The contact section of your resume is the first thing a recruiter sees and the last thing you want to get wrong. A hiring manager who wants to call you should never have to search for your phone number. An ATS system should never struggle to identify your email address. This guide tells you exactly what to include, what to leave out, and how to format it correctly.

For complete resume structure, read the anatomy of a perfect resume. Start from an ATS-friendly template that formats the contact section correctly, and test your resume with the TailorCV ATS checker.

What to Include in Your Resume Contact Section

1. Full Name

Your name should be the largest text on the page — 18–24pt, bold. This is the anchor of your resume. Use the same version of your name everywhere: resume, LinkedIn, portfolio, job application form.

Do not use nicknames unless they are the name you exclusively use professionally.

2. Professional Email Address

Your email is the most-used contact method in hiring. Rules: - Use a professional address: firstname.lastname@gmail.com or firstlast@gmail.com - Avoid unprofessional addresses: partytime99@, coolkid2003@, gamerguy@ - Avoid old institutional addresses you no longer monitor (university address after graduation) - Gmail, Outlook, and ProtonMail are all professional choices - Avoid Yahoo or Hotmail — they signal you haven't updated your setup in years

3. Phone Number

  • Include a direct mobile number
  • Add the country code if applying internationally (+1 for US, +44 for UK, etc.)
  • Make sure your voicemail is set up and professional

4. City and State/Province (Not Full Address)

In 2026, listing your full street address on a resume is outdated and unnecessary: - It takes up space - It raises privacy and security concerns - Employers don't need it until an offer stage

Instead, list only: City, State (e.g., "Austin, TX" or "London, UK")

If you are relocating or open to remote roles, add "Open to remote" or "Relocating to [city]" next to your location.

5. LinkedIn Profile URL

LinkedIn is expected by most professional recruiters. Include it if your profile is up to date and polished.

Format: Customize your LinkedIn URL to remove the random numbers (linkedin.com/in/yourname). Do this in LinkedIn settings → Edit public profile → Custom URL.

Ensure your LinkedIn profile is consistent with your resume — different job dates or missing positions create red flags. Read how to use LinkedIn for job search and LinkedIn profile optimization guide.

6. GitHub (For Technical Roles)

For software engineers, data scientists, DevOps, and other technical roles, a GitHub link is expected and valuable. Only include it if: - Your profile is active and public - Your repositories are clean, documented, and representative of your skills

An empty or messy GitHub is worse than none.

7. Portfolio URL (For Creative/Design Roles)

For graphic designers, UX designers, content writers, marketing professionals, and developers, a portfolio link is essential. Include a direct URL to your portfolio site.

8. Personal Website (Optional)

If you have a professional personal site with work samples or technical writing, include it. Skip it if it is outdated or irrelevant.

What to Leave Out of Your Contact Section

Full Street Address

Privacy concerns and irrelevance make this outdated. City and state are enough.

Date of Birth

Never include your age or date of birth on a resume in the US, Canada, or UK. It invites age discrimination and is not required.

Marital Status

Not relevant. Do not include.

Gender, Religion, Nationality

Not required and invites potential bias. Leave out unless legally required for the specific country or position.

Photo

In the US, Canada, and UK, do not include a photo. It invites conscious or unconscious bias and is not expected. This is covered in detail in should you put a photo on your resume.

Some European and Asian countries do expect a photo — follow the convention for the country and role you are applying to.

Social Media (Unless Relevant)

Do not include personal Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, or TikTok unless your social media is your professional portfolio (e.g., you are a social media manager showcasing your own work).

Unprofessional or Outdated Emails

As mentioned above — if your email address includes a birth year, a nickname, or anything unprofessional, create a new one.

Contact Section Formatting

Placement

Top of the resume, above the summary. Your name is the header, contact details follow immediately below.

Layout

Horizontal format (on one or two lines) is clean and saves space:

John Smith
john.smith@gmail.com | +1 (555) 123-4567 | Austin, TX | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith | github.com/johnsmith

Or stacked in two lines for a cleaner look at smaller sizes.

Separator Characters

Use | (pipe) or • (bullet) to separate contact items on the same line.

Font Size

Contact info is typically slightly smaller than your name: 10–11pt for contact details, 18–24pt for your name.

ATS and Your Contact Section

ATS systems scan for your contact information to populate their database. If your name, email, or phone number is inside a text box, header/footer area, or graphic element, many ATS systems will miss it.

Critical rule: Place your contact section in the main body of the document, not in Word's built-in Header section or inside any graphic box.

Verify your contact details are read correctly by running your resume through the TailorCV ATS checker. Use an ATS-friendly template that places contact info in the correct location.

Common Contact Section Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using a Word header/footer for contact info

ATS cannot read Word headers and footers. Use the main document body only.

Mistake 2: No LinkedIn URL

Most professional recruiters will look up your LinkedIn regardless. Including it confirms you are active and makes it easier.

Mistake 3: Outdated phone number

Ensure the number you list is one you actively monitor.

Mistake 4: Inconsistent name across documents

If your resume says "Jonathan Smith" and LinkedIn says "Jon Smith," recruiters notice.

Mistake 5: Including email and phone in a graphic or image

Images are invisible to ATS. Text only.

Conclusion

Your resume contact section should include your full name, professional email, phone number, city/state, LinkedIn URL, and (for relevant roles) GitHub or portfolio URL. Leave out your full address, date of birth, photo (in most countries), and personal social media.

Format it cleanly in the main document body — never in a Word header or inside a graphic. Use an ATS-friendly template to get this right automatically, and verify the contact info parses correctly with the TailorCV ATS checker.