How to write a simple resume in 5 easy steps

Your resume is your introduction to a hiring manager, but that doesn’t mean it has to be complicated or fussy. Having a clear, concise, easy-to-read resume, especially if you’re just starting out in the working world, can be an effective way to tell your professional story and show why you’re the best candidate for the job. But how do you write a simple resume without leaving anything out? It can be done in X easy steps, and we’ll show you how.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• What do resumes look like in 2024?

• What is the easiest resume format?

• Do employers prefer simple resumes?

• How to write a basic resume in 5 easy steps

What do resumes look like in 2024?

Just because your resume is simple, doesn’t mean it has to be boring. While you want to avoid multiple, graphics-heavy pages, a simple resume is clean, organized, and yes—still eye-catching. Your pertinent information, tailored for the position you're applying for, is front and center and highlights your relevant skills, education, and experience without any unnecessary frills. A good, simple resume for 2024 has the following qualities:

• One-inch margins and a 1.15 line spacing

• Clearly defined section headers

• No “walls of text”

• An easy-to-read font such as Helvetica or Cambria in 11-12 pt. 

• One page long (and definitely not longer than two)

• Follows a reverse-chronological format

• Is ATS optimized

While you don’t want photos and large graphics, an effective, but simple, modern resume can use fun, subtle design elements. You also want to avoid excess industry jargon and favor concise, direct sentences peppered with relevant keywords for the position you’re applying for. The bottom line? Don’t make hiring managers work to find your information; make sure it’s front and center and is easy to “skim” to find the information they’re looking for.

What is the easiest resume format?

The easiest resume format is the one we recommend in this article: the reverse chronological. It’s familiar to most recruiters and hiring managers and works well with most ATS programs. It highlights your work experience, listing your most recent positions first and then working backward. This straightforward layout allows hiring managers to quickly get a handle on your background, experience, and overall career path. However, if you’re a recent graduate, have gaps in your work history, or are changing careers, you might want to choose another format such as a functional or hybrid format.

Do employers prefer simple resumes?

Yes. Hiring managers can receive up to 250 resumes for each open position, and are likely juggling 15-25 job openings at any one time, depending on the size of the company. And since there are only so many hours in a workday, that hiring manager probably only has a few seconds to spend looking at your resume. If your resume is simple and highlights your relevant experience and quantifiable accomplishments, there’s a better chance you’ll move to the next round in the process. As Deepa Somasundari, director of client success at global job site Indeed says, “Jobseekers can apply some creative techniques, but always remember that relevance is what catches an employer’s gaze—not emojis,” 

Also, there’s a good chance that a recruiter will look at your resume on their Smartphone, especially if they received it via email. And while no resume will look 100% perfect on a mobile phone, if your resume is in a simple format, and limited to one page, it will be much easier to read on that platform. 

How to write a simple resume in 5 easy steps

Let's get down to the nuts and bolts. How do you write a simple resume? What do you need to include? While the format is simple, it's important to make sure your accomplishments and skills stand out. So, to make the most of the space you have, keep it straightforward and "frill-free." In this example, we'll use the resume of "Elizabeth Cole" who works as a Nanny.

1. Start with your contact information

A hiring manager can’t schedule you for an interview if he or she can’t get in touch with you. At the top of your resume, include your name, city/state, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile URL if you have one. 

Don’t include a photo, which is generally not used in the U.S., or any other type of personal information, such as marital status, religion, and the like.

2. Include a professional summary at the top

Your professional summary will give an overview of your work history and accomplishments. Think of it as your “appetizer,” as it should whet the appetite of the recruiter and encourage them to keep reading. Here’s “Elizabeth’s” professional summary:

3. List your job-relevant skills

Hiring managers want to know if you have the skills to be successful in the job. Show them what you're capable of with a list of your relevant hard and soft skills. Here, "Elizabeth" has included her skills that were tailored to the job description:

4. Highlight your work history

Here, you’ll want to list your work experience, starting with the most recent position. Include the job title, name of the company, location, and the dates you worked there. When describing your job duties, don’t just list your daily tasks; make sure they’re accomplishment-focused, using a formula like “action verb + achievement + quantifiable results” whenever possible. Set off particularly impressive achievements in two to three bullet points under the job description. Let's look at “Elizabeth’s” work history:

5. Include your education and any relevant certifications

If you've been in the workforce for a while, your education is still important, but your experience takes priority. Therefore, your education section will be placed toward the bottom. Include the name of the school, the degree you received, and the school's location.

If you'd like extra help creating your resume, check out Career.io's Resume Builder tool, which will provide you with over 25 professionally designed resume templates and AI-generated “smart suggestions” to produce a resume to get you noticed.

Key takeaways

1. In 2024, a simple resume includes your pertinent information, tailored for the position you’re applying for, and highlights your relevant skills, education, and experience without any unnecessary frills. 

2. The easiest resume format is the reverse chronological because it's familiar to most recruiters and hiring managers and works well with most ATS programs. 

3. A simple resume includes your contact information, professional summary, skills, work history (from most recent to oldest), and your education.