Personal Details in a Resume: What to Include & What to Skip

Only include personal details on your resume that help employers contact you and see your value — your name, phone number, professional email, city and state, and links to a LinkedIn or portfolio. You can also add short, relevant touches like hobbies or volunteer work that highlight your character or transferable skills. Skip anything that could lead to bias (age, gender, religion, photo, or marital status) and never share sensitive info like your Social Security number. Keep your layout clean, your keywords tailored to the job, and your content focused on results. 

You know what, I get it. I’ve been there — ready to hand over every personal detail if it meant finally landing a job. Full address? Sure. Want to know where I hide my spare key too? Anything for a steady paycheck. 

Or maybe you’re on the other end, hesitant to share anything that feels too private. What do they really need to know these days, anyway?

Because sometimes those extra personal details can hurt your chances. Companies are so cautious about discrimination that they might skip your resume entirely, just to avoid any hint of bias. So yeah, they’re definitely on a “need-to-know” basis. 

You already know to include the basics, like your contact info. But how much is too much? And do they really need to know anything beyond your professional life? 

This guide breaks it all down: 

• What personal details to put and what to avoid on your resume. 
• Resume tips to help you stand out (for the right reasons). 
• Real resume examples to tie it all together. 

Build a professional resume in minutes with our free AI Resume Builder or check out these guides: 

• How to Create a US Resume (Format, Writing, & Examples) 
• Tips for Writing a Professional Resume Profile (100+ Examples) 
• How to Build an ATS Resume 
• How to Do a Resume (Examples & Formatting) 

What Personal Details to Include on a Resume 

Here are some personal details to include on your resume: 

• Your full name (as on your ID) and, optionally, a short title to show your role. 
• Phone number and professional email you check regularly. 
• City and state (or country if relevant), plus citizenship/work eligibility for federal or international roles. 
• LinkedIn or professional social media, and a website/portfolio if it showcases your work. 
• Relevant hobbies or volunteer work that highlight transferable skills or align with the company’s values. 
• Professional goals and soft skills, naturally woven into your summary or experience bullets, with hard/technical skills taking priority in the skills section. 

Personal details belong on your resume when they’re essential contact info, if they add value, or they help sprinkle in a few keywords from the job description. 

These details usually appear right at the top of your resume, in the header section: 

1. Full name 

Use whatever’s on your official ID (passport, driver’s license). If your legal name is Robert but you go by Bobby, stick with the official name on paper. You can explain your nickname later, after you’ve got the job. 

If you want to highlight your role right away, add a brief title below your name, e.g., “Data Analyst” or “Registered Nurse.” It’s optional, but it helps with clarity and adds a keyword. 

2. Phone number 

Yes, people still make phone calls — whether anyone answers them is another story. Use a current number that accepts voicemails, and double-check that your voicemail greeting sounds normal. 

If it still plays your old “Sorry I can’t come to the phone, I’m probably in the bar or napping” message, maybe change that. 

3. Email address 

Most employers will contact you by email, so make it professional. 

FirstName.LastName@gmail.com = perfect. 

BDEnergy@hotmail.com = career sabotage. 

You could even create a separate email just for job hunting; it keeps your inbox tidy and ensures you don’t miss any important emails. Stick to common domains, like Gmail or Outlook. 

4. City and state (or country) 

You don’t need your full address anymore; no one’s mailing you a letter. Just your city and state are enough for employers to know your general location.  

If you currently live elsewhere but plan to relocate to the job’s area, mention that in your resume summary to prevent any confusion. 

And if you’re applying for international or federal jobs, you can include citizenship or work eligibility (e.g., U.S. Citizen, Eligible to work in Canada). 

5. LinkedIn and professional social media 

Add your LinkedIn if it’s up to date. (Need help? Check out How to Make a Good LinkedIn Profile.) 

For creative fields, toss in relevant social media. For example, if you’re applying to be a barista and your Insta is full of perfect latte art? That’s gold. 

Just make sure everything looks professional and recent. If your last post is from 2019, maybe skip it. 

6. Website or portfolio 

If you’re a designer, writer, photographer, or developer, your work speaks louder than your action verbs. Include a link to your website, GitHub, or online portfolio so hiring managers can actually see what you can do. 

Here’s how these personal details might look in your resume header: 

You can also sprinkle a few personal details in other resume sections: 

7. Relevant hobbies 

Tricky territory, but sometimes worth it. 

If you’re light on experience, hobbies on your resume can show transferable skills, like starting a book club (organization, teamwork) or captaining a football team (leadership, communication). But if you’re eight years deep into project management, the football section can sit this one out. 

Some people on Reddit mentioned using hobbies to explain career gaps. One user suggested addressing that directly in your cover letter instead: 

8. Volunteer work 

Volunteer experience on your resume says a lot about your character and your skill set. 

If you’ve done camp counseling and you’re applying for a teaching role, it’s relevant and impressive. Or if your volunteer work aligns with the company’s values (say, they support homelessness initiatives and you’ve done similar work), that’s a nice connection point.

Don’t hide it — it’s often the most human part of your resume.

9. Professional goals 

Your resume summary is the perfect place to mention your goals. 

Avoid vague phrases like “looking for opportunities to grow.” Instead, be specific about how you want to contribute: “Excited to bring my communication and problem-solving skills to a company like Zappos, where customer satisfaction and people-first values come first.” 

Need a hand writing? Try our AI Resume Summary Generator. Enter the job title, job description, a past role you’d like to highlight, and a few key skills. The tool will create a clear, professional summary in seconds. 

Here’s an example from the AI Summary Generator: 

10. Soft skills 

Soft skills, like teamwork, time management, and adaptability, show how you work, not just what you can do. Weave them into your bullet points and summary so they feel natural. 

For example, if you’re applying for a nursing role, emphasize how your empathy and communication skills help you build trust with patients and keep healthcare teams running smoothly. 

If you have extra space, toss a few in your skills section. But keep hard or technical skills front and center. 

What Personal Details You Should NOT Include 

Here are some personal details you shouldn’t include on your resume: 

• Age, DOB, gender, marital status, or religion. 
• National ID, social security number, or any sensitive/classified info; share only after you’re hired. 
• Photo, unless you’re applying for acting, modeling, or a similar field. 
• Political affiliations or unrelated hobbies/volunteer work. 
• Nationality: include only if the job specifically requires it, like certain federal positions. 

Some personal details have no place on your resume. In many cases, it’s actually illegal for employers to ask for them. When in doubt, if it’s not directly relevant to the job, leave it out. 

Here’s what to avoid: 

• Age/date of birth. Age discrimination laws have your back. Employers don’t need to know if you’re 22 or 52 to see that you’re qualified. 
• Gender. Completely irrelevant to your ability to do the job, and it can open the door to bias. 
• Marital status. Whether you’re single, married, or dating your cat, it doesn’t matter here. 
• Religion. Keep your spiritual life personal. Unless your prayers involve actual workflow miracles, it won’t help your application. 
• National ID or Social Security number. Never include these. Share them only after you’re officially hired. Security first. 
• Photo. Usually a no-go in the US unless you’re applying to act, model, or work in a field where appearance really matters. Employers want your skills, not your mugshot. 
• Political affiliations. This is like talking politics at a family dinner: risky and unnecessary. Say nothing. 
• Classified or sensitive info. If you’ve worked on top-secret projects, describe them generally (if you can) without revealing restricted details. 
• Unrelated hobbies or volunteer work. If it doesn’t show relevant skills, skip it. Save that space for content that actually helps you get the job.
• Nationality. Only mention it if the job posting specifically requires it, like federal positions. Otherwise, it’s irrelevant. 

Check out 20+ Common Resume Mistakes. 

Best Tips for Writing a Resume 

Here are some of the best resume tips: 

• Keep it simple with a single-column, black-and-white layout. Avoid icons, crazy designs, or anything that confuses the ATS. 
• Use readable fonts like Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, or Verdana; body 9–12 pt, headings 14–16 pt, name 20–24 pt. 
• Include relevant keywords from the job description, spell out acronyms first, and work them naturally into your summary, experience, skills, and education.
• Avoid pronouns, weak verbs, and buzzwords like “hard-working” or “responsible for.” Use strong action verbs such as implemented, conducted, or introduced. 
• List skills you can actually demonstrate, and show examples in your experience bullets. 
• Highlight your highest degree, school, graduation date, and relevant honors, projects, or GPA if recent. Put certifications in a separate section and keep them relevant.
• Keep it to 1–2 pages, using bullet points for experience, projects, or extra education.
• Focus on results rather than responsibilities, including numbers when possible.
• Remove outdated or irrelevant experience; keep history to the last 10–15 years or briefly note older work in an “Earlier Work Experience” section.

You’ve learned what not to do. Now, let’s focus on how to update your resume and make it the best it can be. 

Use a simple format 

Resist the urge to turn your resume into a digital Picasso. Stick to black and white, one column, no icons, and nothing that will confuse the ATS (or make a hiring manager pull their hair out). Simple, scannable, readable — that’s the goal. Luckily, the Rezi resume templates check all those boxes. 

Choose a readable font 

Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, or Verdana are your friends (and my faves). And stick to one font. 

• Body: 9–12 pt 
• Headings: 14–16 pt 
• Your name at the top: 20–24 pt 

Tailor with relevant keywords 

Many companies use ATS to scan resumes for keywords from the job description. You need to tailor your resume for every application and use the exact wording they use. If they want “MS Excel,” say “MS Excel.” Don’t make them guess. 

• Spell out acronyms the first time you use them. 
• Sprinkle keywords naturally through your summary, work experience, skills, and education sections. 

Need help? Try our AI Keyword Targeting tool to see which skills you’ve nailed and which ones to add. 

Here’s AI Keyword Targeting in action: 

Avoid buzzwords and weak verbs 

“Hard-working”? “Go-getter”? Meh. Weak resume verbs like “worked with” or “was responsible for”? Also meh. 

Use strong, precise action verbs like implemented, introduced, and conducted — and mix them up. If the job description uses certain terms, mirror them where it makes sense. 

For inspo, browse our 700+ Best Action Verbs for a Resume. 

Skip the pronouns 

No “I” or “me.” Write in the absent first person. Your achievements can stand on their own. For example: 

• Designed lesson plans that improved student test scores by 15% over the semester. 
• Led classroom activities promoting teamwork and critical thinking for 25+ students per grade level. 
• Developed an after-school tutoring program that increased student participation and engagement in STEM subjects. 

Be strategic with your skills section 

Only list skills you can actually demonstrate. Check the job post and add relevant ones, plus a few extras that strengthen your application.

Pro tip: Don’t just dump them in your skills section; show examples in your work experience too. Need ideas? Our AI Skills Explorer can help you find related skills that make sense for your role. 

Here are some of the AI Skills Explorer’s suggestions: 

Make your education section count 

List your highest degree, school, and graduation date. If you’re a recent grad, add honors, awards, relevant coursework, projects, and your GPA (if 3.5+). 

Leave out the high school details if you have a degree. And put certifications on your resume in a separate section with name, institute, and completion date. 

Keep it concise

Every inch of space counts. One to two pages is enough, but stick to a one-page resume if you’re just starting out. Use bullet points to break up text in your work experience, education, or project section. 

Focus on results, not responsibilities

Your bullet points should highlight accomplishments. Numbers make them even better: projects completed, customers served, revenue increased, or efficiency gains. Even rough estimates work; just show your impact. 

Learn more about How to Show Off Achievements on a Resume. 

Remove outdated or unrelated experience

Your resume should go back about 10–15 years, max. 

Anything older or irrelevant? Trim it, abbreviate it, or mention it in an “Earlier Work Experience” note. This keeps your resume lean, relevant, and avoids accidental age bias. 

Examples of Personal Details & Accomplishments 

Let’s put all that theory into practice. Here are some snippets from different types of resumes showing how personal details and achievements might appear in various sections. 

First job resume example 

When it’s your first job, personal details help you fill in the gaps. Use your contact info, summary, and volunteer or school projects to emphasize what you bring to the table. 

Avery Chen
‍Austin, TX | (512) 555-3904 | avery.chen@email.com | LinkedIn.com/in/averychen

‍Summary:  
Recent marketing graduate applying for the Social Media Assistant position at Twig Agency. Passionate about content creation, with hands-on experience managing a small business’s TikTok and building an online following for a local arts collective. 
‍
Accomplishment Example:
• Launched an Instagram page for a student art club, growing followers to 1,200 in six months through creative campaigns and community engagement. 

Read more about How to Write a Resume With No Job Experience. 

Federal resume example 

Federal resumes include a few extra details than standard resumes, like your full address, citizenship status, and federal-grade level (if applicable). 

Jordan Taylor
‍123 Maple Drive, Arlington, VA 22201 | (703) 555-4920 | jordan.taylor@email.com | LinkedIn.com/in/jordantaylor 
Citizenship: U.S. Citizen | Federal Grade: GS-7

‍Accomplishment Example:
• Facilitated the planning and execution of monthly park cleanup operations by coordinating 20+ participants and partnering with city staff to improve community spaces. 

Volunteer resume example 

Volunteer work says a lot about your values, and it’s a goldmine for personal accomplishments. Whether it’s mentoring, coaching, or organizing events, it all counts. 

Sofía Martinez
‍Seattle, WA | (206) 555-8810 | sofia.martinez@email.com | sofiacreates.com

‍Experience Section: 

Volunteer Art Instructor | Community Youth Center | Seattle, WA | March 2023–Present
• Conducted weekly art workshops for kids aged 8–12, using creative projects to build confidence and teamwork. 
• Introduced an annual “Recycled Art” challenge by organizing project guidelines and sourcing sustainable materials, encouraging participants to repurpose everyday objects. 

Summary 

Here’s a recap on putting personal details in your resume: 

• Include only essential contact info: full name, phone number, professional email, and city/state.
• Add extras like a LinkedIn profile, portfolio, or professional website if they add value. 
• Use your official name as it appears on ID, and make sure your contact details are up to date and professional.
• Skip your full address; city and state are enough for most jobs. 
• Mention citizenship or work eligibility only if it’s required for the role (e.g., federal or international jobs). 
• Avoid personal details that can lead to bias or are irrelevant: age, gender, marital status, religion, photo, or political views. 
• Never include sensitive information like your Social Security number or national ID. 
• Consider relevant hobbies or volunteer work only if they show transferable skills or align with the company’s values. 
• Tailor your resume for each job by using exact keywords from the job description naturally throughout your sections.

FAQ 

How to write a summary for a resume? 

Your resume summary should be about two or three sentences highlighting your top skills, experience, and career goals. Back them up with numbers wherever you can. Tailor it to the role and mention what skills you’re going to bring to the company. 

What does a good resume look like? 

A good resume is simple, clear, and easy to scan. Stick to one consistent layout, plenty of white space, and clear sections. Focus on achievements with measurable results and strong action verbs. And always customize it to the job description.

What are some professional resume profile examples? 

Here’s a good example: “Marketing specialist with 5+ years of experience creating digital campaigns that boost engagement and sales. Skilled in SEO, content strategy, and analytics, with a passion for building brands that connect with audiences.” Keep it short, confident, and focused on your unique value. 

Find more at 100+ Resume Profile Examples for all Careers. 

How to format a resume? 

Keep your resume layout clean and readable. Use a simple font like Calibri or Arial, straightforward headings, and bullet points for structure. Stick to one column, reverse chronological order, and single or 1.15 spacing with one-inch margins. Save it as a PDF to preserve formatting and make sure it’s ATS-friendly, with no fancy graphics or text boxes. 

Learn more about The Best Resume Format. 

Should I include references on my resume? 

No need to list references or say “references available upon request.” Employers will ask for them when they need them. Just have a separate references document ready for when they request it. 

How long should your resume be? 

One page is perfect if you’re early in your career or have less than 10 years of experience. Two pages work fine if you have more to show, but every line should earn its place. Focus on relevance; if it doesn’t add value, cut it. 

What skills to put on a resume?

Stick to the skills that match the job description. Highlight technical or hard skills like Python, Excel, or project management, then back them up with examples in your experience. Include soft skills too, but make sure they feel genuine and job-related. 

‍