Present Perfect vs. Simple Past

We use the simple past when an action or situation happens and finishes in the past.

We usually say or know when it happened.

She called me at the office yesterday.

I worked in London in 2010.

Steve went to the US three times last year.

We often use the simple past in stories, when one thing happens after another in the past.

I stopped working in London and I looked for another job.

The present perfect is often used to talk about situations that started in the past and are continuing now. 

We use present perfect to talk about life experiences, this means that we don't have to explain when the action happened because the specific time is unknown or is unimportant.

We sometimes use the present perfect in a question with how long to ask about how longpresent situation has continued.

We talk about how long using the words for and since.

How long have your mom and dad been married?

They’ve been married for six months.

They’ve been married since March.

For is used with a length of time.

For: ten minutes, one hour, two days, a week, three years, a long time

Since is used with a specific point in the past until now.

Since: 10 o'clock, Friday, November, 2013, Easter

Present Perfect

The present perfect is used for actions that started and continues to the present.

Simple Past

Simple past tense is used for actions that started and ended in the past.

USE SIMPLE PAST.

Examples:

At 2 pm / noon / yesterday / last week / over the weekend / when I was a kid / when I was in junior high (secondary)

USE PRESENT PERFECT.

Examples:

I've been sick for a week. / I've lived here since 2017. / She has workd here her whole life. / We have been in Mexico but we have never been in Germany.