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Your resume header is your professional first impression. It sits at the very top of your resume and contains the essential contact information that hiring managers and recruiters need to reach you. Get it wrong and your application goes nowhere. Get it right and you set a professional tone for everything that follows. This guide covers exactly what belongs in your resume header, what to leave out, and how to format it for both human readers and ATS systems.
Essential Elements of a Resume Header
- Full name: Use the name you go by professionally, in a larger font than the rest of your resume
- Phone number: A reliable cell phone number with a professional voicemail greeting
- Professional email: firstname.lastname@gmail.com format is ideal, never use work email
- Location: City and state only, no full street address needed in 2026
- LinkedIn URL: A customized LinkedIn profile URL like linkedin.com/in/yourname
Optional Header Elements Worth Including
- Portfolio or personal website URL if relevant to your field
- GitHub profile link for software developers and engineers
- Professional title or headline directly under your name
- Industry-relevant certifications abbreviated after your name like 'John Smith, PMP'
What to Leave Out of Your Resume Header
- Full street address since this is a privacy risk and no longer expected
- Date of birth or age as this invites age discrimination
- Photo unless specifically required in your country or industry
- Social media links for personal accounts like Instagram or TikTok
- Marital status, nationality, or religious affiliation
- Multiple phone numbers since one reliable number is sufficient
Resume Header Formatting Best Practices
Your name should be the largest text element, typically 18 to 24 points. Contact details should be 10 to 11 points. Use a single line or two lines for contact information, separated by vertical bars or bullet points for clean readability. Avoid putting contact information in the document header or footer area as many ATS systems cannot read it. Keep everything in the main body of the document.
ResumeGyani's templates automatically format your header for both visual appeal and ATS compatibility. Your contact information is always in the document body where ATS systems can reliably parse it.
Common Resume Header Mistakes
- Using an unprofessional email address like hotrod99@yahoo.com
- Including a work email that your current employer monitors
- Forgetting to update your phone number or having a full voicemail box
- Using a LinkedIn URL with random numbers instead of customizing it
- Making the header so large it takes up a quarter of the first page
- Placing critical contact info in headers or footers that ATS cannot read
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I include my full address on my resume?
No. In 2026, listing your city and state is sufficient. Full street addresses are a privacy concern and are unnecessary since most communication happens via email and phone. Some candidates also omit location entirely when applying for remote positions.
Should I put my LinkedIn on my resume?
Yes. A customized LinkedIn URL is now considered essential on a modern resume. Make sure your profile is complete and matches the information on your resume before including it.
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ResumeGyani Team
The ResumeGyani editorial team consists of certified resume writers, career coaches, and HR professionals with decades of combined experience helping job seekers land their dream roles. Every guide is researched, fact-checked, and updated regularly to reflect current hiring trends.