You are busy writing a CV? It is important to stand out and write a unique professional CV. Some personal details should always be included. Also, there are some personal details you should not include.
1. Personal details you must include
2. Personal details you could include
3. Personal details you should not include
4. More resume writing tips
Personal details you must include on your cv
There are some details you just can’t leave out of a resume. Include the following details in your resume to make sure your cv is complete:
- Name – Write your full name and surname. Make sure it is written in a larger font so it stands out from the rest. Some cv templates do this automatically. For this, you can check out our page about cv templates.
- Email address – Usually the recruiter contacts you via email. So having an email address that reflects your professionalism is important. A Gmail or Hotmail domain account is fine, as long as it represents the professional you.
How to do it:
Fredrik.Johansson@gmail.com or Fredrik.Johansson@hotmail.com
If you have a website, perhaps you could explore the possibility of setting up an email account using your website domain name.
Fredrik@fredrikjohansson.se
How not to do it:
FredikbountyhunterXX@hotmail.com or Freddythebest@gmail.com
It is unprofessional and doesn’t reflect your full name or age. Try to avoid this. If you don’t have a professional email address, then you should create a new one.
- Telephone number – Some recruiters prefer to contact you directly. By having a quick phone conversation they often seek a first impression. Make sure to include your phone number.
- Linkedin profile – Recruiters receive a lot of resumes. Many come in different styles and designs. Often the recruiter also looks at the Linkedin profile. It is easier to compare different people in the same format. A LinkedIn profile is a great addition to your CV.
Personal details to consider including on your cv
Some personal details are not necessary to include. However, in some cases mentioning this could work to your advantage. You might consider include the following personail details on your cv:
- Driving license – Mentioning a driving license could work in your advantage or disadvantage. Determine yourself if a driving license is needed for the job.
- City of address – Leave out the exact address. But if you live close to the potential office. It is an advantage if you live nearby.
- Photo – Most people don’t include a photo on their resume. However a good photo can help the recruiter get a first impression. Also pictures will stay longer top-of-mind with the recruiters.
Personal details you should not include on your cv
The standard details on what to include has changed a lot in the recent years. This has mainly two reasons. Firstly, recruiters are only interested if you have the skills and experience needed for the job. Secondly people leave out their place of birth, marital status and exact addresses to avoid discrimation. Leave out the following personal details:
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Gender – If you include a photo, the recruiter gets a proper view of who you are. It is about the first impression.
- Religion
- Health status – It should not matter if you are in a wheelchair or not. Definitely leave out the health status.
More tips for writing a resume?
Are you looking for more tips for writing a resume? Please read our resume writing guide for a full cv writing guide. Have you already written the personal details but want to know how to write a personal profile? Please read our article: writing a professional personal statement.