If you are updating or writing your first CV, you need to know what personal information you should and should not include. The views on the appropriateness of the personal information you provide alter from time to time, so reviewing the career advice we share here before writing a CV and applying for a job is worthwhile.
The most crucial inclusions are your contact details, which facilitate a recruiter contacting you to arrange a job interview.
Where should my personal information appear?
Your personal information should be the first item on your CV, followed by:
- Personal statement
- Work history and experience
- Relevant skills (optional)
- Achievements (optional)
- Qualifications
- Education
- Interests and hobbies
How should I format my personal information?
Your name is your CV’s title and should appear on its own line, aligned to the centre, in bold, with a larger font size. The order of your personal information should be:
- Name
- Phone number
- Email address
- Location
- LinkedIn profile URL
- Online portfolio URL
While it is crucial to provide your contact information, it should take up as little space as possible on your CV. Your name and one additional line are ideal. However, if you have a URL to share, you may need an extra line.
How to write your personal information?
Your name should include your first and last name only. We recommend using a bolder and larger font, such as 18 or 20 pt. Choosing a large and bold font will help recruiters find your CV, amongst others they are considering.
Your phone number should be your personal mobile phone number, which is the most reliable way an employer can contact you. You should not include your work telephone number, or you may end up causing issues with your current employer. If you have a voicemail greeting, ensure this sounds professional.
Your email address is the preferred initial communication method of many recruiters. Once again, do not use a work email address. Your email should look professional and be short, making contacting you as easy as possible. If it isn’t, create a new one just for job applications. The ideal format is firstname.surname@domain.com.
Your location should be the city, town, or region where you live. You should not provide your full address until you are offered a job. If you are open to relocating or wish to work remotely, you should state this in your covering letter.
Your LinkedIn profile should be hyperlinked if possible so a potential employer can click it to find more information about you.
CV personal information example
The personal information on your CV should look something like this:
David Smith
01422 xxxxxx | david.smith@example.com | Oxford | LinkedIn
The personal information you shouldn’t include on your CV
The personal information you should not put in your CV includes:
- National Insurance number
- Driver’s licence number
- Passport number
- Gender
- Age
- Marital status
- Nationality
- Parenthood
- Religion
- Ethnicity
- Sexual orientation
Now we have added the personal information to your CV it is time to take a look at a CV template to uncover the next steps.
CV template examples
- Accounting CV template
- Agriculture CV template
- Arts CV template
- Automotive CV template
- Banking CV template
- Charity CV template
- Construction CV template
- Customer Services CV template
- Education CV template
- Engineering CV template
- Environmental CV template
- Facilities Management CV template
- Finance CV template
- Healthcare CV template
- Hospitality and Leisure CV template
- Human Resources (HR) CV template
- Information Technology (IT) CV template
- Leadership CV template
- Legal CV template
- Manufacturing CV template
- Marketing CV template
- Media CV template
- Office Administration CV template
- Personal Care CV template
- Professional Services CV template
- Public Sector CV template
- Retail CV template
- Sales CV template
- Science CV template
- Social Care CV template
- Telecommunications CV template
- Transportation and Logistics CV template
