How Do I Write a Simple Resume?

Writing a simple resume comes down to including the right sections in a clean, readable format. A strong basic resume needs your contact information, a brief professional summary, work experience, education, and relevant skills. Keep it to one page if you have less than 10 years of experience.

Start with your name and contact information at the top: full name, phone number, professional email address, city and state, and a LinkedIn profile URL if you have one. Skip your full street address, as it is no longer standard.

Next, write a 2-3 sentence professional summary that highlights your experience level, key skills, and what you bring to the table. Tailor this to each job you apply for. For example: 'Marketing professional with 4 years of experience in content strategy and social media management. Proven track record of growing organic traffic by 150%. Seeking a senior content role at a growth-focused company.'

For work experience, list your jobs in reverse chronological order. For each position, include your job title, company name, dates of employment, and 3-5 bullet points describing your accomplishments. Use action verbs and numbers: 'Increased email open rates by 25% through A/B testing subject lines' is stronger than 'Responsible for email marketing.'

Education section: list your degree, school name, and graduation year. If you are a recent graduate, you can include your GPA if it is above 3.5, relevant coursework, or academic honors.

Skills section: list 8-12 relevant skills, including both technical skills and soft skills that match the job description.

Practical takeaway: Use a clean template, tailor your summary to each job, and focus your experience bullets on measurable accomplishments rather than job duties.