Contact details are the first thing employers are going to see on your resume. This section is a mandatory part of each resume, as it gives employers information on how they can reach out to you if they are interested in your application.
Since this is the first thing they are going to see, it needs to be done right.
Despite the fact that this section is frequently just quickly skimmed, it can still set the tone and determine the outcome of your application. To make it work, it needs to be professional, concise, straightforward, and – above all – correct. Even though this part may seem the easiest one to write, there are a few surprisingly common mistakes that job seekers make here. But not you – at least not after you read this text.
Here, you are going to learn:
Alright – without further ado, let's get into it!
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Where to put contact information on a resume?
Contact details are one of the most important resume components, as they allow potential employers to reach out about job opportunities.
To make them noticeable, they need to be positioned properly.
Best practice is to list contact info at the top of the resume so they stand apart from other information on the resume.
Ideally, you should put your contact information right below your name and surname, and above other resume sections including career summary, work experience and education.
The alternative placement of the contact information is at the very bottom of a resume. However, we don't recommend it as in this case a recruiter, hiring manager or ATS could miss this critical info.
What needs to be included in resume contact information?
On a resume, your contact info must include your name and surname, location, phone number and email address.
Everything else is optional, and we'll explain other options later on.
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OK, let’s write this information on your resume together!
1. Name and Surname
First things first – write down your name and surname.
They are the first thing employers will read on your resume and you want them to be seen and remembered.
So, put them at the top of the page, as it must be easy to find them.
Even though adding your name and surname seems straightforward and unnecessary to discuss, there are two points to keep in mind:
Be official. Avoid any alternative names or nicknames and stick to your official full first name and last name. Spell it the way it is spelled on your identification card or passport. This is the documentation that you will need to share with employers if you get to the last step in the recruitment process, so this information needs to match to avoid any legal challenges in hiring.
Be consistent. Make sure you use the same name and surname consistently in all job application documents and correspondences with the company. Keep consistency in mind to avoid any issues and complications in the hiring process.
Here is a bad example:
Why it's incorrect: Billy's name is actually William Rodgers. Imagine if another candidate applies to the same job vacancy and his official name is Billy Rodgers. It could cause unnecessary confusion and complications in the hiring. So, no matter how fond you are of your nickname, don't write it in a resume.
And here is how it should actually be written:
2. Location
In the last decade, job searching has become digital. Employers won’t communicate with you via post, so they don’t need your full mailing address anymore.
However, you still need to inform them about your location.
Ditch the street address and home number, and leave only your general information (city and country; potentially add neighborhood and ZIP code if it's close to work).
So, replace this:
With this:
