Once you’ve selected your resume format, it’s time to start building. But before you get to your experience and job skills, you need to make sure you begin your resume with accurate and concise contact information. Let's go over some of the basics that you should consider when placing your contact information on your resume, piece by piece.
contact information to include on your resume
A lot of this might seem straightforward, but many people miss the boat — and wind up tarnishing their candidacy — by omitting key contact information on their resume. So, to get things started, let’s break down all of the contact info that needs to be included:
Got it? Good! Now let’s just walk through these one by one to make sure there isn’t any confusion.
name
- Your first and last name are sufficient.
a middle initial is sometimes merited if your first and last name are considered somewhat generic — for example, “John Smith” — and you want to stand out from the crowd.
- If your resume is more than one page, put your name on each page in the same place.
- Under very few circumstances should you use nicknames. For instance, if you are named “Richard” but you are known as “Rich,” list your full name on your resume.
address
- How to write your address on a resume depends on the location of the job you’re applying for:
if you’re applying for a local job, feel free to include your complete address on your resume. If the job is in a different city or a state, your full address isn't necessary. Just list your current city and state.
- If you decide to include your address on your resume, list your full mailing address in a standard, two-line format.
- Do not list a P.O. Box.
phone number
- List a number that is specifically yours, not a general work phone number.
- Write your number with area code first in the format (XXX) XXX-XXXX.
- Set up a professional voicemail greeting which includes your name and phone number in case you receive a call from a potential employer that you do not answer.
email address
- Use a personal, yet professional-looking email address, such as john.smith@email.com.
- If you do not have a professional-looking email address, create a free account on Gmail.
- Avoid using a work email address if possible.
- Make sure that you check your email regularly.
social media and online portfolio links
- You may choose to include a link to your social media profile or an online portfolio (depending on the role for which you are applying). Unless it is required during the application process, consider this optional; however, if you feel it would increase your chances of landing an interview, you should include it.
- LinkedIn is the most professional platform for businesses and job seekers. If you are asked for a social media link, it’s a good idea to use your LinkedIn profile.
- Make sure that online portfolio links are valid and typed correctly. Using a URL shortener may look less professional than a custom URL with your name. Wix, Weebly and WordPress all have templates for professional-looking online portfolios.
- Delete unprofessional social media profiles before your job search, regardless of whether they are associated with your name or not. They can and will be found.
key takeaways
No resume is complete without contact information. It’s also the first information that a recruiter or hiring manager is going to see, so it’s important you check off all of the boxes. And if you keep these best practices outlined in this article in mind as you craft your resume, you’re sure to strengthen your candidacy.
Looking for additional resume advice? Head on to the next installment in our series of resuming-writing guidance: step 4: qualifications and highlights.