Simple Resume Template: Clean, Basic & Customizable Layouts

Yes, you should consider using a simple resume template if you want a clean, professional design that emphasizes your qualifications without distractions. Simple templates are ideal for industries that prioritize professionalism, such as finance, healthcare, law and construction. 

They are also great if you need an ATS-friendly resume that passes through automated hiring systems. A simple template keeps the focus on your skills and experience, making it an excellent choice for most job seekers, regardless of career stage.

Yes, a simple resume template is ideal for job seekers with limited or no experience, such as recent graduates. Focus on highlighting your education, skills, internships or volunteer work. You can also move sections around to create a functional resume format that emphasizes your skills rather than work history, making your qualifications stand out.

A simple resume should include key sections: your contact information, a resume summary or objective, work experience listed in reverse-chronological order, a skills section and your education. 

Optional sections like certifications, volunteer work or languages can be added to enhance your resume, but the goal is to keep the design clean and focused.

The do’s and don’ts of a simple resume include:

• Do: Keep your layout clean and simple, focus on relevant qualifications, tailor your resume for each job and make sure it’s ATS-friendly.
• Don’t: Avoid overly complex designs, irrelevant personal details and cramming too much information. Stick to a concise, professional tone and avoid large blocks of text.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can help your resume remain simple without losing the reader’s interest.

You write a simple resume by including the five basic resume sections, which are:

• Header with your contact info.
• Professional summary or resume objective.
• Work history.
• Skills section — make sure to represent your hard and soft skills.
• Education, including listing your degrees.

You can go one step further by adding the most relevant optional sections, like language proficiency or volunteer work.

Ultimately, simple resumes are effective in highlighting your key qualifications without overwhelming the reader. Keeping your resume concise and focused helps potential employers quickly understand your strengths.

For more detailed advice, see our guide on how to write a resume.

There are three main formats for simple resumes:

• Chronological: Best for applicants with a steady work history.
• Functional: Ideal for career changers, students entering the workforce or job seekers with gaps in employment.
• Combination: A hybrid format that emphasizes both skills and experience, perfect for professionals with a diverse background or at the midlevel of their career.

Choosing the right format depends on your level of experience, but in any case, you can use a simple template to help highlight your qualifications.

A basic resume template works well in traditional industries such as finance, healthcare, education, law, construction, logistics and manufacturing. These fields typically value professionalism and clarity, making a simple design ideal for showcasing your qualifications without distraction.

Unless the job description specifically tells you not to, it is always a good idea to add a cover letter with your resume.

A simple cover letter will help you explain career changes, resume gaps and short-term jobs. It gives you the space to expand on your experience and demonstrate precisely how you can use your skills to help the employer.

Your cover letter is a vital opportunity to showcase your personality and discuss the aspects of the job that excite you the most. That’s why you’ll want to be smart about choosing a cover letter template that is formatted correctly. Don’t forget to look at plenty of cover letter examples before you write one!

When you’re ready, our Cover Letter Builder will help you create the perfect cover letter to accompany your resume.