Make a simple resume
No sidebars, no icons, no skill meters. Just what you did and when.
A simple resume is often the right answer, not a fallback. It prints properly in black and white, it photocopies, it parses cleanly in hiring software, and in conservative fields an ornate design counts against you. The Classic template here is deliberately plain: a clear name, ruled section headings and well spaced text, with nothing competing with what you wrote.
How to make a simple resume
- 1
Pick the Classic template
Plain headings, generous spacing, no colour blocks. Leave the accent colour off entirely if the sector is formal.
- 2
Write in plain bullets
One line each, starting with what you did and ending with what came of it. Avoid tables, symbols and rating bars.
- 3
Download and print one
Print a copy in black and white. If it reads well on paper it will read well anywhere.
Why plain survives the journey
Your resume gets emailed, printed, photocopied, scanned and read on a phone. A design that depends on colour blocks and thin type survives none of those. A plain one survives all of them.
Frequently asked questions
Will a plain resume look lazy?+
No. It looks like a document written by someone confident in the content. Design is only an advantage when you are applying for design work.
Should I add a photo?+
Follow local practice: normal in much of South Asia and Europe, unusual and sometimes rejected in the UK, US and Canada.
What file should I send?+
PDF, unless you are told otherwise. It keeps the layout exactly as you made it on every machine.
Does it work for government applications?+
Yes, and plain formats suit them. Check whether the application asks for a biodata instead, which is a different document.