestions based on your industry and resume content.

4. Select only your relevant experience and education

Simple resumes have limited space, so you won’t be able to list everything you’ve ever done. This can help you focus on relevant roles, degrees, and certifications. If something is relevant, it’s directly related to the job you’re applying for.

You should also keep things brief in the experience section. Use short bullet points, not paragraphs. Talk about your responsibilities with a focus on quantifying your success. That means including numbers and percentages where possible.

Example

Work Experience

Sales Associate | Target, Orlando, FL
June 2024-Present

• Assisted customers with product selection and purchases
• Maintained organized sales floor and inventory
• Processed $1,000+ in daily transactions using POS system
• Delivered friendly customer service in a fast-paced retail environment
• Supported team in restocking, merchandising, and daily store operations

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Communications
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Expected Graduation: May 2027

5. List your key skills 

List your most relevant skills in a concise manner. A bulleted list or inline pipe separated list (like in the sample above) works well.

To find out what skills are relevant, read the job description. Include as many of these as you can in your resume. This will help your resume pass the ATS filter.

These are some of the skills recruiters look for most:

• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Leadership
• Adaptability
• Data analysis
• Teamwork
• Computer and technical skills
• Project management
• Writing and content creation
• Digital marketing
• SEO
• Social media

6. Add optional sections that strengthen your profile

You might consider adding an additional, optional resume section to strengthen your resume. For example, if you are a student or recent graduate, you may have participated in sports, clubs, volunteering, event planning, fundraising, or other extracurricular activities.

You can include sections highlighting one or more of these. Remember, whatever you include should help your professional qualities stand out. Additional sections can help provide evidence that you can adapt your training and education to the workplace.

Simple Resume Example With No Experience

If you’re just starting out and don’t have professional experience yet, a simple resume is your best tool. Students and other entry-level applicants can use the following example as a guide.

Basic Resume Example

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John Doe

Communication & Hospitality

📍 123 Main Street, City, State, ZIP]

📞 (123) 456-7890 | 📧 johndoe@email.com | 🔗 linkedin.com/in/johndoe

Professional Summary

Motivated and dependable recent graduate with strong communication and teamwork skills developed through academic projects, volunteer work, and extracurricular involvement. Eager to contribute to a team environment while gaining hands-on experience and professional growth.

Key Skills

Communication | Teamwork | Time Management | Organization | Leadership | Problem Solving | Customer Service | Adaptability | Conflict Resolution

Professional Experience

Guest Services Intern
Sunrise Harbor Resort | Orlando, FL | Jun 2025 – Aug 2025

• Supported front desk operations during peak periods, assisting with 25–40 guest check-ins/outs per shift.
• Answered and routed 30+ phone/email inquiries daily, providing accurate information on reservations, amenities, and local directions.
• Coordinated with housekeeping and maintenance to help reduce room-ready delays.
• Prepared and organized 150+ welcome packets over the summer (maps, key info, vouchers).
• Helped address and document guest requests (extra towels, late check-out, minor issues).

Volunteer Experience

Community Volunteer
Second Harvest Food Bank | Orlando, FL | 2023-Present

• Assist with organizing and distributing food to 100+ families weekly
• Collaborate with team members to ensure efficient service
• Maintain accurate inventory records of donated goods

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management
University of Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | 2021 – 2025

Extracurricular Activities

Student Leadership Member
University Student Association | Las Vegas, NV | 2023 – 2025

• Participated in planning campus events attended by 200+ students
• Worked with diverse teams to coordinate logistics and promotions
• Contributed ideas to improve student engagement initiatives

This simple resume example should give you a clear idea about what to include and how to present your details in a straightforward manner.

Simple resume templates are available on ResumeCoach’s AI resume maker, so get started on yours today!

Basic Resume: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best simple resume format?

A reverse-chronological resume is usually the best basic resume format. It helps recruiters find information quickly and easily because it is in the order they expect.

What should a basic resume include?

Your basic resume should include sections for contact information, skills, experience, and education.

Your experience doesn’t have to be for paid work; volunteer work, school clubs, and other activities can provide experience. You can also include optional sections with activities that demonstrate good qualities.

What is the ideal length for a basic resume?

Basic resumes should be one page in length. If yours is longer, you’re probably trying to include too much. If you’re having trouble filling the page, think about non-work activities that have taught you valuable skills.

How do I tailor a simple resume to a specific job?

First, look at the job posting and highlight skills, years of experience, certifications, and other requirements. Then, try to include as many of these as possible in your resume. Remove extra information that isn’t related to the job so that it doesn’t distract from your key skills.

How can I create a simple resume that stands out?

Basic resumes stand out because of their simplicity. The simple format and black-and-white text look professional. Keeping it short and to the point prevents irrelevant details from becoming distractions. Your best qualities and skills have room to shine.