personal info on a resume

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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Your "About Me" Resume Section: 10 Examples to Make a Strong Impression

3 key takeaways

• What an About Me resume section is
• Best practices for writing your About Me section
• How to write an About Me summary with the Teal AI Resume Builder

How do you convey everything you've accomplished and have to offer in a way that draws attention and leaves potential employers wanting more information?

With an About Me resume section.

A well-written section at the top of your resume that summarizes your most impressive achievements (sometimes called a professional summary, personal statement, short professional bio, resume objective, or an about me) is your opportunity to make a solid first impression.

So where do you start? And how do you make sure your About Me section captures your unique value proposition in a way that separates you from other applicants?

What is an About Me resume section? 

Your About Me resume section, or short professional bio , is a paragraph (typically just a few sentences long) near the top of your resume that introduces recruiters or hiring managers to who you are as a professional. 

As a concise summary of your professional journey, this section offers a high-level overview of your entire resume and includes skills, experience, and achievements—driving potential employers to dig in deeper because they have a glimpse of who you are and the incredible things you're capable of.

Why do you need an About Me resume section?

Your About Me resume section grabs the attention of hiring managers and recruiters. And it's necessary because it … 

Differentiates you from other applicants

In today's crowded job market, you have just a few opportunities to stand out from other job seekers before you land an interview. Crafting a short paragraph about yourself at the top of your resume allows you to highlight the most impressive achievements, impact, key skills, and milestones of your career—making you a unique and valuable candidate.

Offers a concise summary of your professional experience

How many years of experience do you have? Where have you had the most influence? How does what you know how to do translate into what potential employers are looking for?

A concise and well-crafted About Me summary on a resume allows recruiters and hiring managers to quickly pull your top qualifications and understand your experience—making it easier for them to assess your fit for the role. 

Don't know what skills to highlight? You can quickly and easily pull this information from your exhaustive Career History within the Teal platform and craft a strong summary with the help of AI technology and ChatGPT.

Considers that a hiring manager has limited time

With modern hiring processes and tools like job boards, LinkedIn Easy Apply, and website submissions, recruiters and hiring managers are often inundated with hundreds of applications. Unfortunately, they don't always have much time to dedicate to reviewing every detail of each resume—at least in the beginning.

A highlight reel of your professional experience allows them to swiftly identify you as a qualified candidate whose skills align with the job requirements and move you to the next stage of the hiring process. 

Offers additional context

Maybe you're just starting out and creating a resume with no work experience . Or perhaps you have extensive experience in one field, but you're changing careers entirely. Whatever the case may be, a summary of your transferable skills and any other relevant experience is crucial for offering context and elaborating on how what you can do will help you succeed in a new role.

Want to write your About Me resume section now? Sign up for Teal for free today.

How to write an About Me for a resume with Teal

If you're looking for a fast way to craft your About Me section, Teal can help.

With the Teal AI Resume Builder , you have two fantastic options for creating your About Me. You can draft your summary or just click the "Generate with AI" button. 

Pro Tip: After selecting the summary that showcases you as the best candidate, save it. Then, finish any remaining sections, choose from the best resume templates , and customize what you want (color, margins, font, etc.) That's it! 

5 things to include in your About Me section 

Now that you know what an About Me section is and why you need one, let's explore what to put in the About Me section of a resume to highlight your best professional accomplishments and make you a standout candidate.

1. Professional title

Your professional title, also known as your resume title , offers a glimpse into your area of expertise and your level of responsibility. Whether you're an "HR Manager," "Graphic Designer," or "Project Manager," clearly mention your job title to give a snapshot of your core competency.

2. Years of experience

A straightforward "years of experience" is often a job requirement. How long you've been in a role or job position can be essential in establishing your level of expertise, while offering hiring managers a sense of career growth and demonstrating your familiarity with the industry or field. (And whether you're a C-suite leader or an entry-level candidate, specifying your years of previous experience helps set the right expectations from the first interaction.)

3. Relevant skills

By showcasing relevant skills on your resume that align with the job requirements, you capture attention and effectively convey your ability to do the job you're applying for.

Your specific skills are a powerful indicator of whether or not you're right for the position. They also set you apart from other candidates and increase your chances of being considered for an interview. So what hard and soft skills might your future employer be looking for?

Soft skill examples

• Project management skills
• Time management skills
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Customer engagement
• Team leadership
• Detail oriented

Hard skill examples

• Digital marketing
• Google Analytics
• AI model deployment
• Competitive analysis market research
• SEO copywriting

Pro Tip: Showcase your skills in a standalone section. With the free AI Resume Builder you can build a customized Skills section with as many tools, soft skills, and technical skills as needed. Create skill categories to organize specific skill sets in ways that are most relevant to the position you're applying for.

4. Your most impressive, quantifiable metrics

Numbers are powerful.

Include one or two quantifiable metrics in your About Me summary that showcase your achievements and contributions whenever possible.

For example, instead of saying that you increased sales, mention that you boosted sales by 25% within six months. These metrics provide concrete evidence of your abilities and make your resume accomplishment examples more impressive.

If you aren't sure how to craft metrics-based statements, try the Achievement Assistant with the Teal AI Resume Builder . Choose from the drop-down options and use them as a guide to craft impactful statements that grab attention.

5. Outstanding awards and achievements

Your about me is ideal for showcasing achievements and awards on a resume . These distinctions are powerful indicators of exceptional performance.

Whether you've received prestigious honors, peer recognition awards, industry certifications, or commendations, including them further validates your expertise—demonstrating your commitment to your job and providing tangible evidence of your ability to deliver outstanding results.

If you have more than one, a dedicated Awards section with all of your relevant awards and scholarships is also an excellent way to showcase these achievements.

4 things to avoid in your About Me section

While there are a few elements you should always include in a professional summary or an About Me section, there are also some pitfalls to avoid. So what are a few things to steer clear of?

1. Detailed personal information

While your About Me section is a personal statement around who you are as a professional , avoid giving too much personal detail that may distract from the primary objective.

Remember, this isn't your autobiography. (Although your entire story might be great, this just isn't the place for it!) Avoid including personal details like marital status, hobbies, or political affiliations. Stick to relevant professional information that showcases your qualifications.

2. All of your future career goals

Do your best to focus on current or past experiences, skills, and accomplishments rather than your future career goals. Save details like an overall career objective for interview discussions, where you can align them with questions specific to the role and company you're applying to.

3. Repeating everything from your resume

A short summary of your professional background and qualifications shouldn't duplicate all the information in your resume.

The top of your resume has limited space. Instead, choose the most impactful and relevant details to grab the attention of a hiring manager or recruiter. Remember, the goal is to entice them to read the rest of your resume, not reiterate its contents.

4. That you want the job

Stating you want the job or to work for the company may seem obvious. Of course, you're excited and want the role; you applied! But bringing it to the attention of a hiring manager or recruiter adds no real value to your About Me or professional summary.

Instead, express your enthusiasm about the position during the interview process by illustrating your thorough research and understanding of the company, culture, and role.

@teal_hq Where do you stand on the professional summary debate? Some recruiters find those brief career highlights helpful—and others say skip it and save the space on your resume. While professional summaries aren’t a make-or-break, they can be an opportunity to speak about your career in aggregate. Here’s how to use ChatGPT to write a professional summary for your resume in under 60 seconds. Just be sure to edit and adjust as needed before submitting. #chatgpt #chatgpt3 #resume #resumetips #careertok #jobsearch ♬ Say So (Instrumental Version) [Originally Performed by Doja Cat] - Elliot Van Coup

Best practices for writing an About Me section

Ready to optimize your About Me resume section? Let's explore some resume tips and best practices for crafting a compelling summary that grabs attention and showcases you in the best light—quickly.

Keep it brief 

When creating an About Me resume section that's easily scannable, brevity is crucial. 

Keep your paragraph concise and to the point. In just a few sentences, focus on the most relevant information recruiters and hiring managers need to know. Aim for around three to five sentences that effectively capture your years of experience and notable achievements while highlighting key qualifications that align with the job description of the role you're applying for.

Write in the first-person voice 

Rather than writing in the second person (using "you" and "your" language) or third person (an objective narrator), the first-person voice adds a personal touch. It allows you to connect with the hiring manager on a more one-to-one level—creating a sense of authenticity and transparency.

Include keywords from the job description

Want to express that you genuinely understand the role you're applying for? Include keywords for resume from the job description. Language from the description often resonates more with potential employers because they're the ones who wrote the job ad in the first place.

So how can you do that?

Take the time to carefully read the job description and identify the skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. For example, do they need someone who has five years of experience? Do they mention research skills? How about strong interpersonal skills? Are they looking for experience in social media marketing?

Once you've found the right skills, incorporate a few of those as keywords or phrases into your About Me section. (But as a note, don't just cram them into one section in your resume. You can incorporate keywords as achievements or resume bullet points and in your skills section.) 

If you're not sure where to start, Teal has you covered.

Compare your resume to a specific job description

Use Teal's Resume Matching to compare your current resume to the specific details of the job that you want to apply for. You'll get a Match Score that breaks down which hard skills, soft skills, and keywords are important for you to incorporate into your resume.

Then, you can use these insights to help you tailor your About Me section to the role.

Additionally, you can also use Teal's free Job Application Tracker to highlight which skills and language are emphasized in each of the job positions you save. This can help enhance your process as you start preparing your resume for different positions.

Use strong action verbs 

Using strong resume action verbs throughout your document adds strength and a feeling of movement to any section in your resume.

Begin sentences with verbs that convey you're proactive and results-driven. For example, instead of saying, "I was responsible for managing a team," try, "Led and motivated a team of 10 professionals, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity."

10 Resume About Me section examples

If you feel like crafting an engaging and effective About Me section for your resume is overwhelming, below are a few examples of how to start a resume to get you on the right track!

Resume examples for no work experience

High school student.

As an ambitious and motivated high school senior, I'm eager to kickstart my marketing career as the Gourmet Goddess Social Media Intern. I demonstrate exceptional creativity, communication, and organizational skills that I've developed through active participation in team sports and student government. In 2023 I was awarded "Outstanding Academic Achievement" for maintaining a consistent 4.0 GPA, showcasing a commitment to academic excellence and extracurricular pursuits. I'm also passionate about leveraging social media platforms to promote events and connect with diverse audiences.

College student

As a highly motivated college student with a strong passion for computer science, I have a background in combining technical knowledge with exceptional interpersonal skills. I'm adept at troubleshooting hardware and software issues to deliver optimal solutions. I'm also actively involved in Greek life as the Social Chair for my fraternity, organizing successful events and fostering a sense of community. I demonstrate dedication to making a positive impact through my volunteer work at the Humane Society, contributing time and skills to support local animals. In addition, I'm majoring in Computer Science, with coursework emphasizing programming languages, algorithms, and data structures.

Entry-level

Junior data analyst.

As a highly driven Data Analyst with a track record of improving data quality and accessibility, I've developed and implemented a data cleaning and preprocessing framework that improved data analytics quality for Metadata by 30%. In addition, I spearheaded the design and implementation of a data lake infrastructure resulting in a 40% reduction in data storage costs and a 25% increase in data accessibility. I also built and maintained a data security program that ensured compliance with industry regulations and protected sensitive information for 1000+ clients.

Entry-Level Content Writer

As an organized and passionate entry-level Content Writer with excellent communication skills and a proven ability to manage software development projects, I'm seeking to use my Agile experience to help drive successful content delivery at Teal HQ while continuing to build upon an already strong understanding of software product writing and successful business relationships.

Account Executive

As a highly accomplished Account Executive with 6 years of experience driving revenue growth, increasing customer satisfaction, and developing successful sales strategies, I have a proven track record in negotiating contracts, managing key accounts, and implementing CRM systems. My work has resulted in $1.2 million in revenue in one year and a 40% increase in client satisfaction. I'm skilled in analyzing customer data, transparent and honest communication, identifying trends, and preventing customer churn.

Digital Marketing Manager

With 4 years of experience in digital marketing, I have a proven record of leading successful campaigns and implementing effective marketing strategies. I've led the end-to-end execution of paid advertising campaigns, resulting in a 20% increase in new sign-ups and a 15% increase in sign-up conversion rates. I've also led the implementation of a new marketing automation system, resulting in a 15% reduction in marketing costs and a 20% increase in ROI at Finsta. I'm experienced in collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver on-time and on-budget projects and marketing initiatives.

Senior-level

Senior it manager.

As a highly skilled Senior IT Manager with 7 years of experience, I successfully lead teams in strategizing, deploying, and maintaining complex IT initiatives. At Asana, I spearheaded the successful implementation of a new network architecture that increased system performance by 36%, cutting energy consumption costs by 22%. I also managed finances for the IT Department, yielding 10% savings on the overall expenditure, and introduced an online collaboration platform that improved employee productivity by 10x.

Senior AWS DevOps Engineer

As a highly skilled AWS DevOps Engineer with 8 years of experience designing and implementing automated solutions for managing and deploying applications on AWS, I have a proven track record in reducing deployment time by up to 75%. As a Senior AWS DevOps Engineer, I increased system reliability by 40% and improved team productivity by 3x. I have exceptional skills in technical leadership, strategic planning, and fostering a collaborative work environment, with a strong commitment to delivering innovative solutions and driving business growth.

Career-change resume examples

Transitioning out of education.

As a highly motivated Special Education Teacher and Administrator with over 15 years of experience developing, implementing, and managing programs and services for students with diverse learning needs, I'm seeking to transition into a career as a Customer Success Manager in EdTech. I bring skills in collaboration, data analysis, and legal compliance. I'm experienced in cross-functional collaboration and have strong knowledge of effective administrative strategies. In 2023, I was the sole recipient of the Principal's Leadership and Coaching Excellence Award. I'm also well known for coaching and feedback that drives positive results and builds relationships.

Transitioning out of human resources

As an experienced HR Manager with over 5 years in the industry, I have a proven track record of implementing and ensuring adherence to policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. I'm seeking a transition into a role as a Compliance Manager, leveraging my comprehensive understanding of compliance frameworks and demonstrating my ability to promote a culture of compliance within organizations. I have exceptional interpersonal skills and a proven ability to collaborate with teams across organizations to achieve business goals. In 2022, Nectar recognized me for implementing streamlined HR processes resulting in a 20% reduction in employee churn. I was also awarded the "Human Resources Excellence Award" for outstanding commitment to ethical practices.

Want to view more job-specific resume examples with an impactful professional summary? Check out our comprehensive selection of resume examples across a variety of jobs by seniority level, industry, specialty, and more.

Create an About Me resume section today

The top of your resume is your chance to make a great first impression, and introduce yourself to the team . It's your opportunity to grab attention and showcase all of the incredible professional qualities and skills you bring to the table.

Teal is a seamless way to create a summary that aligns with the rest of your resume. With Teal's expert guidance and AI integration, you can confidently create a standout resume that resonates with hiring managers.

Start using the Teal AI Resume Builder today and craft a captivating About Me section that captures your unique value and sets you apart from the competition—paving the way for career success.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should the "about me" section be on a resume, can i include personal interests in my "about me" resume section, should my "about me" section on a resume be written in first or third person.

Kayte Grady

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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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Personal Information on Resume – How to Add it Smartly

Did you care about your personal information on resume? Most job seekers never do. And in that they miss a few critical advantages over others! Know which personal details you should include or which ones to avoid. And how to do it smartly!

When you are crafting your resume, what do you work the most on? It may be how you show your strengths in that resume or how to highlight your hobbies or how will you showcase your achievements attractively .

You may spend hours crafting the about me section in your resume and writing an impressive summary that can attract employers. But did you ever care so much about the personal information on your resume?

Well, don’t worry – it happens to the most careful job seekers (even if we hate to admit it). As someone who has written their fair share of resumes, we can tell you that there is an art to crafting those few short lines about yourself.

Keep reading for tips on what personal information should be included (or omitted) when writing a resume.

Let’s dive in…

Why is the Personal Information on Resume Important?

You may find it surprising but your personal details are indeed important to include on your CV. So imagine this.

Most hiring managers will first scan through the resumes of candidates. Now, if they find your resume attractive, how will they reach you? Having your details listed in an easy-to-read and easy-to-find way can help them do it easily!  

Let us explore 13 Big Reasons Why Personal Details on Resume are Important

• It provides the employer with a way to identify the applicant and contact them for further information or to schedule an interview.
• Employers may use your personal information to monitor your compliance with equal opportunity laws and to gather data for diversity initiatives.
• Relevance to the position -Some personal information, such as your age, may be relevant to the position you applied for. For example, if you applied for any junior or middle sales role and you are above 45, there is a high chance of you getting rejected.
• Personal branding: The personal information on your resume can help you stand out and showcase your unique background and experiences.
• Locality : Personal information such as address and phone number can help an employer determine your proximity to the workplace, which can be important for some positions.
• Language skills : Information about the your language proficiency can be relevant for positions where language skills are required.
• Relevant hobbies and interests : Personal information such as hobbies and interests stated in your resume can provide insight into an applicant’s personality and character, and can also demonstrate skills and experience that are relevant to the position.
• Reference information : Your resume may include the names and contact information of references. This personal information is important because it provides the employer with a way to verify your work history and character.
• Background check : Personal information such as your full name and other details which may include your citizenship or other legal details can be used to conduct background checks, which are often required for certain positions.
• Sharing links to any relevant online portfolios or websites you may have is highly recommended and can make a big difference when you are shortlisted for an interview opportunity.
• Your personal information can help employers determine if you would be a good fit for the organization. It gives them hints about your personality, communication style, and other elements that cannot be gleaned from looking at.
• Adding personal details to your resume or CV can help the hiring company create an organized talent pool . By including key information such as your name, contact information, and location, recruiters can maintain a qualified list of applicants for future positions.  For example, suppose a company is looking for additional drivers in their shipping department but has already received resumes from the same area for a sales position. In that case, recruiters can take those already-submitted resumes and consider them for the driver opening. 
• This increases your chances of being considered for multiple openings in the same company over time and offers a more efficient way to apply for jobs.

By now you will understand, how this seemingly least important thing can actually play a big role in helping you stand out from other applicants!

What Personal Details on Resume should you include?

As you can imagine, there are several personal details that you can add to your resume. This personal information is in different places or sections of your resume.

You want to ensure that the personal details you add are beneficial for your chances of getting interview calls and later standing apart from other applicants.

This can be the difference between making a lasting first impression or getting lost in the stacks of other resumes on an employer’s desk. Make sure that whatever you include reflects your best self and presents you in a professional light. 

After all, no one wants an unreadable smorgasbord of obscure fonts and strange layouts destructing from their CV.

Stick to the first principle thinking! There’s no substitute for a neat and tidy resume that tells employers all they need to know about you in just one quick glance.

Personal Details that You Must include in Resume

1. full name.

There’s nothing quite like your name. It’s the one thing that makes you stand out. Your full name – first, middle, and last – will make all the difference when applying for jobs. 

This is naturally the most important detail to identify you. Without an accurate name included in your personal details, you could be missing out on opportunities. Because there’s no way of knowing exactly who they’re looking at.

Don’t let a small but important detail like your full name be the factor that leaves you behind.

2. Professional Title

Having your professional title on your resume is like putting on a badge of honor. It’s a token of the hard work and dedication you’ve put into your career.

It tells the recruiter who you are in an instantly recognizable way. So they can quickly decide if your experience matches the position at hand. 

Take, for example, a Project Manager. Their title alone speaks of years of expertise in meeting different types of projects and bringing them to completion with skill and acumen.

Your job title may say volumes about your prowess. So, if you have earned it, show it!

3. Email Address

Your email address is much more than a simple contact detail to include on your resume. It’s a doorway between you and potential opportunities.

For example, suppose a company with an impressive job opening happens to stumble across your profile. Let us assume that they find your resume impressive.

For any interested employer, you may be only a few clicks away with your email if they want to quickly and comfortably reach you. Do you think they will want to make the first contact over the phone? Wouldn’t that be too cumbersome?

With this in mind, take the time to add an email address that looks professional. It should ideally show present information such as your name.

Keep it simple and professional!

4. Phone Number

Your phone number on your resume makes it much easier for employers to quickly reach you if they strongly think that you would be a good fit for the job.

This is because especially strong candidates get emails from recruiters all the time. So they may never bother to open them.

That’s why a simple phone call can make all the difference if they can’t contact you through email.

Make sure your phone number is clearly listed in your resume’s personal information section so employers can easily reach out to you.

5. Location

When adding a location for your resume, don’t overlook the incredible value of pinpointing where you live. It may be just a few lines of information, but this spot on the resume carries considerable importance for a few jobs. 

You could go with something as simple as listing the city, zip code, and country you call home to provide an idea of your geographic roots. Just a brief scrape of information can color how employers view you and give them an impressive glimpse into who you are.

6. Languages known

With India’s vast linguistic landscape, speaking multiple languages is an invaluable asset. It helps you both in navigating local dialects and employees working for potential employers. These days, most companies have employees from diverse background and cultures, often speaking 5 or more different languages.

Knowing English and Hindi is essential for most jobs, but those fortunate enough to be bilingual or trilingual often have a leg up regarding client-facing roles at global organizations. 

Communicating fluently in any local or foreign language can certainly put a person on the right track when looking for employment. It can even open doors that would otherwise remain closed without knowledge of such languages.

Personal Information on Resume that is Optional

While contact information such as name, address, and phone number must in any resume, items such as photo, ethnicity or birthplace are completely optional. In most cases, you are free to leave out references to maiden names and religious affiliations.

However, you may choose to divulge this information if relevant or influential in the context of the job. Let’s take a look at this in more detail!

Let’s see which additional personal information is in your hands to impress the employers.

Optional Personal Information on Resume that can be Attractive for Interviewers

1. linkedin url.

A LinkedIn URL is not required on a resume, but it can make a huge impact in creating your personal brand!

Having a LinkedIn profile allows you to showcase your experience in greater detail and stand out from the crowd. 

It also suggests that you take your professional endeavors seriously.

It gives useful initial insights about your overall career, bent, and how you are generally seen in other companies.

Finally, it tells employers if you are actively focused on developing yourself as a capable professional. Including it in your initial job application signals to employers that you are motivated and know how to use this most important platform for professionals today.

2. Social media Profile Links

Having a physical presence on social media is becoming more and more prominent in the professional world. However, including your accounts as part of your resume’s personal details section is optional. 

You can still express your personality and highlight important traits without listing them directly – simply by using creative language throughout the rest of the resume to spark the employer’s attention. 

Whether you choose to include them or not, make sure that any necessary public-facing accounts are semi-professional and accurately reflect positive qualities that will benefit you in the role you’re applying for.

Selecting the right social media profiles is actually beneficial for your chances if you have smartly used those platforms.

3. Personal website

Having your own personal website is like having a business card that demonstrates who you are and what you’re capable of.

With a simple click, you can showcase the potential employers an impressive portfolio of your work. It can provide much deeper insights into what you can do, even before reaching the interview room. 

The most important thing is it shows your initiative to do things that most others won’t while presenting yourself as someone with the mindset of a smart professional!

Whether it’s design, writing, photography or web development- having a personal website adds the extra oomph to your resume and makes sure that it has maximum visibility.

Since LinkedIn and Social media profiles as well as your website can lead interviewers to ask questions mainly about achievements, hobbies and strengths, it will be useful if prepare strong answers for interview questions like –

What is your biggest achievement?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

And finally, check 100+ impressive answers for the question – What are your hobbies?

4. Detailed Address

When adding personal information to your resume, you don’t necessarily have to include your full address – it’s your choice.

Even though this might seem minor, including a street address or city can be an opportunity for the employer to gain insight into how the job suits you geographically. 

5. Date and place of birth

The date and place of your birth are important pieces of context for any potential employer but that doesn’t mean you have to declare them on your resume.

Including this information is totally optional and your decision to leave it off won’t affect employers’ decisions when vetting. 

6. Marital status

Keeping this field blank may broaden your appeal and caters to a wider variety of employers but also makes them feel more empowered.

Keeping marital status off the page leaves room for other important life details that could be more beneficial to potential employers than information about your relationship status: volunteer experience, educational background, or certifications won during recent years.

What Personal Details should not be included on a resume?

When you know how your personal information plays a big role in your overall recruitment process, it can be tempting to overdo it in the resume. It may however just end up being counterproductive for you!

At times, personal details that you add to your resume in the rush, can harm you immensely in your selection.

So, it brings us to personal details that you must absolutely avoid in your resume …

10 Personal Details on Resume that you must avoid!

1. current salary.

Your current salary should not be included in your application. This can too easily set a limit and give away details that may create unwanted bias.

It can also dramatically hamper your chance of being offered any salary that may be way higher than your imagination!  

It is wise to save this conversation in the interviews about your salary expectations , for the later stages of your recruitment process.

Leaving out current salary information shows smartness in yourself and professionalism in the application process.

2. Details of your government identity proofs

Your National Insurance Number or Social Security Number or Aadhaar card number (for Indians) are sensitive pieces of data and could expose you to identity fraud if included in your resume details. So avoid putting any numbers provided by government to you in your resume.

Your employer will usually request this information after you have been hired. Depending on the job, some government positions may require it for vetting purposes.

However, it is a best practice only to provide this data when formally requested by an employer and not before.

3. Sexual Orientation

Including personal information such as your sexual orientation on a resume could hinder success.

Hiring discrimination can be an unfortunate reality in the workplace, and reporting this information can lead people to draw false conclusions about you. 

It would be more beneficial to inform employers passively of such details during an interview rather than list them in your CV.

Furthermore, some hiring managers may interpret this kind of disclosure as unprofessional, potentially causing you to miss out on a valuable opportunity.

4. Family demography

Marital status and dependents information are certain pieces that should remain out of a resume. Making this personal information available could make you susceptible to discrimination during the hiring process. 

Therefore, leaving this type of information off your resume is the safest approach and allows your qualifications and skills to be effectively evaluated in the right context.

5. Photograph

Professional resumes should not include a photograph of the applicant.

Though showing your photo can be customary in certain countries, employers generally try to get to know you based solely on your skills and experience. So photographs can be a distraction or draw attention away from the resume itself. 

Further, the inclusion of photographs judges you on your physical characteristics or cultural background instead of your qualifications for the position.

Unless explicitly requested by a job posting or required within the industry’s culture, it is best to stick with basic personal information such as your name and contact information, leaving room to discuss more important matters during an interview.

6. Date of Birth

Including date of birth on a resume could inherently affect the decision-making process of potential employers. So it can put you at an unfair disadvantage.

Whenever possible, focus on showcasing professional skills instead of dwelling on age-related matters. Omitting such details can give employers more room to make decisions based solely on merit.

7. Nationality

We agree that proving your eligibility for a job posting is important. However, you should never include your nationality on a resume.

Providing such information can be potentially discriminatory as employers may make assumptions about you or target their questions in a way that isn’t necessary.

Therefore, it is best to leave out information not useful to the role when creating your resume.

While many employers may be able to infer your gender from your name, asking directly and including this information on the resume is illegal in most countries. 

9. Religion

It is unlawful for an employer to make hiring decisions based on religious preference. So, highlighting such information on your resume effectively serves no purpose. As such, it’s best to avoid putting it in your resume.

10. Political Preferences  

Personal information that could be considered political preferences should not be present in any capacity.

This includes affiliations with religious or ideological organizations, statements about past or current politicians on social media, and other related materials.

Including this type of content has been known to raise eyebrows and recruiters can consider you as an activist which can put their organization in unnecessary danger.

So, it is best to leave off the resume entirely.

Tips to add Personal Details on Resume Smartly

Formatting your personal information correctly on a resume is essential for an employer to identify who you are. You should carefully consider what you want to emphasize within the personal section and arrange each detail accordingly.

For example, start with your name and your contact information—phone number and email address. Then you could list any other relevant details, such as your date of birth, gender and nationality, to provide insight into your personal identity. 

For example, an experienced AI developer should highlight their professional title, such as “Sr. AI Developer, ” capitalizing the first letter of every word and adding it next to their name. 

Similarly, a fresher graphic designer’s resume should include the link to their portfolio in the personal detail section. Knowing how to correctly write and format your personal information can greatly impact your resume and increase your chances of job success.

When listing educational history on a resume, be sure to include the name of the institution where the degree was obtained and dates of attendance. If a GPA was earned during the program of study, this should also be included to paint an accurate picture of academic success. In addition to degrees earned and majors studied, it is beneficial to list coursework taken that is particularly relevant to the job being applied for.

For work experience on a resume, employers want to know what skills were utilized in previous positions held. This includes tasks performed, responsibilities given (including supervisory roles), accomplishments achieved while working at certain jobs, and any special projects completed.

While the chronological format is still important when listing work experience on a resume, focusing more heavily on accomplishments rather than dates may be more advantageous in certain cases.

Certifications and licenses should also be included when providing personal information on a resume, as they indicate specific training or skills acquired that may be necessary for certain employment positions. When listing these items on a resume, it is important to note what type of certification or license is held and by whom or from where it was obtained. 

Finally, awards or honors should also be listed when providing personal information on a resume as they demonstrate levels of achievement, either academically or professionally, that demonstrate excellence in some capacity; when listing awards, make sure that each award has enough detail associated with it for potential employers to understand its relevance and merit quickly and easily.

Examples of Personal Information on Resume shown Professionally

Here are some samples you can take inspiration from:

Graphic Designer

Video Editor

General Manager

Software Engineer

Administrative Assistant

Fashion Designer

So there you have it!

The do’s and don’ts of how to approach the personal information section on your resume. Just remember to keep it relevant, concise, and professional.

Don’t forget that a little bit of personality can go a long way – but make sure it’s still consistent with the overall tone of your resume.

If you have received a few interview calls, it is time to prepare yourself well for the interviews! Check our Interview Questions and Answers section for the same!

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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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Resume personal statement examples

If you want to secure job interview, you need a strong personal statement at the top of your resume.

Your resume personal statement is a short paragraph which sits at the very top of your resume – and it’s aim is to summarize the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to read your resume in full.

In this guide I have included 17 resume personal statement examples from a range of professions and experience levels, plus a detailed guide of how to write your own personal statement that will get you noticed by employers

Resume templates 

17 resume personal statement examples

To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look , and what should be included.

Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates – if you are experienced, check out our resume summary examples instead.

College graduate resume personal statement (no experience)

Although this college graduate has no paid work experience , they compensate for it by showcasing all of the skills and knowledge the have gained during their studies, and demonstrating how they apply their knowledge in academic and personal projects.

When you have little or no experience, it’s important to draw out transferable workplace skills from your studies and extracurricular work, to showcase them to employers.

College graduate resume personal statement (part time freelance experience)

This candidate has graduated college with a degree in biochemistry but actually wants to start a career in marketing after providing some digital freelance services to fund their studies.

In this case, they haven’t made much mention of their studies because they aren’t relevant to the marketing agencies they are applying to. Instead they have focused their personal statement around their freelance work and passion for the digital field – although they still mention the fact they are degree educated to prove their academic success.

High school leaver resume personal statement (no experience)

This candidate is 16 years old and has no work experience whatsoever, but they compensate for this by detailing their academic achievements that relate to the roles they are applying for (maths and literacy are important requirements in finance and accountancy roles).

They also add some info on their extracurricular activities and high school work-placements, to strengthen this student resume further.

Top tips for writing a resume personal statement

• Thoroughly research the jobs and companies you are planning to apply for to identify the type of candidate they are looking for – try to reflect that in your personal statement
• Don’t be afraid to brag a little – include some of your most impressive achievements from education, work or personal life
• Focus on describing the benefits an employer will get from hiring you. Will you help them to get more customers? Improve their workplace? Save them time and money?
• If you have no work experience, demonstrate transferable workplace skills from your education, projects, or even hobbies

High school leaver resume personal statement (part time experience)

Although this person has only just left high school, they have also undertaken some part-time work in a call center alongside their studies.

To make the most of this experience, they have combined their academic achievements with their workplace exposure in this personal statement.

By highlighting their future studies, summer programme involvement, work experience and expressing their ambitions to progress within sales, this candidate really makes an appealing case for hiring them.

College leaver resume personal statement (no experience)

This candidate has left college with good grades, but does not yet have any work experience.

To compensate for the lack of workplace exposure, they have made their honor results prominent and highlighted skills and experience which would benefit the employers they are targeting.

Any recruiter reading this summary can quickly understand that this candidate has great academic achievements, a passion for IT and finance and the ability to transfer their skills into an office environment.

College student resume personal statement (freelance experience)

As this student has picked up a small amount of freelance writing work during their studies, they have made sure to brag about it in their personal statement.

They give details on their relevant studies to show the skills they are learning, and boost this further by highlighting the fact that they have been applying these skills in a real-life work setting by providing freelance services.

They also include key action verbs that recruiters will be looking for , such as creative writing, working to deadlines, and producing copy.

Academic resume personal statement

Aside from junior candidates, the only other people who might use a personal statement, are academic professionals; as their resume’s tend to be more longer and detailed than other professions.

This candidate provides a high level overview of their field of study, length of experience, and the roles they have held within colleges.

High school leaver resume personal statement with sports experience

Although this person has no work experience, they are still able to show employers the value of hiring them by selling their other achievements and explaining how they could benefit an organization.

They expand on their sports club involvement to demonstrate their teamwork, leadership skills, communication and motivation, which are all important traits in the workplace, and will be looked upon favourably by recruiters and hiring managers.

They also draw upon their future plans to study business studies at college and take a part time job, to further prove their ambition and dedication.

History graduate resume personal statement

This history graduate proves their aptitude for both academic achievement and workplace aptitude by showcasing valuable skills from their degree and voluntary work.

They do this by breaking down the key requirements for each and showing how their skills could be beneficial for future employers, such as listening, communication, and crisis management.

They also describe how their ability to balance studies alongside voluntary work has not only boosted their knowledge and skills, but also given excellent time management and organizational skills – which are vital assets to any employer.

Law graduate resume personal statement

This legal graduate makes the most from their college work placements by using it to bulk out the contents of their resume personal statement.

They include their degree to show they have the necessary qualifications for legal roles, which is crucial, but more importantly, they showcase how they applied their legal skills within a real-life work setting.

They give a brief overview of the types of legal professionals they have been working alongside and the type of work they have been carrying out – this is all it takes to get the attention of recruiters and show employers they have what it takes to fulfil roles in the legal sector.

Medical student resume personal statement

This medical student proves their fit for the role by showcasing the key skills they have gained from their studies and their work experience placements.

In just these few sentences, they are able to highlight the vast amount of experience they have across different disciplines in the industry, something which is particularly important in the medical sector.

As they have not graduated yet and are still studying, they have provided proof of their most recent grades. This can give the recruiter some indication as to the type of grade they could be graduating with in the near future.

Masters student resume personal statement

This masters student has started by specifying their area of study, in this case, accounting, and given details about the specific areas of finance they are most interested in. This can hint towards their career goals and passions.

They have then carefully listed some of the key areas of accounting and finance that they are proficient in. For example, business finance, advanced corporate finance and statistics.

They have also outlined some of the transferable skills needed for accounting roles that employers will be looking out for, such as communication, attention to detail and analytical skills.

Finance student resume personal statement

As this finance student has recently undertaken some relevant work experience, they’ve made sure to shout about this in their personal summary.

But more than this, they have included a list of some of the important finance skills they gained as a result of this work experience – for example, financial reporting, processing invoices and month-end reconciliations.

Plus, through power words and phrases such as ‘prevent loss’ and ‘improve upon accuracy and efficiency’, they have also showcased how they can apply these skills in a workplace setting to benefit the potential employer.

Internship resume personal statement

This digital marketing professional has started their personal summary by outlining their most relevant qualifications and work experience, most notably their freelance role as a content manager.

They have also provided examples of some of the key marketing skills that potential employers might be looking for, including very detailed examples of the platforms and tools they are proficient in – for example, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.

They have then closed their statement by giving a detailed description of the type of role or opportunity they are looking for. In this case, an in-house position in a marketing company.

College graduate career changer personal statement

Switching careers as a college graduate can be tough. Especially when it comes to writing a personal statement that will attract employers in your new chosen field.

This candidate is looking to move from history teaching into journalism, so they have created a statement which briefly mentions their current workplace, but mainly focuses on highlighting transferable skills which are relevant to journalism. They achieve this by discussing the writing skills they use in their current role, and mentioning their hobby of writing – including some publications they have been featured in for extra brownie points.

Business management graduate personal statement

This business management proves their ability to work within a junior business management position by swiftly highlighting their impressive degree (to ensure it is not missed) and summarizing some of the real-life experience they have gained in management during their college placements and volunteering. They do not let their lack of paid work experience, stop them demonstrating their valuable skills.

PhD graduate

PhD graduate roles attract a lot of competition, so it’s important that your resume contains a personal statement that will quickly impress and attract recruiters.

This candidate provides a short-but-comprehensive overview of their academic achievements, whilst demonstrating their exceptional level of knowledge in research, languages and publication writing.

By highlighting a number of skills and abilities that are in high-demand in the academic workplace, this resume is very likely to get noticed and land interviews.

How to write a personal statement for your resume

Now that you’ve seen what a personal statement should look like and the type of content it should contain, follow this detailed guide to one for your own resume – and start racking those interviews up.

Guide contents

What is a resume personal statement?

Resume personal statement or resume summary, personal statement format, what to include in a resume personal statement.

• Personal statement mistakes

How to write persuasively

A personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your resume which gives employers an overview of your education, skills and experience

It’s purpose is to capture the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers when your resume is first opened – encouraging them to read the rest of it.

You achieve this by writing a tailored summary of yourself that explains your suitability for the roles you are applying for at a very high level, and matches your target job descriptions .

One question candidates often ask me is , “what is the difference between a personal statement and a resume summary?”

To be honest, they are almost the same – they are both introductory paragraphs that sit at the top of your resume… but there are 2 main differences:

A personal statement tends to be used more by junior candidates (college graduates, high school leavers etc.) and is relatively long and detailed.

A resume summary tends to be favoured by more experienced candidates , and is shorter in length than a personal statement.

Note: If you are an experienced candidate, you may want to switch over to my resume writing guide , or example resume summaries page.

To ensure you grab recruiters’ attention with your personal statement, lay it out in the following way.

Positioning

You need to ensure that your personal statement sits at the very top of your resume, and all of it should be totally visible to readers, without the need to scroll down the page.

Do this by reducing the top page margin and minimizing the space taken up by your contact details.

This will ensure that your whole personal statement can be seen, as soon as your resume is opened.

We have a resume template which can help you to get this right.

Size/length

Your personal statement needs to contain enough detail to provide an introduction to your skills and knowledge, but not so much detail that it bores readers.

To strike the right balance, anything between 8-15 lines of text is perfect – and sentences should be sharp and to-the-point.

As with the whole of your resume , your personal statement should be written in a simple clean font at around size 10-12 to ensure that it can be read easily by all recruiters and employers.

Keep the text color simple, ensuring that it contrasts the background (black on white is best) and break it into 2 or even 3 paragraphs for a pleasant reading experience.

It should also be written in a punchy persuasive tone, to help you sell yourself and increase your chances of landing interviews , I cover how to do this in detail further down the guide.

Quick tip: A poorly written resume will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy Resume Builder to create a winning resume in minutes with professional resume templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Once you have the style and format of your personal statement perfected, you need to fill it with compelling content that tells recruiters that your resume is worth reading.

Here’s what needs to go into your personal statement…

Before you start writing your personal statement, it’s crucial that you research your target roles to find out exactly what your new potential employers are looking for in a candidate.

Run a search for your target jobs on one of the major job websites, look through plenty of adverts and make a list of the candidate requirements that frequently appear.

This research will show you exactly what to include in your personal statement in order to impress the recruiters who will be reading it.

Education and qualifications are an important aspect of your personal statement, especially if you are a junior candidate.

You should highlight your highest and most relevant qualifications, whether that is a degree or your GED. You could potentially go into some more detail around modules, papers etc. if they are relevant to the roles you are applying for.

It’s important that you discuss the experience you have gained in your personal statement, to give readers an idea of the work you are comfortable undertaking.

This can of course be direct employed work experience, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can also include:

• High school/college work placements
• Voluntary work
• Personal projects
• Hobbies/interests

As with all aspects of your resume , the content should be tailored to match the requirements of your target roles.

Whilst discussing your experience, you should touch upon skills used, industries worked in, types of companies worked for, and people you have worked with.

Where possible, try to show the impact your actions have made. E.g.  A customer service agent helps to make sales for their employer.

Any industry-specific knowledge you have that will be useful to your new potential employers should be made prominent within your personal statement.

For example

• Knowledge of financial regulations will be important for accountancy roles
• Knowledge of IT operating systems will be important for IT roles
• Knowledge of the national curriculum will be important for teachers

You should also include some information about the types of roles you are applying for, and why you are doing so. Try to show your interest and passion for the field you are hoping to enter, because employers want to hire people who have genuine motivation and drive in their work.

This is especially true if you don’t have much work experience, as you need something else to compensate for it.

Resume personal statement mistakes

The things that you omit from your personal statement can be just as important as the things you include.

Try to keep the following out of your personal statement..

Irrelevant info

Any information that doesn’t fall into the requirements of your target roles can be cut out of your personal statement. For example, if you were a professional athlete 6 years ago, that’s great – but it won’t be relevant if you’re applying to advertising internships, so leave it out.

Generic clichés

If you are describing yourself as a “ dynamic team player with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm” you aren’t doing yourself any favours.

These cliché terms are vastly overused and don’t provide readers with any factual details about you – so keep them to a minimum.

Stick to solid facts like education, skills , experience, achievements and knowledge.

If you really want to ensure that your personal statement makes a big impact, you need to write in a persuasive manner.

So, how do you so this?

Well, you need to brag a little – but not too much

It’s about selling yourself and appearing confident, without overstepping the mark and appearing arrogant.

For example, instead of writing.

“Marketing graduate with an interest in entering the digital field”

Be creative and excite the reader by livening the sentence up like this,

“Marketing graduate with highest exam results in class and a passion for embarking on a long and successful career within digital”

The second sentence is a much more interesting, makes the candidate appear more confident, throws in some achievements, and shows off a wider range of writing skills.

Quick tip: A poorly written resume will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy Resume Builder to create a winning resume in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Your own personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above guidelines you will be able to create one which shows recruiters everything they need.

Remember to keep the length between 10-20 lines and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.

You can also check our college graduate resume example , our best resume templates , or our library of example resumes from all industries.

Good luck with the job hunt!

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How to List Your Degree on Your Resume

Having your education on your resume is an important way to showcase yourself and your background. Find out what to include, where to list it, and how to present it.

Your resume is your sales pitch for any jobs or courses you apply for, so it’s essential for it to represent you fully. To accomplish this, you must list your degree clearly, with all relevant information. This document typically represents your first chance to make a great impression and show potential employers why you’re an excellent fit for their needs. Doing so requires highlighting your educational background and qualifications.

In this article, you’ll learn how to write an education section and where and how to include your degree within it. You’ll also find examples and tips for writing a show-stopping resume.

What are employers looking for in a resume?

Employers look at your resume to see how your background aligns with the position and the company. Resumes are like your own personal marketing tool and an opportunity to showcase your unique qualifications. Think of your resume as a document that can entice recruiters to want to learn more about your skills and experience.

Employers will use it to assess exactly what you can do based on what you tell them you have achieved in the past. With this in mind, they want to know about your previous roles, education, certifications, and the skills you developed along the way. Tailor your skills, education, and experience to the job posting and include relevant examples of actual achievements rather than simply a list of your duties and responsibilities.

Why is adding your degree to your resume important?

It’s essential for your resume to represent all you’ve achieved so employers can determine if your background meets their needs. Graduating is a significant achievement, and highlighting it to employers is a must.

It’s also often a minimum requirement for job roles or access to master’s degree courses. Employers will scan your resume to ensure you meet this criteria if this is the case. Even if you don’t feel your degree is directly related to the position or the course you’re applying for, it’s still highly valuable as it demonstrates that you can study at a high level.

How to list your degree on your resume

When it comes to listing your degree on your resume, it’s important to make sure it is prominent and integral to the document and that you include any relevant details about your degree that will sell you to an employer or college.

Review the steps below to discover how to list your degree for maximum effect.

1. Create a resume education section.

Designing a distinct resume education section is straightforward, but it’s critical to use effective formatting. Doing so allows your qualifications to stand out to employers who quickly scan your resume to see if you meet their requirements and for applicant screening software (ATS) looking for specific keywords.

At a minimum, this section must include:

Degree title

College name and location

Graduation date

In addition to this, you may include more information. Explore those details below.

2. List degrees in reverse chronological order.

List your degrees and education in reverse chronological order. Start by placing your recent education in the most prominent position. Doing so lets you highlight your highest level of education first and foremost. 

An exception to this rule is if you are applying for a role where a less recent degree is most relevant to the position. For example, if you are applying for a construction role and have a degree in engineering from several years ago and have since completed a degree in French, your engineering degree will likely impress the employer. In this case, you may reposition your degrees so the most relevant is at the top, more like a functional resume format. You may even choose to have separate sections for “relevant” and “other” education.

How to list multiple degrees

If you have multiple degrees, be consistent with the reverse chronological order. Place your highest degree first. For example, if you have recently studied a master’s degree, this sits above a previously studied bachelor’s degree.

3. Include relevant majors and minors.

If your degree is relevant to the role or the course you’re applying for, include your major and any minors that also help to tailor your education section. This is especially important if a job post asks for something specific and you have covered it in your degree program.

4. Add any relevant projects.

Relevant projects, extracurricular activities, and coursework are excellent points to help you stand apart from other candidates. If your degree program included projects that were very relevant to what you’re applying for, make sure you include them. However, avoid adding everything you covered in your degree unless it is highly relevant and will add something to your resume.

5. Include awards and accolades.

Awards, scholarships, or special mentions are an excellent addition when listing your degree. This is especially so if they relate directly to the role, but regardless, showing you have the commitment and skills to achieve an award can make you stand out.

6. Include your GPA if it’s high.

You’ll find mixed advice about including your GPA, but the general consensus is to add it if it is noteworthy. If your GPA is below average, lower than 3.4 [ 1 ], it’s best not to highlight this. If it is exceptionally high, use it as a selling point.

7. Position your education section.

Where you place your education section depends on a few factors. If you have limited experience in the field you’re applying for, but your degree is highly relevant, you may want to put your education section near the top of your resume. It might be directly under your summary.

However, if you have many years of relevant experience and a strong career progression, your degree subject may be less important, especially if it is in a different field. If this is the case, place it lower down your resume, below your experience section.

Example education section

Below is an example of an education section for a seasoned professional.

Bachelor of Arts Marketing , 2022

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Minors : Management 

Special projects : Participated in a marketing project, developing a marketing plan for a small hospitality business.

How to list an unfinished degree

If you have a degree in progress and haven’t finished yet, it’s valuable to list it anyway. However, listing an unfinished degree varies slightly from the above example of a completed degree program.

When listing the date of your degree, note an expected graduation date. It’s still a good idea to list your major, special projects, awards, and any extracurricular activities if these strengthen the section. You can even include your GPA if it is high.

Example of an unfinished degree listed in the education section:

Bachelor of Arts Psychology

Expected graduation: June 2024

Minors : Child development

Awards: Dean’s list for seven semesters

Tips for writing your resume

Now you know how to format and construct your education section, let’s take a look at some tips for finishing your resume:

Tailor your resume: It’s important to write it with a job role in mind. Look at what recruiters put in the job listing and the position’s description. Ensure your resume includes details that align with what the employer is looking for, provided they also match your background. The employer is scoring you on how well your resume fits the role.

Use keywords: Many companies use an ATS,  requiring job seekers like you to make sure their resumes include keywords relevant to their experience that match the job description and keywords associated with the role and industry to stand a good chance of being selected.

Focus on achievements : It’s easy to list duties and responsibilities on your resume, but your individual achievements can help you stand out against others. Give examples of things you have done, awards you’ve earned, factors you’ve improved, and people you’ve helped.

Be clear and concise: Recruiters skim-read resumes, and it’s essential to deliver the details that catch their interest with just a quick scan, enticing them to continue reading and learning more about you. Keep your information relevant and format it clearly to break up text with bullet points and subheadings for easy scannability.

Get started with Coursera.

Building a strong resume means having a solid education section. Getting a degree isn’t your only option to build a strong resume. You can also stand out by taking online classes and increasing your qualifications. For example, Professional Certificates on Coursera effectively show your skills and knowledge in various areas.

For example, you could hone your sales skills with a Salesforce Sales Operations Professional Certificate , explore marketing analytics with the Meta Marketing Analytics Professional Certificate , or master the fundamentals of network operations with a Network Engineering Professional Certificate from Akamai.

Article sources

Indeed. “ How To List Education on a Resume (With Examples) , https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/how-to-list-education-on-a-resume.” Accessed April 4, 2024.

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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The 3 biggest red flags hiring managers look for in resumes, according to new research

If you use artificial intelligence to write your resume — or get a bit too creative with the design — you could be hurting your chances of landing a job. 

The biggest red flag hiring managers look for in job candidates is an AI-generated resume, according to new research from Resume Genius, which surveyed 625 hiring managers across the U.S. Other resume faux pas include poor formatting and typos.

Here are the three biggest resume red flags that could cost you a job offer, and how to avoid them, according to a hiring expert:

AI-generated resumes 

More than half (53%) of hiring managers say they have reservations about resumes that include AI-generated content, with 20% calling it a "critical issue" that might prevent them from hiring someone.

"It's extremely important that your resume is a truthful, authentic reflection of the skills and experience you bring to the table," says Michelle Reisdorf, district director at recruitment firm Robert Half. "If you use AI to write a resume for you in minutes, it tells me you didn't put a lot of time and thought into applying to my job."

Reisdorf, who has worked in recruiting and hiring for over 30 years, still encourages jobseekers to use AI to review and edit their resume — but says you should write the first draft.

"AI is great for proofreading and enhancing what you've already written, but it's not a one-stop shop to generate the perfect resume," she adds. "Recruiters will be able to tell if you're not including specific details from your past jobs or writing in a personal, human voice."

DON'T MISS: The ultimate guide to acing your interview and landing your dream job

Frequent job-hopping

Similarly, resumes showing a pattern of frequent job-hopping make 50% of hiring managers hesitant to move forward with a candidate, Resume Genius found. 

This red flag is trickier to avoid: If you've switched jobs a lot, you can't lie about your employment history. Plus, hiring managers have different definitions of what constitutes excessive job-hopping. 

For some, it might be changing jobs every 1-2 years, while others would argue it's a shorter timeframe (opting to move after less than a year). 

You don't have to explain every time you switched roles, "as most recruiters aren't looking for that on the first pass," Reisdorf says. "They want to know if you have the skills and the experience to do the job well — your past experiences and commitment to work are usually saved for the interview."

If you have several short stints on your resume, however, Reisdorf recommends including a brief context (1-2 sentences) of your job changes elsewhere on your application. 

"Most online applications will have text fields for additional comments or 'reasons for leaving' after you upload your resume," she explains. "That's a good place to acknowledge any job-hopping without drawing too much attention to it."

Otherwise, save any explanations of your career choices for the interview.

Poor formatting

Another red flag hiring managers look out for on resumes is poor formatting, whether it's a disorganized layout, using an obscure font or simply forgetting to spell-check. 

Reisdorf says clean, simple resumes are the most effective as they're easy for anyone to read and understand. That means using a basic black font, trimming it to one page and having clearly labeled, organized sections. 

Put simply, you want a recruiter's attention to be focused on your accomplishments — not a bold typeface choice or cluttered layout. 

Proofreading for any spelling or grammar mistakes before submitting your resume is important, too, Reisdorf says, because it shows your potential employer that you're detail-oriented and conscientious. 

"Ultimately, you want the hiring manager to focus on you, as the candidate, versus the mistakes on your resume," says Reisdorf. "Your resume should make them excited to interview and, hopefully, hire you."

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How to Create a Killer Resume With ChatGPT in 6 Simple Steps

ChatGPT is a versatile, time-saving tool that has been helping businesses in numerous ways since its launch in 2022. So, it should come as no surprise that ChatGPT can also assist with one of the most widely deplored professional tasks – building a resume.

Whether you feel uncomfortable writing about your strengths and accolades or simply don't have the time to write a tailored resume for each job you apply for, using ChatGPT can be a great way to jumpstart the writing process, or give your existing document a bit of a makeover.

If you're interested in using AI to streamline your job search, we outline how the chatbot can be used to create a resume that stands out from the crowd. We also include prompt examples and screenshots from ChatGPT, to guide you along every step of the process.

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Create a Competitive Resume With ChatGPT in 6 Simple Steps

Writing or updating a resume with ChatGPT is simple, as long as you know what you're doing. Follow the steps below to create a resume, tailored to the job you're interested in.

• Gather your information
• Open ChatGPT and craft your first prompt
• Enter your personal experience
• Enter information about the job description
• Enter information about the hiring company
• Edit and refine your resume

1. Gather your information

Before you even open ChatGPT, we recommend having all of your important information at hand. This will prevent you from switching between tabs when crafting your prompt, and will also make it easier for you to refine your resume in later stages.

The type of information you prepare will depend on you and the position you are applying for. However, as a general rule of thumb, we recommend covering the following categories.

• Contact details – This will include your mobile number, professional email, and address if relevant
• Education – Write down your education history, including the names of the institutions you studied at, your majors or subjects, your grades, the dates of graduation, and any other relevant information.
• Work experience – If you have one, make sure you have a copy of your current resume to hand. If not, compile information from your previous jobs, including your responsibilities, and information about the companies.
• Certifications – If you have any certifications or qualifications that are relevant to your role, or make you seem like more of a credible candidate, gather this information and think about how these achievements can be leveraged to improve your hiring potential
• Skills – This is a good time to summarise your best hard and soft skills too. However, be as specific as possible and make sure you only write down skills that relate to your prospective role.

2. Open ChatGPT and craft your first prompt

Once all your information is at hand, open ChatGPT and create an account if you haven't already. Then, craft an introductory prompt requesting ChatGPT to build you a resume. We'd also recommend asking the chatbot to avoid using overused or cliche terms in your opening prompt to prevent your resume from looking like a carbon copy.

If you're stuck for inspiration, here's an example prompt:

I am writing a resume and I need your help. You are going to act as a professional resume writer, and are going to avoid using cliche terms. Do you understand?

After you've entered this prompt, ChatGPT will ask you for your following experience.

3. Enter your personal experience

Now it's time to make your resume personal. Use all the information you compiled in the first step, and feed it into your next prompts for ChatGPT. You have two options here. You can either paste your entire current resume into ChatGPT or highlight the most important bits in the prompt, to keep things succinct.

Here's an example of a prompt you could create below. We chose to break the prompt into different chunks but feel free to format the input how you like.

I am going to give you my personal information so you can make sure the resume reflects my personal experience and qualifications. I am a [Insert Current Job Title), with a degree in [Insert Course] from [Insert Name of Institition], which I graduated from in [Insert graduation date] with a [Insert Your Final Grade]. Since graduating, I've worked as a [Insert Previous Position] for [Insert Name of Previous Company] between [Insert Dates]. My main responsibilities at GoodContent included [Insert Main Responsibilities]. In my current role in [Insert Name of Current Company], I [Insert Current Responsibilities]. I have a number of hard and soft skills including [List Skills]. I also have a certification in [Insert Certifications]. Write my resume.

4. Enter information about the job description

Unless you're creating a multi-purpose resume that you're planning to tailor to specific job descriptions down the line, this is a good time to add more context about the job you're planning to apply for. You can do this by simply pasting the job description into the chatbot, as we did in the example prompt below.

I am applying for a job as a [Insert Job Title]. I am going to provide you with the job description I am going to apply for. Can you read this carefully? [Insert Full Job Description]

For best practice, we'd recommend including as much information in this step as possible. However, if some details in the job description don't apply to you as much as others, you can choose to leave these out.

5. Enter information about the hiring company

To make sure your resume is as targeted as possible, you should enter more information about the company itself next.

We'd start by telling ChatGPT exactly what you're going to do. Let it know you're going to be providing it with more information about the company that's hiring, and then enter basic information about the company, including its name and core function. You can also paste information from the ‘About Us' page on the company's website, to make your prompt as rich as possible. Use the example prompt below for inspiration.

Now I'm going to provide you with more information on the company that's hiring, so you can make sure my resume is tailored to their pain points and hiring needs. The company name is [Insert Name of Company] and their central mission is as follows: [Insert More Informatio About the Company]. The website's about you page is as follows: [Insert Company's ‘About Us' Page]

6. Edit and refine your resume

After completing these steps, ChatGPT will have created a rough resume for you. While it may look decent, now is a good time to give it a read over, and identify areas that could be improved upon.

• Edit the format – ChatGPT can only generate text outputs, so you'll have to format the resume yourself. The way you format the document is up to you, but for scannability purposes, make sure all the key information is bullet-pointed.
• Use active tense – Ensure your resume uses the active tense as much as possible, especially when speaking about your current work experience. This will make you appear more confident, and will grab the attention of the reader.
• Check the content – ChatGPT does a good job of building a resume based on the content you provide. However, if you think the resume should place more emphasis on certain experiences or skills, don't be afraid to craft new prompts to achieve this.
• Watch out for generic language – ChatGPT has a habit of creating generic-sounding responses. To make sure your resume has a human touch, comb through the copy and substitute cliche, or frilly terms with something less formulaic.
• Add contact details – Once you're happy with the result, add the personal contact details you prepared in the first step.
• Choose a template – Paste the ChatGPT-created resume into a template of your choice. Make sure that this template is appropriate for the industry that you are applying within, and avoid models that are too stylized and complicated. If you don't want to pay for a template, you can choose a free one with platforms like Canva and Indeed.

Consider Using a Dedicated AI Resume Builder

ChatGPT does an excellent job at creating resumes, especially if you're armed with useful tips and tried-and-tested prompts. Also, a massive perk of the platform is that it's completely free to use too, which is a huge boon if you're looking to save money during the job search.

However, if you're willing to invest in your professional future, AI-enabled resume builders let you create and edit resumes in even fewer steps, and offer far more useful features than ChatGPT. Most AI resume builders will ask you to input your qualifications and experience, and then take care of everything else, saving the hassle of entering different prompts.

Aside from generating and refining text, lots of AI resume builders format and design your document too, eliminating the need to switch between platforms. After researching the best options on the market, we decided that Zety Resume Builder is the best due to its impressive range of templates and intuitive “final summary” feature.

There are loads of great pieces of software to choose from, though. Compare the best platforms in our guide to the best free and paid resume builders .

We're sorry this article didn't help you today – we welcome feedback, so if there's any way you feel we could improve our content, please email us at [email protected]

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Create your Europass CV

The Europass CV builder makes it easy to create your CV online. You can use it to apply for a job, education or training opportunities as well as volunteering.

The best-known CV format in Europe

The Europass CV is one of the best-known CV formats in Europe. It is easy-to-use and familiar to employers and education institutions.

You will first have to create your Europass profile with information on your education, training, work experience and skills. After you complete your Europass profile, you can create as many CVs as you want with just a few clicks. Just select which information you want to include, pick your favourite design and Europass will do the rest. 

You can create, store and share CVs in 31 languages . You can download your Europass CV, store it in your Europass Library share it with employers, with  EURES  or other job boards.

How to create a good CV

Remember that your CV is your first opportunity to communicate your skills and experiences to a future employer. It is a snapshot of who you are, your skills, your educational background, work experiences and other achievements.

Present your experience clearly

Highlight examples of your skills and experiences matching the job you are applying for. Pay close attention to the details published in the vacancy notice.

Tailor your CV

Make sure you update the ‘About Me’ section to highlight why you are the best person for the job. Do not include a full detailed history. Focus on facts and main points that match the job you have in mind.

Make it readable

Make sure your CV is easy to read. Use clear and simple language.  Use strong verbs (e.g. ‘managed’, ‘developed’, ‘increased’).

Use reverse chronological order

Always list the most recent experience on the top followed by previous ones. In case of long gaps in working or learning, include an explanation.

Polish and fine-tune

Check for spelling and grammar mistakes, provide a professional e-mail address, and add a professional photograph of yourself.

Your Europass profile

Your Europass profile is the place to keep a record of all your skills, qualifications and experiences. If you keep your Europass profile up-to-date then you will always have all the information you need to create tailored CVs and job applications quickly.

Good luck with your applications!

Find support through EU services

Eures the european job mobility portal, working abroad in other eu countries, education and training in other eu countries, you may be interested to read.

Create your Europass Cover Letter

Develop your skills through volunteering

Managing your personal information in Europass

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Who is Kim Caldwell? What to know about Lady Vols basketball coach

Kim Caldwell rose from Division II prominence to being the new Lady Vols basketball coach in barely a year.

UT athletics director Danny White announced Caldwell as the fourth coach in Lady Vols program history Sunday. She fills the spot vacated by Kellie Harper, who was fired on April 1 after five seasons at Tennessee .

Here is what to know about Caldwell:

Kim Caldwell is a winner − a big-time winner

Caldwell has been a head coach for eight seasons. She has been to the NCAA Tournament in all eight seasons with seven at the Division II level and one at the Division I level. She has won seven conference titles.

She has a career 217-31 record for an 87.5% winning percentage. Caldwell only has one season at the Division I level but she brings a high-level winning pedigree as a coach with her to Knoxville.

"In this new era of college sports, it was vital that we found an innovative head coach with a strong track record of winning titles," White said in a school release.

Kim Caldwell built a Division II national power

Caldwell made her mark at Division II Glenville State, her alma mater in West Virginia. Caldwell went 191-24 with a national championship and two Final Four appearances.

Caldwell led Glenville State to its first Division II national championship with a 35-1 record in the 2021-22 season. The Pioneers were 68-4 in her final two seasons before she was hired at Marshall.

The Parkersburg, West Virginia, native was an assistant at Sacramento State before her success at Glenville State. She also was an assistant at GSU for the 2012-13 season after one season at Ohio Valley University as an assistant coach.

How Marshall fared in Kim Caldwell's lone season

Caldwell led Marshall to a program-record 26 wins in her only season. The Thundering Herd went 17-1 in Sun Belt Conference play, which also set a program record.

Marshall won the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament titles on its way to an NCAA Tournament appearance. It lost in the first round to No. 4-seeded Virginia Tech. It was Marshall's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997.

Marshall was picked ninth in the preseason poll after going 17-14 the season before Caldwell was hired.

Kim Caldwell is a break from the Pat Summitt coaching tree for Lady Vols

White went outside the Pat Summitt coaching tree to hire Caldwell. Caldwell is the first Lady Vols coach to break from the Summitt tree.

Harper was a point guard under the legendary coach. She took over after the firing of Holly Warlick, who was on Summitt's staff after playing for the Hall of Fame coach.

SALARY: Kim Caldwell agrees to five-year contract worth $3.75 million as Lady Vols basketball coach

Caldwell was awarded the Pat Summitt Trophy as the WBCA NCAA Division II national coach of the year in 2022.

Kim Caldwell's teams can score and love to shoot 3-pointers

Marshall averaged a program-record 85.3 points per game under Caldwell. That marked ranked fourth nationally.

The Thundering Herd scored more than 100 points five times and more than 90 points nine times last season. Marshall led the nation with 31.9 3-point attempts per game and ranked third with 10.6 made 3-pointers per game.

In Caldwell's final seasons at Glenville State, the Pioneers led the country in scoring at 91.2 points per game.

Mike Wilson  covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @ ByMikeWilson . If you enjoy Mike’s coverage,  consider a digital subscription  that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Who is Kim Caldwell? What to know about Lady Vols basketball coach