Basic Resume Format
Learn how to write a quick but effective resume.
Whether you’re a new high school grad or a CEO, a resume is required to put your hat in the ring for a new job. And just like the myriad possible jobs out there, resumes come in many different sizes and formats. How should your resume look, and what information should it include?
A basic resume format is appropriate when you need a quick resume. Experts suggest including five essential sections in your resume:
- contact info
- professional summary
- relevant skills
- work history
- education/certifications
For some, the most challenging of these is the professional summary, a paragraph that serves as your resume’s introduction. It’s the place to state your abilities, accomplishments, and attributes in a brief, easy-to-read package.
Your next project is to choose which of your skills to include. Chances are you have many. One good method for choosing relevant skills is to look at the job ad you’re answering and match the items in your skillset to the skills mentioned in the ad. For example, if the ad mentions “leadership skills,” you might include a sentence about how many people you supervised or the achievements of the team as a whole that uses the term “leadership skills.”
Basic Resume Format
Frank Juarez
555.555.5555 | frank.juarez@email.com | San Antonio, Texas, 78006
Creative and forward-thinking professional with experience in high-volume sales and customer relations. Naturally adept at forging strong bonds, generating enthusiasm, and building dynamic teams. Enterprising team-player with exceptional organizational and communication skills. Proven to plan and manage innovative projects and programs.
Core Competencies
Customer Satisfaction | Creative Strategy | Team Player | Outstanding Communication Skills
Data Collection and Entry | Social Networking | In-Person and Virtual Events | Proactive
Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy | Research | Video Production | Admin Support
Professional Experience
Company One | San Antonio, TX | 20XX-20XX
Customer Service Representative
Assisted business customers as initial point of contact for buying and product specifics. Provided outstanding customer experience to build a loyal clientele.
- Supported 30 customers regularly, ranging from general queries to product support.
- Praised for swiftly and seamlessly resolving client issues.
- Managed communication on an ever-growing inventory of products and services.
- Used Excel to update and track spreadsheets with the latest products.
- Processed changes to client accounts; opened 20 new accounts and input account information.
Company Two | El Paso, TX | 20XX-20XX
Sales Associate
Served as first point of customer contact for this company. Answered calls; greeted clients and visitors.
- Attended promotional events to assist with registration check-in and product demonstrations.
- Maintained upbeat and cheerful attitude; greeted large groups while promoting the business.
Company Three | Detroit, MI| 20XX-20XX
Event Production Assistant
- Assisted the camera crew with filming reels for promotional online videos and news clips.
- Rallied arena fans while filming games and contests.
- Recorded live events and highlights that aired during post-game interviews.
Internships
Company Four| East Lansing, MI | 20XX-20XX
Call Center Intern
Managed approximately 30 incoming client calls daily. Completed data entry.
- Conducted research relevant to ongoing company projects.
Company Five | Battle Creek, MI | 20XX-20XX
Marketing Intern
- Learned editing software.
- Directed a short promotional film for the community band.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Advertising – Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Want to save some time? Download this basic resume template in Word.
Monster is a great source of information about jobs in general. Still shopping for a career to pursue? Here are some of the most popular jobs on Monster. Take a look to see if any of them sound like a good fit for you:
If you don’t have a particular job in mind, peruse these full-time jobs for inspiration.
Found a job that interests you? Monster can help you research what you might get paid. Just open Monster’s Salary Tool and type in the job title and city to get a median salary and a range of pay.
Get In the Game With a Basic Resume Format
Don’t miss a job opportunity because you don’t have an up-to-date resume. Use this basic resume format to create a quick resume you can use to apply to any job that sparks your interest. You can also contact Monster Resume Services if you need a helping hand. One of our certified resume writers will work with you to transform your skills and career goals into a professional resume that will put you at the top of pile.