The contact information is the single most important section on your resume.
Why?
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.
And in this guide, you’ll learn:
- 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?
Let’s go!
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:
To Include:
Contact Information:- First Name, Last Name: e.g. ‘Robert Johnson’
- Phone Number: e.g. ‘004 412 2019’
- Email Address: e.g. ‘robert@novoresume.com’
- 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.
What NOT to Include in Your Contact Information:
- 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: ‘robert.johnson@gmail.com’ Don’t: ‘rob.john.marketer.guy12@gmail.com’
All clear?
Great!
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.
Pro Tip:
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)
- Code Ninja
- Programming Samurai
- Tech Guru
Pro Tip:
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.
Contact Information Name Done Right:
- Robert Eric Johnson, PhD
- Computer Engineering Specialist
Contact Information Name Done Wrong:
- 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.
Like so:
There is, however, no need to mention your neighborhood or exact address. The HR won’t drop by for a coffee in their downtime.
Location Done Right:
- Copenhagen, Denmark.
Location Done Wrong:
- 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.
Pro Tip:
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 ‘firstname.lastname@gmail.com’ (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.
Pro Tip:
- 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
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.
Medium
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.
Pro Tip:
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 name.lastname@gmail.com (if that’s unavailable, use lastname.firstname@gmail.com 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!
