personal information for resume example

10 Resume Profile Examples (And How to Write Yours)

Imagine you've got everything covered in your resume : You listed your past experiences, included keywords from the job description, and pared it down to design elements an applicant tracking system (ATS) can parse. Now it’s an accurate representation of your professional qualifications—but you still can’t shake the feeling that who you are as a person is getting a bit lost. That’s where a resume profile comes in.

Adding this section to your resume is a good way to show more of your personality while still being professional. Curious? Read on to find out exactly what a resume profile is, and how to write yours—including examples.

What is a resume profile?

A resume profile is a few concise sentences or bullet points that can be placed at the top of your resume (below the header). It “describes who you are as a professional,” says Muse career coach Yolanda Owens , founder of CareerSensei and who also worked as a college corporate recruiter for more than 20 years.

Once you perfect your resume, check out open jobs on The Muse to maximize your chances »

Career professionals don’t all agree on the exact contents of a resume profile, or even on whether it’s different from a resume summary . So you have a bit of flexibility in how you think about yours and what you include in it.

For example, you might think of a resume profile as a way to “tell the reader who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for,” so that you can grab their attention and “quickly showcase your accomplishments,” says Muse career coach and former recruiter Jennifer Smith , founder of Flourish Careers .

Or you might approach your resume profile like Owens does, as the equivalent to “a dating profile that describes how you see yourself at work, and the type of work environment that makes you feel productive and purposeful.”

What’s the difference between a resume summary and a profile?

While some career coaches may use the terms resume summary and resume profile interchangeably, others treat them differently.

The first is a quick synopsis of the relevant experiences and skills you bring to a role. The latter can do the same, but it can also focus on your traits and achievements, your story as a professional, and your desires for your next role.

At this point, you might be wondering: If a resume profile includes what you’re looking for in your next role , how is it different from a resume objective ? Some people say that resume objectives are outdated at best and a waste of space at worst. If that’s true, why is a resume profile acceptable?

The difference lies in “the additional context that’s included in the profile,” says Smith. A traditional objective merely states what you’re looking for and maybe a vague reason why. But “the profile goes deeper into who you are and what you do” in addition to what you’re looking for next, connecting your past and present to your future.

Is a resume profile necessary? Who should use it?

Resume profiles can be advantageous for all job seekers, Smith says, especially for those “who are changing either their role or industry.” If you’re a career changer , a strong, explicit resume profile will give you space to tell the reader right up front that, no, you didn’t apply to this job by mistake—this is the next step in your career and here’s why.

Resume profiles are also particularly useful for entry-level job seekers who may need to tie their education and other experiences together more explicitly. If a candidate is writing an entry-level resume , Owens suggests that they “use the profile section to explain what they’re looking for in terms of challenges and learning, and the skills they possess that could potentially add value.”

What to include in a resume profile

Think about what you’d want the person reading your resume to know first. Is it something about your qualifications or your biggest accomplishment? Is it how well you work with others or what your personality adds to a team? This is what should go into your resume profile. You have a few sentences (or bullets) to work with, so don’t restrict yourself to highlighting just one thing.

Here are a few types of information that you can include in a resume profile, according to our coaches:

Relevant skills and experiences
Relevant achievements and accomplishments
Years of experience
Strengths as a professional (both soft and hard skills )
Signature traits related to the job
Personal traits that contribute to your work
Qualities you’re looking for in your next role, team, or company
Willingness to relocate (if you’re applying to a job not near the location listed on your resume)

What are recruiters looking for in a resume profile?

Don’t underestimate the power of a good first impression to get someone to keep reading the rest of your resume with interest. “The resume profile has an ability to quickly convince a recruiter that the person is a strong, qualified candidate,” says recruiter and Muse career coach Steven Davis , founder and CEO of Renaissance Solutions .

But recruiting isn’t just about making sure candidates have the right skills, Owens says. Recruiters also need to get a feel for whether the team and work environment will be a good match for the candidate long term.

Candidates’ skills and experiences should be well represented throughout their resumes, so as a recruiter, Owens most often “looked at the profile as a way to get a sense of their work persona and gauge environment fit for the role.”

How to write a profile for a resume : 5 steps

Once you know what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for in your resume profile and what you’d like to portray, you can follow these tips as you write your own:

1. Keep it concise

Your resume profile should be no more than four sentences or bullet points, and should not have more than 500 characters. Remember recruiters read dozens of resumes daily, so you don't want yours to be unnecessarily long and tiring.

2. Find the format the suits you best

Decide if you want to use either bullet points or paragraph form. Your resume profile can be written as bullet points, but keep in mind that bullet points often take up more space than a paragraph. “To preserve real estate on the resume and attempt to keep it to one to two pages , I always recommend using paragraph format,” Owens says.

3. Consider the position you're applying for

Tailor your profile to the job, but not so much that it’s not true to who you are. If your resume profile is closer to a summary that highlights your key qualifications and accomplishments as they relate to a given job, you should be tailoring it very carefully for each application and incorporating keywords from the job description.

Read more: What it Really Means to "Tailor Your Resume"

However, if your resume profile is more of a personal (but still professionally appropriate) description of yourself, Owens recommends against tailoring it to match each job: “What you don’t want to do is try to tell employers what you think they want to hear,” she says, if it doesn’t reflect who you are. “That’s how you end up in positions where you’re ultimately unhappy.”

4. Quantify your experiences and accomplishments

Whenever possible, quantify your experiences and accomplishments by adding numbers, percentages, and other metrics to your resume profile. Keep in mind that recruiters nowadays not only want to know what you did, but also what you achieved and the exact results of your work.

5. Show some personality

While the rest of your resume won’t let much of your personality shine through, your profile gives you an opportunity for creativity. If you’re applying to a casual company, you can add a splash of personality, but if you’re applying to a more formal organization, it’s best to keep things more buttoned up.

Resume profile: Examples

Want to know what all this advice looks like in action? Check out these 10 resume profile examples for different types of job seekers and professions.

Career changer

Quality-control team lead with 10+ years experience who specializes in making thorough business decisions and leading others through day-to-day operations to achieve excellence. Decided to transition to the outdoor recreation industry during the COVID-19 pandemic after realizing that people, especially children, spend too much time indoors behind computer screens. Excited to bring experience in quality assurance and operations to a management position at an outdoor recreation facility to help people of all ages get outside and enjoy themselves safely.

Recent college graduate or entry-level candidate

Recent magna cum laude animal sciences graduate with a focus on small animal care excited to bring passion and knowledge to a position with an animal shelter or animal-focused nonprofit and learn more about programs that protect animals from euthanasia. As president of the University of Georgia chapter of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, planned, organized, advertised, and managed a fundraiser that brought in over $20,000 in donations to a local shelter while also placing 43 cats and dogs with adoptive families. Proud dog mom of two former shelter pets, Dakota and Miley (pictures available upon request).

Account Executive (Sales)

Account executive who has been making deals since my first lemonade stand at age four for a total of $20+ million in sales. I love the rush of being on a sales team working toward goals—both in exceeding my own targets and in cheering on my teammates and celebrating their wins. In my current role, I’ve discovered that the most satisfying feeling of all was teaching a few of our SDRs to close deals. Seeing how proud they were of themselves as they got better motivated me to seek out a sales training role at a highly collaborative company.

Find account executives jobs on The Muse

A detail-oriented accountant with experience preparing tax and financial reports for charities to be posted publicly online. Evaluated budget (including payroll) for inefficiencies and suggested cost-cutting and time-saving measures that ultimately allowed the nonprofit to put an additional 5% of yearly donations directly into charitable programs. Excited to bring accounting skills to a nonprofit in the public health sector after spending over five years volunteering for public health charities such as the Red Cross and Project N95.

Find accountant jobs on The Muse

Customer Service Representative

An empathetic customer service representative who loves getting to talk to new people every day and help them solve problems. Crafted service approach of finding out what customers’ goals are and what their level of expertise in the product was rather than automatically giving boilerplate advice, leading to a 92% customer satisfaction rating. Avid video game player and designer looking to bring this passion to a customer service role for a gaming company.

Find customer service representative jobs on The Muse

Human Resources Manager

Human resources generalist who oversaw the transition of a 100+ employee company to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adept at dealing with the issues facing fully remote or hybrid workforces, including in hiring, professional development, and conflict resolution. Conceived of and instituted DEI programs for employees working from home. Looking for a position with a company that has a fully distributed or hybrid workforce and is committed to increasing diversity in its hiring pool.

Find human resources manager jobs on The Muse

Marketing Manager

Email marketer with 6+ years of experience gathering data-driven insights to make decisions about marketing campaigns. Conceived, proposed, and executed a campaign for a new headphone line across all marketing channels including email, social, content marketing, and print ads, with a total reach of 30 million impressions leading to over $1 million in sales. A team player who has taken the time to learn what each teammate in 10-person marketing department does and even filled in for them when needed. Excited to find a position in a collaborative work environment that oversees marketing campaigns across multiple channels.

Find marketing manager jobs on The Muse

Office Administrator

Friendly, organized, and proactive administrative assistant with four years of experience looking to move into an office administrator role
Saved office over $3,000 per quarter in supplies by creating new inventory tracking document on Google Sheets, showing other employees how to check supply levels and request orders, and comparing the supply sheet to inventory every two weeks to stop duplicate supply orders
Spent four months filling in for office manager during maternity leave

Find office administrator jobs on The Muse

Project Manager

Looking for a project manager who can save at-risk initiatives and projects and make sure they come in on time and under budget and are fully functional at launch? I’ve held positions in customer care, engineering, product, and communications, so I know how to work with employees in all departments and see a project from multiple angles, ensuring each piece is on track and communicating with stakeholders along the way. I work best in environments where innovation is encouraged and no one expects to wear just one hat.

Find project manager jobs on The Muse

Web Developer

Back-end web developer with experience using Java, Python, and SQL to develop features for online databases
Go-to debugger on team of seven engineers
Developed a site (link) that uses television shows you’ve watched to suggest new shows based on the ratings and recommendations of users with similar watch histories, bringing in an average of 10,000 visitors monthly

Find web developer jobs on The Muse

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Personal Details You Should Include on Your Resume

Personal details are often seen as the boring, plain or simple part of a resume. However, you need to get them right in order to receive the call or email for the interview. There’s no use in perfecting your resume by impressing recruiters with your hefty work history or detailing your skills as if the recruiter can’t see, locate or understand your contact details, you’re out.

So, how do you list your personal details on a resume and what type of personal information should you avoid when writing a resume? Read on to learn more about the personal details section on a resume.

Personal Information to Include on Your Resume

Listing your contact details is a simple matter of deciding how you are most reachable and listing the appropriate information without disclosing too many personal details. The personal data on your resume should be straightforward and not involve complex information. The following list explains which elements of your personal information candidates should include and how to go about it:

Full name: This should be the header or title of your resume, so there is no need to rewrite your name in the contact information section.
Phone number: If you have more than one, choose the one on which you are most contactable.
Email address: Make sure it’s professional and not [email protected]
Address (optional): This is included less and less on resumes. Although, if the job description specifies that someone local is needed, you may wish to list your address to indicate that you tick the box.

Professional online platforms and websites are also wise to include as nowadays it’s common to apply for a job via LinkedIn or other online platforms. Consider the following extras:

LinkedIn URL
Professional website
Blog (journalists, copywriters, etc.)
Online portfolio (designers, artists, etc.)

How to Format Personal Information on Your Resume

Resume format is one of the most important aspects of designing and writing a resume. Why? Because your personal details and resume info needs to stand out, look good, and be clear. If the hiring manager can’t work their way around your resume easily, it’s already off to a rocky start.

Here are some important formatting facts to taking into account when writing your personal details on a resume:

Use the same font, font size, and formatting as the rest of your resume.
Keep each piece of contact information on separate lines.
Always list your email address in lowercase letters as many recruiters copy and paste your email.
Double-check spelling of important contact details such as your cell phone number.
Don’t list your details at the very bottom of your resume. Try listing them in a column to the side, under your name, or near the top half of your resume.

If you need more formatting tips such as a list of acceptable fonts for resume use , check out the rest of our website and blog for resume-writing tips .

What to Avoid Including in Your Personal Data

There are certain things that should not be disclosed when sending a resume. This can be for many reasons, such as prevention against discrimination. Double-check that you haven’t included the following personal information in your resume before sending it:

Marital status
Nationality
Sexual orientation
Applicant photo

The aforementioned information is not considered necessary when applying for a job. Including any of this kind of information can actually dissuade hiring managers from accepting your application due to discriminatory reasons.

All resumes should be judged fairly on the important information at hand , such as work experience relevant to the job, skills, and education or training. However, if you plan on applying for a job outside of the States, look up the standard job application procedures for other countries , as some resumes include other information such as a photo or birthdate .

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Mastering Personal Details in a Resume: What to Include and Exclude

Personal details are arguably one of the most important elements in the resume . The basic information about you gives the recruiter a quick overview of you as a candidate and provides the essential contact details should the recruiter wants to invite you to further discuss your application. The necessary personal information to be put in a resume includes your name, job title, contact details and so on.

It would help to create a dedicated personal information section in your resume at the very top of your resume so the recruiter can easily spot it. But what personal information should be on a resume? And, equally importantly what personal information should be put in your resume?

In this article, we'll provide answers to those questions and walk you through on how to write the most informative personal info in a resume.

Table of Contents:

Should I Put Personal Details in a Resume/CV?

What to write in personal details in a resume.

What Not to Include in Personal Info in a Resume
How to Format Personal Detail on a Resume

Personal Information in a Resume Samples

The short answer is yes. Personal details are necessary in a resume or CV. They provide the recruiter with essential information about you. Including your personal information in the resume/CV gives the recruiter an easy access to your contact details and makes their job easier. It shows that you are a thoughtful person and can think from their perspective.

Another benefit of putting your personal details in the resume/CV is that it helps the hiring company to great a talent pool. With identifying information available on the resume, the recruiter can easily organize and maintain their qualified candidate database. This would in turn increases your chances to be considered for other opening at the company in the future.

In short, having personal information in your resume makes the recruiter's job easier and highlights your professionalism and ability to think from others' perspectives. The real question you should be asking is what to include in personal information in a resume/CV.

Personal details that are suitable for a resume or CV can sometimes be hard to determine. On one hand, you want to include personal information in your resume that will help you stand out; on the other hand, sometimes too much detail can backfire.

Your resume personal details must include the primary information about who you are. This part is crucial in your resume and plays a significant role in the job application process.

Here we've provided lists of essentials and optional personal details for your resume/CV.

5 Essential Personal Details to be Included in a Resume:

Full name Your name is arguably the most important personal information to be included in the resume. This is how the recruiter identify you and know whose resume they are reviewing. Without the name in the personal information section, the recruiter wouldn't know who to contact even if the resume is perfect.
Professional title A professional job title on your resume indicates who you are at a professional level and how experienced you are. The recruiter can quickly decide if your experience matches the position with this personal detail on your resume.
Email address Your email address is the most crucial contact detail you will present in your resume. It is the most common contact method and the easiest way for your potential employer to reach you.
Phone number You must include your phone number in your resume's personal information section as well. Sometimes employers prefer to make phone calls. Make sure you list your phone number in the personal info section in your resume.
Location Whether or not to put your address in the resume is open for debate but including your location is always a good idea. Include the city, the zip code and the country would suffice.

These are the essential items you must include in personal details in a resume. They help the recruiter to identify you and provide them with means to contact you, which is the basic function of personal information in a resume/CV.

Besides the essential resume personal information, there are also five optional personal details that you can include in a resume to make your resume a stronger one.

5 Optional Personal Details to be Included in a Resume:

LinkedIn URL A LinkedIn profile in the personal information section in the resume can help elaborate your experience. It also shows that you're a professional and spends time developing your personal brand.
Personal website Some people make a personal website to display their work achievements or portfolio. Including the link to your website or portfolio in your personal info section on the resume strengthens your application as they provide visual evidence of your achievements.
Social media By listing your social media accounts in your resume's personal details section, you showcase your personal traits, which is crucial for certain roles. Make sure the socials you put in the resume as part of personal information are semi-professional and don't hurt your professional image.
Complete address Include your full address in the personal information section in your resume if it's specifically required. If not, you can decide whether you want put it there.
Relevant personal info Relevant personal information for the job you are applying for can be included in your resume's personal details section to tailor your resume for the role. Find out what is the core ability they are looking for and write it as part of your personal details, for instance, the language or certificate that is specifically required in the job posting.

These optional details act in support of your personal introduction on the resume. Pick the ones that will help you highlight your skills and qualifications to your potential future employer. But do not overdo it and write irrelevant personal information in your resume. Make sure the items you pick speak to your advantage in your resume.

What Not to Include in Personal Info on a Resume

Personal information in a resume is important but you should be careful with it too. It's a common mistake to include personal details that would do your application a disservice. Learning what not to write in personal details is therefore of great importance.

Do not forget that at the end of day, the resume is a professional document . You need to take that into consideration when you write personal information for your resume/CV.

Below is a list of personal details that don't belong in your resume:

Current salary Your employer does not need this information. There will be time for this negotiation at your interview , and leaving this in your resume's personal details section may be seen as unprofessional and lower your chances of getting a satisfactory salary.
National Insurance Number/Social Security Number You will need to supply your National Insurance Number or Social Security to your employer after you are hired. But putting this in your resume personal details can expose yourself to identity fraud. Never divulge your National Insurance Number or Social Security Number. This piece of information is usually needed after you're hired. However, note that some government jobs may insist on providing it for vetting purposes.
Sexual orientation While workplace diversity is taken more seriously by many organizations, disclosing this particular information about yourself in the resume can result in hiring discrimination. You are also likely to come across unprofessional.
Race/ethnicity Likewise, specifying your race or ethnicity may open yourself to discrimination.
Marital status and dependency This is another piece of information that may also result in discrimination by your potential employer. Whether you are married and/or with children should not be a factor to your employment criteria.
Photograph Do not give a prospective employer any excuse to disregard your skills and expertise just because of your appearance. Only provide a photo of yourself in the resume as part of personal info when it is specified in the job posting or when you are applying to companies in country it is customary to do so.
Date of birth The age of the applicant should not reflect on their professional skill. Some employers may be partial to older or younger applicants.
Nationality The job advertisement may specify that you must be living in a particular state for work purposes, or have a right to work in a specific country. Still, your nationality is in most cases irrelevant.
Gender In most countries, it is illegal for an employer to ask your gender, even if they may infer it by your name.
Religion Your religion or religious beliefs are not relevant to your employment and thus don't belong in the personal info part of your resume. There are laws in many countries that stipulate that an employer is not allowed to discriminate against individuals based on their beliefs and religion.

You should avoid these 10 personal details when you write your resume; however, the job search culture is different in different countries. Make sure you do proper research and include the required and necessary personal details in the resume/CV when you are apply for roles in particular countries.

Cultural differences in job hunting

Job seekers should note that cultural differences also exist when it comes to resume writing and job hunting. For example, most countries in the EU require applicants to send their CVs using the Europass format. This generic formatting, however, requires you to include gender, nationality, and date of birth on your resume's personal information section.

In Asian countries, photos are encouraged to be included in resume personal details. Personal information such as marital status, ethnicity, gender, and date of birth are more common but not a requirement in Europe and Asia.

How to Format Personal Details on a Resume

To make sure the recruiter sees your personal information in the resume, you have to format it properly. Depending on what you want to emphasize in the personal detail section on your resume, you might want to arrange each piece of personal information in different ways.

For instance, an experienced front-end developer might want to highlight their professional title “Sr. Front-End Developer” by capitalizing the first letter of every word and putting the title next to their name. A fresher graphic designer writing their resume might, on the other hand, make space for the link to their portfolio in the personal detail section. To write your personal details in a resume format, you must know the key information about how to write it.

However, to write personal information in a resume that catches the eye, you need to consider your strengths and carefully format your personal details. Below is a list of factors that you should take into consideration while putting personal information in your resume.

Of all the personal details for your resume, your name is the most important one. It’s the key identifying information. With an eye to the overall design of your resume, write your first name and surname in bold and large size the top of your resume.

💡 Pro tip: It is not recommended to put "Resume", "CV", or "Curriculum Vitae" on the top of your personal details. When you place your name on the top of the CV, it becomes the focus. This will help catch the recruiter's attention.

2. Professional Title

Your professional title should reflect these two different things: what you do and the level of experience you have in that role.

3. Phone Number

The next important personal detail that belongs in your resume is your phone number. Make sure it is your personal mobile number that you can pick up anytime the recruiters call. If you are applying for jobs internationally, do not forget to include your country's dialing code and highlight that your number can be reached on Whatsapp, or include a Skype ID.

4. Email Address

It is essential to include an email address in your personal details in your resume as it is the preferred mode of communication. Writing your email address as part of personal information for your resume sounds simply enough but there are some mistakes you should avoid:

Don’t use your current work email address.
Don’t use email addresses that look unprofessional.

Ideally, a good personal email address is one made up of your full name or your first name and one letter of your last name. If both options are not available, you can add one or two numbers in your email address.

5. LinkedIn and social media accounts

LinkedIn accounts are generally safe to include in the personal information section of your resume, but it is a good idea to log in and check the information is up to date and matching your resume. If there are significant differences, your potential employer may lose confidence in your trustworthiness.

Social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Pinterest, depending on the role you are applying for, can be included in the personal information section on your resume. For instance, if you are looking for a job as a social media marketer, they should be included to showcase your expertise.

💡 Pro tip: Make sure you do not have a series of posts that give the wrong impression about your values and personality, if you've decided to include social media accounts in resume.

Remember to include your account as a link – see the examples at the end of this article as reference.

Personal details in resumes for freshers

As a fresher , you may have little work experience. The personal information section for your resume can include your personal website or portfolio so that you can showcase your skills and experience.

Personal details in resumes for experienced job seekers

For experienced workers, personal information in a resume may differ slightly from that of a fresher. As the space for personal information in the resume is limited, you can only pick one or two most impressive aspects of your career to write in it. For instance, you can write the number of years of experience you have along with your professional title.

Writing a resume or CV might be slightly hard for fresh graduates. Even experienced people sometimes find it hard to adjust their resume to suit the recruiter's needs. It is only natural if you want to check out some personal details in resume samples.

Having good personal information in resume examples will help you to write a better resume, so here are a few personal details examples for various positions, from personal details in resume for freshers to the most experienced job seekers.

Graphic Designer

Video Editor

General Manager

Software Engineer

Administrative Assistant

Fashion Designer

Your process of looking for a job starts with creating a resume, and personal information is at the top of it. See how important it is?

These are the basic necessities you need to include in your personal information in a resume. Space on your resume is precious. Pen your very own personal details and impress the recruiters.

CakeResume provides you with the best free resume builder that helps you create resume with ease. With numerous free resume templates and job resume examples , you can simply drag-drop resume elements without worrying about layout or design. CakeResume also allows you to download your resume and share it for free.

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--- Originally written by Jonathan ---

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How to Write a Resume Personal Statement

What is a resume personal statement?

A resume personal statement expresses who you are, where you’ve been, and sometimes where you plan to go next right at the top of your resume.

Everyone has different circumstances, so the personal statement helps to orient a potential future boss in terms of what they are about to read in the resume. Think about what you would like to share that matters to you. This space is particularly useful if you are changing industries, coming back in to the employment market or looking for a promotion. Your shop window starts here. The personal statement may be the only thing than an employer reads.

The resume personal statement hooks in a reader, influencing them to read more. So, how do you write a resume personal statement that is both natural and grabs an employer’s attention? Offer them a brief insight into who you are and why you would be a fantastic hire. So what do you write in a personal statement for a job?

This guide will cover:

The basic formatting of a personal statement: How to tailor your personal statement to give you a competitive advantage
Personal statement examples you should (and shouldn’t) use
Practical steps for getting started on your resume personal statement

The personal statement format

The personal statement is a short paragraph that sits right below your contact information at the top of a resume. It sums up your experience, goals and skills with confidence. Think of your resume’s personal statement like an extended tagline for your career. A resume personal statement should include:

Between 50 and 200 words in 3 - 4 sentences
Your title or function, for example “Junior developer” or “Passionate hospitality manager”
An opening hook
Soft skills and hard skills
Impressive facts and stats
Your short and/or long-term goals
Job-specific slant for the position you’re applying to

This may seem like a lot to cram into 200 words but perfecting your elevator pitch shows that you have a firm grasp of why your experience, goals, and skills make you the perfect fit for the job. Go all out to make this as fitting for each role as possible. Too often candidates come up with what they see as the perfect introduction to them and forget about how a hiring manager for each specific role might read it. Be flexible with the personal statement. It might not present the very best version of you - it should present the best version of you for this particular role.

This brief introduction is only a short piece of text, it is not disruptive and in many cases even serves as a welcome addition to what is otherwise a dry and impersonal document. It should be clear to you by now how we feel about the personal statement: Include it, especially because it allows you that bit of creativity that may make all the difference. Adopt a coversational tone and consider using the first person for these few lines. Third person (past tense) is standard for resumes, but if you want to go personal, this is where to do it.

How do I start my personal statement? How do you not start a personal statement? Even with a personal statement of 3-4 lines, sometimes the first sentence is the hardest. Even the first few words can have a disproportionate effect on how your personal statement is viewed. Your starting "hook" should make your fit with the role clear and specific. Use an example that is as unique to you as possible - you have to make your future employer sit up and pay attention. The first word of your personal statement should never be "I" - a great resume explores the potential of a common partnership and should not be a uni-directional monologue.

Align your resume’s personal statement with the job description

The hiring manager delicately chose every word in their job description. Gather clues from its tone, which skills they highlight, and any hints that point toward their dream employee. One of the top resume tips from HR managers is to include relevant keywords specific to the job posting itself as well as the actual wording of the job title .

What would this job description look like in 3 - 4 sentences? What keywords, skills, and tone would the job description have?

While still sticking to the facts about who you are and your experiences, your resume personal statement should highlight as many similarities with the job description as possible. When the hiring manager reads the first few sentences in your resume, they feel like you are exactly the person they were describing when they wrote the job description.

Position of the personal statement

Recruiters still prefer to see a candidate's personal details at the top (or running along a column on either side) of the resumes that cross their desk. This allows them to quickly search through the resumes that Applicant Tracking Systems have sorted into their virtual “yes” pile. You do not want your (relatively modern) personal statement to get in the way of this tradition.

The best place to put your statement is after your personal details (if they are at the top) and before your employment history section. Remember that the length of your resume is important. If you have already been very selective and cannot possibly leave out any more information and if adding your personal statement means your resume spills over onto a third page, you may consider not including your statement for the position in question. This ensures you comply with the unwritten rule that a resume should not be longer than two pages.

What is a good personal statement length? 200 words is the maximum suggested length, but if you go with one powerful sentence that you want the hiring manager to remember for the rest of the interview process, then why not? Less is more, but you have to be confident in your application to go with this option.

Plan to write your resume personal statement last

Instead of getting stuck at the beginning trying to write the perfect statement, skip this section and jump right into your employment history first. Once you’ve added your relevant work experiences, take a look at your keywords, phrases and skills from your past positions.

Your complete work history and the job description for the job you want are the foundations for your personal statement. By writing your resume personal statement last, it should be easier to get started once you have the right inspiration.

It might be the case that you leave a certain number of lines for the personal statement on your resume and write an individual statement for each role. You will often have a public version of your resume that is accessible on job boards (etc), so there should still be an "ideal" personal statement version.

How do I write a resume from scratch? While it is good advice to write the resume personal statement after your have written the resume itself (giving your brain a chance to ponder your true highlights), starting writing a resume is a mammoth task in itself. There are many useful pieces of advice when sitting down to write a resume, but for me, the key is to think about the reflecting the combination of what you are good at, what you enjoy and how those things will contribute to the direction of your career. For sure, be honest about your experience, but there has to be a creative flavour of ensuring that your past adequately reflects where you want to go.

Check out resume personal statement examples

Before you dive into writing, get a sense for different rhythms and layouts by checking these resume personal statement examples. How do you write a good personal statement?

Let's start with the basics. Since every person is unique, all personal statements should be unique too. You should, therefore, resist the urge to (largely) copy someone else's existing statement. This is the only spot on your resume to let your voice be heard, so try to write something that would prompt a friend to exclaim, “That sounds like something you’d say!” while, of course, keeping it professional.

Example. Innovative Executive Assistant with 10+ years of experience with global financial firm assisting a team of three C-Level directors. Expertly coordinate travel, manage large-scale expense reports, and streamline communication and calendars across departments..Seeking an Executive Assistant role with the Resume.io team to expand my office management career and thrive in an environment that requires independent problem-solving skills and focus under short deadlines.

The example above does the following things:

States their title in the first sentence
Includes specifics such as team size and duties
Succinctly sums up major responsibilities and skills
Highlights hard skills—experience arranging travel and expense reports—as well as soft skills—grace under pressure, attention to detail and communication.
Specifically tailors the final statement with the company and/or job description

Here are a few more resume personal statement examples:

Experienced Digital Marketing Manager with five years of expertise in heading up a global firm. Increased inbound leads by 500% and raised online sales from 100,000 annually to over 2 million in a three-year period. Looking to grow career by applying skills to the Resume.io marketing team.

Straight to the point and accomplishment focused, without the use of “I”. Now let’s look at a less effective example:

I have worked as a Digital Marketing Manager for five years. During this time I have been an important and hard-working member of the team and showed my ability to work under pressure to deliver on company targets. I am looking to bring my skills to a new role in digital marketing.

Generic and ignores accomplishments. Also, too many uses of “I” in a passive voice.

Next is an example of a personal statement that focuses more on career objectives . A career objective can be used as a way to get across your skills and experience, without the personal bit. It’s a good option if you’re an entry-level candidate or college graduate without a lot of experience in the industry you’re applying for. The idea is, because you don’t have the relevant experience to talk about, you pull skills and experience from other areas of your resume so you can show you have what it takes.

Keep your career objective brief — 2-3 sentences max — following the same rules as the personal statement.

Content writer with three years' experience in a large e-commerce company. Delivered content that grew brand social presence to over 700,000 across three channels and improved email open rates by 48%. Looking to further career by joining the Resume.io as an SEO Executive.

See how it uses transferable skills? Combining these with numbers makes them all the more impressive.

And a less effective resume personal statement example:

I am a content writer looking to secure a role as an SEO Executive. While I have no experience in this field and am a dedicated individual and a keen learner. My enjoyment of how search engines work will help me excel in your company.

There’s not enough here to capture attention and it doesn’t sell transferable skills. Whichever type of opening statement you go for, if you have numbers to show, make them count.

Writing your personal profile resume

Always write the first draft of a personal profile resume without editing. Don’t worry about length or word choice in the first pass. Brag about yourself, be proud of your accomplishments , and add in all of your most impressive stats.

Some of the best writing happens without editing too soon, so don’t worry about sounding over the top or egotistical, that’s what editing your personal profile resume is for. If the goal is to get 3 - 4 perfect sentences, it’s likely your first draft will be closer to 6 - 8, maybe even longer. Then consider which parts are closest to helping you get the job and cull the rest. It might seem brutal, but brevity is critical at the top of your personal profile.

Polish your personal statement and experiment

Once you’ve narrowed your focus, use the following questions to help you review your work and edit your statement:

Is my first sentence clear and concise? The opening line should state your position and use strong, enthusiastic language to hook in the reader. It often includes years of experience as well.

Is it direct opposed to passive? A strong sense of self comes through in a personal statement. Instead of sentences that begin with “I believe I am…” or “I enjoy…” be bold. Get right to the point and take ownership of your skills.

Does it include objective information? For this one, try to get inside the hiring manager’s mind. If you were filling this role, what boxes would you need to check off? The second and third sentence often include specific skills, facts or figures to support this need.

Does it read naturally? Even with all these specifics, the statement should still be easy to understand and have a natural rhythm when read aloud. Cut out any jargon that acts as filler or that changes your tone. Formality may vary from company to company, but personal statements should always reflect the type of employee or person you are.

What are three tips for writing a personal statement?

Make sure that your personality comes across in the writing.
Quantify any accomplishments and include financials where possible.
If you are at a moment of career change, don't fail to mention your goals.

Common mistakes in personal statements

When writing your personal statement, beware of platitudes. These are clichéd expressions that have become meaningless from overuse. They induce recruiters to roll their eyes and move on to the next candidate. Think of such terms as “an administrative jack-of-all-trades” or “a cog in the wheel’ and being ready for a “new challenge.” Definitely avoid this list of human resources’ most hated resume phrases.

Try to be original in your choice of words and ask a friend or family member to take a critical look at your personal statement when you are done. By the way, you should always have someone proofread your entire resume when you think you are ready to send it.

Some people call their personal statements " resume objectives ." This is something else entirely. A resume objective is required when a candidate needs to project their hopes for their next role that differe from their previous experience a little. This objective can then be used to outline the motivations behind a career change and is also common with early-career professionals.

Does a personal statement need a title? Some resume templates might call the opening statement a summary and others may exclude a description entirely. Either option is fine as employers are conditioned to expect a few lines at the to of a resume to serve as a headline for your job application.

What do employers expect from your resume opening statement?

Sometimes it is useful to consider job seeking activity from the point of view of the end hiring managers. External recruiters are important people to impress, but it is the employers that will be making the ultimate hiring decision. They will be reading lots of resumes, so what would they want to read in your resume opening statement?

They will want the resume opening statement to be written for them. When you are on the hunt for a new member of your professional family, an intensely personal connection is vital from the first lines.
They will expect a quantifiable context to your resume opening statement. Impressive words come easily when you really need a job, but backing them up with numbers to demonstrate their scale is less simple.
They will expect to be impressed. If you cannot impress a specific employer for a specific role with the first lines of your resume, then the role is almost certainly not for you. Nothing to shout about? Move on.

Key takeaways

Think of your CV personal statement as the first 2 minutes of an interview—whether on the phone or in person. The HR manager asks you to “tell me a little about yourself,” and you have a quick minute to set the tone for the rest of the conversation. Similarly, the CV personal statement should include:

A natural, yet professional CV tone that reflects your personality
The top reasons your experience makes you a unique fit for this position
Why this role aligns with your career plans
Facts and data on your CV that back up your earlier points

Crafting a personal statement for each role will cause some serious thought. What is your essential fit for the role that will make a hiring manager sit up and think "wow, I need to have them on my team?" What would you want to read if you were in their shoes. You will definitely have lots to say, but keep it simple and powerful.

One more good CV statement example:

Expert SEO copywriter with a decade of B2C and B2B experience across three industries. Versatile in writing social, website and long-form copy to convey each brand’s unique tone and message. I cultivated 15 new clients in two years and grew readership by over 200%. I am now seeking to expand my editing and content creation expertise in a Marketing Manager position.

Once you’ve mastered writing your CV personal statement, this clear sense of who you are and what you want will prepare you to pitch yourself during interviews.

Crafting your artificial intelligence resume for ai & ml jobs

CVs & Résumés

May 4, 2022

Personal Information: What You Should Include in Your Résumé

Are you unsure of what personal information should be on your résumé? Our guide's got you covered!

Nikki Vivian

Careers Coach and Writer

Reviewed by Melina Theodorou

You’ve written your résumé and it’s time to add some personal details, but you might be wondering what exactly to include. What is necessary and what is too much information? This is a common dilemma but, as with the rest of your résumé, less is more in most circumstances.

Below, we’ll guide you through what needs to be included, and what is best left off your résumé.

Why you shouldn’t include personal information in your résumé.

Aside from your name and contact information, it isn’t necessary to include personal details on your résumé, in most cases. In fact, including too many personal details may have a negative effect on your job application. Here’s why:

It’s an outdated practice

Adding personal details to a résumé used to be a common practice, but along with adding references, it isn’t necessary anymore. All recruiters need, in most instances, is your name and contact information. Save the space for information that is going to help to sell you as a candidate such us you work experience and skills.

It opens you up to discrimination and bias

Including personal information such as your age, nationality, gender or marital status make it possible for recruiters to discriminate against you .

To ensure that you will be judged solely on your merit, it’s best to stick to adding just your name and contact information. This allows you to demonstrate what you can bring to a role based on your skills and experience .

Even if hiring managers don’t intentionally discriminate against candidates, they may still have unconscious bias and prejudice, which could ultimately affect the success of your application. Adding personal details builds a picture of yourself that the reader of your résumé may or may not identify with. People are hard-wired to look for similarities and differences between themselves and others, and whilst this could work in your favor, it equally may not.

It goes against anti-discrimination laws

In some countries it is against the law for employers to make hiring decisions based on your personal information.

Furthermore, in certain organizations, your personal details including your name and photo are removed from a document before they are reviewed by a hiring manger. This is to ensure that the hiring process remains unbiased.

When it’s okay to include personal information in your résumé

Whilst in general it’s best avoided, there are instances where including personal details is necessary.

You are applying to jobs in certain countries

In some countries, the rules and guidelines around personal information are different. For example, if you are applying for a job in Germany , it is a standard practice to include date and place of birth and your nationality. In France, you will also need to include marital status and a professional photo of yourself.

Meanwhile, when it comes to countries in the Middle East, you may be required to provide a lot more personal information including marital status, gender, date and place of birth, number of children, if any, as well as a photo.

It’s important that you check and follow the data and résume requirements in each country you are applying in to ensure you are following general guidelines.

You have an acting or modelling résumé

If you are applying for a role where your physical appearance is a factor, such as acting or modelling, certain personal details will be important. The recruiter will likely want to see a photo of you, but also know your age, gender, height, weight, eye color and so on.

In these situations, leaving these off will be to your detriment. Make sure you have an excellent headshot or include an additional portfolio of your work. Other personal details such as height and weight may also be required.

You have a website or portfolio

Employers will do a background search on you, so if you have a LinkedIn profile , portfolio or website that add value to your résumé, you should add the link along with your contact details to make it easier for them to find what you want them to see.

Anything that backs up your credentials is great to include in you a résumé. This could be a portfolio of your design work, a personal blog, or a YouTube channel.

You are applying to emergency/armed services

If you are applying for a role in the emergency services, such as fireman or policeman, or to the armed services, certain personal details relating to your physical abilities may be required. This could include your height and weight, any medical conditions or disabilities , as well as age and gender.

Your hobbies and professional experience overlap

Including your hobbies and interests in your résumé is common but isn’t always advised. This depends on your experience level and whether your hobbies actually add value to your résumé.

If something you’ve done in your personal life is relevant to the role you’re applying for, it’s okay to include it on your résumé. For example, if you are applying for a job in a charity that supports parents and you are a parent yourself, you may want to mention this in your résumé.

Types of personal information you can include in your résumé

Personal information on your résumé is best avoided in most situations but depending on where you’re applying to for a role, it may be necessary. Here’s what you may need to include:

Marital status
Family status
Disabilities or medical conditions
Date of birth
Place of birth
Address/location
Height and weight
Personal portfolio or website
Hobbies and interests

What personal information you should always include in your résumé

Contact details are always necessary. If you are successful at application stage, a recruiter will want to get in touch to invite you to interview. Therefore, it is essential that they know how to contact you. You should include the following:

Phone number
Email address
Full address (optional)
LinkedIn profile (optional)

Where to include personal information in your résumé

Your contact details should be placed at the top of your résumé along with your name. Add your name at the top of the résumé in large, bold text, with your contact details clearly listed below in a smaller font. You can also include them as a header so that they are visible at the top of each page.

You can alter this if it suits the design of your résumé , but make sure to keep them at the top of the document.

Key takeaways

When it comes to contact details, include only the essentials. Anything else can open you up to discrimination and is taking up valuable space that can be used to showcase your skills and achievements.

As a rule of thumb, include only your location or address, phone number and email address. You can include your LinkedIn profile link or link to a website or portfolio if it is relevant.

In certain circumstances, you will be expected to include relevant personal information, but it is important that you obtain guidelines on what to include, rather than including irrelevant, unnecessary information in your résumé.

What personal information have you included in your résumé? Let us know in the comments section below!

This article is an updated version of an earlier article originally published on 27 December 2017.

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Résumé Writing

Getting personal on your resume

Too much information on your resume can lead to trouble. follow these tips from security experts to stay safe..

You know that your resume is supposed to include the basics: skills, work experience, education. But now it's time to ask yourself if you should put personal information in your resume. Does your resume include information that puts you at risk for junk mail, spam, scams, or identity theft? Follow these tips from security experts to protect your privacy while allowing the right people to find you.

Determine your risk tolerance

Scott Germaise, author of Privacy Tactics: Protect Your Personal Information Assets and VP of product and project management at identity management and security firm StandardID, advises job seekers to trust their instincts and assess their risk tolerance. "Some people couldn't care less about having a great deal of their personal information publicly available, while others feel that any disclosure beyond the basics is too much," he says.

Jay Foley, executive director of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, also cautions job seekers to carefully consider what information they include in resumes. "When you post your resume online, you're sharing it with more than just one employer—you are sharing it with the world," he says.

Find balance between discretion and disclosure

Job hunting requires releasing certain information to potential employers. At the same time, you can be selective when determining if you should put personal information in your resume, as well as what type of info you are willing to share.

"You will have to accept that when you put certain information out into the world, you lose some degree of control over it and how it may be used," Germaise says. "The key is to find the right balance between privacy and desired disclosure.... It's good to be prudent but not paranoid."

According to Foley, posting contact information like phone numbers and street and email addresses doesn't necessarily pose a high risk for identity theft but can make you vulnerable to scams. "Job seekers may be contacted by a representative falsely claiming to be a staff member for a Fortune 500 company," he says. "They say they need to do a background check and take all kinds of information about you—and then get 32 credit cards in your name."

Germaise agrees job seekers can easily be targeted for phone and email scams by posting contact information on resumes. "Such scams are relatively inexpensive, which contributes to their common occurrence," he says.

Information-protection strategies

So how do you protect yourself? Follow these tips:

Activate Monster's confidentiality feature : You can hide your name, street and email addresses, phone number and the name of your current or most recent employer. If you upload a Word document or copy-and-paste a plain-text resume, be sure to manually remove identifying information.

Be careful with email addresses, too. "Use a disposable email address for your job search," advises Germaise. To protect phone numbers, consider getting an unlisted number, or use a voice-mail service. Many services offer a free phone number and deliver messages via email, but you will likely have to pay for a local number.

Foley strongly advises against including a Social Security number or birth date on a resume—both can be used to steal your identity. If you're concerned about your employer discovering your job search, omit your company's name, replacing with a general description.

Be Google-ready: The vast amount of information available online can be a virtual playground for scammers—or potential employers checking you out. "Make sure any nonwork-related online profiles of yours do not contain your full name," Germaise suggests. "That is, if your Facebook or other personal websites show a decidedly nonprofessional side of your life, make sure they're not going to come up in a search for your name."

Search smart

Job seekers should ensure job or interview inquiries are valid. "If you are contacted by an employer, conduct research, and find out if the employer and representative are legitimate," advises Foley. "Check out every offer or hint of an offer through the phone and Internet, and check the employer's reputation with the Better Business Bureau."

It can be stressful to figure out if you should put personal information in your resume, but not every aspect of the job search needs to keep you awake at night. Want some help? Join Monster for free today . As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of jobs that interest you. Recruiters search Monster every day looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you. Additionally, you can get job alerts sent directly to your inbox to cut down on time spent looking through ads.

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CV Examples
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Job Interview

What personal details to put on a CV (2024 Guide + Examples)

A common question we are often asked is,

“What personal details should I put on my CV?”

The short answer is that the personal details section of a good CV should only contain the following four pieces of personal information of the applicant; name, home address, telephone number and e-mail address.

It is optional to include a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website.

Other personal details, such as date of birth, gender, marital status, nationality and national insurance number, should be left out of your CV. These things are outdated, irrelevant to your ability to do the job and will harm your job application.

Use the guide below to get up-to-date information on what personal details to include or omit from your CV to improve your chances of securing job interviews.

Let’s get started!

The personal details section of a CV

Telephone number.

E-mail address

LinkedIn profile and/or personal website

Date of birth, place of birth, nationality, marital status, details of children, current or last salary, reason for leaving current job, willingness to relocate, religious beliefs, driving licence details, health status, national insurance number, a word about equal opportunities questionnaires.

The personal details section is located right at the top of your CV and it is the first thing that recruiters will see when they review your CV.

The following is an example of a personal details section of a CV:

Providing contact information

Putting your contact details at the top of the first page of your CV will make it easier for employers to identify and contact you.

An employer or recruiter will not try to get hold of you on several occasions, so you must provide clear contact details and regularly check your messages, emails and postal mail after submitting job applications.

The good news is the personal details section of your CV is not too difficult to compile because it is just about the factual details of your life.

What personal details to include on your CV

The number of personal information that should be on a CV can be counted on the fingers of one hand, they are; name, address, telephone number and email address.

The first essential personal information that your CV must contain is your name.

It is recommended to display it in slightly larger type than the rest of the contact details, in boldface and centred on the page.

Guidelines for writing your name on your CV:

There is no need to put ‘curriculum vitae’ or ‘CV’ at the top of the first page because it is obvious what the document is. Instead, make your name the main heading of your CV .
There is no need to add an honorific title such as Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms in front of your name.
Middle names are unnecessary; only include your first and last name. For example, ‘William Smith’, not ‘William Anderson Harold Smith’!
To avoid confusion, decide on the name you want to be referred to and stick to this throughout. For example, should people call you David or Dave?
If you have more than one name (for instance married women who also use their maiden name), make sure you use the name that you would want to be called if you were employed for the job.
It is recommended to put your name in the footer of every page of your CV. Recruiters are human too and can mislay or mix up piles of applications. Named pages will ensure your application can be easily reunited if necessary.
Give your CV a meaningful file name. Some applicants save their CVs as CV.docx or MyCV.pdf, making it harder for employers to find and identify the owner of the document. Instead, use the format YourName_CV, for example; JohnSmith_CV.docx or JoSanders_CV.pdf.

The second essential information that you must include on your CV is your current address. Employers may want to send you your employment contract through the post or keep your address on file as standard HR practice.

Including your address on your CV could also have several benefits.

Your home address can be a positive trust indicator that you are local, established and/or settled in a particular location rather than being always on the go or not having a permanent address.

Your address could also give your job application a boost when applying for local jobs because employers usually give preference to local applicants over those that commute long distances to work.

Guidelines:

Make your address short and concise. It should only consist of your house number, street name, city and full postcode.
There is no need to write the county (e.g. South Yorkshire) or country (e.g. United Kingdom) name if you’re applying for jobs in the same country.

It is recommended to use your mobile phone as your preferred point of contact. With a mobile phone number, employers can contact you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

During your job hunt, ensure you keep your phone charged, have credit to make calls and check for voicemails regularly. Employers are unlikely to ring you back if they can’t get hold of you or if you don’t reply to their voicemail messages.
Double check the number is correct. It would be awkward if the employer dials the number and a person picks up who has never heard of you!
Try to stick to just one number if you can – it’s far simpler and quicker for the person trying to contact you if there is only one option.
If you are going to use your home number, make sure your answering machine or voicemail works properly or that a family member knows how to take a message. Getting home to find you’ve been invited to interview but no one can tell you when, or with whom, would be very frustrating!
You don’t need to include the international dialling code (e.g. +44) for your country unless you are applying for jobs in other countries.
If you’re currently working, do not give your work telephone number unless your manager is aware that you are looking for a job and is supportive. It’s unprofessional, too risky and can cause conflict between you and the employer. Most people do not usually want their present employer to know that they have been applying for other jobs.

Email address

Your email address is the last piece of essential contact information that you must include on your CV. In today’s digital world, employers will 90% of the time contact you via email instead of the post.

Your job interview invitation or employment contract may also be sent to you electronically so double check the email address has been written correctly, even a single letter or number out of place will prevent incoming mail from reaching you.

Make sure your email address is professional. Many recruiters still report seeing inappropriate email addresses on CVs, such as [email protected] , [email protected] or [email protected] . Keep your name the central focus of the address, even if you do include some numbers and make it as simple as possible. [email protected] is infinitely better than [email protected] ; it is instantly clear who it belongs it and is less likely to be entered incorrectly.
Use your personal e-mail address rather than your work e-mail address. Corinne Mills, a well-known career professional and HR executive, writes in You’re hired, how to write a brilliant CV (pg.9) : “Try using a personal email address for your job-searching activities rather than your current work email (if you have one). Many companies now have an internet and email policy that warns employees that their facilities are for company business only and they will take action over appropriate use. It’s not a great idea to risk disciplinary proceedings when you are looking for your next job.”

Optional personal details to include

You can add a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website/portfolio if they contain additional information that could strengthen your job application.

LinkedIn profile: It allows employers to gain a better insight into your career history, number of professional connections and any recommendations or references you have received from other professionals.
Personal website: You may have a professional portfolio that you wish to share with the employer, for example, if you are a graphics designer, consultant or architect.

Tip: Keep your LinkedIn profile and personal website up to date with your latest information.

What personal details NOT to include on your CV

There are certain personal information that you used to be commonly put on CVs but new anti-discrimination laws have made these details irrelevant today.

Don’t write your date of birth on your CV . Recent anti-discrimination laws mean that employers must consider your suitability for the job based on your skills and experience, not on your age.

Benefits of omitting your date of birth from your CV

It will reduce the likelihood of age discrimination
It will free up valuable space on your CV that can be utilised for more important information
It will decrease the risk of identity fraud

Exception: If you’re applying for something in which age is an important consideration, such as a course that is only available to a certain age group or an apprenticeship with a cut-off upper age, then it makes sense to include your date of birth on your CV.

Where you were born is irrelevant.

As long as it was somewhere on planet earth, you’re good to go.

Don’t write your nationality on your CV unless you’re a foreign national and wish to inform the employer about your work eligibility in the country.

A short statement such as “Polish, eligible to work in the UK”, will suffice.

It may also be useful to write your nationality on your CV if you’re applying for certain governmental jobs for which eligibility is partly based on one’s citizenship of that country. This is usually the case for national security and civil service jobs.

Including a photograph on your CV tells a prospective employer: “I want to be judged on my appearance rather than on my relevant work experience and qualifications.”

Photographs may be essential on social media platforms but they have no place on a CV.

Employers asking for photographs is extremely unusual in the UK, mainly due to powerful anti-discrimination laws. Unless you have explicitly been asked to provide your photograph or are applying for jobs where looks matter, for example being an actor, model, presenter or performer, don’t put your photograph on your CV.

Note: Different countries have different rules.

A standard CV in the UK, USA and most of Europe should not include the gender of the applicant.

Four reasons not to put your gender on your CV :

Your gender is irrelevant to your ability to do the job
It takes up valuable space on your CV
It diverts the employer’s attention from other important information, e.g. your skills, qualifications and work experience
It doesn’t provide much information as employers can usually derive from your name whether you’re a male or female.

Marital status is another outdated piece of information that you shouldn’t put on your CV.

The employer does not need to know whether you’re single, married, divorced, remarried or engaged. As long as you are a strong candidate for the role, that’s all they care about.

Many CVs still include the ages, sexes and even the names of the applicant’s children. Leave these out. The number and names of your children are irrelevant to your ability to do the job and are a prime source of prejudice. You may be a strong candidate, regardless of whether you have no children or are a chief of your own large tribe.

Roughly speaking, employers expect you to be earning within plus or minus 10% of the salary they are offering. It may put them off if this is not the case.

One jobseeker in a well-paid job found that disclosing his current salary on his CV acted as a deterrent to employers. They either felt he was unlikely to stay on a lower salary or that he was overqualified for the role.

Similarly, if you’re last salary is significantly lower than what the employer is offering, you may not be taken seriously for the role.

For this reason, never disclose your current or last salary on your CV.

There is no need to state your reasons for leaving a job on your CV, particularly if there was a conflict with the previous employer.

People leave jobs for a variety of reasons, including lack of progression opportunities, needing to earn more money, conflict with the employer, moving to a new city, boredom, making a career change, being made redundant or for health reasons.

Most of these motives are unflattering to the candidate so it is best not to say disclose this information on your CV. If employers are truly interested in knowing this information, they inquire about it at the job interview.

If you are applying for a job which is far from where you live, it may be useful to add some context to explain how you will get to work every day.

If you are willing to relocate, add a short statement to this effect next to or under your address at the top of your CV. Indicate which areas of the world you would be prepared to work in; for example, ‘Prepared to relocate within the UK.’

You may not want to be too specific here, for example, by restricting your relocation to a specific town or city.

Only refer to your religion if you’re applying for jobs in which your religious beliefs matter. For most jobs, this information is completely irrelevant and it can lead to discrimination against you.

The status of your driving licence usually only matters if driving is an essential part of the job. For most applicants, this won’t be the case so they should not put their driving license information on your CV. There is, however, an exception to this rule which applies to young people or those that are just starting their careers:

If you have few qualifications or little work experience, you may put driving as a life skill in your CV’s skills section to show the employer that you have the ability to learn and drive a vehicle. Simply write, ‘Full, clean driving licence.’ Employers may be impressed by a clean license.

If the licence is not clean, however, you should indicate that you have a full driving licence only. Never state your driving licence number, speeding convictions or penalty points on your CV!

You are under no obligation to mention any disability or health problems when applying for jobs. If you need additional support or assistance due to your disability (e.g. you are a wheelchair user), you could inform the employer of this on the application form, your cover letter or by calling them directly – never put this information on your CV.

It used to be the case that applicants who applied for jobs in which physical fitness was an important consideration, for example, swimming instructor or physical fitness trainer, they would add a ‘health’ tag along with the statement, “Fit and healthy.”

This is no longer required and employers will be able to assess your general health status from other information on your CV, such as your work experience or hobbies.

The official National Insurance guidelines of the UK government state,

“To prevent identity fraud, keep your National Insurance number safe. Do not share it with anyone who does not need it.”

This means that you should not make your National Insurance number on your CV and make it accessible to everyone because you cannot control who will access your CV once you have posted it online or sent it via email to employers.

You may be asked to provide personal details such as gender, ethnicity and race on a separate form called an equal opportunities questionnaire.

It’s OK to provide this information because employers collect them to track their Equal Opportunities performance, not to influence recruitment.

The information you provide is strictly confidential and won’t impact the outcome of your application.

Your CV is your personal sales brochure tailored to impress the employer and invite you to an interview. It should not be cluttered with irrelevant personal details such as your date of birth, gender, marital status and nationality. Instead, only include your key personal information such as your name, address, telephone number and email address.

Good luck with your job hunt!

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What personal details to put in your cv

Fed up with staring at your blank CV, wondering what personal details to put in?

We get it – it’s like trying to adorn your room with the perfect throw cushion – not a deal-breaker. But it is still important.

In this article, we’ll show you what personal details to include or omit from your CV, plus examples, to boost the chance of hiring managers getting in touch with you.

CV templates

What is personal information on a CV?

Personal information on your CV is a list of details about yourself that help recruiters learn who you are, and how to contact you, and can also include links to external sources of information, such as social profiles and portfolios.

Essential personal information to include in your CV

If you want to introduce yourself properly to a hiring manager, the details you include at the very top of your CV are critical.

The essential details that you must always include are:

Name – Your full name
Professional title – Your job title (e.g. “Junior Doctor” or “Marketing Director”)
Location – The general area you reside in (e.g. London, Edinburgh etc.)
Email address – [email protected]
Telephone number – 01234567890

Your full name is there so that recruiters know who they can call you by.

Add your name so that recruiters know who you are, but use your real, full name.

But feel free to skip middle names to save precious space.

To make your name catch the eye, opt for a font that distinctly sets it apart from the body text.

Professional title

Your professional title in a CV is your job or career title. Essentially, it summarises your role and experience.

For instance, if you create the text for TV, radio, print, and online ads, your professional title would be Advertising Copywriter .

This gives hiring managers a summary of your primary area of expertise and the sort of roles you’re qualified to do.

Being at the top of your CV, it really helps you to quickly get the attention of recruiters.

For example, the following professional titles can help improve your CV:

Digital Marketer – Someone who uses digital marketing channels to reach customers, promote services or products, or build brand awareness.
Software engineer – Showcases your technical prowess, problem-solving abilities, and passion for cutting-edge technology.
Radio presenter – Demonstrates that you present on a radio station, and have on-air charisma, exceptional communication skills, and the capacity to engage audiences.
Business student – keenness to learn about management, finance, and marketing.

When writing your professional title on a CV, place it next to or underneath your full name, such as:

Deborah James | Advertising Copywriter
Bill Jacks | Software Engineer

Use clear font so that hiring managers can read it. Make it concise so it gives a summary of your primary role and can be read quickly.

The location on your CV is the city or general area where you’re currently based (or where you want to work if you’re applying for a job in a different location.)

Your location details help hiring managers figure out where you’re based so they know the proximity to their company and whether or not you can commute to their office.

Getting your location right is very important because if a hiring manager doesn’t think you live too far away from them, they won’t consider your application

Here are some examples of how to write locations on your CV :

Edinburgh
London and Kent
Leighton Buzzard (Willing to relocate)

To include your location in a CV, place it near your full at the top.

A quick tip: You don’t need to include your full address, such as street name and house number, because it is too much information for this stage of the recruitment process and it will take up a lot of valuable space – it’s just about providing them with a general sense of your location.

Contact number

The contact number on your CV is the phone number that lets potential hiring managers or recruiters get hold of you about the job you’re applying for.

For instance, if your phone number is 07777777777, you’d usually write it like this: Phone: 07777777777 , or use a telephone symbol.

Here are some examples of how to present phone numbers on your CV:

Phone number: 10575598623
Telephone: 01234 567 890
☎: 07777777777

When it comes to writing your contact number, place it below your name and location. Use the same format as the rest of your CV, but it’s a good idea to make it a little larger, bolder or in a different font to make it stand out.

When writing your contact number on a CV, make it clear, make it easy. It’s how employers can easily reach out to you to arrange interviews, discuss job offers or ask questions relating to your application.

Triple-check that the number is correct, or you will not be getting any calls from recruiters.

Email address

Your email address is a critical piece of contact info on your CV so that would-be employers can reach you regarding your job application. It’s where all those job offers and interview requests land.

Your CV is a professional document, so your email address should look professional to reflect this and create a good impression.

Your full name, or a close variation of it, will work best.

Here are some examples of good email addresses to include on your CV:

But beware of the bad ones! Avoid email addresses that may make hiring managers raise an eyebrow, like [email protected] or [email protected]. While these might be fun with friends, they don’t look professional on your CV!

Formatting-wise, place your email address directly under your contact number. Be sure to use the same font style as the rest of your CV. However, you can make it slightly bigger or bolder to give it more emphasis.

Optional personal CV details

Think of the optional personal CV details as extra choices – they’re not mandatory.

There are certain personal details to get in your CV, but only for specific countries, jobs, locations, and industries.

That said, they don’t necessarily make a CV better.

Let’s say you’re applying for a job where driving is an essential element. You could mention your driver’s license, as it shows your dependability and mobility for roles that entail travel or client meetings.

Profile photo

Including a photograph on your CV can have benefits and drawbacks. But it can significantly impact your CV’s overall impression.

Using a photograph in your CV is optional – they are not always needed, but some regions and industries like to see them.

While social media profiles may benefit from a headshot, CVs are mostly about your experience and abilities, not your smile.

In numerous regions, like the UK, hiring managers don’t often request photos because of anti-discrimination laws.

But in certain countries, such as Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, it’s common to include a profile photo on a CV, particularly in industries where how you look and present yourself matters a lot.

In creative fields like modelling, acting, and fashion, a photo isn’t just accepted but often desired. It enables you to put forward your one-off look, style, and appropriateness for positions where appearance is fundamental.

If you choose to include a photo on your CV, here’s how you’d do it:

Keep it professional – Pick a professional-quality headshot where you’re dressed suitably for your industry.
Keep it friendly – Maintain a confident, friendly smile and use eye contact.
Top corner – Position your photo in the top left or right-hand corner, ensuring it’s small and discreet.
Layout consistency – Make sure your picture complements your CV’s design in style and colour.
Avoid selfies – Ditch selfies or group shots – plump for top-quality solo photos.
Revise regularly – If your appearance changes, update your headshot for accuracy.

Driving licence info

Certain jobs are about hitting the road and having your driving licence info can make a huge difference as it shows you can legally drive.

Think sales representatives, delivery drivers , or couriers.

And if you’ve got a professional license, like a forklift, motorcycle or Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) credentials, be sure to flaunt it – it could unlock doors to exclusive job opportunities.

To include it, reserve a neat place at the top of your CV underneath your telephone number where you note the licence and its status. It could literally make the difference between getting the job or not in some cases.

LinkedIn profile

Your LinkedIn profile is a hyperlink that leads hiring managers to your LinkedIn profile, a professional networking platform.

It allows recruiters and employers to take a peek at your career history, see how many connections you have, and even check out recommendations from other professionals.

Dropping that link to your LinkedIn profile offers quite a few plusses.

You’re not only revealing your abilities and endorsements. You’re also rolling out the red carpet for recommendations from your co-workers.

Because let’s face it. It’s all about upping your professional image, right?

Adding a quick URL to your LinkedIn profile can be a real gem for industries like marketing, sales, consulting, tech, and finance.

Why? In these industries, developing robust professional relationships and extending your network is paramount in terms of balancing your career and boosting your credibility.

A quick tip: Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date and ensure you have plenty of recommendations to show off. After all, you want to make the right impression!

Personal portfolio or website

If you have a personal website, online portfolio or blog that showcases your work, this can be great for showing employers you have the right skills for the job.

It can be especially powerful if you’re in a creative field such as graphic design , photography or writing – or any profession where visual or tangible examples of your work can boost your job application.

Add a short link near your contact details, so that it is easily accessible.

Language skills

If you speak any foreign languages , it’s certainly worth mentioning them.

Including these skills at the top of your CV can be super handy for hiring managers who need specific language abilities, adding a colourful feather to your professional cap.

Personal details not to be included on a CV

When you’re adding personal details to your CV, keep in mind that some details, such as your marital status, present salary, and religious faith, are not usually going to impact a hiring decision – so it’s best to keep them out.

Here’s what personal details I would recommend keeping out of your CV…

Previous or present salary

Disclosing your current salary can occasionally lead to a mismatch in expectations.

It may harm your chances of getting a higher salary when it comes to salary negotiation.

Let’s say you initially revealed a lower figure, only to discover that the offer on the table was significantly greater.

So, leave the salary talk off your CV – it’s a conversation best had at a later stage.

Marital status

Marital status is your existing official relationship status in terms of marriage. For example, it usually includes categories such as Married, Single, Divorced, Widowed, and Separated.

Your CV isn’t a dating profile. So, there’s no need to include your marital status here.

Hiring managers only want to know about skills that go beyond your relationship status. Your qualifications are what count here.

Religious faith

Unless you’re applying to be the church’s official organist, don’t include it. It’s like saying what hair colour you want your waiter to be in a restaurant – not relevant.

Most hiring managers don’t care about this stuff, and divulging it may even open doors to unwanted prejudice.

So, keep your religious beliefs close to your heart and your CV free from religious info.

Date of birth

Skip the birthday candles on your CV – recent anti-discrimination rules mean hiring managers should concentrate on your talents, not how old you are.

The bonuses of omitting it? Less possibility of age bias, more space for the good stuff, plus lower identity theft risk.

Disability or health issues

There’s no need to spill the beans about your physical or mental health on your CV.

If your ailment entails some additional support, for example, if you’re a wheelchair user, you could mention it in your cover letter or through a chat with the recruiter or hiring manager.

Many moons ago, people used to include their health status in jobs like physical fitness trainers or swimming teachers, but this isn’t the case anymore.

But there’s no real reason to indicate your gender in yo ur CV , as it won’t have a bearing on your job skills. It’s also a waste of CV space and distracts from the important stuff (like your skillset).

And honestly? Your name usually gives your gender away anyway.

National insurance number

Your National Insurance Number (NI number) is your unique identifier if you’re based in the UK for tax and social security purposes.

This number is like your secret treasure map – you don’t want anyone to come across it.

To stop identity theft, the UK government suggests keeping it somewhere safe and not sharing it unless you absolutely must.

So refrain from splashing it on your CV for everyone to see. Once it’s out there, it’s tricky to regulate who gets their hands on it.

Nationality or ethnic group

There’s no need to include your nationality or ethnic group on your CV unless you’re a foreign national and want to tell the hiring manager about your work eligibility in the country.

Just something simple like “Spanish, eligible to work in the UK” should do the trick.

A quick tip: If you’re applying for a government role where citizenship matters, like civil service or secret agent positions, it’s okay to mention your nationality here.

How to write personal details on a CV

If you want to add personal details to your CV, this is how you’d do it.

Position at the top – You want your personal details to sit right at the top of your CV so its easy for recruiters to see how to contact you.
Keep it compact – You have limited space on your CV, so keep this basic info tucked up into a top corner
Use icons – Create a professional appearance and use space wisely by using icons to denote these details (Like a phone icon for your phone number)
Hyperlink to external sources – If needed, add optional links such as your online portfolio or LinkedIn profile.

3 personal details examples on a CV

Here are three examples of how your personal details should be laid out on a CV.

The first example is for someone with basic details, like an office worker, the second is for a creative person who may need a few more, and the last is for someone who operates vehicles who may require even more.

Essential personal details

If you’re a student studying at school, college or university, you want to make it super simple for hiring managers to reach you.

Inserting your name, professional title, location, phone number, and email isn’t just a mere formality – it lets prospective employers initiate contact with you. It also allows them to confirm your background, and start the conversation.

Marketing manager’s personal details

A Marketing Manager is like a creative champion of a company, driving the marketing approach. They plan brilliant campaigns and ensure the brand’s voice gets heard loudly and clearly.

As well as including the essentials like your name, contact info, and where you live so that hiring managers can get in touch easily, remember to mention your LinkedIn and personal websites here, too.

You could even include your driver’s license and language skills to show you’re all set for various tasks.

Creative professional personal details

Creative professionals infuse life into concepts via design, art or other imaginative approaches.

For instance, a graphic designer crafts visual elements for all media types, from elaborate illustrations to eye-catching posters, iconic logos, and web graphics.

So, as a creative professional, it’s important to include your LinkedIn and personal website, as these serve as virtual portfolios, showing more about your artistic work.

In your personal details, consider adding a profile photo – this shows hiring managers you look professional, which is paramount for numerous jobs.

Creative professional CV personal details

Where to put personal details on a CV

You need to place personal details at the top of your CV at the beginning. That way, recruiters can’t miss them and you’ll be on their radar from the start.

Placing these personal titbits at the top of your CV makes it super simple for hiring managers to spot and drop you a message if they’re keen on having a chat.

How to format personal details

In terms of formatting your personal details on your CV, here’s how you’d do it:

Highlight your name – Make your name the star of the show. Use a larger font or put it in bold to ensure it grabs instant attention.
Right-align or centre-align – So that your personal details turn heads, right-align or align them centrally at the top. Doing so gives your CV a smart appearance so the reader can easily navigate it.
Bold for visibility – Use bold text for all personal details to help them stand out amid the rest of your CV’s text.
Size counts – Choose an 18 to 20-point font size for personal details like your full name, telephone number, location, email address, and optional LinkedIn or online portfolio URL.

The takeaway

While adding personal details on your CV may sound like a trivial detail, they’re your first opportunity to introduce yourself to a potential employer.

Start with strong essential personal details: name, contact details, and location . Then tailor with optional extras (if needed), like a LinkedIn URL or profile photo, to the job’s specific requirements.

Skip them, and you could leave hiring managers with an unfinished picture of your credentials and suitability for the job.

12 Types of Personal Skills with 120 Examples for a Resume

By Status.net Editorial Team on March 7, 2024 — 11 minutes to read

Personal skills are the qualities and attributes you bring to the table that make you stand out as a candidate in the professional world. When compiling your resume, it’s important to include a mix of these soft skills alongside your technical abilities and experience. These are the traits that show potential employers how you interact with others, handle responsibilities, and adapt to new situations. They are essentially your personality strengths at work. By showcasing the right personal skills with concrete examples, such as leading a successful group project or managing tight deadlines, you increase your chances of catching an employer’s eye.

Related: What Are Soft Skills? (and How to Showcase Them)

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills (with Examples)

Technical Skills Examples for Resume

Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills are the tools you use to interact and communicate with fellow employees, customers, and managers in an organization. These are integral for creating a positive work environment and achieving effective teamwork and collaboration.

Communication Skills

Effective communication means you are capable of sharing your ideas clearly and listening to others with an open mind. You adapt your language and tone depending on who you’re speaking to and always aim to be clear and concise.

“Facilitated open and effective communication between cross-functional teams.”
“Drafted comprehensive reports that simplified complex information for stakeholders.”
“Designed and delivered engaging presentations that captivated diverse audiences.”
“Streamlined interdepartmental emails to improve company-wide clarity and efficiency.”
“Mediated discussions to foster understanding and mutual respect among team members.”
“Tailored communication style to the needs of clients, enhancing customer satisfaction.”
“Translated technical jargon into easily understandable language for end-users.”
“Utilized active listening skills to accurately respond to client inquiries and concerns.”
“Collaborated with international partners, navigating cultural and linguistic barriers.”
“Maintained open lines of communication during high-stress situations, ensuring team cohesion.”

Your ability to work within a team to achieve shared goals is indispensable. You show adaptability, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to learn from your colleagues.

“Coordinated with team members to successfully complete project milestones ahead of deadlines.”
“Leveraged the strengths of diverse team members to enhance project outcomes.”
“Participated in shaping a collaborative team culture that values everyone’s input.”
“Supported team members, providing constructive feedback and assistance when necessary.”
“Actively engaged in team brainstorming sessions, contributing innovative ideas.”
“Assisted in aligning team objectives with company goals for increased productivity.”
“Promoted teamwork by organizing team-building activities that fostered trust and collaboration.”
“Participated in a cross-functional team that improved processes, saving the company time and money.”
“Helped to create a supportive environment that encouraged risk-taking and creativity.”
“Played a key role in a team recognized for exceeding service delivery expectations.”

Conflict Resolution

Your competence in resolving disputes demonstrates your ability to manage emotions and negotiate effectively. You work to find common ground and aim for solutions that satisfy all parties involved. On your resume, you might describe your conflict resolution skills like this:

“Resolved conflicts among team members, facilitating compromise and collaborative solutions.”
“Implemented a step-by-step mediation strategy to de-escalate client disputes.”
“Negotiated between conflicting parties to reach mutually beneficial agreements.”
“Applied emotional intelligence to understand different perspectives in workplace conflicts.”
“Devised conflict-resolution protocols that reduced tensions and improved morale.”
“Arbitrated a major client conflict that resulted in a renewed service contract.”
“Managed sensitive employee relations issues with discretion and fairness.”
“Fostered an inclusive culture that minimized conflicts through proactive communication.”
“Trained team members in conflict resolution techniques, contributing to a more harmonious workplace.”
“Addressed customer complaints swiftly, restoring trust and preventing potential churn.”

Possessing empathy means you have the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. This skill can lead to better teamwork and more effective leadership.

“Provided empathetic customer service that increased repeat business.”
“Recognized by management for consistently empathizing with team members and addressing personal concerns.”
“Incorporated client feedback into service delivery, enhancing client satisfaction and engagement.”
“Mentored new hires by attentively understanding their challenges and guiding them through their transition.”
“Cultivated a customer-centric approach that improved client retention rates.”
“Adapted services to meet the needs of individuals from various cultural backgrounds.”
“Demonstrated ability to connect with dissatisfied customers, turning negative experiences into positive outcomes.”
“Leveraged empathy to diffuse emotional client situations, resulting in positive resolutions.”
“Championed diversity initiatives, fostering an environment of understanding and respect.”
“Applied an empathetic listening approach to better address employee suggestions and concerns.”

Organizational Skills

Organizational skills demonstrate your ability to plan, prioritize, and achieve goals efficiently. These skills are highly valued across various professions because they help you to maintain productivity and manage responsibilities effectively.

Time Management

Managing your time effectively means you prioritize tasks and work on the most important ones first. It’s important to know how to structure your day to maximize efficiency.

Time Management Examples for Your Resume:

“Prioritized tasks to meet project deadlines consistently”
“Scheduled weekly planning sessions to outline tasks and goals”
“Balanced multiple projects without sacrificing attention to detail”
“Implemented time tracking tools to monitor task durations”
“Developed daily to-do lists and updated them throughout the day”
“Organized work calendar with color-coded priorities”
“Streamlined workflow by identifying and eliminating time-wasters”
“Allocated break times to enhance focus and productivity”
“Monitored deadlines and adjusted schedules proactively”
“Utilized planning apps to manage team schedules and appointments”

Decision Making

Decision making is about choosing the best course of action. It’s important to show that you can assess situations, consider various perspectives, and decide on the right move forward for the benefit of the team or project.

Decision Making Examples for Your Resume:

“Evaluated and selected vendors that cut costs by 15%”
“Analyzed client feedback to drive product improvements”
“Identified risks to prevent potential issues down the line”
“Chose effective marketing strategies that improved brand awareness”
“Led team meetings to decide on project directions”
“Made timely decisions under pressure to meet client needs”
“Weighed pros and cons before implementing new company procedures”
“Collaborated on budget allocation for department resources”
“Negotiated contracts to secure the best terms for the company”
“Decided on staffing assignments based on skill levels and workload distribution”

Problem-Solving Skills

Being adept at problem-solving is highly valued in any job market. This section will give you insight into demonstrating your skills in critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and analytical abilities on your resume.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking means making reasoned judgments that are logical and well-thought-out. It is a way of thinking in which you don’t simply accept all arguments and conclusions you are exposed to but rather have an attitude involving questioning such arguments and conclusions. You might demonstrate your critical thinking abilities by taking complex projects and breaking them down into manageable steps.

“Evaluated multiple vendors to optimize supply chain efficiency”
“Assessed client needs to develop a more focused marketing strategy”
“Determined the root cause of repetitive issues to prevent recurrence”
“Orchestrated a workflow redesign, increasing team productivity by 20%”
“Led a task force to resolve a persistent quality control problem”
“Implemented a new testing protocol to improve product reliability”
“Analyzed customer feedback to enhance service delivery models”
“Conducted a comprehensive review to decrease budget expenditures”
“Critiqued project proposals to ensure alignment with company goals”
“Appraised competing technology solutions to aid strategic planning”

Creative Problem-Solving

Creative problem-solving means using innovation or lateral thinking to find solutions to complex issues. You can display your ability in this area by highlighting instances where you thought outside the box or proposed unique solutions to challenges.

“Devised a novel customer loyalty program that increased repeat business”
“Crafted a new interface design that enhanced user experience and satisfaction”
“Initiated a recycling program that cut down waste and operational costs”
“Invented a time-saving tool that streamlined the team’s data entry process”
“Formulated an alternative sales strategy that captured a new market segment”
“Piloted a social media campaign that doubled online engagement”
“Revamped an outdated filing system, increasing retrieval efficiency”
“Launched a cross-training program that maximized staff versatility”
“Executed a creative workflow that accelerated project completion times”
“Engineered a cost-saving solution that also improved customer service”

Analytical Abilities

Your analytical abilities are showcased when you systematically examine and interpret data patterns to gain an understanding and drive decision making. In your resume, you can focus on situations where your data analysis skills directly contributed to better decisions or enhanced outcomes.

“Interpreted sales data to redirect marketing efforts and boost revenue”
“Condensed complex data sets into clear, actionable reports”
“Mapped out user experience trends to guide product development plans”
“Correlated customer service metrics to implement targeted improvements”
“Utilized analytics to optimize website content for search engine ranking”
“Discerned patterns in user behavior to tailor the e-commerce platform”
“Leveraged analytics tools to track and report on social media performance”
“Segmented market data to identify and pursue untapped customer bases”
“Quantified production metrics to pinpoint areas for process enhancement”
“Applied statistical methods to refine inventory management strategies”

Leadership Skills

When you showcase leadership skills on your resume, you’re demonstrating your ability to guide a team towards a common goal. It’s important to articulate how you can inspire and influence others through specific actions and strategies.

Delegation means entrusting tasks to team members based on their strengths and skills. You help the team progress efficiently while developing individual capabilities.

“Managed a team of 10 and effectively distributed tasks to align with individual strengths”
“Entrusted junior staff with key projects to foster skills development and career growth”
“Defined clear roles and responsibilities within the team to streamline project execution”
“Oversaw a successful delegation system that boosted team productivity by 25%”
“Appointed team leaders to oversee segments of projects, strengthening leadership pipeline”
“Matched tasks with expertise, resulting in improved quality of work and staff satisfaction”
“Delegated administrative duties to appropriate staff, maximizing time for strategic tasks”
“Fostered a culture of trust by delegating critical tasks to capable team members”
“Implemented a task rotation program to enhance cross-functional team expertise”
“Coordinated the delegation of work during high-stake projects, ensuring timely completion”

Motivational Techniques

Motivational techniques are strategies you use to encourage and energize your team so they remain engaged and committed to their work.

“Implemented an employee recognition program that increased team morale and productivity”
“Organized team-building retreats that enhanced collaboration and cohesiveness”
“Championed a mentorship program that motivated employees to achieve personal and professional goals”
“Conducted regular progress meetings to celebrate milestones and motivate continuous effort”
“Introduced flexible work options to maintain high levels of team motivation and well-being”
“Established a system of constructive feedback that motivated employees to excel and innovate”
“Led by example to inspire and motivate team members during challenging periods”
“Developed incentive programs aligned with team and individual performance goals”
“Used positive communication to boost team spirit and maintain high motivation”
“Encouraged skill development through workshops, benefiting both employees and project outcomes”

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning means outlining a long-term vision and breaking it down into actionable steps. Your ability to anticipate future trends and adapt plans accordingly is key.

“Formulated a 5-year strategic plan that resulted in a 40% growth in company market share”
“Led cross-departmental teams in the development of a strategic product launch roadmap”
“Analyzed market trends to inform long-term business strategies and competitive positioning”
“Orchestrated the strategic shift of business focus which increased customer acquisition by 30%”
“Designed and supervised a risk management strategy that safeguarded the company during economic downturns”
“Hosted strategy workshops to align team objectives with company goals”
“Constructed a resource allocation plan to support strategic initiatives without disrupting operations”
“Set measurable goals to track the success of strategic endeavours and pivot when necessary”
“Facilitated the reorganization of company structure to improve operational efficiency and meet strategic aims”
“Collaborated with key stakeholders to ensure strategic plans were robust and achievable”

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some examples of personal skills to list on a resume.

When listing personal skills on your resume, consider including effective communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, and time management. These soft skills can demonstrate your ability to work well in various environments and with different teams.

How can you describe personal skills in a sentence for a CV?

You can describe personal skills on a CV with a sentence like: “Adept at conflict resolution and negotiation, with a strong ability to communicate effectively with diverse teams.” This showcases specific skills and provides context for how you use them.

Can you give examples of unique personal skills that stand out on a resume?

Unique personal skills that could make your resume stand out include emotional intelligence, cross-cultural literacy, and advanced problem-solving abilities. Including innovative thinking or the ability to learn and apply new technologies quickly can also be advantageous.

In what way should you present personal interests and hobbies on your resume?

Present your personal interests and hobbies on your resume in a concise manner, linking them to job-related skills whenever possible. For instance, if you’re an avid chess player, you could note that it hones your strategic thinking and decision-making skills.

What are the top personal skills employers look for in fresh graduates?

Employers typically seek fresh graduates with strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work under pressure, and enthusiasm for learning and professional development. Demonstrating that you’re results-oriented and have a proactive approach can be particularly effective.

What are some professional skills that can enhance your resume?

Professional skills that can enhance your resume include project management, technical skills relevant to your industry, foreign language proficiency, and proficiency with specific software tools. Highlighting these skills shows you possess both the soft and hard skills required for the job.

List of 21 Important Technical Skills (with Examples)
50 Inspiring Examples for 7 Communication Skills for a Resume
2 Detailed Examples of Administrative Assistant Resumes
5 Stay-at-Home Mom Resume Strategies to Showcase Skills
35 Examples: How To Highlight Work Experience on a Resume

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How to Write a Professional Resume Summary? [+Examples]

Do you want to land more job interviews? The easiest way to achieve this is by attracting a recruiter’s attention straight away by summarizing the highlights of your career right at the start of your resume — in a section called the resume summary.

The purpose of this resume section, which is also known as a professional summary or resume statement, is to create a good first impression. It sums up your work experience , skills, and achievements into a short and concise sales pitch where you are the product.

Do it well, and your future employers will be more inclined to read the rest of your resume.

Without further ado, let’s show you how to write an exceptional professional summary that will not only get you to more job interviews but will also help you land a job.

This guide will show you:

What is a professional summary?

Why do you need a professional summary, how to write a professional summary.

What to do when you don’t have any experience in the field?
What are a resume objective and a resume profile?
Examples of professional summaries from real professionals.

TL;DR video guide: How to write a professional summary for a resume

A professional summary gives the hiring manager a quick overview of your skills and achievements without them having to dive into the rest of your resume. It sits at the top of your resume, beneath your name and contact information. You can think of it as a teaser for the rest of your resume.

It should sum up your top skills, experiences, and achievements as they pertain to the job description.

Take a look at the sample below to see what it looks like in practice:

The professional summary section is also known as a:

Resume summary
Qualifications summary
Resume statement
Heading statement
Competencies
Career summary
Experience summary
Personal statement

However, don’t mistake a professional summary for a resume objective or profile . We’ll discuss the differences between them later in this guide.

How long should a professional summary be?

Generally speaking, a resume summary should be quite short. The most common length is 3-5 sentences or bullet points. It shouldn't be longer than 5-6 concise bullet points , but it also shouldn't be shorter than 2 bullet points.

You can also replace the first bullet point with a short introductory paragraph that includes your job title, years of experience, and specialization.

While many people still don't include the resume profile section in their resumes, it's a mistake. But why is it a mistake?

You want to grab the recruiter's attention from the get-go.
You'll make their life a bit easier because you'll immediately tell them who you are.

The thing is, recruiters are busy people , they go through dozens, sometimes hundreds of resumes before they can find a few qualified candidates.

Do you know what this means? Shortcuts. At first, recruiters will be skimming resumes in search of specific keywords and phrases that align with what the company is searching for.

That’s why you want to include the best resume summary you can come up with because a good summary section consists of nothing but these juicy bite-size phrases and keywords that a recruiter can spot at a glance.

In short, a professional summary allows you to turn a recruiter's time limitation into an advantage.

Christy's word of advice

While recruiters are indeed busy, did you know that the information that recruiters only give each resume 6 seconds of their time isn't true?

“This one's a little bit of a myth. It takes about six seconds to screen the resume for the key information that I'm looking for, such as location, summary, keywords, or if there's a skills section. Within this time frame, I should be able to get a feel for who you are and what you're looking for. But it's mainly about six seconds for me to pick out the basic information I need. It doesn't mean that I'm going to spend just six seconds on it or that I won't continue reading after. ” — Christy Morgan , Kickresume's Resident HR Expert

As we said before, a good professional summary should compel an employer to read the next section of your resume — that’s all. If it manages to do that, then it has accomplished its purpose.

However, doing this is easier said than done, as it can be tricky to cram the most exciting bits of your career into a 3-5 bullet points summary.

Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can use to craft an impressive resume summary.

Before you start writing:

Write other resume sections, and then write your professional summary last. It’s surprisingly easy once you’ve already written other sections of your resume. All you have to do is cherry-pick the most impressive facts and stats.
Pick the essential keywords from the job listing, so you can tailor your summary. Start with the job listing that made you apply for the job. Carefully reread it and find the most important keywords. These are the nouns or phrases that best describe the job position, related skills, as well as the ideal candidate. Before you begin to write, think about how they intersect with your own skills and experiences. In this way, you also have a higher chance to get through the ATS systems which companies use .

Once you start writing:

In the first bullet point, write your professional title. Don’t forget to add the number of years of experience. You want to communicate your professional identity immediately. You can also write it in bold. It can look something like this: “Certified Project Management Professional with over 4 years of experience”.
Pick the 3-4 most impressive parts of your resume and reword them into snappy bullet points. Tease your potential employer into reading further. Did you earn a recognition for the best customer service? Or hit 95% of sales targets for five consecutive years? These are the things that deserve a mention at the top of your resume!
Translate each achievement into numbers. Each bullet point should contain at least one piece of quantifiable data. Use percentages, numbers, or impressive sales figures. It gives the hiring manager a better idea of how you performed in your previous jobs. Numbers attract attention. Take advantage of that.
Sum up what you have to offer. Instead of saying what you want, keep in mind what they want. Make clear what values you can bring to the company. Look for common threads in your work history and for skills that apply most to the job.

How to use keywords in a resume summary

A professional summary can do more than catch the attention of the recruiter. It can also make your resume more ATS-friendly.

It's a great place where you can squeeze in one or two ATS-friendly keywords , and it will still look natural.

Such keywords can be your industry-relevant hard skills, previous job positions, notable clients, certificates and courses from notable institutions, or a note-worthy university (if you recently finished your degree).

Moreover, you should add keywords and relevant skills from the job listing.

Don't get too creative with the heading, though. While replacing the professional summary headline with “Snapshot” sounds great, ATS doesn't know what it means and therefore wouldn't recognize it.

Pro tip: Remember, while it's important to incorporate keywords into your resume summary, it's crucial to ensure these keywords align with your abilities and experiences. The ATS might shortlist your resume, but the hiring manager will quickly realize in an interview if those keywords were merely resume filler. Always maintain honesty and authenticity while drafting your summary.

Professional resume summary examples for most common careers

Now that you know the ins and outs of writing a resume summary, here are a few examples that can inspire you when writing your summary:

Professional summary example for customer service

Performance-driven and motivated customer service rep offering 4+ years of relevant experience. Eager to join the Techia team and contribute to the growth of the company. In the previous role, the ability to make customers comfortable and relaxed allowed for 98% customer service survey results and had 25% more sales than the average employer.

Professional resume summary example for retail

Dedicated and hard-working storekeeper with a Business Administration degree. Eager to bring my strong attention to detail and accuracy to J&R inc. Adept at communicating with vendors and suppliers, coordinating various business operations, and maintaining documents and files in order. In the past jobs brought an extra $50k of sales per quarter and increased customer satisfaction by 20%.

Professional summary example for nursing resume

Motivational and resourceful Orthopedic Nurse with 10 years of experience with in-depth knowledge in trauma recovery, aggressive pain management techniques, and post-surgical recovery. Especially proficient in providing external fixation care and continuous motion therapy along with neuromuscular status monitoring. Committed to work as an orthopedic nurse for people who are struggling with mobility issues due to accidental injuries and degenerative disease affecting bones and muscles.

Professional summary example for administrative assistant

Self-driven and accurate Executive Assistant skilled at performing various office/administrative duties, such as coordinating meetings, maintaining calendar and schedule, filing documents, and managing company correspondence. Highly self-motivated with a solid work ethic and multitasking abilities.

Professional summary example for data analyst

A graduate in Information Systems with two years of hands-on data analytics experience. Passionate about working with large amounts of data and to turn this data into information, information into insight and insight into business decisions. I also have a keen interest in the field of data visualization and am fascinated by the power to compress complex datasets into approachable and appealing graphics.

Professional summary example for warehouse worker

Hard-working and dedicated Warehouse Worker with 2+ years of extensive experience in inspecting incoming shipments, preparing and processing orders, and performing various administrative duties. The Employee of the Month Award winner with a strong attention to detail and accuracy and determination to achieve exceptional results. Offers excellent time management skills and important ability to work independently or in a team.

Professional summary example for receptionist

Customer-oriented and performance-driven Front Desk Assistant skilled at performing various administrative tasks, improving all office processes and procedures, and providing support to Office Managers. Great communicator with a Business Administration degree from a well-known university and an exceptional ability to remain calm in stressful situations. Possess well-developed communication skills and excellent time management abilities.

Resume summary example for management

A Project Manager with 16 years of experience in IT projects. Responsible for the management of teams of up to 15 direct and 7 indirect employees. Has High level knowledge in project execution using best practices of waterfall and agile methodologies. High level knowledge of Jupyter Notebook, MS Project, MS Excel, MS Word.

Professional summary example for project manager

Logistics & Planning PMO for Anheuser-Busch InBev with +7 years of experience in Supply Chain Operations & Project Management. Lived and worked for ABI in 6 cities in past years, managed +300 direct & indirect employees and +0.5 billion BRL over the years. At ABI experienced the routines in breweries operations & urban distribution. As Project Manager build the Zone Logistics Project area for ABI LAN, being responsible for 4.0 Supply Chain, integrating the technologies WMS, YMS, TMS and Tracking.

Resume summary example for stay-at-home mother

Performance-driven and knowledgeable Stay At Home Mother skilled at conducting detailed market research, developing new sales tools, creating reports, and promoting products and services. Certified Marketing Management Professional with an extensive knowledge of multiple marketing software programmes, great communication skills, and excellent teamwork abilities. Currently looking for any Marketing related remote part-time job.

Professional summary example for student

Self-driven and knowledgeable computer science student with demonstrated experience in developing user-friendly software applications, coding and testing features, and providing engineering support. Oracle Certified Professional with extensive knowledge of multiple programming languages and software development tools, excellent problem-solving skills, and ability to perform well in a team.

How to write a resume summary if you're a fresh graduate/student?

If you’re a student or a fresh graduate, you probably don’t have much to brag about in your resume yet.

But that’s true only to some extent. Even as an entry-level candidate, you already have at least some experience and skills. You just have to find the right way to articulate them.

What’s more, it’s quite likely that the other candidates are just as inexperienced as you are. After all, experienced professionals rarely apply for entry-level positions.

Because of that, your primary goal is to stand out and make the employer remember you . And you can do that even if your experience is limited.

It’s not like you’ve just spent most of your life at school and learned nothing. You just need to understand how your studies intersect with the job’s requirements.

Here’s how you can write your professional resume summary as a student/fresh graduate:

State your field of study, degree, and GPA (if it’s above 3.0).
Mention relevant skills gained in internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer work.
Add related coursework or school projects.
Also, try to translate your most notable achievements into numbers. Maybe you were on the student council. You can mention how you received 800 votes and helped organize 5 large school events that were attended by 2,000 students.

In the end, a fresh graduate resume summary should look a bit like this:

Hired by Bupa — Business Administration Intern

An adaptable and responsible graduate seeking an entry-level position in the Business Analytics market, Business Consultancy or Financial market.
My double degree in Business and Law and my previous job as a financial controller have provided me with a well-rounded background and enabled me to develop an analytical/logical approach to tasks, software skills, and the ability to work under pressure.
In short, I am reliable, hard-working with strong attention to detail and eager to learn about new technologies and business issues. I am able to work well both on my own initiative and as a part of a team. I’m also able to travel abroad.

How to write a resume summary as an experienced professional?

If you have 10 to 15 years of professional experience under your belt, you’ve probably developed a long list of job-related accomplishments. Your qualifications summary is the ideal place to showcase the most impressive of them.

On the other, with that extent of experience, it may be quite challenging to pick and choose the right information for your professional summary.

So what should you do?

Start by carefully rereading the job advertisement.
Highlight any skills you already possess that match this job offer.
See if you can think of any past accomplishments that show how you successfully used those skills in your previous job.

For instance, are you an experienced sales and customer service professional? Sell it. Mention how you developed strategies that resulted in an over 15 % increase in new customers. Or how your rewards program reached a customer success rate of over 45 %. Numbers can be much more persuasive than words .

Also, always remember to use action words and relevant keywords.

Here’s a professional summary resume example from an experienced professional:

HubSpot — Director of Business Development Resume Summary Example

Passionate Business Amplifier.
Thrives in complex market segment entry and sales and marketing launch plans for technical products and services. Founder of the highly-impactful "HubSpot for Veterans" initiative.
Proven Growth Consultant and Entrepreneurial Coach for over 200 organizations. Advocate of lean startup and data-backed strategy.
Leadership spans career with direct application towards startups, Techstar accelerators, corporate business development, and government. ROI-focused relationship builder.
Lifelong teacher and learner: Startup Institute, Techstarts, HubSpot Partner programs.

How to write a professional summary if you’re changing careers?

As a career changer , try to show how your past experience relates to the position you’re applying for or how it can help your future employer grow.

Are you a software developer who wants to work with a new programming language, let’s say Python? You can mention how you’ve already developed 7 mobile apps using JavaScript and HTML. Even something as small as completing a Python online course on CodeAcademy can work wonders.

But if you still feel like you don’t have any relevant job experience, consider writing a resume objective instead. Instead of past achievements and experiences, it highlights your transferable skills and motivation. Moreover, it explains why you seek to switch to a different industry.

On the other hand, make sure that you have absolutely no other solution, as a resume summary always makes a better impression than a resume objective . To learn more about a resume objective just scroll to the following chapter.

Here’s an example of a professional summary for someone changing careers:

Marketing professional with over three years of experience in digital advertising, aiming to transition from marketing to human resources
Certified Human Resources Assistant with a working knowledge of all software programs needed for the position such as Bamboo HR and Zenefits.
Was in charge of recruiting and supervising summer interns and co-managing marketing budgets.
Won the Employee of the Month Award for completing all assigned tasks and projects in a timely manner.

How to write a professional summary for a resume with no work experience?

A lot of people with no work experience default to writing a resume objective because they think they have nothing to summarize.

However, this usually ends up backfiring as the resume objective brings little to the table. That’s because the resume objective’s main focus is on you as opposed to a professional summary which focuses on solving the needs of a company.

Also, writing a summary objective can make you appear more inexperienced than you truly are.

Instead, as someone with no work experience, you can write a professional summary by including:

Your education level;
Adjectives that emphasize your work ethic (such as competent, decisive, and accountable);
Relevant skills gained at school, volunteering , or internships;
Professional hobbies (for example if applying for an IT position, include that app side project you worked on).

In addition, if you have volunteered or interned, know that regardless of whether they were paid or not, they're still considered work experience. As the skills and knowledge gained as a volunteer or intern can be quite valuable to an employer.

With that said, here’s an example of a professional summary for someone with no work experience:

People United Foundation – Fundraiser Volunteer

Resourceful and talented fundraiser who uses new forms of technology and existing techniques to help raise money for organizations and groups.
Experienced in raising funds for various charitable and nonprofit institutes.
Adept at researching and presenting an array of innovative fundraising ideas to a variety of donor audiences.
Keen negotiator with exceptional communication time management and networking abilities.

Resume summary vs resume objective and resume profile

While these terms are often interchangeable, a resume summary, a resume objective, and a resume profile are all slightly different things. Scroll below to see how.

What is a resume objective?

First of all, a resume objective isn't the same thing as a resume summary. They share several common features but each serves a different purpose.

Like a resume summary, a resume objective also sits at the top of your resume. Though, it’s a bit shorter — usually about one to two sentences long .

The biggest difference is that instead of your past accomplishments, it details your future goals.

Although a resume objective might not help hiring managers decide whether you’re qualified enough to solve their company’s problems, it may help you shift their attention away from your lack of experience.

With that said, resume objectives are a bit old-fashioned as they used to be more common in past. So it should only be written as a last resort.

What is a resume profile?

Most people think that the resume profile and resume summary are the same exact thing. And they aren't that wrong.

However, there are some slight differences between the two.

A resume profile tends to be a little longer than a resume summary. Still, you should try to keep it under 500 characters. Additionally, while a resume summary is simply a condensed version of your resume placed at the top of it, a resume profile focuses more on your professional accomplishments and successes.

Still — a resume summary and a resume profile are basically the same thing. So don't worry too much about the difference between the two. Just make sure you'll include either of them in your resume.

Final tips and tricks

We've already mentioned almost everything you need to write an effective professional summary. These are some of the final tips that didn't fit anywhere else in this guide:

Emphasize proven experience. Instead of simply listing your skills , mention your previous accomplishments. For example, it’s much more impactful to say that you had your articles published in Forbes than to plainly claim that you’re a skilled writer.
Try to avoid using the word “I” . It's not really necessary, especially if you write in bullet points.
Structure it well. Take it from a professional writer — bullet points are a godsend when you need to structure your text clearly without giving it too much effort. Not only will they naturally order your resume statement into clearly delineated logical parts, but they'll also make it look good and read well. Also, make sure to write your current job title in bold.
Keep it short. Your summary shouldn’t be longer than 5 short sentences (or bullet points). Having a long summary sort of defeats the point of having a resume summary at all. Don’t add random things. The key is to be specific.
Read it after yourself. When you’re finished writing, read through your summary from the perspective of a hiring manager, asking “Why should we hire you?” .

Oh, and if you want to turn your LinkedIn profile into a polished resume with just one click, we've got you covered.

How to write a resume summary?

Write your professional summary last. It’s surprisingly easy once you’ve already written other sections of your resume. In the first bullet point, include your job title and years of experience. Then cherry-pick the most impressive achievements and cram them into 4–5 bullet points.

There are some slight differences between a resume profile and a resume summary. A resume profile tends to be a little longer than a resume summary. Still, you should try to keep it under 500 characters. A resume profile also focuses more on your professional accomplishments and successes than a resume summary.

Kaja Jurčišinová

Kaja Jurcisinova is a fresh graduate and a junior copywriter at Kickresume. Kaja completed her undergraduate degree in Art History at the University of St Andrews in 2018 and graduated with a Master’s in Arts and Culture from the University of Groningen in 2021. She was an intern at multiple cultural institutions across Europe, including the Dutch Museum Association in Amsterdam, the Matter of Art Biennale in Prague, and the European Cultural Centre in Venice. At the moment, she resides in Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland.

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Resume Templates

Need a job? Our huge range of free resume templates can help. Simply choose your favorite, download directly to Word or open in Google Docs, and fill it out. We also provide a copy-paste template , and show you how to fill out your own resume template with an instructional video .

Job-Winning Resume Templates of 2024

Color helps highlights your contact information and skills sections on the “Advanced” resume template.

The "Clean" resume template features a color bar on the left that still leaves room for your experience to take center stage.

With its simple, bold design, the “Corporate” resume template is ideal for confident business professionals.

Minimal and sleek, the "Modern" template is ideal for marketing and business professionals.

Our “Minimalist” resume template is easy for readers to digest with its clean font and subtle color accents.

The “Majestic” features a unique cityscape header that draws attention to your application.

The "Taj Mahal" uses a unique sidebar design to catch the attention of employers and highlight your information.

Featuring a modern design and compact layout, the "2024" template strikes a balance between eye-catching and professional.

Formal but not stuffy, our “Classic” resume template is well-organized, suitable for any industry, and lets your content shine.

The "Windsor" template applies headings to great effect, helping you quickly highlight your experience and skill set.

The "Pantheon" resume template's bold header and large experience section projects confidence, making it ideal for executives.

Applying for a highly formal job? Our "Professional" template is traditional but still eye-catching.

The “Elegant” template’s centered headings and serif font make it an aesthetic and easy-to-read template.

The “Chicago” resume template embraces simplicity with matching colored headers and horizontal lines to break up sections.

Elegant and classic, the "Milano" template gives your resume a timeless, sophisticated look.

Free Resume Templates to Download and Print

Professional templates.

Our professional resume templates are perfect for any job seeker. They’re easy to read, organized neatly, and have just enough color to capture the attention of busy hiring managers. Also, make sure to download one of our professional cover letter templates to complete your job application.

Professional Minimalist Resume Template for the /resume-templates hub page

Why it’s called the “Minimalist”

True to its name, the Minimalist has a no-nonsense and straightforward design. Its subtle color accent gives it a slight pop of personality but avoids detracting from the meat of the resume — the resume objective and professional experience sections .

Who should use it?

The Minimalist’s simple layout and design make it suitable for a wide range of positions. Moreover, its lack of visual complexity makes it easy to format.

Use this design if you don’t have the time or desire to customize and rearrange your resume’s sections.

Format and styling details

Major Features

Colored name header, contact icons, and skill meters
Left-hand column with sections for contact info, education, skills, and awards

Text Details

Name/Header Font: Raleway
Content Font: Calibri
Name Font Size: 35pt
Header Font Size: 12pt
Job Description Font Size: 11pt

How to access this template

Resume builder.

Use our software and create a resume with a premade template. Let the Genius resume builder help you make your resume fast.

The “Cosmopolitan” resume template features a sophisticated header with pastel color options. Stylish and clean.

Cosmopolitan

Why it’s called the “Cosmopolitan”

The Cosmopolitan’s stately design has a simple but refined layout. Instead of overwhelming readers, its subdued coloring makes the template easy to read and pleasant to look at. It also draws subtle attention to the candidate’s name — the only completely uppercase header in the resume.

Professional and sleek, this template can be adapted to suit positions in all kinds of industries, from art to education to sales.

Two-column layout
White space balanced between neat color blocks
Name Font: Raleway
Content Font: Proza Libre Light
Name Font Size: 28pt
Job Description Font Size: 11pt

An example of the Executive resume template

Perfect for managers, the “Executive” template’s timeline graphic highlights your experience section above all.

Why it’s called the “Executive”

The Executive template is the Bentley of the professional resumes. No other resume comes close to the refined and stylish format of the executive. Other templates can’t stand up to the exclusive feel that the Executive template gives off. The sophistication of the alignments and the use of vertical and horizontal line breaks have no equal in the resume world.

The Executive is for anyone who wants to impress their potential employers with a crisp and well-laid out format. This is a favorite of veteran professionals who are looking to upgrade their resume. The Executive works best with applicants who are looking for the ultimate consolidation of their extensive experience.

Contact details imprinted in white into a black bar
Headings featured on the left side of the resume with a vertical double bar for separation
Font: Roboto
Job Description Font Size: 10pt

The "Everest" template's dark-and-light color scheme makes a bold impression, and neatly breaks up each section.

Why it’s called the “Everest”

The Everest’s bold dark-and-light color scheme will help you tower over the competition. Its basic color scheme and strong lines exude confidence and dependability, both soft skills that hiring managers consistently prioritize.

The Everest is perfect for confident, ambitious job seekers. It also suits those who want to advertise their stable and resilient nature.

Use the Everest if you are a rock-solid candidate.

Colored name header, contact icons, and horizontal lines
Font: Catamaran
Job Description Font Size: 10pt

Modern Templates

If you’re looking for a fresh resume design that organizes your qualifications to help you stand out, use one of our modern templates in your job search. Before you send any job applications, remember to download one of our modern cover letter templates as well.

The Tech resume template in blue and yellow

With fun color pairings and a modern borderless design, the "Tech" template is perfect for applying to startups.

Why it’s called the “Tech”

With its minimal layout and rounded icons, the “Tech” resume template was made according to the same design principles used by major tech firms like Google.

The “Tech” resume template’s simple, modern look and extensive skills section make it a great choice for professionals applying for jobs at tech startups.

Borderless design, with non-traditional vertical headers
Bar graph for your skills section
Heading Font: Lato
Content Font: Inter
Name Font Size: 30pt
Content Font Size: 10pt

The Clean modern resume template in yellow

Why it’s called the “Clean”

Many modern resume formats can look messy and complicated, but not the “Clean” template. It has a simple design that provides a straightforward, no-nonsense appearance that hiring managers enjoy. With several different sidebar color options to choose from, you can still show a little personality with the “Clean” template.

The “Clean” template is best suited for candidates who want a simple, yet modern resume. It’s also particularly useful for applicants who have a lot of relevant work experience to show off.

Sidebar that effectively organizes multiple sections, allowing for a more in-depth work experience section
Subdued header allows for the main content of your resume to take the spotlight
Heading Font: Nunito Sans
Content Font: Catamaran
Name Font Size: 24pt
Content Font Size: 11pt

An example of a modern, two-column resume template

The "Two Column" resume template uses borders to split the template in half, providing equal weight to each section.

Why it’s called the “Two Column”

This dynamic resume template’s two-column layout is its most defining feature. By splitting the page in half, the “Two Column” gives job seekers a unique way to present their qualifications. The template also includes colorful design elements that frame the resume and add visual interest to each section.

The “Two-Column” resume template’s nontraditional design and eye-catching bubbles make it ideal for candidates in art, design, marketing, or any other field where creativity and personality are valued.

Colorful designer-friendly background
Clearly divided resume section that presents a clean, organized look
Heading Font: Raleway
Content Font: PT Sans

The Advanced modern resume template in blue

Why it’s called the “Advanced”

The “Advanced” template is named for a more detailed format that prioritizes candidates’ skill sets. It’s better suited to job seekers who have a lot of hard skills to show off, with the work experience and education to support them.

The “Advanced” template is ideal for those in more technical fields like engineering or programming, or for anyone who wants to place extra emphasis on their skills.

Highlighted skills section that is prominently featured
Colorful bar that accentuates the candidate’s name and contact information
Heading Font: Poppins
Content Font: Open Sans

Creative Templates

Looking for work in a visual field like design, fashion, or advertising? Apply for your next job with your favorite of our creative resume templates. Complete your application by using one of our creative cover letter templates .

Windsor Creative Resume Template, Blue, image for resume templates hubpage

Why it’s called the “Windsor”

Like the royal House of Windsor, this template is among our most elegant designs. Its sleek and linear styling give it a minimalist but chic appearance, all the while packing all of your most important information.

The Windsor is highly versatile, and more experienced applicants will appreciate the large middle section which allows you to go into depth about your relevant qualifications.

Meanwhile, recent graduates and other applicants who want to spotlight their academic background will benefit from the highly visible education section.

Sections for detailing relevant education, skills, and certifications
Simple lines that frame each section and guide readers’ natural eye movement
Heading Font: Abel
Content Font: Open Sans
Header Font Size: 35pt

Style effects applied to the “Fashionable” resume template make it a flashy choice for job seekers in creative industries.

Fashionable

Why it’s called the “Fashionable”

Even if your experience proves you’re the best applicant for a job, sometimes you just want to showcase that information with style. Our “Fashionable” resume template achieves this objective with ease.

As mentioned across our website, adding a headshot to your resume isn’t always ideal for job seekers — especially ones in the US. But if your job requires a headshot (like for a modeling, acting, or theater gig), or if you have a cool personal logo or branding you want to add to the top left corner of your resume, this template is a nice option for you.

Colorful fading behind the experience section
A nice balance of vertical and horizontal elements, creating a pleasant aesthetic balance
Content Font: Arima
Header Font Size: 30 pt
Job Description Font Size: 10 pt

Visual creative resume template, yellow image for the resume templates hubpage

The "Visual" template uses strong visual elements to make your professional skills the central focus of your resume.

Why it’s called the “Visual”

The “Visual” resume template is truly our most visual-centric resume template to date.

It embraces aesthetic elements like a donut chart, a movable skill scale, and a work experience timeline to create a strong visual representation of why you’re the perfect candidate for the job.

The “Visual” template is great for people who don’t mind writing a strong About Me section and letting their skills and experience progression do the rest of the talking. Full-stack developers , web designers , and other skilled job seekers could easily leverage this resume template to land the job they want.

Soft skills donut chart that makes your abilities jump off the page
Technical skills bars set up similar to what you’d see on a soundboard
Work experience timeline on the bottom to clearly showcase your career progression
Header Font Size: 26 pt

Colorful backgrounds on our “Pretty” templates will help hiring managers more easily remember your resume.

Why it’s called the “Pretty”

Although having a “Pretty” resume template may seem like a secondary concept (when considering its content to be the most important element), sometimes “pretty” works. Many hiring managers who have collaborated with the HR experts at Resume Genius say that our “Pretty” template is one of the most striking templates they’ve ever laid eyes on, and can you blame them?

With a bold colorful background built for the digital age, use this resume template only if you don’t plan on bringing a printed copy to your interview.

Fully shaded background and colorful elements
A lighter-colored section at the top to highlight contact details
Heading Font: Roboto
Content Font: Roboto
Job Description Font Size: 10.5 pt

Simple Templates

Love the clean, no-frills look of a traditional resume? Our simple and basic resume templates are easy to modify and compatible with any Word processor. After you’ve finished your resume, make sure to download one of our basic cover letter templates .

Why it’s called the “Classic”

Well-organized and easy to read, our Classic resume template provides an updated take on a traditional resume that job seekers have used for decades. It’s the perfect resume template to give your job application a timeless, professional appearance.

The beauty of the Classic template is that anyone can use it. Its simple design makes it flexible enough to suit all jobs and industries .

Simply formatted resume designed for maximum clarity and readability
Header font spaced by 2.2pt creates an interesting aesthetic effect
Compatible resume template for google docs
Name Font Size: 22pt
Header Font Size: 10pt

Why it’s called the “Chicago”

Chicago is well known among architecture nerds for its interesting Prairie School style of architecture , which uses a lot of horizontal lines to better integrate its buildings with the flat mid-western landscape.

Long story short, our resident resume expert and architecture nerd associated the Chicago template’s use of page long horizontal underlines beneath the major headings with the Prairie School architecture style, and the rest is history.

The “Chicago” template is another crowd-pleaser among all industries and types of employment. Like the “Classic”, its format emphasizes clarity over fanciness .

The Chicago resume template divides up sections horizontally instead of in a two-column format, so it’s a great choice if you want to keep detailed work experience bullet points looking neat and easy to digest .

Page-length underlines used to separate resume sections
Right-aligned city, state, and employment dates
Font: STIX Two Text
Name Font Size: 24pt
Header Font Size: 11pt

On an otherwise minimalistic design, the colored header of the “Connery” resume template makes your name visible and memorable to the reader.

Why it’s called the “Connery”

The “Connery” resume template is bold yet classy . The header bar immediately calls attention to your name, making your application more memorable.

Mirroring the header, subtle vertical underlines draw the eye down where your relevant information is presented in a clean and organized fashion. The Connery exudes confidence and credibility.

The Connery template is a great choice for anyone with several years of professional experience . No matter if you’re a retail manager or a C.P.A., the Connery will make your professional accomplishments stand out.

Bold name bar-style header to grab hiring managers’ attention
Bolded and capitalized headings that visually break up sections

Our "White House" resume template’s two-column format left-aligns your headers, leaving space to feature your experience.

White House

Why it’s called the “White House”

The “White House” resume template is a mix of class and simplicity . The left-aligned headings make the resume incredibly simple to navigate while a bold colorblock header makes sure your name won’t be forgotten.

The White House resume template is suitable for anyone applying to a company in a formal industry . This elegant and simple design ensures that the HR manager isn’t distracted by a cluttered resume and can instead stay focused on the content.

Left-aligned headers for easy navigation
Larger professional experience and education sections
Font: Arimo
Name Font Size: 18pt
Header Font Size: 10pt

Picture Templates

Use our picture resume templates for industries like modeling or when applying for jobs in a country that requires a photo resume. To help your resume make an impact, pair it with one of these matching picture cover letter templates .

The "Cute" photo resume template in green, with a subtle background blur

With vibrant color choices and a memorable header, the “Cute” resume template ensures your resume gets noticed by centering your professional experience.

Why it’s called the “Cute”

Colorful and visually interesting, our “Cute” template offers a delightful alternative to your standard black-and-white resume.

The “Cute” template is designed for event planners, digital marketers, art directors, and other professionals in creative industries. The eye-catching skills section is ideal for career changers looking to emphasize their transferable skills.

Striking skills and education sections
Subtle color gradient
Heading Font: Quicksand

The "Fresh" photo resume template, featuring skill bars and a unique, contemporary style

A healthy dose of color and clearly-defined sections make the “Fresh” resume template an excellent fit for those who want their application to stand out.

Why it’s called the “Fresh”

A favorite among job seekers, this unique template adds something extra to your resume while keeping it professional. Thanks to the clever header design, hiring managers are sure to remember your name long after they put down your resume.

Professionals in fields that require solid hard skills will find the “Fresh” particularly useful for demonstrating their technical abilities because of its skill bars.

Skill bars to effectively illustrate your level of proficiency
Clearly defined resume sections
Heading Font: Inter

The "Fun" photo resume template in teal, featuring a sidebar and modern style

The “Fun” resume template features a large experience section, a two-tone color scheme, and a circular picture that’s great for a headshot or logo.

Why it’s called the “Fun”

Anyone who thinks that “professional” and “dull” go hand-in-hand clearly hasn’t seen our “Fun” template. With a sizable experience section and a splash of color, it’s highly appealing while putting your expertise on display.

Teachers, social media managers and anyone else wanting to show off their personality will find the “Fun” template to be an excellent choice.

Photograph in the middle of the header
Large experience section
Heading Font: Bitter
Content Font: Bitter
Content Font Size: 11pt

The “Headshot” resume template uses playful colors on an otherwise simple background to draw attention to your skills and photo.

Why it’s called the “Headshot”

Classic but with a twist, the “Headshot” features a photo at the top, with pops of color incorporated strategically throughout the template to spotlight your greatest strengths.

This template is ideal for actors, models, news anchors, and others who need to supplement their job applications with headshots. However, its sleek design makes it suitable for all industries.

Two-color design
Round headshot contrasted by a colorful bubble
Name Font Size: 28
Content Font Size: 10

Google Docs Templates

You don’t need a Word processor to make a great resume. These resume templates for Google Docs are free, easy to fill out, and feature a slate of sleek, contemporary designs. To complete your application, pair your resume with one of the many Google Docs cover letter templates available online.

What’s unique about this template?

The Swiss template leaves ample white space on the left side, making section headings stand out and keeping the content aligned in a single striking column.

The Swiss resume template features a longer education section and a special awards section, making it perfect for recent graduates looking to emphasize their academic accomplishments.

Orange text adds flair and highlights a candidate’s title and contact information
Content aligned in a single column using a standard resume format
Content Font: Lato
Name Font Size: 24

The Coral template features a straightforward format and uses its fonts to bring color and style to the design. It notably doesn’t include a resume objective, instead placing the skills section at the top of the resume template.

This template works well for job seekers who are looking for a simple design that shines a spotlight on their skill set.

Coral-colored headings that make each section stand out
Distinctive fonts that add visual interest to the page
Heading Font: Playfair Display
Name Font Size: 14

The "Online" Google Docs resume template

The Online resume template uses teal headings and design features to create a captivating aesthetic while still providing users with a classic resume layout.

This template draws attention to a candidate’s work experience, making it perfect for seasoned professionals who want to showcase the detail and depth of their experience.

A large header that will make your name stand out to employers
Centered headings that draw the eye down the page
Heading Font: Lora
Content Font: Arimo
Name Font Size: 40

The "Geometric" Google Docs resume template

The Geometric template pairs a bold resume color scheme with geometric design features to help you immediately grab the reader’s attention and make them remember you.

With its distinctive style, this template is well-suited to applicants looking for work in modern creative industries like marketing or technology.

Colorful headers that draw attention to each section
Geometric shapes that center and frame the content
Name Font Size: 20
Content Font Size: 11

CV Templates

Need two or more pages to highlight your qualifications? Try one of our CV templates. Each CV template is suitable for highly qualified jobseekers, academics, and anyone applying for work overseas. Make sure to also pair your application with one of our matching CV cover letter templates .

The "Graduate" CV template in forest green, page 1

With tasteful color options and a simple design, the “Graduate” CV template puts your education and teaching experience right at the top so it’s easy for hiring managers to see your most relevant qualifications.

Why it’s called the “Graduate CV Template”

The “Graduate” CV template places your education and teaching experience at the top of the page, making it easy for hiring managers to see where you studied and what your qualifications are. In addition, this template boasts a stylized design with a selection of subtle colors to pick from. With its standout CV header font and clean lines, the “Graduate” template succeeds at making your CV look both friendly and contemporary.

The “Graduate” CV template is the ideal choice for scholars writing an academic CV because the design showcases education above all else. However, it’s still a great pick for anyone who’d like a refreshing new design for their CV — no matter what level of experience they have — due to its fresh, modern design.

Use our software and create a CV with a premade template. Let the Genius CV builder help you make your CV fast.

Writer CV Template, brown color, image for resume templates hub page

With a unique vertical contact information bar and well-designed sections for publications and research, the “Writer” CV template is great for showing off your published works.

Why it’s called the “Writer CV Template”

The “Writer” CV template was designed — as the name suggests — with writers in mind. Specifically, it was crafted to make it simple to list and describe publications and prove to employers that their writing skills qualify them for a job opening, whether in academia or even as an artist .

If you’ve published online content as a freelance writer or articles for academic journals as an aspiring professor or researcher, the “Writer” CV template can help you showcase those writing accolades on your CV.

Research CV template, dark blue color, image for resume templates hub page

The “Research” CV template emphasizes a range of qualifications with centered header bars that visually represent each section's equal importance.

Why it’s called the “Research CV Template”

Our “Research” CV template highlights publications and research, two vital sections in CVs for scientists and other research-focused academics. With abundant space to provide more context on these areas of your background, this CV template makes it easy to outline the depth of your professional knowledge and describe your achievements.

Published professionals, professors with a strong research background, or anyone who’s published academic papers or made contributions to research are advised to use the Research CV template. It’s structured for such an audience, and lets them best highlight their professional background.

The “Harvard” CV template was designed to impress. With colored headers that draw attention to content sections and institutions, it’s perfect for name-dropping a prestigious university.

Why it’s called the “Harvard CV Template”

Created to impress university committees with its modern, formal layout, the “Harvard” CV template can help you in your quest for acceptance into even the most prestigious institutions.

The gradient line beneath your name and job title immediately draws the hiring manager’s eye toward the top of your CV, where your teaching experience is highlighted. Additionally, each work history entry uses a column CV format that cleanly separates your information, making it easy to read.

The “Harvard” CV template is the perfect choice for candidates who want a formal, contemporary look for their CV while emphasizing their teaching experience. It’s also ideal for medical school and graduate school applicants because it focuses on your academic achievements.

Microsoft Word Templates

Using Microsoft Word is one of the best ways to make a professional resume. These free MS Word resume templates are easy to fill out and include a range of eye-catching designs. Remember to pair your resume with one of these matching Word cover letter templates as well.

The Polished resume template made for Microsoft Word

With bright red section headers, this template will help you stand out.

This MS Word resume template takes a bold approach, with its vibrant colors and thick section headers. However, the rest of the template’s design is pretty traditional, making it appropriate for various jobs.

The “Polished” resume template’s bold design suits candidates in middle management or sales.

Bright red headers draws attention
Spot in the header for your initials or a headshot
Heading Font: Franklin Gothic Demi
Content Font: Rockwell
Name Font Size: 25

This colorful template for Google adds some personality to your job application.

This colorful resume template for Microsoft Word is the perfect choice for anyone looking to inject some personality and originality into their resume.

The “Playful” template for Word features bright graphics and a spot for a headshot, making it appropriate for graphic designers or photographers.

Large icons for your contact information
Bright, colorful design
Heading Font: Calibri
Content Font: Calibri
Name Font Size: 26

The Swiss resume template from Microsoft Word

A full-color background makes this resume template a good choice for designers.

A full-color background makes this resume template immediately stand out. With its bright color and simple, bold headers, the template pulls inspiration from modern Scandinavian design principles.

The Swiss resume template is ideal if you’re applying for jobs in design or advertising because of its modern appearance.

Yellow background grabs attention
Simple, easy-to-read layout

Simple and modern, this template gives your job application some pop.

Crisp and Clean

Heading Font: Univers
Content Font: Univers
Name Font Size: 36
Content Font Size: 9

Examples of Different Resume Formats

Chronological.

A chronological resume organizes a candidate’s work history with examples of their most recent jobs at the top.

Combination

A combination resume example features a full experience section with an equally long skills section.

Functional resume samples focus on skills rather than work history, making them best if you’re changing careers.

Infographic

An infographic resume example uses visual elements to highlight a candidate’s creative qualifications.

Most qualified jobseekers have one-page resumes. Do you know how to fit all of your details onto one page?

A two-page resume is long by necessity, and only includes relevant examples of skills and work experience.

Presenting your qualifications on TikTok is a great way to grab attention and show off your social media prowess.

Video resumes can make your job application more memorable, and also let you highlight your software skills.

Free Copy-Paste Resume Template

How to use our free templates, additional templates (by file type).

Using a resume template makes it easy to create a professional application that follows standard resume formatting . Plus, templates are pre-formatted so you can quickly edit the content with your personal information. This is especially helpful when making multiple resumes to target a range of different job openings.

Text Template

Learning exactly how to make a resume will improve your chances of getting interviews in 2024 and beyond. Copy, paste, and fill in our blank resume template below to learn the fundamentals of writing your own resume so you’ll never be far from your next job offer.

FIRST AND LAST NAME

Email: [email protected] Phone: 123 456 7890 Location: City, State, Zip Code Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile

Resume Objective

Motivated [industry name] professional with [# of years] years of on-the-job experience. Looking to apply my industry knowledge and relevant skill-set at [Company Name] as your newest [job title you’re applying for]. Capable employee comfortable with [relevant skill #1] and [relevant skill #2], aiming to help [Company Name] grow and reach its business objectives now and into the future.

Work Experience

Write out a bulleted list of your accomplishments
Use action verbs to start each bullet (like “organized” or “managed”)
Add numbers to any bullet points you can to show your positive impact on the job
List relevant accomplishments from an earlier job (usually whatever job you had before your most recent job)
Use past tense verbs to describe your achievements and duties in the role if you don’t work here anymore

Educational Background

Skills and Certifications

List skills and certifications related to the job you’re applying for
Include hard skills (like languages, computer software, etc.) first
Include soft skills (like team player or communication) only if you have space

Hobbies and Interests

Interested in anything related to the job you want? Have any related hobbies? List them here
These final details highlight your potential culture fit, may make you seem more interesting, and might be brought up during an interview

More of a visual learner? Watch the video below for an explanation of how to download and fill out all of the above resume templates for free, presented by Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) Geoff Scott :

Video Walkthrough

Looking for a different kind of resume template? We also have blank resume templates you can copy and fill in with your own information.

Additionally, we provide resume templates for a variety of specific software, such as:

LibreOffice resume templates
Resume templates for Apple Pages
Resume templates for LaTeX

Make a resume in minutes

Pick your template, fill in a few details, and our builder will do the rest.

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Having trouble getting attention from hiring managers and recruiters? It may be due to your resume. Upload your current resume into our software and we'll help you format it using one of our professional templates.

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resume sample

Resume Templates in Action

Want to see what our various resume templates look like filled out? Check out our resume examples. Find samples in your industry to determine what template styles best suit the job you've got your eye on.

Career & Life Situations

Not sure hot to make a resume for your specific background? Our career and life-situation resume templates include downloadable examples and writing instructions to guide you every step of the way.

Examples By Job Type

Below you’ll find some of our most popular industry-specific resume examples, which you can download for free and use as a template when creating your own resume.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you have a professional template for your resume, we’ll answer some related questions and provide essential resume tips for how to put together a job-winning application.

Why should I use a resume template for my job application?

You should use a resume template for your job because a poorly-structured resume can distract from the content, which is the most important part.

Templates eliminate time spent on formatting and provide you with an attractive, well-formatted resume layout that meets industry standards. Simply fill out your template and start sending it to employers.

Why shouldn’t I use a resume template?

Some job seekers believe that employers frown upon the use of templates, but that’s not true. Resume templates are just an easy way to give your application an attractive design and help you organize your information.

However, many people still prefer not to use a template. If, for example, you have a knack for graphic design and want to create your own one-of-a-kind resume, then using a template isn’t for you.

If that’s the case, you can make a resume in Microsoft Word or Google Docs without a template. But to help you do this, we suggest learning how to make a resume properly first, and using a resume outline to help guide you through the process — just so you include all the essential information.

Should I use a resume template with a photo?

You shouldn’t use a resume template with a photo if you’re applying for jobs in the United States or the UK because it’s seen as unprofessional and could potentially lead to hiring discrimination. The only exceptions are positions where your physical appearance is important for the work, such as acting or modeling.

However, if you’re applying for work in Europe or most other parts of the world, you should include a photo on your resume. In the majority of countries, including a photo on your resume or CV is standard practice and is expected by employers. Whether you need a picture resume template or something more standard, we have every template you might need on our website.

What’s the best resume template?

There’s no “best” resume template. Each job-seeker has their own skill-set and qualifications, so there’s no single template that perfectly fits the mold for everyone.

To find the best template for you, first consider what format is right for your professional background, as well as what resume design suits your needs.

Our team designed each resume template to meet the requirements of different types of job seekers. From entry-level applicants to experienced professionals and even executives, we aspire to have the perfect template for every candidate.

If you can’t find a resume template from our template library, Google also provides a variety of Google Docs resume templates that help you make a resume fast.

How should a resume look in 2024?

In 2024, a resume should look neat and organized. Specifically, your resume should be easy to read, use a clean resume design , and clearly highlight why you’re qualified for the role.

Avoid unnecessary details like irrelevant work experience, graphics, images, or charts (however, tasteful design elements like graphics to demonstrate skill levels on a resume are fine). If your resume looks professional and showcases your relevant experience and skill set, you’ll have no trouble landing interviews this year.

What should I include on my resume?

There are 5 main components to put on your resume , but each resume will include different information because everyone has their own unique work experience, skill sets, and qualifications. At a minimum, resumes must have the following standard sections:

Contact information
Resume introduction
Resume education section
Work experience
Relevant resume skills & certifications

All other information is optional, and what you add depends on your level of work experience, professional strengths, and resume format . For example, if you have little job experience but have logged many hours volunteering, you should include a dedicated section for volunteer work on your resume .

How long should a resume be?

Your resume should be one page long. However, if you have substantial work experience and relevant skills, your resume length can be 2-3 pages to cover the breadth of your experience. In general, employers prefer a one-page resume because they want to quickly see if your experience aligns with the requirements of the role. So try to condense your resume if possible.

How do I format my resume?

To format your resume properly, follow these basic guidelines:

Left-align the content (even if headers are centered)
Use 1″ margins
Keep your resume to 1 page (except in special circumstances)
Select a professional font
Use 10-12 point font for the body content
Make sure each section has a header
Use bullet points to give more info about your work experience
Don’t use first-person pronouns
Use present tense to describe a position you currently hold and past tense to describe previously-held positions

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COMMENTS

Including Personal Details on Your Resume: Examples and Tips
Tips for including personal details on a resume. Here are three ways you can use personal details effectively on your resume: 1. Customize personal details for each job. If you're applying to multiple jobs, you can adjust some of the personal details in your resume to show your qualifications for each position.
Personal Information in Resume: What to Include in 2024
Within a couple of minutes, you'll know everything about the personal information in your resume. This guide will show you: Sample resume with personal information that's better than 9 out of 10 resumes. How to write personal information in a resume to make it relevant. Tips and examples of what personal information should be included in a ...
Resume Personal Statement: How to Write & 7+ Good Examples
Otherwise, your target employer may worry your focus would be divided between your work for their company and your side hustles. 3. Consider your audience. Tailor every word of your personal statement to your audience — the recruiter, hiring manager, and anyone else at your target employer who might read your resume.
10 Resume Profile Examples (And How to Write Yours)
Keep it concise. Your resume profile should be no more than four sentences or bullet points, and should not have more than 500 characters. Remember recruiters read dozens of resumes daily, so you don't want yours to be unnecessarily long and tiring. 2. Find the format the suits you best.
15 Good Resume Profile Examples & How to Write Yours
Here's an example of what the middle section of a resume profile should look like: Managed a $350,000 budget at my previous position, with a 15% reduction in costs over two years. Conducted in-depth risk analysis, helping to guide the company toward 20% annual growth. 3. Industry-relevant skills.
Personal Details You Should Include on Your Resume
The following list explains which elements of your personal information candidates should include and how to go about it: Full name: This should be the header or title of your resume, so there is no need to rewrite your name in the contact information section. Phone number: If you have more than one, choose the one on which you are most ...
Mastering Personal Details in a Resume: What to Include and Exclude
With an eye to the overall design of your resume, write your first name and surname in bold and large size the top of your resume. 💡 Pro tip: It is not recommended to put "Resume", "CV", or "Curriculum Vitae" on the top of your personal details. When you place your name on the top of the CV, it becomes the focus.
What to Put for Additional Information on a Resume +Examples
Additional Information On a Resume Sample—Publications Section. Publications. Lowe, Tiffany R. "Marketing 3.1." Marketing Theory 89 (2021): 15-69. ... When you apply for non-experience or junior roles, employers look into your personal attributes and qualities rather than qualifications. Professional experience is a cherry on top, but a cream ...
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A resume personal statement should include: Between 50 and 200 words in 3 - 4 sentences. Your title or function, for example "Junior developer" or "Passionate hospitality manager". An opening hook. Soft skills and hard skills. Impressive facts and stats. Your short and/or long-term goals.
How to Write a CV Personal Statement + Examples
Here's how to write a personal statement step-by-step: 1. Say Who You Are in the First Sentence. The first sentence of your personal profile must show that you're a serious candidate for the job. So, skip your zodiac sign or your favorite football team, even if they're a big part of who you are.
17 resume personal statement examples 2024
Resume templates 17 resume personal statement examples. To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look, and what should be included.. Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates - if you are experienced, check out our resume summary examples instead.
Personal Information: What You Should Include in Your Résumé
Where to include personal information in your résumé. Your contact details should be placed at the top of your résumé along with your name. Add your name at the top of the résumé in large, bold text, with your contact details clearly listed below in a smaller font. You can also include them as a header so that they are visible at the top ...
How to List Contact Information on a Resume (With Examples)
Phone number. If employers choose not to use email to update you on the application process, they'll likely call you. In case you're not sure how to write your phone number on your resume, here's an example showing the correct phone number format to use: (801) 840-9352.
Should You Put Personal Information In Your Resume?
Don't provide too much personal information: "This may seem obvious, but do not post Social Security numbers, references, or any other detailed personal information," says Germaise. Foley strongly advises against including a Social Security number or birth date on a resume—both can be used to steal your identity.
What personal details to put on a CV (2024 Guide + Examples)
7 February 2023. A common question we are often asked is, "What personal details should I put on my CV?" The short answer is that the personal details section of a good CV should only contain the following four pieces of personal information of the applicant; name, home address, telephone number and e-mail address.. It is optional to include a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website.
What personal details to include in your CV + 6 examples
The essential details that you must always include are: Name - Your full name. Professional title - Your job title (e.g. "Junior Doctor" or "Marketing Director") Location - The general area you reside in (e.g. London, Edinburgh etc.) Email address - [email protected].
Best Resume Examples to Get a Job in 2024
Use our industrial-strength resume examples to get you on your way to manufacturing a winning resume. Inventory Manager. Machine Operator. Mechanic. Production Supervisor. Supply Chain Manager. Warehouse. Warehouse Associate. Warehouse Manager.
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Decision Making Examples for Your Resume: "Evaluated and selected vendors that cut costs by 15%". "Analyzed client feedback to drive product improvements". "Identified risks to prevent potential issues down the line". "Chose effective marketing strategies that improved brand awareness". "Led team meetings to decide on project ...
430+ Resume Examples for Any Job or Experience Level
Strong Professional Summary This resume opens with a compelling summary that highlights the candidate's experience and achievements. This introduction effectively helps attract the interest of galleries or potential clients. Detailed Artistic Experience Exhibitions and commissions are some of the most relevant achievements for a working artist. By creating separate sections for these ...
How to Write a Professional Resume Summary? [+Examples]
Here's how you can write your professional resume summary as a student/fresh graduate: State your field of study, degree, and GPA (if it's above 3.0). Mention relevant skills gained in internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer work. Add related coursework or school projects.
550+ Free Resume Templates for 2024
2024. Featuring a modern design and compact layout, the "2024" template strikes a balance between eye-catching and professional. Classic. Formal but not stuffy, our "Classic" resume template is well-organized, suitable for any industry, and lets your content shine. Windsor.

10 Resume Profile Examples (And How to Write Yours)

What is a resume profile?

What’s the difference between a resume summary and a profile?

Is a resume profile necessary? Who should use it?

What to include in a resume profile

What are recruiters looking for in a resume profile?

How to write a profile for a resume : 5 steps

1. Keep it concise

2. Find the format the suits you best

3. Consider the position you're applying for

4. Quantify your experiences and accomplishments

5. Show some personality

Resume profile: Examples

Career changer

Recent college graduate or entry-level candidate

Account Executive (Sales)

Customer Service Representative

Human Resources Manager

Marketing Manager

Office Administrator

Project Manager

Web Developer

Personal Details You Should Include on Your Resume

Personal Information to Include on Your Resume

How to Format Personal Information on Your Resume

What to Avoid Including in Your Personal Data

Related Posts

Mastering Personal Details in a Resume: What to Include and Exclude

Should I Put Personal Details in a Resume/CV?

Personal Information in a Resume Samples

5 Essential Personal Details to be Included in a Resume:

5 Optional Personal Details to be Included in a Resume:

What Not to Include in Personal Info on a Resume

How to Format Personal Details on a Resume

2. Professional Title

3. Phone Number

4. Email Address

5. LinkedIn and social media accounts

Graphic Designer

Video Editor

General Manager

Software Engineer

Administrative Assistant

Fashion Designer

More Career and Recruitment Resources

Resume Builder

More Articles you might be interested in

How to Write a Resume Personal Statement

What is a resume personal statement?

The personal statement format

Align your resume’s personal statement with the job description

Position of the personal statement

Plan to write your resume personal statement last

Check out resume personal statement examples

Writing your personal profile resume

Polish your personal statement and experiment

Common mistakes in personal statements

What do employers expect from your resume opening statement?

Key takeaways

CVs & Résumés

Personal Information: What You Should Include in Your Résumé

Why you shouldn’t include personal information in your résumé.

It’s an outdated practice

It opens you up to discrimination and bias

It goes against anti-discrimination laws

When it’s okay to include personal information in your résumé

You are applying to jobs in certain countries

You have an acting or modelling résumé

You have a website or portfolio

You are applying to emergency/armed services

Your hobbies and professional experience overlap

Types of personal information you can include in your résumé

What personal information you should always include in your résumé

Where to include personal information in your résumé

Key takeaways

Getting personal on your resume

Determine your risk tolerance

Find balance between discretion and disclosure

Information-protection strategies

Search smart

40 Resume Summary Examples to Help You Write Yours 