How to Compose a Simple Resume

A simple resume can be enough to help you achieve your professional goals.

While higher-level corporate jobs and other well established professional positions often require a complex, detailed resume to apply, other job openings may be suited to a a simple resume that outlines your basic information. Simple resumes aimed at entry-level and part-time positions, or an internship, follow the basic format of any other professional resume, but are less specific in content and don't take as much time or effort to compose.

Instructions

1. Type your name at the top of your resume. Under your name, add your contact information, including your physical address, city, state, and zip code, email address, and phone number.

2. Create an objective for your simple resume. Your objective should state the type of position you're applying for, as well as some strengths you'll bring to the position. The objective should go directly under your contact information as the first section of your resume.

3. Add an employment history section. This section includes each professional position you've had. Each position should include your title, the company you worked for, the location, and your dates of employment.

4. Add three bullet points under each of your professional positions. Start each bullet point with an actionable verb, and briefly describe the responsibilities and job duties you had for each position. Include no more than three bullet points for each position.

5. Include a section for your education. If you recently graduated from high school or college, your education section should go above your professional experience section. Include the schools you've attended, the location of the school, the year you graduated, and your course of study. You can also include your GPA if it's above a 3.0.

Tips & Warnings

• Create an additional section for community involvement, activities, honors, or organizations if you have extra space at the bottom of your resume. This additional section should include approximately three to five items. While your simple resume, like most resumes, should never be longer than a page, you should try to include enough information to fill that page.

References

• Job Center: Resume Writing, a Basic Guide