Resume Header Examples: What to Include (and What to Leave Out)
See 10+ resume header examples for different career levels. Learn exactly what contact information to include, what to remove,

See 10+ resume header examples for different career levels. Learn exactly what contact information to include, what to remove,

Your resume header is the first thing a recruiter or ATS system processes — and it is the section with the most avoidable mistakes. Including the wrong information (full address, photo, date of birth) signals inexperience. Missing the right information (LinkedIn, portfolio link) leaves value on the table.
Here is exactly what to include, what to cut, and how to format it for maximum impact.
1. Your Full Name
Use the name you are professionally known by. If your legal name is "Robert" but everyone calls you "Bob," use "Bob Smith" — consistency with LinkedIn matters more than formality. Make your name the largest text on the page: 18-24pt for most candidates.
2. Professional Email Address
Your email should be based on your name: firstname.lastname@gmail.com or firstnamelastname@gmail.com. Avoid:
If your preferred name combination is taken on Gmail, add a middle initial or profession suffix: jsmith.dev@gmail.com.
3. Phone Number
Include one phone number — your mobile. Format: (555) 123-4567 or 555-123-4567. Both are standard. Do not include a landline unless you specifically want calls there.
4. Location: City and State Only
Modern resumes do not include your full street address. City and state is sufficient. Examples: "San Francisco, CA" or "Remote" if you work remotely and are targeting remote roles.
5. LinkedIn URL
Customize your LinkedIn URL first: go to LinkedIn → View Profile → Edit Public Profile URL. A clean URL looks like: linkedin.com/in/janesmith. A default URL looks like: linkedin.com/in/jane-smith-3b4c782a. The former is professional; the latter signals inattention to detail.
Portfolio or Personal Website
Include if you work in a field where showing your work matters: design, writing, development, architecture, photography. Format: portfolio.janesmith.com or janesmith.design.
GitHub
For software engineers and data scientists, a GitHub URL with active, relevant repositories significantly strengthens your header. Ensure the profile is clean: remove empty repositories and ensure key projects have README files.
Certifications or Credentials
For some professions, abbreviations appear next to your name: "Jane Smith, CPA" or "Dr. James Park, MD." Use this convention only for recognized professional designations, not self-described titles.
Street address: "123 Main Street, Apt 4B" — Remove it. Unnecessary, takes up space, and raises privacy concerns.
Date of birth: Illegal to consider in hiring decisions in the US; omit entirely.
Photo: Not standard in US/Canada. Creates bias risk and is flagged as inappropriate by many ATS systems.
Marital status or family information: Legally irrelevant and inappropriate in modern US hiring.
Social media profiles (unless relevant): X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook — leave off unless you are a social media professional where these are portfolio samples.
Second phone number: One number is sufficient.
Fax number: It is 2026.
ALEX JOHNSON
alex.johnson@gmail.com | (555) 234-5678 | Chicago, IL | linkedin.com/in/alexjohnson
Clean, complete, nothing extra. Works for the vast majority of professionals in most industries.
PRIYA PATEL
priya.patel@gmail.com | (555) 876-5432 | Seattle, WA
linkedin.com/in/priyapatel | github.com/priyapatel
GitHub is standard for engineering roles and signals active coding practice.
MARCUS RODRIGUEZ
marcus@marcusdesign.com | (555) 345-6789 | Brooklyn, NY
marcusdesign.com | linkedin.com/in/marcusrodriguez
Portfolio link replaces or supplements LinkedIn. The professional email domain (on the personal website domain) signals credibility.
JENNIFER PARK
jennifer.park@gmail.com | (555) 567-8901 | Remote (PST) | linkedin.com/in/jenniferpark
"Remote (PST)" communicates time zone for scheduling without disclosing a physical location.
MICHAEL CHEN
michael.chen@gmail.com | (555) 987-6543 | Boston, MA | linkedin.com/in/michaelchen
Executives often keep headers simple. The substance is in the summary and experience — no need for elaborate header formatting.
SARAH WILLIAMS, RN, BSN, CCRN
sarah.williams@gmail.com | (555) 432-1098 | Dallas, TX | linkedin.com/in/sarahwilliams
Recognized credentials after the name signal qualification at a glance for licensed professions.
DAVID KIM
david.kim@gmail.com | (555) 678-9012 | Austin, TX | linkedin.com/in/davidkim
github.com/davidkim | University of Texas Portfolio: portfolio.utexas.edu/davidkim
Recent graduates can add academic portfolio links and GitHub to compensate for limited work history.
EMMA TORRES
emma.torres@gmail.com | (555) 789-0123 | Atlanta, GA | linkedin.com/in/emmatorres
Keep it standard. The career change context is handled in the professional summary, not the header.
DR. JAMES PATEL, Ph.D.
j.patel@universitydomain.edu | (555) 890-1234 | Cambridge, MA
linkedin.com/in/jamespatel | scholar.google.com/citations?user=xxxxx
Academic and research roles follow different conventions — institutional email, Google Scholar profile, and full credentials after the name are standard.
ANA GARCIA
ana.garcia@gmail.com | (555) 901-2345 | Miami, FL | linkedin.com/in/anagarcia
Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Native), Portuguese (Fluent)
Language skills belong in the skills section, but if bilingualism is a primary selling point for the role (e.g., sales in Latin American markets), a brief mention in the header can differentiate immediately.
Standard options for contact info separators:
email | phone | locationemail • phone • locationemail, phone, locationChoose one and use it consistently. Pipe is the most common and cleanest.
Single line (preferred for most):
alex.johnson@gmail.com | (555) 234-5678 | Chicago, IL | linkedin.com/in/alexjohnson
Multi-line (for those with more links):
alex.johnson@gmail.com | (555) 234-5678 | Chicago, IL
linkedin.com/in/alexjohnson | github.com/alexjohnson
Both work. Centered headers look traditional and balanced. Left-aligned headers look modern and are slightly better for ATS parsing. Most professional templates use one or the other consistently — do not mix.
Some ATS systems fail to parse information inside text boxes, tables, or in headers/footers of Word documents. To ensure your contact information is actually read:
Our AI Resume Builder formats your contact information correctly for ATS from the start, so you never have to worry about parsing errors. Explore 300+ resume examples to see professional headers across every industry.
Applicant Tracking Systems have evolved significantly. Modern ATS platforms like Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, and iCIMS use advanced parsing algorithms that go beyond simple keyword matching. They analyze context, evaluate skill relevance, and even assess candidate-job fit using machine learning.
When you submit your resume, the ATS extracts text and organizes it into structured data fields: contact information, work experience, education, and skills. The system then scores your application against the job requirements. Resumes that score below a threshold may never reach human eyes.
To optimize for ATS success, use standard section headings that the system can recognize. Avoid headers and footers — many ATS platforms cannot read content placed there. Stick to common fonts and avoid text boxes, tables, or graphics that can confuse the parser. Submit in PDF or DOCX format as specified in the job posting.
Keyword optimization is essential but must feel natural. Mirror the exact phrasing from the job description — if they say "project management," do not substitute "managed projects." Include both acronyms and full terms (e.g., "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)"). But avoid keyword stuffing — modern ATS algorithms can detect and penalize this practice.
Follow this checklist to ensure your application materials are polished and competitive:
This systematic approach ensures nothing falls through the cracks during your job search. Consistency and attention to detail set successful candidates apart from the competition.
Your resume header should include your full name, professional email address, phone number, city and state (not full address), and LinkedIn URL. Optionally add a portfolio URL, GitHub, or personal website if directly relevant to the role. Do not include your full street address, date of birth, or photo (in the US/Canada).
No. Full street addresses are outdated and take up valuable space. Include only city and state (e.g., "Austin, TX"). This protects your privacy while giving employers the geographic context they need for relocation or commuting decisions.
Yes, if your LinkedIn profile is complete, professional, and up-to-date. Shorten the URL using LinkedIn's custom URL feature (linkedin.com/in/ yourname) to keep it clean. A well-optimized LinkedIn profile significantly strengthens your candidacy, especially for knowledge-worker roles.
Your name should be 2-4 points larger than your body text and in a professional font. Good choices: Calibri, Arial, Georgia, Garamond, or Cambria. Avoid decorative or script fonts — they look unprofessional and may not render correctly in ATS systems.
Not in the United States or Canada. Photos on resumes invite unconscious bias and are generally not expected or appropriate in North American hiring. Exceptions: acting, modeling, or other roles where appearance is a direct qualification. In Europe and parts of Asia, photo conventions differ by country.

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