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Simple Resume Templates: Writing Guide and Tips
Our simple resume template collection boasts over 30 designs ideal for clean, easy-to-read resumes. Check out our guide and tips for creating a perfect simple resume.
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Free Simple Chronological Resume Templates
Opt for one of these simple chronological templates if you have a long and consistent work history. You can download these templates for free and edit them in your preferred word processor.
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Neat
A compact, dynamic layout and red text draw the eye into this template. Graphic designers, marketing managers or art directors would benefit from this template. -
Upfront
With a sleek font and lots of white space, this template is ideal for candidates with lots of work experience, especially real estate agents, receptionists and journalists. -
Subtle Creativity
With a traditional format with light orange headers and subtle gray titles, this is a great resume template for graphic designers, corporate writers or administrative professionals. -
Broad Appeal
Margin columns for titles and headings provide lots of space for detailed job and skills descriptions. Perfect resume template for business, industrial or vocational professionals. -
Commencing
The white space, blue section divider lines and large, bold section titles make this a standout yet serious template, ideal for manufacturing workers, teachers and restaurant servers. -
Indent Line
The small pop of color and creative use of indent adds a twist to this traditional design. This template would be a good fit for human resources managers, loan officers and paralegals. -
Creative Conventions
This compact layout adds visual appeal with red and blue fonts and creative bullet points. Great resume template for IT managers, mechanical engineers, or financial analysts. -
Fresh Take
Bold headings with vertical divider lines and blue titles create a focus for the reader. Social media managers, UX designers and animators will like this template. -
Stately
Subtle orange titles and blocks and sans serif font, gives this resume template a stately feel. Excellent choice for personal bankers, architects and superintendents. -
Accomplished
Checkbox bullets tick off all of your great career highlights in this one-column resume with blue section divider lines. Perfect choice for research marketing managers, journalists and sales managers. -
No Point Left Out
This two-column layout with light blue titles and dashed section lines offers ample space for multiple sections, ideal for software developers, business analysts and web designers. -
Bold Red Shading
Red shadings and a gray background paired with an awards section make this a perfect template for real estate agents, videographers and fashion designers. -
Packed Classic
Blue-shaded headers add design savvy to this classic format with lots of space for summary text and bulleted lists. Business analysts, medical assistants and IT professionals will stand out with this template. -
Blue Pop
Thin and thick blue lines define each squared section, and headings in bold, white fonts make this template pop. Financial analysts, statisticians and accountants should try this template. -
Beaming
Light brown headings and vertical bright green dashed lines catch the eye and break content into easy-to-read sections. Great option for copywriters, public relations officers and editors. -
Checkmark Timeline
Bold, open squares and thin black lines divide this two-column page layout. Excellent resume template for private bankers, auditors and account managers. -
Next Level
This creative resume template with a business feel is a great option for sales associates, restaurant managers and video producers. -
Tidy
This streamlined layout offers ample and tidy space for your work experience, making it an excellent option for teachers, sales representatives and product managers. -
Industry Lifer
This is an excellent resume template for those who have been in one industry for several years, particularly construction managers, attorneys and doctors. -
Cosmopolitan
A serif font softens this packed one-column layout. This template’s style is appropriate for research assistants, school administrators and translators. -
Elegant Traditional
A simple yet elegant style makes this an ideal template for curators, wedding planners and personal assistants. -
Pretty in Pink
This simple one-column template pops with a pink color block design, perfect for cosmetologists, elementary school teachers and daycare workers. -
Bold Red
The traditional layout with bold and italic fonts give this template an air of sophistication, ideal for executive assistants, chefs and legal secretaries. -
My Name Is
The placement size and bold text really make your name pop on this resume template, while the rest remains muted. Great choice for actors, sales representatives and news reporters. -
Simple Underline
The use of bold text, simple colors, underlines and spacing makes this template an effortless read. Purchasing managers, civil engineers and payroll managers can all use this template. -
Striking
Bold section titles with arrow points and light maroon titles lend this resume template a vivid touch, fitting for brand managers, customer service representatives and producers. -
Offset
The balanced layout and space for multiple sections make this a great template for entry-level positions like customer service representative, pharmacy technician and dental assistant. -
Professional Block
This block-and-bulleted resume offers a professional-looking style making it an optimal choice for software developers, patient coordinators and retail managers. -
Simple Red
Color contrast and different font types dictate the style and impact of this resume. Practical choice for construction workers, security supervisors and construction workers. -
Academia
This template packs a lot of information while remaining streamlined, an excellent option for freelance writers, tutors and project accountants. -
Plus IT
Lines and plus signs frame this simple template with a technological feel, perfect for technical support officers, network engineers and full-stack developers. -
Breezy
With an open and airy one-column format centered on the page this template works best for customer experience managers, event specialists and au pairs. -
Caption It
This template’s oversized captions and small profile photo is an excellent choice for copywriters, creative directors and graphic designers. -
Mono Shading
The one-column layout with monochromatic shading to highlight sections make this a great template for financial officers, system administrators and staffing coordinators. -
Burgeoning
Light-blue titles, bold headings and great use of white space make this the perfect template for baristas, babysitters or line cooks. -
Simple Central
With large, bold headings and a centralized layout, this template is a good option for teacher’s aides, baristas and cashiers. -
Moving Up
Offset sections balance out this resume template with the help of white space. This sleek template will complement business intelligence analysts, leasing consultants and legal assistants.
Free Simple Functional Resume Templates
These free downloadable functional templates are ideal for candidates with little or no previous work experience. Customize them with your skills and achievements and you’re good to go!
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Substantial
Thin margins with stacked sections provide lots of room for all of your achievements. This template is great for project managers, human resources specialists and general managers. -
Top Level
Thin page borders and section divider lines with bold titles provide this template with an executive feel. Technical project managers, directors and scrum masters can do well with this template. -
In A Nutshell
This template’s compact resume layout packs a lot of important information across different sections, making it an ideal choice for corporate recruiters, bank branch managers and key account managers. -
Raise the Bar
The dynamic layout of this template and customizable graphs make this a bold choice for software developers, medical assistants and data analysts. -
Space It Out
The white space and classic black and blue fonts give this template a very organized look, ideal for administrative assistants, school principals and case managers. -
Classic Elegance
This template’s modern feel doesn’t take away from its simplicity and smart organization. Customer service managers, receptionists and technical writers will lean toward this option. -
Section Lines
Bold green lines and a touch of orange give this simple template a warm feel for roles like librarian, high school teacher and social worker. -
Traditional Plus
This one-column template has ample space and custom sections like credentials and professional affiliations, perfect for counselors, dentists and cosmetologists. -
No-Nonsense
This simple template with some light blue shading tends toward the serious side, appropriate for paralegals, tax preparers and bank branch managers. -
Non-Traditional
The white space of this template and the balance between light blue, light grey and black give this traditional template personality. This is a fitting option for bank tellers, office managers and recruiters. -
Skilled
This one-column template has a straightforward style and an ample summary of qualifications section, making it ideal for candidates with a large skillset, especially in roles like web developer, chief operating officer and project coordinators. -
Career Starter
Complementary hues of blue and orange make this subdued template pop just enough for jobs like medical assistant, middle school teacher, and pediatrician.
Free Simple Combination Resume Templates
Download these combination templates if you have some experience or you want to change careers. You can edit your resume in Word, and best of all, they’re free!
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Bulletin
This resume template lends a decisive and authoritative tone, without being overbearing or fussy. This is a perfect template for news reporters, CAD designers and marketing managers. -
Discreetly Modern
This template has a structured layout and graphs to identify the level of skills you possess. Try this option if you’re a data analyst, engineer or software developer. -
Firm
This two-column template offers a rail on the side so you can pack your resume with lots of skills. Great template for journalists, high school teachers and medical assistants. -
Award Winner
With the option to include a profile photo and an awards section, this template is perfect for brand managers, news reporters and actors. -
Aristocratic
This stylish template has multiple columns for a packed yet organized resume, ideal for sales managers, purchasing agents and key account managers. -
Executive Elegant
The classic layout and high-end executive feel of this template was made for chief operating officers, IT managers and private bankers. -
Bold Simplicity
A centralized layout and subtle details make this template stand out without sacrificing a clean design. Illustrators, editors and social media managers will find it a right fit. -
Polished
School administrators, directors and accountants can take advantage of this template’s three-columned skills section and added sections like certificates and licenses. -
Split Page
This two-column template uses white space to add sleekness to its design, making it ideal for executive assistants, business analysts and public relations officers. -
New Agenda
The rigid structure of this template is balanced by the fresh feel of its light colored, sans serif fonts. Web developers, financial analysts and auditors will appreciate this option. -
Check It Off
The wide skills section and extensive work history make this a practical template for skillful web developers, data analysts and physical therapists. -
Airy Traditional
With its three-column layout and added custom sections, this template is ideal for experienced account managers, supply chain managers and IT project managers. -
Inverse
This template has an unusual and dynamic layout perfect for directors, graphic designers and art directors that want to stand out. -
Solid Segments
The two-column design and structured text blocks make this template feel simple yet contemporary, perfect for UX designers, counselors and writers.
Who Needs a Simple Resume Template?
Simple resume templates are the best choice for more traditional roles like attorney, financial analyst, banker and medical assistant.
An easy way to figure out if you should opt for a simple resume is to look at your resume and think about how it would fit specific industries. The clean and sleek designs of simple resume templates are ideal for jobs in more conservative industries.
Although we highly recommend candidates in these fields stick to simple resume templates, anyone can use them! Their safe yet effective designs won’t distract any recruiter’s eyes and bypass applicant tracking systems (ATS). Simple resume templates are an excellent choice for all careers.
How to Write a Simple Resume
These steps will help you build a strong structure for your simple resume. Our guide will teach you about the type of content you should include and what measures you can take to achieve an impeccable design. Let’s dive in.
1. Select the appropriate format.
You should always start by deciding on a resume format to structure your resume according to your specific strengths.
If you have a long and consistent work history, opt for the chronological format, which will put the resume’s focus on your job experience. This is the most commonly used format, so it’s what recruiters and applicant tracking systems are used to.
The functional format is ideal for candidates with no previous experience because it highlights your skills while downplaying your work history.
If you want to showcase both your skills and work history, you should try the combination format. This format can work for you if you have some limited work experience.
2. Include your key sections.
You should know all resumes need to include the five key sections: contact information, professional summary, work history, skills, and education.
To keep your resume as simple as possible, stick to these basic sections, which we show you how to maximize:
Work history: Build up your work history by including quantifiable achievements. Instead of listing duties and responsibilities, quantify them with percentages, numbers, and dollars. For example, you could say: “Developed 15+ marketing campaigns to increase social media engagement by 35% with the target audience.”
Skills: To maximize your skills section, include a diverse selection of skill types: soft skills, hard skills, and technical skills.
Soft skills refer to the way you behave and how you do your work. For example, organization, conflict resolution, and time management are all soft skills.
Hard skills are learned through education or practical experience. Depending on your professional background, you could have the following hard skills: sales, marketing, knowledge of POS systems, accounting, or customer service.
Technical skills comprise your ability to work with specific technologies. For example, proficiency in Excel, intermediate level of Adobe Photoshop, and knowledge of mass mailing programs can all be considered technical skills.
Professional summary: To get the most of this section, pack your two to three sentences with action verbs and direct phrases. Write your professional summary in present tense and list your top three skills and most impactful accomplishments. Include quantifiable achievements here as you would do in a work history entry.
Education: Although a pretty straightforward section, what you include in your education can differ depending on your age and education level. You should always have the standard degree name, institution and location. If you only have a high school diploma, it’s best to keep that date off, so you avoid employers guessing your age and acting on biases when deciding to hire you.
Contact information: This essential resume section has changed with the times. You no longer have to include your full street address since most employers won’t communicate with you via mail. Eliminating your street address is also a way to avoid security threats. Since a resume is a digital document that is shareable indiscriminately through email, you don’t want anyone accessing your physical location. Including your city, state, and ZIP code is more than enough.
Since we’re on the topic of digital communication, the contact information is a great place to include a link to your portfolio, LinkedIn profile, or professional social media accounts where you share your work, such as photography, videos, or content creation.
3. Avoid large blocks of text.
To avoid cluttered blocks of text, you should opt for strong, active phrases and bulleted lists instead of long sentences and paragraphs. A helpful design principle you should employ is the presence of white space which consists of the blank areas between each section of your resume. It allows for easier reading.
4. Use clean fonts.
For a straightforward design, opt for sans serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica or Verdana, which add to the template’s clean appearance. Avoid fonts that are heavily flourished or too creative since they will disrupt your design and be hard to read by both recruiters and ATS.
5. Be consistent with your design.
A simple template shouldn’t have too many different elements: fonts, colors, or bold and underlined text. If you want to employ one design element, make sure to be consistent with it throughout your entire resume. For example, if you’re going to differentiate your section titles with a pop of color, use the same color for all of them and opt for a muted tone instead of its brightest shade.
6. Opt for a minimal style.
When it comes to simple resume templates, the adage of less is more rings true. If you want to add a small design element, opt for a minimalist option. A subdued pop of color or a sleek line is more than enough to elevate your template from boring to sharp.
Resume Do’s and Don’ts
To write your strongest resume yet, it’s essential to pay attention to the small details. Check out our resume do’s and don’ts to see if you’ve covered all of them in your resume.
Do’s
- Use simple phrasing.
- Leave white space in the resume to make it easy on the eyes.
- Only include essential information.
- Use active verbs (i.e., avoid verbs ending in “-ing”).
- Use short sentences.
- Cut or reword longer text.
- Use bullet points when listing things like skills or achievements.
Don’ts
- Use long blocks of text.
- Include your full street address.
- Use flowery or self-flattering language.
- List achievements or skills in long sentences.
- Use passive language or “-ing” verbs.
FAQ
How should a resume look in 2022?
2022 resumes are going to be all about skills. With so many people out of the workforce in 2020, many workers might not be able to find jobs in the roles they had before. Having a resume focused on your skills rather than an inconsistent work history will help you sell yourself better. Remember that you can use a set of skills in multiple industries. These are called transferable skills. Customer service, communication skills, and sales are examples of transferable skills that employers in most industries are looking for.
How do you sell yourself in less than 25 words?
The key to selling yourself in less than 25 words is to make each word and phrase of your statement count. Whether you’re writing a summary statement, a career objective, or a pitch, follow these tips:
- Use direct, action verbs; write active sentences where you perform a task that elicited positive results.
- Mention your top three skills.
- Establish a problem your employer had and how you solved it.
- Close strong with a call to action to your employer.
What is the difference between Simple and Basic resume templates?
In our Hloom library, the difference between simple and basic resumes lies in how much design is applied to the templates. Basic templates are the most straightforward option. They are usually black and white, with traditional fonts and a one-column layout. Simple templates can include a pop of color or a two-column layout if you want a more current yet subdued design.
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