what personal information should be included on the resume

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Personal Details You Should Include on Your Resume

Personal details are often seen as the boring, plain or simple part of a resume. However,  you need to get them right in order to receive the call or email for the interview.  There’s no use in perfecting your resume by impressing recruiters with your hefty work history or  detailing your skills  as if the recruiter can’t see, locate or understand your contact details, you’re out.

So,  how do you list your personal details on a resume  and what type of personal information should you avoid when writing a resume? Read on to learn more about the  personal details section on a resume.

Personal Information to Include on Your Resume

Listing your contact details is a simple matter  of deciding how you are most reachable and listing the appropriate information without disclosing too many personal details. The personal data on your resume should be straightforward and not involve complex information. The following list explains  which elements of your personal information candidates should include  and how to go about it:

• Full name: This should be the header or title of your resume, so there is no need to rewrite your name in the contact information section.
• Phone number: If you have more than one, choose the one on which you are most contactable.
• Email address: Make sure it’s professional and not [email protected]
• Address (optional): This is included less and less on resumes. Although, if the job description specifies that someone local is needed, you may wish to list your address to indicate that you tick the box.

Professional online platforms and websites are also wise to include  as nowadays it’s common to apply for a job via LinkedIn or other online platforms. Consider the following extras:

• LinkedIn URL
• Professional website
• Blog (journalists, copywriters, etc.)
• Online portfolio (designers, artists, etc.)

How to Format Personal Information on Your Resume

Resume format is one of the most important aspects  of designing and writing a resume. Why? Because your  personal details and resume info needs to stand out, look good, and be clear.  If the hiring manager can’t work their way around your resume easily, it’s already off to a rocky start.

Here are some  important formatting facts to taking into account when writing your personal details on a resume:

• Use the same font, font size, and formatting as the rest of your resume.
• Keep each piece of contact information on separate lines.
• Always list your email address in lowercase letters as many recruiters copy and paste your email.
• Double-check spelling of important contact details such as your cell phone number.
• Don’t list your details at the very bottom of your resume. Try listing them in a column to the side, under your name, or near the top half of your resume.

If you need more formatting tips such as a  list of acceptable fonts for resume use , check out the rest of our website and  blog for resume-writing tips .

What to Avoid Including in Your Personal Data

There are certain things that should not be disclosed when sending a resume.  This can be for many reasons, such as prevention against discrimination. Double-check that you haven’t included the following personal information in your resume before sending it:

• Marital status
• Nationality
• Sexual orientation
• Applicant photo

The aforementioned information is not considered necessary when applying for a job. Including any of this kind of information can actually dissuade hiring managers from accepting your application due to discriminatory reasons.

All resumes should be judged fairly on the important information at hand , such as work experience relevant to the job, skills, and education or training. However, if you plan on applying for a job outside of the States,  look up the standard job application procedures for other countries , as  some resumes include other information such as a photo or birthdate .

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How to Write an Effective Personal Resume

In This Guide:

Resume photo – to add or not to add, keep it professional – add a well-formatted email, how to add your name, should you add your degree, how to add your location on the resume, adding phone number, your title – great way to personalize your resume, personal resume objective, personalization tips in your experience section, achievements, certifications or memberships, frequently asked questions.

Trying to land a job, volunteer position, or any other opportunity? A personal resume is a great tool to have in your pocket. This version of your resume gives a more personal view of who you are, your interests, and your accomplishments.

Personal resumes are great for people who aren’t job searching, who are looking for speaking or personal opportunities, or who are currently studying in college and aren’t employed.

A professional resume focuses strictly on your work accomplishments and skills, whereas a personal resume gives more insight into your personal and professional achievements.

You can also add a personal statement or details in your professional resume, creating a hybrid between the two.

Your resume is always going to need to have some personal information. Too much and it could leave a bad impression, but just enough and you’ll have a personal resume that stands out and shows who you really are.

Let’s break down each aspect of a resume and explain how to decide what personal information to include.

Your photo should be a clean headshot, without sunglasses or other people on. The goal is to present yourself as a professional, after all.

In Europe, using a photo on a resume is normal and some employers even require it. In some US states, though, overly detailed information is illegal in order to prevent discrimination.

That’s why many companies don’t like to see a photo on resumes as it reveals information about your gender, age and in some cases religion.

From our experience, there is no right or wrong when it comes to including a photo on your resume. The answers from hiring managers vary.

Decide whether it would add value to your resume based on your research of the company you’re applying for and check your local laws and company policies (you can always email the HR department to ask).

Your email has to be professional, with the usual format being ”name.lastname”. What it definitely shouldn’t be is the email you came up with in middle school.

[email protected], for example, is a no go. Also, using a modern email (Gmail, for example), means you’re up-to-date with technology. While using AOL means you’re still in the 90s.

In case you already have a job and are planning on quitting, you should NOT use your employer’s email to apply for different jobs. This sounds pretty simple at first glance, but it’s actually a frequent mistake. It will not make you look more important, nor skilled.

Chances are that hiring managers might reject you. No one would like someone in their team that could use his current company to get a job in another.

If you’re a student, you can use your student email, especially if you study in a high profile university. [email protected] will seem pretty impressive to anyone, for example.

Write your first and last name on your resume. You can leave out your middle name, as that will just make it unnecessarily long. Also, don’t add any prefix or suffix before or after your name, except if there is some justified reason to do so.

Also, pick one name and stick with it on all of your social profiles, resume, and other documents. Nowadays, 92% of recruiters use social media to find high-quality candidates. Can’t really blame them, seeing how you appear on Facebook versus on a resume can be eye-opening for them. Your online persona matters, whether you like it or not.

In his article , Mike Volpe, former CMO at Hubspot, talks about how someone could interpret your online presence as a factor in hiring. While the chances of being rejected because a recruiter didn’t find your Facebook are slim, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

These days, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are a common sight. There’s no point in including these as a title in your resume (B.A John, M.A Dave).

If you have a Ph.D., however, it’s a must-have. A rule of thumb when using a title is that the desired reaction from a recruiter should be “Wow” not “Meh.” Include your title especially if you’re applying for certificate-sensitive jobs. Think, MBA, CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), etc.

Including your location in your personal information section is another must-have. These days, most of the big companies use Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter out candidates and make their job easier.

It helps companies match resumes up to certain criteria and the location is one of them. If a company is looking for a programmer located in Boston, MA, the ATS will automatically discard those that aren’t from that area.

“Exclude your home address” (Brian Brandt)

Having a full address on your resume is not relevant. In the 21st century, no one is going to send you a letter or will find something interesting about your street name. It’s good to include only your city and state, or city and country if you are outside of the USA.

Before hiring managers actually invite you for an interview, they prefer to call you ‘’for a quick chat’’. Even though they name it a ‘’casual chat’’, it is an initial interview. They want to understand how you react to different questions and what your phone manner is.

When adding a phone number to your resume, it’s a good idea to include the country code – especially if you’re applying from a different country or to an international company. Make it easy for a hiring manager to reach you.

This doesn’t have to be your current job title such as ‘’Digital Marketer’’ or ‘’Full Stack Developer’’. It can also be something more creative. You need to make sure, though, that it states clearly what you do or who you are as both a professional and an individual.

A short title is a good way to convey your background in a crisp and narrative format.

Here are some examples our team members used:

‘’Devout seeker of simplicity and clarity in code and life itself’’ – Full Stack Developer

‘’Rockin’ a positive attitude, media relations and copywriting’’ – Media Relations Coordinator and Editor

The resume objective is your space to highlight what makes you shine in a few sentences. For a personal resume, this is where you’ll talk about your personal or career achievements, your main skills, and your future goals.

Keep the personal resume objective short and snappy, at about 2-3 sentences.

In a traditional professional resume, the experience section will list the jobs that you’ve held in reverse chronological order.

In a personal resume, you can and should still list your work experience, but you can also include other experiences too, like volunteering, being a part of clubs, traveling, speaking, etc.

Incorporate experiences from both your personal and professional life.

Keep these tips in mind when writing about your experience:

• Use bullet points to organize the information
• Bold your job title or position title
• Include the location and date of when you were involved
• Focus on the positive impact you made being apart of that experience

Speaking of achievements, you can also include a separate section to highlight your Achievements in your personal resume.

Choose 2-3 of your biggest achievements that you’re most proud of and give them their own section to shine. Add a descriptive title and a small blurb summarizing what you did so well. When you can, use real numbers to support your points.

Do you have any certifications, or are you part of any memberships, associations or societies?

Dedicate a section for certifications and memberships in your personal resume.

Mention the type of certification or membership and dates active (or when you became certified).

Every effective personal resume has a Skills section .

Your skills show whoever’s reading what you’re good at, opening up potential opportunities for you.

It’s important to list both soft and hard skills on your personal resume to get a full picture of what makes you a superstar.

Hard skills describe your technical abilities, based on what you’re trained in or what you studied. For example, if you studied Architecture in college, your hard skills will be centered around the technical aspects of architecture.

Soft skills are not as teachable. They’re based on your character as a person. Are you hardworking? Can you collaborate with a team? Are you great at communicating?

Here is a list of hard and soft skills you can use as inspiration. Keep in mind that the more specific you are, the better.

We can’t list every skill related to every industry, so use these as general ideas that you can add more detail to. Click through on a skill to see job-specific resume examples .

23 examples of hard skills to inspire your personal resume

20 soft skills to inspire your personal resume.

Add it all together and you’ve got a personal resume that stands out.

How should I format my resume?

Formatting your resume to be easy to read and scannable is key to success. Keep these tips in mind while writing your personal resume:

• Use an easy-to-read font like Arial or Times New Roman
• Write in 12pt or higher
• Bold headings and subheadings
• Use bullet points to organize your thoughts
• Export your personal resume as a PDF to make sure it looks the same across all browsers and computers
• Don’t use any hard to see colors, like yellow

What resume layout should I use?

There are three common resume layouts : the reverse chronological format , the functional format , and the hybrid format .

It’s up to you which one you choose. It won’t make or break your personal resume. However, since you emphasize both your personal and professional qualities, either the functional layout or hybrid layout might be best to fit everything you need to say in one page.

Can my personal resume be two pages long?

It’s always best to keep your resume on one page long . Longer resumes are rarely read all the way through.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out our resume examples section that got people hired at their dream jobs. After that, you can build your own resume in our resume builder and pick from five customizable resume templates .

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What personal details to put in your cv

Fed up with staring at your blank CV, wondering what personal details to put in?

We get it – it’s like trying to adorn your room with the perfect throw cushion – not a deal-breaker. But it is still important.

In this article, we’ll show you what personal details to include or omit from your CV, plus examples, to boost the chance of hiring managers getting in touch with you.

CV templates 

What is personal information on a CV?

Personal information on your CV is a list of details about yourself that help recruiters learn who you are, and how to contact you, and can also include links to external sources of information, such as social profiles and portfolios.

Essential personal information to include in your CV

If you want to introduce yourself properly to a hiring manager, the details you include at the very top of your CV are critical.

The essential details that you must always include are:

• Name – Your full name
• Professional title – Your job title (e.g. “Junior Doctor” or “Marketing Director”)
• Location – The general area you reside in (e.g. London, Edinburgh etc.)
• Email address – [email protected]
• Telephone number – 01234567890

Your full name is there so that recruiters know who they can call you by.

Add your name so that recruiters know who you are, but use your real, full name.

But feel free to skip middle names to save precious space.

To make your name catch the eye, opt for a font that distinctly sets it apart from the body text.

Professional title

Your professional title in a CV is your job or career title. Essentially, it summarises your role and experience.

For instance, if you create the text for TV, radio, print, and online ads, your professional title would be  Advertising Copywriter .

This gives hiring managers a summary of your primary area of expertise and the sort of roles you’re qualified to do.

Being at the top of your CV, it really helps you to quickly get the attention of recruiters.

For example, the following professional titles can help improve your CV:

• Digital Marketer – Someone who uses digital marketing channels to reach customers, promote services or products, or build brand awareness.
• Software engineer –  Showcases your technical prowess, problem-solving abilities, and passion for cutting-edge technology.  
• Radio presenter – Demonstrates that you present on a radio station, and have on-air charisma, exceptional communication skills, and the capacity to engage audiences.
• Business student – keenness to learn about management, finance, and marketing.

When writing your professional title on a CV, place it next to or underneath your full name, such as:

• Deborah James | Advertising Copywriter
• Bill Jacks | Software Engineer

Use clear font so that hiring managers can read it. Make it concise so it gives a summary of your primary role and can be read quickly.

The location on your CV is the city or general area where you’re currently based (or where you want to work if you’re applying for a job in a different location.)

Your location details help hiring managers figure out where you’re based so they know the proximity to their company and whether or not you can commute to their office.

Getting your location right is very important because if a hiring manager doesn’t think you live too far away from them, they won’t consider your application

Here are some examples of how to write locations on your CV :

• Edinburgh  
• London and Kent
• Leighton Buzzard (Willing to relocate)

To include your location in a CV, place it near your full at the top.

A quick tip:  You don’t need to include your full address, such as street name and house number, because it is too much information for this stage of the recruitment process and it will take up a lot of valuable space – it’s just about providing them with a general sense of your location.

Contact number

The contact number on your CV is the phone number that lets potential hiring managers or recruiters get hold of you about the job you’re applying for.

For instance, if your phone number is 07777777777, you’d usually write it like this:  Phone:   07777777777 , or use a telephone symbol.

Here are some examples of how to present phone numbers on your CV:

• Phone number: 10575598623
• Telephone: 01234 567 890
• ☎: 07777777777

When it comes to writing your contact number, place it below your name and location. Use the same format as the rest of your CV, but it’s a good idea to make it a little larger, bolder or in a different font to make it stand out.

When writing your contact number on a CV, make it clear, make it easy. It’s how employers can easily reach out to you to arrange interviews, discuss job offers or ask questions relating to your application.

Triple-check that the number is correct, or you will not be getting any calls from recruiters.

Email address

Your email address is a critical piece of contact info on your CV so that would-be employers can reach you regarding your job application. It’s where all those job offers and interview requests land.

Your CV is a professional document, so your email address should look professional to reflect this and create a good impression.

Your full name, or a close variation of it, will work best.

Here are some examples of good email addresses to include on your CV:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

But beware of the bad ones! Avoid email addresses that may make hiring managers raise an eyebrow, like  [email protected]  or  [email protected].  While these might be fun with friends, they don’t look professional on your CV!

Formatting-wise, place your email address directly under your contact number. Be sure to use the same font style as the rest of your CV. However, you can make it slightly bigger or bolder to give it more emphasis.

Optional personal CV details

Think of the optional personal CV details as extra choices – they’re not mandatory.

There are certain personal details to get in your CV, but only for specific countries, jobs, locations, and industries.

That said, they don’t necessarily make a CV better.

Let’s say you’re applying for a job where driving is an essential element. You could mention your driver’s license, as it shows your dependability and mobility for roles that entail travel or client meetings.

Profile photo

Including a photograph on your CV can have benefits and drawbacks. But it can significantly impact your CV’s overall impression.

Using a photograph in your CV is optional – they are not always needed, but some regions and industries like to see them.

While social media profiles may benefit from a headshot, CVs are mostly about your experience and abilities, not your smile.

In numerous regions, like the UK, hiring managers don’t often request photos because of anti-discrimination laws.

But in certain countries, such as Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, it’s common to include a profile photo on a CV, particularly in industries where how you look and present yourself matters a lot.

In creative fields like modelling, acting, and fashion, a photo isn’t just accepted but often desired. It enables you to put forward your one-off look, style, and appropriateness for positions where appearance is fundamental.

If you choose to include a photo on your CV, here’s how you’d do it:

• Keep it professional –  Pick a professional-quality headshot where you’re dressed suitably for your industry.
• Keep it friendly – Maintain a confident, friendly smile and use eye contact.
• Top corner –  Position your photo in the top left or right-hand corner, ensuring it’s small and discreet.
• Layout consistency – Make sure your picture complements your CV’s design in style and colour.
• Avoid selfies –  Ditch selfies or group shots – plump for top-quality solo photos.
• Revise regularly – If your appearance changes, update your headshot for accuracy.

Driving licence info

Certain jobs are about hitting the road and having your driving licence info can make a huge difference as it shows you can legally drive.

Think sales representatives, delivery drivers , or couriers.

And if you’ve got a professional license, like a forklift, motorcycle or Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) credentials, be sure to flaunt it – it could unlock doors to exclusive job opportunities.

To include it, reserve a neat place at the top of your CV underneath your telephone number where you note the licence and its status. It could literally make the difference between getting the job or not in some cases.

LinkedIn profile

Your LinkedIn profile is a hyperlink that leads hiring managers to your  LinkedIn  profile, a professional networking platform.

It allows recruiters and employers to take a peek at your career history, see how many connections you have, and even check out recommendations from other professionals.

Dropping that link to your LinkedIn profile offers quite a few plusses.

You’re not only revealing your abilities and endorsements. You’re also rolling out the red carpet for recommendations from your co-workers.

Because let’s face it. It’s all about upping your professional image, right?

Adding a quick URL to your LinkedIn profile can be a real gem for industries like marketing, sales, consulting, tech, and finance.

Why? In these industries, developing robust professional relationships and extending your network is paramount in terms of balancing your career and boosting your credibility.

A quick tip:  Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date and ensure you have plenty of recommendations to show off. After all, you want to make the right impression!

Personal portfolio or website

If you have a personal website, online portfolio or blog that showcases your work, this can be great for showing employers you have the right skills for the job.

It can be especially powerful if you’re in a creative field such as graphic design , photography or writing – or any profession where visual or tangible examples of your work can boost your job application.

Add a short link near your contact details, so that it is easily accessible.

Language skills

If you speak any foreign languages , it’s certainly worth mentioning them.

Including these skills at the top of your CV can be super handy for hiring managers who need specific language abilities, adding a colourful feather to your professional cap.

Personal details not to be included on a CV

When you’re adding personal details to your CV, keep in mind that some details, such as your marital status, present salary, and religious faith, are not usually going to impact a hiring decision – so it’s best to  keep them out.

Here’s what personal details I would recommend keeping out of your CV…

Previous or present salary

Disclosing your current salary can occasionally lead to a mismatch in expectations.

It may harm your chances of getting a higher salary when it comes to salary negotiation.

Let’s say you initially revealed a lower figure, only to discover that the offer on the table was significantly greater.

So, leave the salary talk off your CV – it’s a conversation best had at a later stage.

Marital status

Marital status is your existing official relationship status in terms of marriage. For example, it usually includes categories such as  Married, Single, Divorced, Widowed,  and  Separated.

Your CV isn’t a dating profile. So, there’s no need to include your marital status here.

Hiring managers only want to know about skills that go beyond your relationship status. Your qualifications are what count here.

Religious faith

Unless you’re applying to be the church’s official organist, don’t include it. It’s like saying what hair colour you want your waiter to be in a restaurant – not relevant.

Most hiring managers don’t care about this stuff, and divulging it may even open doors to unwanted prejudice.

So, keep your religious beliefs close to your heart and your CV free from religious info.

Date of birth

Skip the birthday candles on your CV – recent anti-discrimination rules mean hiring managers should concentrate on your talents, not how old you are.

The bonuses of omitting it? Less possibility of age bias, more space for the good stuff, plus lower identity theft risk.

Disability or health issues

There’s no need to spill the beans about your physical or mental health on your CV.

If your ailment entails some additional support, for example, if you’re a wheelchair user, you could mention it in your cover letter or through a chat with the recruiter or hiring manager.

Many moons ago, people used to include their health status in jobs like physical fitness trainers or swimming teachers, but this isn’t the case anymore.

But there’s no real reason to indicate your gender in yo ur CV , as it won’t have a bearing on your job skills. It’s also a waste of CV space and distracts from the important stuff (like your skillset).

And honestly? Your name usually gives your gender away anyway.

National insurance number

Your National Insurance Number (NI number) is your unique identifier if you’re based in the UK for tax and social security purposes.

This number is like your secret treasure map – you don’t want anyone to come across it.

To stop identity theft, the UK government suggests keeping it somewhere safe and not sharing it unless you absolutely must.

So refrain from splashing it on your CV for everyone to see. Once it’s out there, it’s tricky to regulate who gets their hands on it.

Nationality or ethnic group

There’s no need to include your nationality or ethnic group on your CV unless you’re a foreign national and want to tell the hiring manager about your work eligibility in the country.

Just something simple like  “Spanish, eligible to work in the UK”  should do the trick.

A quick tip:  If you’re applying for a government role where citizenship matters, like civil service or secret agent positions, it’s okay to mention your nationality here.

How to write personal details on a CV

If you want to add personal details to your CV, this is how you’d do it.

• Position at the top – You want your personal details to sit right at the top of your CV so its easy for recruiters to see how to contact you.
• Keep it compact – You have limited space on your CV, so keep this basic info tucked up into a top corner
• Use icons – Create a professional appearance and use space wisely by using icons to denote these details (Like a phone icon for your phone number)
• Hyperlink to external sources – If needed, add optional links such as your online portfolio or LinkedIn profile.

3 personal details examples on a CV

Here are three examples of how your personal details should be laid out on a CV.

The first example is for someone with basic details, like an office worker, the second is for a creative person who may need a few more, and the last is for someone who operates vehicles who may require even more.

Essential personal details

If you’re a student studying at school, college or university, you want to make it super simple for hiring managers to reach you.

Inserting your name, professional title, location, phone number, and email isn’t just a mere formality – it lets prospective employers initiate contact with you. It also allows them to confirm your background, and start the conversation.

Marketing manager’s personal details

A Marketing Manager is like a creative champion of a company, driving the marketing approach. They plan brilliant campaigns and ensure the brand’s voice gets heard loudly and clearly.

As well as including the essentials like your name, contact info, and where you live so that hiring managers can get in touch easily, remember to mention your LinkedIn and personal websites here, too.

You could even include your driver’s license and language skills to show you’re all set for various tasks.

Creative professional personal details

Creative professionals infuse life into concepts via design, art or other imaginative approaches.

For instance, a graphic designer crafts visual elements for all media types, from elaborate illustrations to eye-catching posters, iconic logos, and web graphics.

So, as a creative professional, it’s important to include your LinkedIn and personal website, as these serve as virtual portfolios, showing more about your artistic work.

In your personal details, consider adding a profile photo – this shows hiring managers you look professional, which is paramount for numerous jobs.

Where to put personal details on a CV

You need to place personal details at the top of your CV at the beginning. That way, recruiters can’t miss them and you’ll be on their radar from the start.

Placing these personal titbits at the top of your CV makes it super simple for hiring managers to spot and drop you a message if they’re keen on having a chat.

How to format personal details

In terms of formatting your personal details on your CV, here’s how you’d do it:

• Highlight your name – Make your name the star of the show. Use a larger font or put it in bold to ensure it grabs instant attention.
• Right-align or centre-align –  So that your personal details turn heads, right-align or align them centrally at the top. Doing so gives your CV a smart appearance so the reader can easily navigate it.
• Bold for visibility –  Use bold text for all personal details to help them stand out amid the rest of your CV’s text.
• Size counts –  Choose an  18 to 20-point  font size for personal details like your full name, telephone number, location, email address, and optional LinkedIn or online portfolio URL.

The takeaway

While adding personal details on your CV may sound like a trivial detail, they’re your first opportunity to introduce yourself to a potential employer.

Start with strong essential personal details:  name, contact details,  and  location . Then tailor with optional extras (if needed), like a  LinkedIn URL  or  profile photo,  to the job’s specific requirements.

Skip them, and you could leave hiring managers with an unfinished picture of your credentials and suitability for the job.

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Personal Details In Resume: Do’s And Dont’s

• Updated on  
• Oct 30, 2023

Personal Details In Resume : A CV, also known as a Resume is the most important document for anyone looking for a potential job. It comprises all the necessary details of your education, skills and work experience. Not only does a good resume land you a job with your potential employer it also gets you an interview opportunity. The first opportunity to describe yourself comes in the section of the personal details in the resume. If you get the basics wrong here, you can spoil the chances of getting an interview call. We will discuss personal details in the resume from head to toe in this blog. 

Resume for Freshers

Also Read: Declaration in Resume for Freshers

Personal Details in Resume: What to Add

One of the major questions which arise while adding personal details to a resume is what all things are to be added. Here is a piece of detailed information on all the essential details in a resume:

• Your Name – Keep in mind to write your name in bold so that it stands out. To make your resume easy to stand out, the most important thing is to mention your name properly.
• You must mention your address right after you write your name. Your address counts as an essential feature of personal details in the resume. 
• Mentioning your address serves as a trust factor in your resume.
• It may also benefit you and raise your chances of getting the job if you live near your office.

Also Read: Difference Between CV, Statement of Purpose, and Profile

• Telephone Number – Another important detail in your personal details in your resume is your telephone number. When applying for a job which is placed internationally, remember to add the country code before your phone number.
• Your professional email address
• Your personal email address
• It will be ideal if you create an email id which has your first and last name in it
• [email protected]

Also Read: Resume Format for Freshers

Personal Details in Resume: What Not to Add

Here is a list of things you should remember to not add in personal details in a resume. 

• Date of Birth
• Nationality
• Current Salary
• Marital Status
• Children (if any)
• Health Status
• Driving License Details

The reasons you should not add these personal details to your resume is because:

• Prevents discrimination – Discrimination can be based on the following: gender, religion, and nationality. Under the anti-discrimination laws, it is illegal for prospective employers to discriminate against prospective employees on the above-mentioned details. The selection process should be entirely on your skills and knowledge. 
• Outdated – The revised norms of writing a resume, outline that you should not mention unnecessary personal details of yourself in your resume or CV. it was in olden times that details such as marital status, applicant’s photograph, etc were supposed to be attached to a resume. 

Also Read: Top Technical Skills to Enhance Your Resume

• Not of Interest to Employers – Your prospective employers are mainly interested in knowing and understanding your skill sets, abilities, experience and qualifications. Adding extra and unwanted information makes your resume long and boring. 
• LinkedIn Account Details
• Portfolio Web Address

Note: Many employers specifically mention candidates to create a one-page resume. Thus, it becomes all the more important to mention personal details in a concise way. 

Check out: Resume vs Cover Letter: What is the Difference?

Explore More:

Make use of the professional summary to describe your value to the employer as a professional. Update your skills regularly and remove ones that are irrelevant. Always focus on achievements from your previous experience instead of copy/pasting job descriptions.

Personal information such as your social security number, marital status, nationality, sexual orientation, or spiritual beliefs should not be included on a resume. In fact, employers are not permitted to request these sensitive facts.

Personal details that provide more information about your qualifications for the desired position may be included. Including information about relevant interests or volunteer activities can demonstrate to the hiring manager that you are a good fit for the job or the organisation.

For more tips on professional growth, follow the career counselling page of Leverage Edu now!!

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What personal details to put on a CV (2024 Guide + Examples)

A common question we are often asked is,

“What personal details should I put on my CV?”

The short answer is that the personal details section of a good CV should only contain the following four pieces of personal information of the applicant; name, home address, telephone number and e-mail address.

It is optional to include a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website.

Other personal details, such as date of birth, gender, marital status, nationality and national insurance number, should be left out of your CV. These things are outdated, irrelevant to your ability to do the job and will harm your job application.

Use the guide below to get up-to-date information on what personal details to include or omit from your CV to improve your chances of securing job interviews.

Let’s get started!

The personal details section of a CV

Telephone number.

• E-mail address

LinkedIn profile and/or personal website

Date of birth, place of birth, nationality, marital status, details of children, current or last salary, reason for leaving current job, willingness to relocate, religious beliefs, driving licence details, health status, national insurance number, a word about equal opportunities questionnaires.

The personal details section is located right at the top of your CV and it is the first thing that recruiters will see when they review your CV.

The following is an example of a personal details section of a CV:

Providing contact information

Putting your contact details at the top of the first page of your CV will make it easier for employers to identify and contact you.

An employer or recruiter will not try to get hold of you on several occasions, so you must provide clear contact details and regularly check your messages, emails and postal mail after submitting job applications.

The good news is the personal details section of your CV is not too difficult to compile because it is just about the factual details of your life.

What personal details to include on your CV

The number of personal information that should be on a CV can be counted on the fingers of one hand, they are; name, address, telephone number and email address.

The first essential personal information that your CV must contain is your name.

It is recommended to display it in slightly larger type than the rest of the contact details, in boldface and centred on the page.

Guidelines for writing your name on your CV:

• There is no need to put ‘curriculum vitae’ or ‘CV’ at the top of the first page because it is obvious what the document is. Instead, make your name the main heading of your CV .
• There is no need to add an honorific title such as Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms in front of your name.
• Middle names are unnecessary; only include your first and last name. For example, ‘William Smith’, not ‘William Anderson Harold Smith’!
• To avoid confusion, decide on the name you want to be referred to and stick to this throughout. For example, should people call you David or Dave?
• If you have more than one name (for instance married women who also use their maiden name), make sure you use the name that you would want to be called if you were employed for the job.
• It is recommended to put your name in the footer of every page of your CV. Recruiters are human too and can mislay or mix up piles of applications. Named pages will ensure your application can be easily reunited if necessary.
• Give your CV a meaningful file name. Some applicants save their CVs as CV.docx or MyCV.pdf, making it harder for employers to find and identify the owner of the document. Instead, use the format YourName_CV, for example; JohnSmith_CV.docx or JoSanders_CV.pdf.

The second essential information that you must include on your CV is your current address. Employers may want to send you your employment contract through the post or keep your address on file as standard HR practice.

Including your address on your CV could also have several benefits.

Your home address can be a positive trust indicator that you are local, established and/or settled in a particular location rather than being always on the go or not having a permanent address.

Your address could also give your job application a boost when applying for local jobs because employers usually give preference to local applicants over those that commute long distances to work.

Guidelines:

• Make your address short and concise. It should only consist of your house number, street name, city and full postcode.
• There is no need to write the county (e.g. South Yorkshire) or country (e.g. United Kingdom) name if you’re applying for jobs in the same country.

It is recommended to use your mobile phone as your preferred point of contact. With a mobile phone number, employers can contact you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• During your job hunt, ensure you keep your phone charged, have credit to make calls and check for voicemails regularly. Employers are unlikely to ring you back if they can’t get hold of you or if you don’t reply to their voicemail messages.
• Double check the number is correct. It would be awkward if the employer dials the number and a person picks up who has never heard of you!
• Try to stick to just one number if you can – it’s far simpler and quicker for the person trying to contact you if there is only one option.
• If you are going to use your home number, make sure your answering machine or voicemail works properly or that a family member knows how to take a message. Getting home to find you’ve been invited to interview but no one can tell you when, or with whom, would be very frustrating!
• You don’t need to include the international dialling code (e.g. +44) for your country unless you are applying for jobs in other countries.
• If you’re currently working, do not give your work telephone number unless your manager is aware that you are looking for a job and is supportive. It’s unprofessional, too risky and can cause conflict between you and the employer. Most people do not usually want their present employer to know that they have been applying for other jobs.

Email address

Your email address is the last piece of essential contact information that you must include on your CV. In today’s digital world, employers will 90% of the time contact you via email instead of the post.

Your job interview invitation or employment contract may also be sent to you electronically so double check the email address has been written correctly, even a single letter or number out of place will prevent incoming mail from reaching you.

• Make sure your email address is professional. Many recruiters still report seeing inappropriate email addresses on CVs, such as [email protected] , [email protected] or [email protected] . Keep your name the central focus of the address, even if you do include some numbers and make it as simple as possible. [email protected] is infinitely better than [email protected] ; it is instantly clear who it belongs it and is less likely to be entered incorrectly.
• Use your personal e-mail address rather than your work e-mail address. Corinne Mills, a well-known career professional and HR executive, writes in You’re hired, how to write a brilliant CV (pg.9) : “Try using a personal email address for your job-searching activities rather than your current work email (if you have one). Many companies now have an internet and email policy that warns employees that their facilities are for company business only and they will take action over appropriate use. It’s not a great idea to risk disciplinary proceedings when you are looking for your next job.”

Optional personal details to include

You can add a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website/portfolio if they contain additional information that could strengthen your job application.

• LinkedIn profile: It allows employers to gain a better insight into your career history, number of professional connections and any recommendations or references you have received from other professionals.
• Personal website: You may have a professional portfolio that you wish to share with the employer, for example, if you are a graphics designer, consultant or architect.

Tip: Keep your LinkedIn profile and personal website up to date with your latest information.

What personal details NOT to include on your CV

There are certain personal information that you used to be commonly put on CVs but new anti-discrimination laws have made these details irrelevant today.

Don’t write your date of birth on your CV . Recent anti-discrimination laws mean that employers must consider your suitability for the job based on your skills and experience, not on your age.

Benefits of omitting your date of birth from your CV

• It will reduce the likelihood of age discrimination
• It will free up valuable space on your CV that can be utilised for more important information
• It will decrease the risk of identity fraud

Exception: If you’re applying for something in which age is an important consideration, such as a course that is only available to a certain age group or an apprenticeship with a cut-off upper age, then it makes sense to include your date of birth on your CV.

Where you were born is irrelevant.

As long as it was somewhere on planet earth, you’re good to go.

Don’t write your nationality on your CV unless you’re a foreign national and wish to inform the employer about your work eligibility in the country.

A short statement such as “Polish, eligible to work in the UK”, will suffice.

It may also be useful to write your nationality on your CV if you’re applying for certain governmental jobs for which eligibility is partly based on one’s citizenship of that country. This is usually the case for national security and civil service jobs.

Including a photograph on your CV tells a prospective employer: “I want to be judged on my appearance rather than on my relevant work experience and qualifications.”

Photographs may be essential on social media platforms but they have no place on a CV.

Employers asking for photographs is extremely unusual in the UK, mainly due to powerful anti-discrimination laws. Unless you have explicitly been asked to provide your photograph or are applying for jobs where looks matter, for example being an actor, model, presenter or performer, don’t put your photograph on your CV.

Note: Different countries have different rules.

A standard CV in the UK, USA and most of Europe should not include the gender of the applicant.

Four reasons not to put your gender on your CV :

• Your gender is irrelevant to your ability to do the job
• It takes up valuable space on your CV
• It diverts the employer’s attention from other important information, e.g. your skills, qualifications and work experience
• It doesn’t provide much information as employers can usually derive from your name whether you’re a male or female.

Marital status is another outdated piece of information that you shouldn’t put on your CV.

The employer does not need to know whether you’re single, married, divorced, remarried or engaged. As long as you are a strong candidate for the role, that’s all they care about.

Many CVs still include the ages, sexes and even the names of the applicant’s children. Leave these out. The number and names of your children are irrelevant to your ability to do the job and are a prime source of prejudice. You may be a strong candidate, regardless of whether you have no children or are a chief of your own large tribe.

Roughly speaking, employers expect you to be earning within plus or minus 10% of the salary they are offering. It may put them off if this is not the case.

One jobseeker in a well-paid job found that disclosing his current salary on his CV acted as a deterrent to employers. They either felt he was unlikely to stay on a lower salary or that he was overqualified for the role.

Similarly, if you’re last salary is significantly lower than what the employer is offering, you may not be taken seriously for the role.

For this reason, never disclose your current or last salary on your CV.

There is no need to state your reasons for leaving a job on your CV, particularly if there was a conflict with the previous employer.

People leave jobs for a variety of reasons, including lack of progression opportunities, needing to earn more money, conflict with the employer, moving to a new city, boredom, making a career change, being made redundant or for health reasons.

Most of these motives are unflattering to the candidate so it is best not to say disclose this information on your CV. If employers are truly interested in knowing this information, they inquire about it at the job interview.

If you are applying for a job which is far from where you live, it may be useful to add some context to explain how you will get to work every day.

If you are willing to relocate, add a short statement to this effect next to or under your address at the top of your CV. Indicate which areas of the world you would be prepared to work in; for example, ‘Prepared to relocate within the UK.’

You may not want to be too specific here, for example, by restricting your relocation to a specific town or city.

Only refer to your religion if you’re applying for jobs in which your religious beliefs matter. For most jobs, this information is completely irrelevant and it can lead to discrimination against you.

The status of your driving licence usually only matters if driving is an essential part of the job. For most applicants, this won’t be the case so they should not put their driving license information on your CV. There is, however, an exception to this rule which applies to young people or those that are just starting their careers:

If you have few qualifications or little work experience, you may put driving as a life skill in your CV’s skills section to show the employer that you have the ability to learn and drive a vehicle. Simply write, ‘Full, clean driving licence.’ Employers may be impressed by a clean license.

If the licence is not clean, however, you should indicate that you have a full driving licence only. Never state your driving licence number, speeding convictions or penalty points on your CV!

You are under no obligation to mention any disability or health problems when applying for jobs. If you need additional support or assistance due to your disability (e.g. you are a wheelchair user), you could inform the employer of this on the application form, your cover letter or by calling them directly – never put this information on your CV.

It used to be the case that applicants who applied for jobs in which physical fitness was an important consideration, for example, swimming instructor or physical fitness trainer, they would add a ‘health’ tag along with the statement, “Fit and healthy.”

This is no longer required and employers will be able to assess your general health status from other information on your CV, such as your work experience or hobbies.

The official National Insurance guidelines of the UK government state,

“To prevent identity fraud, keep your National Insurance number safe. Do not share it with anyone who does not need it.”

This means that you should not make your National Insurance number on your CV and make it accessible to everyone because you cannot control who will access your CV once you have posted it online or sent it via email to employers.

You may be asked to provide personal details such as gender, ethnicity and race on a separate form called an equal opportunities questionnaire.

It’s OK to provide this information because employers collect them to track their Equal Opportunities performance, not to influence recruitment.

The information you provide is strictly confidential and won’t impact the outcome of your application.

Your CV is your personal sales brochure tailored to impress the employer and invite you to an interview. It should not be cluttered with irrelevant personal details such as your date of birth, gender, marital status and nationality. Instead, only include your key personal information such as your name, address, telephone number and email address.

Good luck with your job hunt!

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Show Contact Information on Your Resume - How-To & Examples

The contact information is the single most important section on your resume.

Because even if you’re the most qualified person in the world, it’s not going to matter much if the hiring manager can’t contact you!

Jokes aside, sure, contact information isn’t that hard to mess up. But then again, if you do, you mess up your whole application.

Sounds scary, right?

Well, in this guide, we’re going to teach you everything there is to know about the contact information section on your resume.

• What to include in your contact information section
• If you should mention your location
• How to include your phone number and email (the right way)
• When to include your LinkedIn profile
• Other social profiles you can mention
• What NOT to include in your resume contact information section

Ready to get started?

What to Include in Your Contact Information Section

Before we dive into the details of the contact information, let’s first talk about the contents of the section.

Here’s what you’d include in the contact information of your resume:

Contact Information:

• First Name, Last Name: e.g. ‘Robert Johnson’
• Phone Number: e.g. ‘004 412 2019’
• Email Address: e.g. ‘[email protected]’
• Location: e.g. ‘Copenhagen, Denmark’

Optional Information:

• Professional Title: e.g. ‘Digital Marketing Specialist’
• LinkedIn URL: e.g. ‘linkedin.com/robert-johnson/
• Social media: e.g. GitHub, StackOverflow, Medium, Quora, etc. Whichever is more relevant to you.
• Date of Birth - Unless it’s specifically required (e.g. job that requires you to be 21+), the HR manager doesn’t need to know how old you are. It’s not an important factor for decision-making and can lead to discrimination based on age.
• Unprofessional Email Address - Do: ‘[email protected]’ Don’t: ‘[email protected]’

Now, let’s talk about best practices when it comes to resume contact information .

We’re going to walk you through all the sections and teach you how to get them right, starting with your name.

There’s a LOT more to creating a good resume than getting your contact information section right.

Want to learn everything there is to know about the process? Check out our guide on how to write a resume !

How to Start With Your Name

Your name should be pretty obvious stuff, right?

Maybe, but it’s still a good idea to go over some of the best practices.

To keep things simple, you’ll want to use the exact same name that you use on all your social media profiles (aka, your full name).

And under it, you should give your professional title.

This should always mirror the position you’re applying for.

Let’s say you’re applying for a digital marketing job, but your resume says you’re a ‘ Junior Data Scientist ’.

Whoever picks up your resume will probably get confused and think it’s in the wrong pile.

It’s also important to use the same terms as in the job description. If they’re looking for a C++ developers, that’s what you should use as a title. Some of the titles you SHOULDN’T use are:

• Software engineer (unless that’s the job title)
• Programming Samurai

Are you a recent university graduate with limited work experience? You can still use the desired job title as your resume title.

If relevant, also feel free to mention any professional acronyms under your belt here.

• Robert Eric Johnson, PhD
• Computer Engineering Specialist
• Dr. Robert (Eric) Johnson (Computer Engineering Specialist).

All clear? Good!

Now, let’s move on to the next part of your contact information section.

Should You Mention Your Location?

Are you located in the area? Or will the company have to sponsor your relocation package?

This is the main question behind whether or not to include your location in the section.

When hiring, most recruiters are looking for people that live in their area. And unless the position is hard to fill, they will NOT be willing to sponsor your relocation.

So, to keep things simple, all you have to do is mention your city name and the country here.

There is, however, no need to mention your neighborhood or exact address. The HR won’t drop by for a coffee in their downtime.

• Copenhagen, Denmark.
• 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark, Ny Carlsberg Vej 82

Now, you might be thinking, then why do so many resume examples that I see on the web keep mentioning their exact addresses? 

Well, that’s because this was the norm back in the day when email wasn’t the universal communication method.

Back then, they’d have to get in touch with you through good old snail mail.

Today, your email will work just fine. 

Now, you’re probably wondering, if I’m already moving to the new city or country and DON’T need a relocation package, should I include my location?

Nope, do this instead: 

Mention where and when you’re relocating.

For example: “Relocating to New York, NY in Spring 2021” 

Phone Number and Email

Your phone number and email are the two most common contact methods hiring managers look for. 

You should always double, or even triple-check, that they’re correct.

To keep things simple, stick to a professional email (and NOT the wacky email you made in middle school).

Something along the lines of ‘[email protected]’ (or the other way around), works best.

As for your phone number , make sure to include a regional code as well.

Also, make sure you’re NOT using your current work email or phone number !

The HR manager won’t like that, as it will make you look unloyal and unprofessional.

It’s as simple as that.

Once you get your contacts down though, do take a minute to read everything out loud . 

Even a simple one-letter typo can cost you the job. So, better safe than sorry!

When to Include LinkedIn?

Now, what about your LinkedIn profile? Should you include it?

Here’s the short answer:

If you have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile , you almost always include it on your resume.

Most, if not all, recruiters are already on LinkedIn, and they’re going to give your profile a link. 

Who knows, maybe they’ll find a mutual acquaintance who can vouch for your professionalism and skill-set?

Though, there are some things you should consider when deciding whether to include your LinkedIn profile or not.

First, is the content there consistent with your resume?

If you have some discrepancies, the HR manager might think you’re lying about something.

Secondly, is your LinkedIn up-to-date with your resume?

Always make sure to update both with any new job positions, certifications, or publications.

If you think it’s relevant to your job and will help your chances, feel free to include it.

Now, if the answer to both questions above is yes , feel free to add LinkedIn in your contact information .

• Not confident with your LinkedIn profile? Check out our guide on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile to complement your resume to see how you can use the platform to your advantage.

Other Social Profiles

That’s great and all, but what about your other social media profiles ? Should you include them too?

Well, it depends.

As a rule of thumb, if the social profile is relevant to your job, you should include them.

Let’s take a look at a few to see when you might want to do so.

Instagram or Twitter

Let’s say you’re applying for a job as a community manager or an influencer .

In that case, you could support your application by including your Twitter or Instagram profiles in your contact info.

If you have a lot of followers on either of the platforms, this could tell the recruiter that you know how to manage a community or gain a following on social media, which might be valuable for a social media manager position.

Though, if it’s a personal profile and you often make personal posts discussing politics or other controversial topics , you might want to keep the link far far away from your resume.

Quora covers a lot of business topics and many subject-authorities hang out there.

If you’re an expert on a topic that’s relevant to your job and have a solid reputation on Quora, you might want to link to it on your resume.

StackOverflow or GitHub

Are you a developer, a coder, or a computer scientist?

A link to your active StackOverflow or GitHub profile can boost your resume and be a great way to show off your projects.

Be it a website, a mobile app, or something else, a link to the above platforms can be a great addition to your resume.

Relevant for freelancers , writers , bloggers , and entrepreneurs .

If you have an active profile, it can help show off your writing skills and personality before even getting to the interview.

Website or personal blog

Finally, if you’re a writer , or an expert in your field with some online presence, adding a link to your blog or website on your resume can be a great move.

This can be really useful to show your knowledge, and to position yourself as an expert in your field.

Though, you should use your discretion and only include a link if you think it’s going to be relevant .

If it’s a personal blog where you discuss the latest news and post your controversial opinions, you should definitely keep it off your resume.

Anything else

Got an account or you’re active on any other social media platform?

Even if it’s for your personal hobbies (e.g. photography account on Flickr), you should include it only if you think it might help your application process.

Speaking of hobbies, did you know that adding a couple to your resume can boost your application?

Check out our full guide on 40+ hobbies and interests to put on a resume to learn how they can boost your CV!

What NOT to Include in Your Resume Contact Information Section

Until now, we’ve been mostly talking about everything you should include in your contact information section.

But is there anything you might want to exclude?

Yes, quite a few things, actually.

Let’s take a look:

Current job email address

You don’t want your current boss to find out you’re looking for a new job, do you? Especially while using your work email.

This is also bad practice because it shows unprofessionalism and the new hiring manager reading your resume might not be comfortable contacting you on your current work email .

Current job phone number

Likewise, you should not use your current work phone number in your contact information.

Even if your current employer knows you’re looking for a new job, your new potential employer might not appreciate the gesture and think you’re going behind your employer’s back.

Better to stick to your personal phone number.

Date of birth

The HR manager doesn’t care about wishing you a happy birthday.

Include your date of birth only if it is specifically requested in the job ad (e.g. for a bartender position where you have to be 21+).

Your age could play against your interest and lead to ageism. Better to keep it off completely.

Unprofessional email address

As mentioned above, do not include an email address you created ages ago in school.

Show some professionalism, and stick to [email protected] (if that’s unavailable, use [email protected] or some other variations).

Your exact address

Very few businesses use mailing services nowadays to communicate with new hires.

Just listing your phone number and email is good enough, you shouldn’t expect a “Congrats You’re Hired!” mail delivered by post!

Key Takeaways

To recap, your contact information section is an important part of your resume.

Here’s what you need to keep in mind to get this section right:

• Make sure you’re listing the following must-include information: first name, last name, phone number, email address, and location. Meanwhile, the following information is optional: professional title, LinkedIn URL, social media profile(s) and will depend on your background if it’s going to be relevant.
• To keep things simple, you’ll want to use your full name in your contact info, and under it, write your professional title (if unsure, simply write what the job ad says).
• For your phone number and email, stick to keeping things professional and use your personal email and phone number (i.e. not your current work contacts).
• Wondering about including your LinkedIn profile? If it’s up-to-date, optimized, and consistent with your resume, then go for it. If not, make sure it looks good and is updated first.
• Finally, is there anything you should NOT include on your resume? Yes, quite a few. Feel free to skip out on: Current job email address or phone number, your date of birth, an unprofessional email address, your home address.

All done with the contact information section on your resume?

Awesome! Be sure to also follow our career blog for all the latest actionable tips and tricks on how to improve your resume and ace that job interview!

Recommended reading:

• Best Resume Formats [3+ Professional Templates]
• 22+ Strengths and Weaknesses for Job Interviews [Best Answers]
• How to Write a Cover Letter in 8 Easy Steps

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