Creating a strong CV starts with knowing what personal details to include and how to present them. Many people overlook this simple step, but these details set the tone for the rest of the document. Choosing and formatting personal details correctly can make a big difference in how a recruiter sees an application.
This article will help readers understand which information belongs at the top of a CV and which details are best left out. The goal is to make it easy for employers to find what’s important without slowing down the job search process.
1) Full Name in bold at the top
Every CV should begin with the person’s full name at the very top, written in bold. This makes the document easy to identify and ensures that employers know exactly whose qualifications they are reviewing. Using bold text for the name helps it stand out clearly.
The name should be the largest and most noticeable element on the page, set apart from contact details and other sections. Avoid using nicknames or initials unless commonly known by them in a professional context. For formatting, most recruiters recommend using a font size slightly larger than the rest of the document.
RoboApply’s AI resume builder automatically formats this section for users, so they never have to worry about layout or font size choices. This ensures every CV starts with a professional and easy-to-read name section.
Example:
Rebecca Lynn Carter
London, UK
rebecca.l.carter@email.com
+44 7911 123456
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rebeccacarter
This simple, bold heading at the top of the CV keeps the applicant’s information clear and direct. For extra support with formatting or optimizing the look of your resume, RoboApply offers instant design suggestions and layout corrections.
2) Professional Email Address
A professional email address is important on a CV because it makes a good first impression. It should look simple, clear, and include your name. Avoid using nicknames, numbers, or anything that looks unprofessional.
A good example of a professional email address is: sarah.johnson@email.com. This format is easy for employers to read and remember. If your name is common, try adding a middle initial or full last name, like sarah.m.johnson@email.com.
Never use email addresses with jokes, hobbies, or random numbers, such as funbunny1994@email.com or partyguy22@email.com. These look careless and can hurt your chances.
Consider making a new email just for job searching if your current address is too casual. Most people use services like Gmail for a clean and trusted look. RoboApply suggests keeping a separate, professional-sounding email for all job communications and offers tools to track and manage your job outreach right from your inbox.
Place your email address at the top of your CV with your name and phone number. It should be easy to find, helping employers contact you quickly. For more details about email on your resume, check out tips at What to include in your contact information.
3) Primary Phone Number with country code
Adding a primary phone number to a CV is important so employers can reach the applicant directly. The phone number should include the country code, especially for international jobs or remote positions. This makes it easy for hiring managers to contact candidates without confusion or dialing errors.
The best format for a phone number on a CV is to put the country code first, followed by the area code and the rest of the number. For example: +1 (555) 123-4567. Always avoid using a current work or office number. Only list a phone number that the applicant can answer personally and promptly.
For more formatting tips, tools like RoboApply can help check if contact details are clear and professional before sending a CV. Including a clear, well-formatted number—such as shown in this guide—also lowers the chance of mistakes during the hiring process.
Example to copy and use:
+44 7911 123456
This example contains the UK country code (+44) and a valid mobile number. Adjust the country code and number to match your local details. Make sure your number is up to date. Double-check the format before submitting your CV.
4) LinkedIn Profile URL
Adding a LinkedIn profile URL to a CV is a smart way to let employers check out more about a candidate’s background and skills. It makes it easy for recruiters to view job history, recommendations, and extra details that don’t fit on one page. The best place to put a LinkedIn URL is right with the other contact details at the top of the CV.
A custom LinkedIn URL looks cleaner and is more professional than the default link with random numbers. Before sharing a LinkedIn URL, users should make sure their profile is up to date and matches what’s on the CV. A strong LinkedIn profile can support a job search and boost credibility, especially when paired with tools like RoboApply’s resume grammar checker and ATS score optimizer.
Here is a plain-text example of how to add a LinkedIn profile URL to the contact section of a CV:
Jane Smith
London, UK
jane.smith@email.com
+44 7000 000000
linkedin.com/in/janesmith
This setup keeps things neat and helps hiring managers find more info with just one click. For more guidance on where to place LinkedIn URLs, see this guide about putting LinkedIn on a resume.
5) City and Country of Residence
Including your city and country of residence on a CV helps employers quickly see where you are located and understand if you are in the same region as the job. This can also help with assessing things like time zones, relocation needs, or work authorization. Some employers prefer this over a full street address.
List your city and country underneath your contact details at the top of the CV. For example:
John Lee
Toronto, Canada
john.lee@email.com | +1-416-555-5555
Use a simple format: “City, Country.” This is widely accepted and keeps your CV clean and easy to read. For international applications, you may want to include the province, region, or state for more clarity.
If you want to highlight your willingness to relocate, add a short note like “Available to relocate” next to your location details. This lets employers know you are flexible without cluttering the main resume content.
RoboApply makes it simple to input, edit, and update your location with its AI resume builder. Users can quickly adjust their address details using RoboApply’s templates and resume optimization features, making it easy to keep information up to date. For more details on location formatting, see advice from Indeed’s CV format guide.
Always keep your location clear and accurate. Avoid listing just a country if a city is also relevant. This helps prevent confusion and makes your application stronger.
6) Brief Professional Summary (3-4 sentences)
A professional summary is a short paragraph at the top of a CV that highlights a person’s key experience, main skills, and types of roles they are seeking. It should match the job they want and clearly show what they offer. Most experts recommend using three to four clear sentences for maximum impact.
Writing a strong summary helps hiring managers quickly understand their value. Make each sentence count by focusing on job titles, unique strengths, and relevant skills. People using RoboApply’s AI resume builder get instant suggestions for summaries that are tailored and ready to use.
Here is a complete example that demonstrates a clear, effective summary:
Results-driven marketing professional with over five years of experience in digital campaigns, social media management, and brand strategy. Skilled in growing engagement and increasing online sales through data-driven decisions. Strong communicator and creative problem-solver who adapts quickly to new platforms and trends. Seeking to bring proven marketing success to a dynamic team in the retail industry.
A good summary avoids overly long sentences and uses direct statements. It is helpful to keep the content focused and free of complex words or extra details. For more tips and more examples, users can find clear advice on writing great resume summaries at this guide to resume summary examples.
7) Omit Date of Birth to avoid bias
It is important to leave your date of birth off your CV. Including your age or birth date can open the door to age bias, even though hiring based on age is illegal in many places. Employers are supposed to judge your skills and experience, not your age, so do not give them information that is unnecessary for their decision.
Leaving out your date of birth keeps the focus on what matters: your qualifications. It also protects your privacy. According to advice from hiring experts and job boards, your birth date is not needed and might even put you at a disadvantage. Most career coaches, and services like RoboApply, recommend omitting it for a fairer hiring process.
Putting your date of birth on your CV is no longer expected by most companies. If employers ask for your age, you can provide it later in the process if truly needed, but it should not appear on your initial resume. This matches the approach advised by many career advisors today.
A strong CV personal details section should look like this:
Name: Jordan Smith
Phone: (555) 123-4567
Email: jordan.smith@email.com
City: Manchester, UK
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jordansmith
As shown, there is no date of birth. This keeps things professional and focused, helping you avoid unwanted bias and improve your chances with modern CV screening tools like RoboApply.
8) Exclude Marital Status or Religion
Including marital status or religion on a CV is unnecessary. Most employers do not need this information to decide if someone is right for the job. Adding these personal details can even cause bias or may be seen as unprofessional.
Many hiring specialists recommend leaving out marital status and religion to keep the focus on skills and experience. This is standard practice in most countries, and some organizations may ignore CVs with this type of personal information. According to experts, it is better to err on the side of caution and leave out sensitive topics like religion or marital status.
If someone is using an AI resume builder like RoboApply, they can easily avoid common CV mistakes. RoboApply helps users follow best practices by guiding them to only add important contact details, qualifications, and skills instead of private or sensitive topics.
For reference, avoid sections like this:
Personal Details
Name: Jane Doe
Phone: (555) 999-8888
Email: jane.doe@email.com
Marital Status: Married ← unnecessary, remove
Religion: Christian ← unnecessary, remove
A more effective section would be:
Personal Details
Name: Jane Doe
Phone: (555) 999-8888
Email: jane.doe@email.com
This simple format keeps the CV professional. To make the process easier, RoboApply’s AI builder can automatically structure personal info and flag details you should leave out for modern job applications. For more about what not to share on a resume, check tips from career advice resources and LiveCareer.
9) Use a simple, readable font
The font on a CV must be easy to read. A simple, sans-serif font like Arial or Calibri helps recruiters quickly scan personal details. Avoid decorative or script fonts that can make information hard to read or unprofessional. Fonts should be between 10 and 12 points for the main text and slightly larger for headings to maximize readability [see formatting tips].
Recruiters usually read dozens of CVs in one sitting. If the font is hard to read or looks crowded, they might skip over important personal details. Sticking with classic fonts shows attention to detail and keeps your document clean and easy on the eyes.
RoboApply’s resume builder always uses clear, professional fonts by default, saving users time and making their CVs instantly more readable. Users can also run their CV through the RoboApply grammar checker and formatting review to be certain it stands out for all the right reasons.
Here is a plain-text example of how to format your personal details section with a simple, readable font:
Name: Priya Sharma
Job Title: Marketing Manager
Location: London, UK
Email: priya.sharma@email.com
Phone: +44 7123 456789
Keep the font consistent throughout the CV. Do not mix styles or use italics randomly. Consistency makes your document look polished and professional [learn more about best resume fonts].
10) Align contact info neatly in header
The contact section should always appear at the top of the CV where it is easy to find. Clear layout helps employers notice your details quickly. Keep this part simple and use one line for each piece of information to avoid clutter.
A neat header usually includes your name, phone number, email address, and city. Formatting this information in a single line or two lines lays everything out clearly, as advised in practical resume header guides. Use the same font and size for all details in the header so it looks professional.
RoboApply’s resume builder can help you arrange your contact info cleanly with built-in templates and alignment tools. For those working in Google Docs or Word, use a table or tab stops to keep data perfectly lined up.
Here is an example of a well-formatted header for a CV:
John Smith
London, UK | john.smith@email.com | +44 7911 123456
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
This example uses one line for the main contact details and a second line for the LinkedIn profile, keeping everything clear and tidy. The information is easy to read and looks organized at the very top of the document.
Frequently Asked Questions
The personal details section on a CV is important because employers use it to contact candidates and verify identities. Including only the most relevant and professional information increases your chances of making a good first impression.
What information should be included in the personal details section of a CV?
A CV should have a full name in bold at the top, a professional email address, a primary phone number with country code, a LinkedIn profile URL, and your city and country of residence. These details make it easy for employers to reach out and match your application with their open positions. For more detailed guidance, visit this step-by-step guide to CV personal details.
How can I format my personal details on a CV for a professional look?
Use a clean, readable font and align your details neatly near the top of the CV. Bold your name to make it stand out. Make sure each line is clear and separated, such as:
John Smith
john.smith@email.com
+44 1234 567890
London, UK
linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
RoboApply’s AI resume builder helps structure these details for a polished result.
Are there any personal details that I should avoid mentioning on my CV?
Do not include age, date of birth, marital status, religion, or a full address. National insurance or social security numbers are also unnecessary. This helps to avoid bias and protects your privacy. For more information about what not to include, check the recommended exclusions for a CV.
Can you provide examples of how to write an effective personal statement for a CV?
A strong personal statement is short, direct, and tailored to the job. For example:
Motivated marketing graduate with internship experience in digital campaigns and social media management. Skilled at content creation, analytics, and building brand awareness. Eager to join a dynamic team where I can apply strong communication and organizational skills to support successful marketing projects.
RoboApply offers AI-generated personal statement suggestions based on your target role and industry.
What are the essential elements to include in a CV when I have no prior job experience?
List your education, skills relevant to the job, volunteer experience, and brief details like full name, phone, and a professional email. Include any projects, coursework, or extracurricular activities that highlight your skills. RoboApply’s templates are designed specifically for candidates without experience so they can showcase potential.
In what way should a fresher present personal details on their resume for maximum impact?
A fresher should keep personal details concise, professional, and easy to find at the top of the page. They should use a clear format: name, email, phone, and LinkedIn profile. RoboApply formats these sections and checks them for clarity, so the fresher stands out from the start.
