How to write contact information that gets your CV noticed

Your contact information at the top of your CV is a key component of your job searching strategy. A well-organised contact information section is complete, comprehensive and easy to find, allowing a potential employer to reach you easily. It also provides information that can increase your chances of getting invited for an interview. In this article, we explain ways to include and optimise this information on your CV.

How to write contact information that gets your CV noticed

To write contact information that gets your CV noticed requires properly adding and formatting relevant contact details. Here are some steps you can follow to format your contact information:

1. Type your full name in bold font at the top of your CV. Use a simple, professional font that is slightly larger than the font of the body of the CV.

2. If you desire, include your professional title under your name.

3. Write your email address on the following line.

4. List your phone number.

5. Write your physical mailing address, if you wish to include it.

6. Include your professional and social media profile links, if you have any.

7. Proofread your contact information to ensure it's error-free and easy to read.

Related: How to create an effective CV layout

Contact information to include on your CV

Here are six important pieces of information to add to your CV::

Name

Your name is the first part of your CV a recruiter sees and is the perfect opportunity to create a powerful first impression. Use a font that is bold and at least two points larger than any other font on your CV. For example, if you use 12-point font for the rest of your CV, you can use 20-point font for your name. Here are other tips for adding your name to your CV:

• Choose the name that represents your professional brand. Let the name on your CV reflect your identity as an individual and how you want your colleagues to refer to you.

• You can use a nickname on your CV as long as it's not too informal. For example, instead of Daniel W. Smith, you can put Dan Smith or Danny Smith.

• You can omit middle initials or suffixes. Avoiding suffixes, such as Sr, Jr, II or III, keeps your CV from sounding pretentious or arrogant.

• Be consistent with the name you choose. Since recruiters often use social media in their recruitment process, you can make their job easier by matching the name on your CV with what's on your social media profiles.

• Spell out the pronunciation of a name that's difficult to pronounce. For example, if your name is Meixiang Chio, you might show it as Meixiang (may-Shang) Chio on your CV to prevent the recruiter from fumbling with the pronunciation of your name during the interview.

• Consider discriminatory factors. Recruiters often try to be objective in the recruitment process, but you may wish to write any potentially discriminatory parts of your name as initials to avoid hidden bias.

Related: What are professional CVs? (With CV templates you can use)

Professional title

A professional title, or CV headline, is a short phrase that demonstrates your value as a candidate. It comes under your name on your CV and allows a recruiter to see, quickly and concisely, how you describe your career. Some recruiters require a professional title on your CV, making it a necessary part of your contact information. Here are tips to help you create an impressive CV headline:

• Make the professional title concise. Use a phrase of three or four words that describe your area of expertise.

• Make use of title case. Using title case helps others notice your professional title and gives your CV an impressive layout.

• Include words that summarise your skills and experience. Identify the qualities that make you a strong applicant for the position and use one word to represent them in your professional title.

• Create a new headline for every job you apply for. This practice allows you to customise each CV headline according to the specifications of the recruiter, portraying your seriousness and commitment to each application.

• Include relevant keywords in your professional title. Using words directly from the job listing helps your CV pass through screening software and it also helps make your CV more prominent to a potential employer.

• Avoid cliches and buzzwords. To make your professional title outstanding, avoid cliches that applicants tend to use in their CVs, such as hardworking, results-driven and guru.

Related: How to write a CV headline (with examples)

Phone number and email address

These details are necessary to include in your CV, allowing the recruiter to contact you to schedule an interview. Use parentheses around the area code and add a dash after the first three digits of your phone number. Only write one phone number on your CV (either your home or mobile number) so that the recruiter can easily determine the best way to reach you. Here are other tips for adding your email address and phone number to your CV:

• Keep your email address professional. Ensure it's appropriate and contains part of your name on your CV.

• Avoid using a university email address. An email with your university domain name can indicate inexperience to your recruiter.

• Use your personal email address. Using a separate email from your present work email allows you to distinguish emails from your current job and those from your job search.

• Include your regional and international dialing codes. Adding these codes becomes necessary when the company receiving your CV resides in a different region or country.

• Record a professional voicemail message. Add voicemail to your phone that sounds professional and mention your name and when you're available to take calls so you don't miss any important calls.

• Use your personal phone number rather than one from your current employer. This is more professional and avoids potential conflict between you and the HR manager.

Related: A guide to uploading CVs online (with email and CV tips)

Physical mailing address

A physical address is typically part of a standard CV, which a recruiter may when reviewing your application. You can decide to either omit your address or provide a less-detailed mailing address if you're posting your CV on a third-party site or want to retain some privacy. In this case, you can list only your city or region. Depending on what details you're comfortable adding to your CV, here are a few examples of ways to list your address:

• No Address

• Town, Region: Abbey Wood, London

• Town, Region and Postcode: Abbey Wood, London, BH1 1AS

• Complete Address: 1 Chapel Hill, Abbey Wood, London, BH1 1AS

• Area or Region: London, UK

• Relocating: Relocating to Bolton, Manchester

Related: Should you put your address on your CV? (With examples)

Professional and social media profiles

Most recruiters are on various professional career platforms and may check your profile if you provide the link. A visit to your profile may reveal a mutual connection you share with your recruiter, who can vouch for your skill-set and professionalism. Professional and social media profiles can also portray you as a strong applicant. Here are tips for adding these profiles to your CV:

• Ensure your professional profiles are up to date with any new job positions, certifications or publications you include on your CV.

• Ensure the content of your professional profile is consistent with the information on your CV. Having notable discrepancies may indicate to the recruiter that you're being dishonest.

• Include other social media platforms if they contain relevant information that shows you as a strong candidate for the position.

• You can include a social media profile if it shows you command a massive following, especially if this achievement is relevant to the position.

Related: 10 social media tools to manage your social media presence

Website and online portfolio

It's usually best to only include your website on your CV if its content relates to the job and you regularly update and maintain it. To appear more professional, you may wish to have a custom web address. Having a properly optimised website may also help you to make a good impression on potential employers.

If you want to include a website on a CV, ensure the website provides additional value or information beyond the content of the CV. A good example of this is a website containing an updated portfolio that demonstrates your skills and experience. If your website has controversial content, consider deleting such content or excluding your website from your CV.

Contact information examples

Here are some examples of how to write contact information that gets your CV noticed:

Simple contact information

Here is an example:

John D. Miller

jd.miller@email.com | 01234567890 | Bolton, Manchester

Complex contact information

Here is an example:

John D. Miller

Freelance Web Designer

johndmiller.com

contact@johndmiller.com | 01234567890 | Bolton, Manchester

Socials: https://www.ig.com/john-d-miller/