Personal Information on a Resume: What to Include and What to Leave Out

Your resume needs to include enough personal information for employers to evaluate and contact you, but including too much—or the wrong kind—can create problems ranging from privacy concerns to potential discrimination. Striking the right balance requires understanding what information serves your candidacy and what might undermine it.

In the United States, resumes follow different conventions than CVs in other countries. Information that’s standard elsewhere—photographs, birthdates, marital status—is typically excluded from American resumes. Understanding these norms helps you present yourself appropriately while avoiding inadvertent mistakes.

This comprehensive guide walks you through every category of personal information you might consider including, explaining what’s essential, what’s optional, and what should never appear on your resume.

Essential Contact Information

Every resume must include basic contact information that enables employers to reach you. This section is non-negotiable—without it, your resume is useless regardless of your qualifications.

Your Full Name

Your name should appear prominently at the top of your resume, typically as the largest text on the page.

What to include:

• Your full legal name or preferred professional name
• Any professional credentials (PhD, CPA, PMP) after your name if relevant

Considerations:

• Use the name you prefer to be called professionally
• If your legal name differs significantly from your professional name, use what matches your LinkedIn and professional presence
• Name changes due to marriage or other reasons should match your current professional identity
• Nicknames are generally acceptable if consistently used professionally (“Mike” vs. “Michael”)

Format examples:

• Jane Smith, PMP
• John A. Williams
• Dr. Sarah Chen, PhD
• Robert “Bobby” Thompson

Email Address

Your email address is the primary way most employers will contact you.

Requirements:

• Use a professional email address
• Ensure you check it regularly
• Verify the address is accurate

Professional email guidelines:

• Ideal format: [email protected]
• Acceptable alternatives: [email protected], [email protected]
• Avoid: nicknames, birth years, unprofessional words, outdated providers

Good examples:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]

Avoid:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

If your personal email isn’t professional, create a new one specifically for job searching. This also helps keep job-related communications organized.

Phone Number

A phone number allows employers to call for screening interviews or scheduling.

Requirements:

• Include a number where you can receive calls and voicemails
• Ensure your voicemail greeting is professional
• Be prepared to answer professionally

Format:

• Use consistent formatting: (555) 123-4567 or 555-123-4567
• Include country code if applying internationally: +1 (555) 123-4567
• Label the number only if necessary (Mobile: 555-123-4567)

Best practices:

• List only one number (the one you’ll actually answer)
• Don’t include work numbers (awkward if current employer calls)
• Update your voicemail to sound professional
• Answer unknown calls professionally during job searches

Location Information

Location details help employers understand where you’re based, though how much to include has evolved.

Modern convention: Include city and state only: San Francisco, CA

What to leave out:

• Full street address (no longer necessary and poses security risks)
• Zip code (sometimes useful if specifically relevant)

Special situations:

Relocating: If you’re planning to relocate to a new area, you might indicate this:

• “San Francisco, CA (Relocating to Seattle, WA)”
• “Currently in Chicago, IL; Open to positions in Atlanta, GA”

Remote work: If targeting remote positions:

• “Denver, CO (Open to Remote)”
• “Based in Austin, TX”

Local candidates preferred: If the job emphasizes local candidates and you are local, your location confirms eligibility.

Professional Online Presence

Beyond basic contact information, professional URLs add value without privacy concerns.

LinkedIn Profile

A LinkedIn profile URL has become nearly essential:

Why include it:

• Employers routinely check LinkedIn
• Provides more depth than resume allows
• Shows professional engagement
• Creates a consistent professional brand

How to include:

• Customize your URL (linkedin.com/in/yourname)
• Ensure your profile matches your resume
• Keep your profile current and professional

Format on resume: linkedin.com/in/janesmith

Portfolio or Personal Website

For many professions, portfolio links are valuable:

Good candidates for inclusion:

• Design portfolios
• Writing samples
• Development projects (GitHub)
• Professional websites
• Industry-relevant work samples

How to present:

• portfolio.janesmith.com
• github.com/janesmith
• behance.net/janesmith

When building your professional presence, platforms like 0portfolio.com can help you create cohesive personal branding materials that complement your resume.

Social Media Profiles

Social media inclusion depends heavily on profession and content:

Generally include if:

• Your work involves social media
• You have a professional Twitter presence in your field
• Your content showcases relevant expertise
• The platform is professionally focused

Generally exclude:

• Personal social media accounts
• Profiles with potentially problematic content
• Platforms unrelated to your profession
• Any account you haven’t reviewed thoroughly

If you include social media, ensure it enhances rather than detracts from your candidacy.

What to Leave Off Your Resume

American resumes exclude certain personal information that’s common elsewhere or might be requested inappropriately.

Photographs

Standard American convention: No photo

Reasons to exclude photos:

• Can introduce unconscious bias related to age, race, gender, or appearance
• May trigger legal concerns for employers
• Takes valuable resume space
• Not expected or desired by most American employers

Exceptions:

• Modeling or acting resumes (photos expected)
• Some international applications (varies by country)
• When explicitly requested by an employer

Most resume scanning software ignores photos anyway, and many employers automatically reject resumes with photos to avoid discrimination concerns.

Age and Date of Birth

Never include your age or birthdate on American resumes

Why this information is problematic:

• Age discrimination is illegal but difficult to prevent if age is visible
• Serves no legitimate purpose in evaluating qualifications
• Can work against you whether young or old

What some candidates mistakenly include:

• “DOB: 05/15/1985”
• “Age: 35”
• High school graduation year that reveals age

How age can leak through:

• Dated email addresses (jane_smith_1980@…)
• Very early work history without relevance
• References to technology or events that date you

Marital Status and Family Information

Never include family status information:

• Single, married, divorced, etc.
• Number of children
• Whether you’re planning to have children
• Family obligations or circumstances

Why exclude:

• Potential for discrimination based on family status
• Not relevant to job qualifications
• Illegal to consider in hiring decisions
• Creates awkward dynamics

Gender and Sexual Orientation

Not appropriate for American resumes:

• Gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• Pronouns (though some choose to include; see below)

On pronouns: Including pronouns (she/her, he/him, they/them) has become more common but remains personal choice. If you include them, consider whether this information serves your interests with your target employers. There’s no single correct approach.

Religious Affiliation

Generally exclude religious information:

• Church membership
• Religious beliefs
• Religious holidays observed

Exceptions:

• Applying to religious organizations
• Religious education from faith-based institutions (include institution name; religious nature is evident)
• Volunteer work through religious organizations (can list the organization name)

When listing faith-based education or volunteer work, focus on activities and skills rather than religious aspects.

Political Affiliation

Keep political affiliations off your resume:

• Party membership
• Political volunteer work (usually)
• Campaign involvement
• Political beliefs

Considerations:

• If you worked as paid staff for a political organization, this is work experience and typically appropriate to include
• Volunteer work for political campaigns might be excluded or included depending on your target employer
• Government affairs or policy roles may appropriately reference political experience

Nationality, Citizenship, and Visa Status

Generally don’t include:

• “U.S. Citizen”
• “American national”
• Country of origin
• Passport information

Exceptions:

• Jobs requiring security clearance (citizenship may be relevant)
• Positions where work authorization is explicitly questioned
• International applications where nationality matters

Work authorization: If applying to a position where work authorization is clearly a concern, you might note:

• “Authorized to work in the United States”
• “No sponsorship required”

But don’t volunteer this information unnecessarily—it can invite discrimination.

Social Security Number

Never include your Social Security Number

This is required for employment processing but never appropriate on resumes. Any employer requesting SSN on an application before hire should be viewed skeptically.

Health Information and Disabilities

Never include:

• Health conditions
• Disabilities
• Medical history
• Physical limitations

ADA considerations: You’re not required to disclose disabilities, and employers cannot legally ask about them pre-offer. If you need accommodations for the interview process, address that separately from your resume.

Salary Information

Don’t include:

• Current salary
• Salary history
• Salary expectations

Salary discussions happen later in the hiring process. Including salary information can limit your negotiating position and isn’t expected on resumes.

Optional Information to Consider

Some personal information falls into a gray area—potentially helpful but not required.

Professional Licenses and Certifications

These are typically appropriate to include:

• CPA, PMP, PHR designations
• Industry certifications
• Required licenses (nursing, law, real estate)

Include in your header (Jane Smith, CPA) or in a dedicated section.

Languages Spoken

Language skills can be valuable:

Include if:

• Relevant to the position
• You have professional-level proficiency
• The employer serves diverse populations
• The job listing mentions language skills

How to format:

• Spanish (Native), English (Fluent)
• Fluent in Mandarin Chinese
• Professional proficiency in French

Be honest: Don’t overstate language abilities—you may be tested.

Military Service

Military experience is typically appropriate:

Include:

• Branch and years of service
• Rank achieved
• MOS/Rating translated to civilian terms
• Relevant training and leadership experience
• Security clearance if maintained

Format like other work experience: Focus on transferable skills and accomplishments rather than military jargon.

Volunteer Work

Volunteer experience can strengthen your resume:

Include if:

• Demonstrates relevant skills
• Shows leadership or commitment
• Fills employment gaps
• Aligns with employer values

Approach: List significant volunteer roles in a dedicated section or integrate with work experience if the experience is substantial.

Hobbies and Interests

Generally exclude, but exceptions exist:

Consider including if:

• Directly relevant to the role (marathon runner applying to a running company)
• Demonstrates desirable qualities (team sports showing collaboration)
• Creates memorable differentiation (unusual hobby that sparks conversation)
• The company culture values work-life balance

If including:

• Keep brief—one to two lines maximum
• Choose interests strategically
• Avoid anything controversial
• Make sure they reflect well on you

Willingness to Travel or Relocate

If relevant to the position:

How to indicate:

• “Willing to relocate”
• “Open to travel up to 50%”
• “Available for relocation to [target area]”

Include only when directly relevant to the opportunity.

Formatting Your Personal Information

How you present personal information matters as much as what you include.

Header Design

Your header should be clean, professional, and easy to scan:

Standard format:

JANE SMITH
San Francisco, CA | [email protected] | (555) 123-4567
linkedin.com/in/janesmith | portfolio.janesmith.com

Alternative formats: Centered, left-aligned, or with subtle design elements—just keep it readable and ATS-compatible.

Consistency Across Materials

Ensure information is consistent:

• Resume name matches LinkedIn name
• Email address is the same across all applications
• Phone number you list is one you actually answer
• Location information aligns with what you say in interviews

Privacy-Conscious Formatting

Protect your information:

• Don’t include full address
• Consider using a job-search-specific email
• Be cautious about what’s publicly visible on linked profiles

International Considerations

Resume conventions vary significantly by country.

European CVs

Often include:

• Photos (standard in many countries)
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• More personal details

If applying internationally, research specific country expectations.

Asian Markets

Often expect:

• Photographs
• Age/date of birth
• Gender
• Marital status
• More detailed personal information

Converting for Different Markets

If you have a U.S.-style resume and need to apply internationally (or vice versa), adjust your personal information section to match local expectations.

Protecting Your Privacy

Your resume is a semi-public document—approach personal information thoughtfully.

What Happens to Your Resume

Your resume may be:

• Stored in applicant tracking systems
• Shared among hiring team members
• Kept on file for future openings
• Circulated if you use recruiters
• Posted online if you use job boards

Privacy Best Practices

Limit exposure:

• Include only necessary information
• Use professional-specific email
• Don’t include full address

Control distribution:

• Know where your resume is posted
• Understand privacy settings on job sites
• Track who has your resume

Monitor your information:

• Google yourself periodically
• Check what’s publicly visible
• Remove outdated information

Identity Theft Considerations

Resumes contain information that could be misused:

• Full name
• Location
• Phone number
• Email address
• Employment history

While necessary for job searching, be cautious about posting resumes on unsecured sites or responding to suspicious job postings.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learn from errors others make with personal information.

Over-Sharing

Including information that doesn’t serve your candidacy:

• Family details
• Personal anecdotes
• Photos (in most U.S. contexts)
• Health information

Under-Sharing

Missing essential information:

• Incomplete contact details
• Typos in phone number or email
• Outdated information
• Missing LinkedIn (when expected)

Inconsistencies

Mismatched information across materials:

• Different names on resume and LinkedIn
• Location that doesn’t match interview availability
• Credentials listed differently in different places

Unprofessional Elements

Elements that undermine professionalism:

• Unprofessional email addresses
• Social media links to inappropriate content
• Unprofessional voicemail greetings
• Cute or clever formatting that obscures information

Checklist: Personal Information on Your Resume

Before submitting, verify:

Essential Information

• Full professional name appears prominently
• Professional email address included
• Reliable phone number provided
• City and state location listed

Professional Links

• LinkedIn URL included (customized)
• Portfolio link if applicable
• All links tested and working
• Linked profiles match resume content

Information Excluded

• No photo (unless appropriate for industry)
• No birthdate or age
• No marital/family status
• No Social Security Number
• No sensitive personal information

Quality Checks

• All information accurate
• Contact information tested
• Consistent across all materials
• Professionally formatted

Conclusion

The personal information on your resume serves a simple purpose: enabling employers to identify and contact qualified candidates. Everything included should serve this purpose without introducing risks or irrelevant details.

In the American job market, convention favors minimal personal information—enough to make contact, establish professional identity, and nothing more. This protects both candidates from potential discrimination and employers from bias concerns.

Stick to essentials: your name, professional contact information, location, and relevant professional links. Leave out everything else unless you have a specific, strategic reason to include it. When in doubt, less is more.

Your qualifications, achievements, and experience should occupy center stage. Personal information is just the return address—it tells employers where to send the interview invitation that your qualifications earn.