How to Include Your Contact Information on Your Resume

Your resume can be brilliantquantified wins, crisp bullet points, a summary that sounds like you actually know what you’re doing (because you do).
But if your contact info is missing, messy, or hiding in a design corner like it owes someone money, recruiters can’t reach you.
And the only thing worse than being rejected is being “accidentally impossible to interview.”

This guide walks you through exactly what to include in your resume contact section, what to skip, and how to format it so it looks professional,
reads cleanly, and plays nicely with applicant tracking systems (ATS). We’ll also cover special situationsremote roles, relocation, students, portfolio-heavy fields,
and federal applicationsbecause not every job search looks the same.

What Counts as “Contact Information” on a Resume?

Resume contact information is the small block at the top of your resume that tells employers who you are and how to reach you.
Think of it as the “doorbell” on your resume: it doesn’t need to be fancy, but it does need to work every time.

At minimum, most employers expect your name, phone number, and email address. Many candidates also include a location (usually city and state)
and one or two professional links (like LinkedIn or a portfolio). The goal is simple: make it effortless to contact youand hard to misunderstand you.

The Resume Contact Info Checklist: What to Include

1) Your name (the “headline”)

Put your name at the very top. Use a slightly larger font than the rest of the resume so it’s easy to spot.
Keep it consistent with how you present yourself professionally (LinkedIn, portfolio site, email signature).

• Do: Jordan M. Smith
• Also fine: Jordan Smith, CPA (if the credential is relevant)
• Avoid: Nicknames that don’t match your professional profiles (unless you consistently use them everywhere)

2) A phone number you actually answer (or at least check)

Use one primary number. If you’re applying in the U.S., format it in a standard way (e.g., 555-123-4567).
Make sure your voicemail greeting sounds professionalyes, it matters. A recruiter should hear your name and know they reached the right person.

• Do: Phone: 555-123-4567
• Avoid: Multiple phone numbers unless there’s a clear reason (and even then, keep it simple)

3) A professional email address

Your email should look like it belongs on a job application, not a middle-school gamer tag.
Ideally, use a variation of your name and a mainstream provider (Gmail, Outlook). Also: don’t use your current work email.
That sends the wrong message and can create awkward workplace risks.

• Do: [email protected]
• Also fine: [email protected]
• Avoid: [email protected]
• Avoid: [email protected]

4) Location (usually just City, State)

In most modern U.S. resumes, listing your full street address is optionaland often unnecessary.
City and state are typically enough for employers to understand your general location and time zone.
If you’re applying out of state, you can still show intent without sharing your full address (more on that below).

• Common format: Austin, TX
• If remote-friendly: Austin, TX (Open to Remote)
• If relocating soon: Relocating to Chicago, IL (June 2026)

5) One or two professional links (only if they help)

Links can instantly strengthen your applicationif they’re relevant and polished.
Think LinkedIn for most roles, plus a portfolio site for design, writing, product, engineering, marketing, and other work-sample-driven fields.
Keep links clean and readable.

• LinkedIn: Make sure it matches your resume (job titles, dates, employer names). Inconsistencies can raise questions.
• Portfolio: Link to a page that loads fast, looks professional, and shows your best work upfront.
• GitHub (if relevant): Great for technical rolesjust make sure your profile isn’t a ghost town.

6) Optional: Pronouns (useful, not required)

Some candidates include pronouns in the header (e.g., she/her, he/him, they/them).
It’s optional and personalinclude it if it supports clear communication in your professional context.

What NOT to Include in Your Resume Contact Section

This is where a lot of resumes quietly self-sabotage. Your contact block should be lean, relevant, and safe.

• Full street address (usually unnecessary; city/state is typically enough)
• Date of birth, Social Security number, marital status (not needed for standard U.S. hiring)
• A headshot (generally not standard in the U.S. and can introduce bias concerns)
• Multiple emails or multiple phone numbers (creates confusion)
• Unprofessional social media (if it’s not helping you get hired, it’s helping you get ignored)
• “References available upon request” (it’s assumed; use the space for stronger content)

How to Format Contact Information So It Looks Clean (and Gets Read)

Keep it at the topalways

Recruiters expect your contact info at the top. Don’t tuck it into the footer, hide it in a sidebar, or scatter it across the page like a scavenger hunt.
Your goal is immediate clarity.

ATS-friendly formatting tips (without making your resume ugly)

Many companies use ATS software to parse resumes. Overly designed headers, icons, text boxes, and columns can sometimes break parsing.
You don’t need to panicyou just need to keep your contact block simple.

• Use text instead of icons (a phone symbol can look cool but parse like chaos)
• Use standard labels when helpful: “Phone:” “Email:”
• Keep it on one or two lines with clear separators (pipes | or bullets •)
• Avoid putting contact info in Word headers/footers if you’re not sure how the employer’s system reads it

Two formatting examples you can copy

Example A: Simple, classic, ATS-safe

Jordan M. Smith
Austin, TX  |  Phone: 555-123-4567  |  Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jordansmith  |  Portfolio: jordansmith.com

Example B: Minimalist, one-line (great for modern layouts)

Jordan M. Smith
Austin, TX • 555-123-4567 • [email protected] • linkedin.com/in/jordansmith

Special Situations (Because Real Life Is Complicated)

If you’re applying for remote jobs

Remote roles can involve time zones, location-based pay bands, or legal hiring constraints.
Keep your location as city/state, and consider adding “Open to Remote” if you’re targeting remote-first positions.

• Example: Denver, CO (Open to Remote)
• Example: Seattle, WA (Remote) if you’re already fully remote

If you’re relocating (or want employers to stop assuming you’re not)

If your current city is different from where you’re applying, employers may worry you’re not serious.
You can reduce friction by stating your relocation plan clearly without oversharing.

• Example: Relocating to Atlanta, GA (May 2026)
• Example: Based in Phoenix, AZ • Moving to Boston, MA (Summer 2026)

If you’re a student (campus vs. permanent address)

Students sometimes juggle a campus address and a permanent home address. In most cases, you can keep it simple with city/state,
plus phone and email. If you do include an address, pick the one where you can reliably receive mail.

If you don’t have a stable address

You can still have a strong resume without a permanent address. Use city/state if possible, and focus on reliable email and phone access.
Your job search shouldn’t require you to share more personal information than necessary.

If you’re in a portfolio-heavy field (design, writing, marketing, product, dev)

Put your portfolio link where it can’t be missed. But make sure the portfolio is ready:
one broken link or a “coming soon” page can undo a great first impression.

• Pro move: Link directly to the strongest landing page (not a maze of menus)
• Pro move: If you’re a writer, consider a curated clips page with 6–10 best samples
• Pro move: If you’re a designer, lead with 2–3 high-impact case studies

If you’re applying for federal jobs (USAJOBS)

Federal applications can have unique requirements. USAJOBS guidance emphasizes including current contact information at the top
and following the job announcement for required details. When in doubt, match what the announcement asks for and avoid including sensitive personal data
unless explicitly requested by the posting.

Quality Control: The “Don’t Lose the Interview to a Typo” Test

Before you submit your resume, do these quick checks. They take two minutes and can save you weeks of “Why haven’t they called?”

1. Email test: Send yourself a message. Does it land in your inbox? Do you check that inbox regularly?
2. Phone test: Call your number from a different phone. Is the voicemail set up? Is it understandable?
3. Link test: Click every link. Do they load fast? Do they look professional?
4. Consistency test: Do your resume and LinkedIn match on dates, titles, and employer names?
5. Visibility test: Can someone find your contact info in 3 seconds without squinting?

Common Mistakes That Make Recruiters Sigh (and Move On)

• Typos in your email or phone number (the resume equivalent of writing the wrong address on a package)
• Using a cute email address (cute is for pet videos, not job applications)
• Listing too many links (if everything is important, nothing is)
• Not including location at all (can create confusionespecially for on-site or hybrid roles)
• Hyper-designed header that looks great but parses badly in systems

Quick Templates for Different Job Seekers

Early-career / student

Alex Nguyen
San Jose, CA • 555-222-1234 • [email protected] • linkedin.com/in/alexnguyen

Career changer

Taylor Reed
Columbus, OH • Phone: 555-901-4567 • Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/taylorreed • Portfolio: taylorreed.com (Selected Projects)

Relocating candidate

Sam Patel
Relocating to Raleigh, NC (April 2026) • 555-333-7890 • [email protected] • linkedin.com/in/sampatel

Remote-first candidate

Jamie Lopez
Miami, FL (Open to Remote) • 555-444-0000 • [email protected] • jamielopez.com

of Real-World “Experience” (Case Studies You’ll Recognize)

If you’ve ever attended a resume workshop, helped a friend apply for internships, or read recruiter Q&A threads, you’ve probably seen the same contact-info
issues pop up again and again. Here are a few realistic scenarios (a.k.a. the tiny mistakes that cause huge headaches) and what they teach.

Case Study 1: The Perfect Resume… With the Wrong Phone Number

One candidate had a strong, results-driven resume: revenue growth, project leadership, the works. But they typed one digit wrong in their phone number.
Recruiters tried calling, hit a dead end, and moved on. No dramatic rejection email. No second chance. Just silence.
The lesson: contact info is not the place to freestyle. Do the “phone test” and confirm your number like it’s the launch code.

Case Study 2: The Email Address That Time-Traveled From 2009

Another candidate used an email that screamed “teenage nostalgia.” It wasn’t offensivejust unserious. The resume content was solid, but the email made the
candidate feel less polished than they actually were. Recruiters are human. They form impressions fast. The lesson: you don’t need a fancy email,
just a calm, professional one. Your future self will thank you.

Case Study 3: The Relocation Confusion

A job seeker applied to roles in Chicago while living in Arizona. Their resume listed “Phoenix, AZ” with no explanation. Employers assumed the candidate
would require relocation support or wasn’t truly available. After adding “Relocating to Chicago, IL (June 2026),” responses improved.
The lesson: location details can reduce friction. You’re not oversharingyou’re answering the question employers are already wondering about.

Case Study 4: The LinkedIn Mismatch

A recruiter checked a LinkedIn profile and saw job dates that didn’t match the resume. It might have been an innocent update delay, but it created doubt.
The candidate had to explain something that didn’t need to be a conversation at all. The lesson: if you include LinkedIn (and you usually should),
keep it aligned with your resume so your story stays consistent.

Case Study 5: The Portfolio That Sealed the Deal

A designer added a portfolio link right in the contact blockclean, obvious, and working. The portfolio loaded quickly, showcased three standout case studies,
and made the recruiter’s decision easy. The lesson: when your work speaks visually (or through samples), your contact info becomes a shortcut to proof.
The best contact sections don’t just help people reach youthey help people believe you.

Conclusion

Your contact information is a small section with an outsized impact. Keep it simple, accurate, professional, and easy to find.
Include the essentials (name, phone, email), add location and relevant links, and skip anything that’s unnecessary or risky.
Then do the quick testsbecause the only thing better than a strong resume is a strong resume that someone can actually use to hire you.