Job skills are traits and abilities that allow a person to be good at a particular job. Everyone has their own unique set of skills. Some, such as writing, must be learned and others, such as creative thinking, are innate qualities people are born with. There are three basic types of skills: Transferable : These skills can be applied across job titles and industries. Examples include problem-solving, listening and verbal communication. Soft: These are personal traits that indicate how you might function in the workplace; many of them are transferable. They include adaptability, critical thinking and dependability. Technical/hard skills: These are skills and knowledge we acquire through work, education and life experiences. They include management, software proficiency, and budget planning.

What looks good on a simple resume?

In two words: relevant information. That’s right: The best thing you can put on your resume is work experience, skills, training/education, and achievements that apply to the position and the industry you are applying for. To make this information stand out when you write your resume , use impactful words (“Led,” “Created,” or “Increased”); prove your successes with numbers (Awarded Teacher of the Month 4 months in a row), and describe your experience in terms of achievements rather than duties. (“Resolved 50 customer complaints per week” rather than “Responsible for handling customer complaints”).

What if I need a cover letter with my resume?

Unless the job description tells you not to add a cover letter , then you always need a cover letter with your resume. A cover letter will help you stand out because: You can use it to explain career changes, resume gaps, and short-term jobs. It gives you the space to expound on your experience and demonstrate exactly how you can use your skills to help the employer. It’s the only place in the application process to show your personality and express why you’re interested in the job. Resume Now’s Cover Letter Builder will help you create the perfect cover letter to accompany your resume.

20+ Simple Resume Templates | Fast & Easy to Use

A well-designed resume template can save job seekers time and help them organize their qualifications in a way that makes hiring managers want to hire them.

Simple resume templates get straight to the point by presenting job applicants’ work experience, skills and education in a clean and uncluttered way, making it easy for judicious employers and applicant tracking systems (ATS) — which scan resumes for relevance to the job description — to read.

Simple resume templates are best for job applicants who:

Want to keep the focus on their qualifications.
Want to take a bare-bones approach to their resume designs.
Work in industries like construction, automotive, logistics and transportation.

Simple resume templates are not well-suited for job applicants who:

Seek work as artists, designers, entertainers, cosmetologists and hairstylists. Creative templates are better suited to those job seekers.
Want to exude an innovative image for jobs in industries like technology, marketing, advertising and media. We recommend a modern template for those job applicants.
Are looking for work in medicine, law, or accounting. Try a professional template for those fields instead.

Simple Resume Templates by Job Title

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Personal Assistant

The Professional template in the combination format elegantly emphasizes Quincy Smith’s top skills while neatly displaying his experience.

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Fortklift Operator

Duke Leach’s chronological resume in the Modern template clearly illustrates his career progression from front loader to forklift operator.

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Personal Trainer

As a certified personal trainer, Reese Vaughn wanted to showcase relevant skills while detailing her work experience so she used the Traditional template with the chronological format.

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Line Cook

Frank Danvers wanted a simple way to display his specific job-related skills and how he can apply them to the new position, so he used a functional format in the Traditional template.

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Dental Assistant

Payton Amaris’ resume is proof that a simple one doesn’t have to be boring. The Multicolumn design she chose in the functional format neatly displays her qualifications and 10 years of experience.

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Preschool Teacher

Donna Chai’s functional resume in a Modern design places her well-honed skills and professional qualifications in focus

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Delivery Driver

The Classic template paired with a chronological format balances Mandy Brockman’s skills and experience in an orderly way.

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Cashier

Lily Smith kept her qualifications nicely organized by using the Modern template in the combination format.

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Security Guard

William Tanford took an old school approach with the Classic template and combination format. Notice how the clean and crisp design makes his resume easy to read.

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Warehouse

Daniel Lakeman took the Classic template up a notch with a bold header. The chronological format he chose showcases his clear career progression.

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Simple Resume Templates by Industry

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Resume Formats and Examples for Simple Templates

Professional resume templates are a great place to start on your professional resume writing journey, but you won’t make the cut without the proper resume format. Our resume examples will show you how to present your job qualifications in a compelling way, and our Resume Builder will guide you through the process of putting all the pieces together.

FAQ

What are job skills?
Job skills are traits and abilities that allow a person to be good at a particular job. Everyone has their own unique set of skills. Some, such as writing, must be learned and others, such as creative thinking, are innate qualities people are born with. There are three basic types of skills:
- Transferable: These skills can be applied across job titles and industries. Examples include problem-solving, listening and verbal communication.
- Soft: These are personal traits that indicate how you might function in the workplace; many of them are transferable. They include adaptability, critical thinking and dependability.
- Technical/hard skills: These are skills and knowledge we acquire through work, education and life experiences. They include management, software proficiency, and budget planning.
What looks good on a simple resume?
In two words: relevant information. That’s right: The best thing you can put on your resume is work experience, skills, training/education, and achievements that apply to the position and the industry you are applying for.
To make this information stand out when you write your resume, use impactful words (“Led,” “Created,” or “Increased”); prove your successes with numbers (Awarded Teacher of the Month 4 months in a row), and describe your experience in terms of achievements rather than duties. (“Resolved 50 customer complaints per week” rather than “Responsible for handling customer complaints”).
What if I need a cover letter with my resume?
Unless the job description tells you not to add a cover letter, then you always need a cover letter with your resume. A cover letter will help you stand out because:
- You can use it to explain career changes, resume gaps, and short-term jobs.
- It gives you the space to expound on your experience and demonstrate exactly how you can use your skills to help the employer.
- It’s the only place in the application process to show your personality and express why you’re interested in the job. Resume Now’s Cover Letter Builder will help you create the perfect cover letter to accompany your resume.

Create a simple resume in minutes!

Get noticed

Choose from more than a dozen eye-catching professional design templates that will help you create a unique resume employers will notice.

Find the right words

Writing your resume is a snap — just use our pre-written text bullet points to showcase your skills and accomplishments.

Get step-by-step advice

We’re there for you, every step of the way. Our professional resume tips and guidance will save you time and help your resume stand out from the competition!

Format your finished resume

Our simple editing tools make it easy to get exactly the resume you want. Download in your choice of formats, then print and send as many copies as you need.

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