What Personal Details to Include in Your Resume in 2025

February 13, 2025

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Key Personal Details in Your Resume That Will Land You Your Dream Job in 2025

Congratulations, you’ve just found your dream job that aligns perfectly with your skills and aspirations!

The excitement is palpable as you prepare to submit your application. However, as you update your resume, a crucial question arises: What personal details should I include? 

In India, including personal details in resumes has become increasingly important and scrutinised. This is especially true since most hiring managers spend an average of 7.4 seconds scanning a resume. Which means you only have a few seconds to make a solid impression.

In 2025, the personal details you include are among the most critical elements that can make or break your resume. According to some experts, they’re even more important than your skills and work experience. The correct personal information helps potential employers contact you and sets the tone for your professional identity.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the essential personal details to include in your resume, why they matter, and how to format them effectively to make a lasting impression. 

But first, let’s understand why exactly you should include your personal details in your resume in 2025.

Importance of Including Personal Details on Your Resume

Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting your career, how you present your personal details in your resume will affect your chances of securing that job interview. Let’s break down the importance of personal details even further:

  • To Identify Yourself - Your name and contact details are your unique identifiers. Employers need to know who you are and how to reach you. A resume with missing or incorrect personal details can lead to confusion and may cost you a chance at an interview.
  • To Enhance Your Resume - Personal details also enhance your resume by adding credibility. A well-structured resume with complete personal information and relevant skills is more professional and reliable. It shows the employer that you're organised and detail-oriented.
  • To Ensure You Are Reachable - Another reason to include personal details in your resume is to ensure that the employer can reach you. Whether it's an interview call, email, or inquiry about your application, providing clear and accurate contact information ensures that you don't miss out on any opportunities.
  • To Use Keywords Appropriately - Including relevant keywords in your personal details can improve your resume's visibility. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), so ensuring that your resume contains the right keywords can help it get noticed.
  • To Indicate Cultural Fit - Lastly, including certain details, such as language proficiency or your professional title, can help employers quickly assess whether you're the right fit for their team.

Do you think your resume has the perfect blend of personal and professional details to land that interview? Get it reviewed by top experts in your field on Topmate, get actionable feedback, and make your resume shine. Start polishing your resume today!

Finally, let's discuss the essential personal details you should always include in your resume to give potential employers a clear picture of who you are. 

Essential Personal Details to Include in Resumes

Not all personal details are equal, and it's important to understand what should and shouldn't make it to your resume. Here are the essential details that should always be included:

1. Prominently Displayed Full Name

Your full name is the most important element on your resume—it’s the first piece of information that hiring managers will look at, and it establishes your professional identity. How you present your name can influence how you are perceived, and it should be treated as a key visual component of your resume layout.

Formatting Tips:

  • Placement - Depending on the format you choose, position your name at the top of the resume, centred or aligned to the left.
  • Font Size - Your name should be between 16 and 20 pt, depending on the overall layout of your resume. The larger font size will make it easy for the reader to spot and remember your name.
  • Font Style - Stick to clean, professional fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. 

2. Complete Contact Information 

Accurate and professional contact information is needed to make it easy for hiring managers to reach you. Even the most impressive qualifications can go unnoticed without clear and reliable contact details. For this, providing both a phone number and email address is critical.

Phone Number - Your phone number is the primary way employers will try to contact you for interviews, so it needs to be accurate and accessible. Ensure that the phone number you provide is one you check regularly and which can easily be reached.

Email Address - A professional email address is equally important. It should reflect your name and, if possible, your profession. Avoid quirky or informal email addresses such as ‘coolguy123@email.com’ or ‘princess4ever@email.com’ since they can make you appear unprofessional. Studies show that 76% of resumes are discarded simply due to unprofessional email addresses.

3. Residential Address

While the necessity of listing a full address on your resume is debatable, it can still be beneficial in certain scenarios. Listing just your city and state rather than your full home address strikes a good balance between providing useful information and maintaining privacy. This helps potential employers gauge your proximity to the job location. If you’re applying for a remote role, it’s best to skip this section. Also, if you’re open to relocating, mention that in your resume.

Having established the essential personal details, it's now important to highlight your professional online presence that can bolster your resume.

Professional Platforms and Additional Information

Integrating professional platforms into your resume can significantly enhance your visibility and credibility. Let's see which details you can include to bolster your professional image:

1. LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn has become an indispensable tool for professionals worldwide. With nearly 87% of recruiters using LinkedIn to find and screen candidates, including your LinkedIn profile link on your resume is smart thinking in 2025. It can provide employers with more detailed information about your work history, skills, endorsements, and professional connections. Be sure that your LinkedIn profile aligns with the information on your resume, presenting a consistent professional image.

2. Personal Website or Portfolio

A personal website serves as a dynamic portfolio, offering a platform to display your projects, achievements, and professional milestones. This particularly benefits professionals in creative fields such as design, writing, or photography. This gives employers a chance to see examples of your work in action and helps demonstrate your skills beyond what’s listed on your resume. For instance, graphic designers can showcase their design projects, while writers can display their published articles or blogs.

3. Professional Blogs

If you’re a journalist, content writer, or marketing professional, maintaining a professional blog enables you to share insights and personal experiences with the world. This positions you as a thought leader in your field. Linking this professional blog or any published articles can enhance your resume. It also provides potential employers real-world examples of your writing, ideas, and expertise.

Having the right personal details in your resume can get you referred by industry professionals. Update your resume and get a job referral to companies like Google and Microsoft through Topmate’s expert network. 

While adding these details can significantly enhance your resume, it's important to consider other personal details that can further prove your suitability for a role.

Optional Personal Details to Consider

While some personal details are essential, others can be included as options to make your resume stand out.

1. Professional Title

Your professional title succinctly represents your expertise and the value you bring to a company. Including it at the top of your resume (below your name) can quickly inform potential employers of your current role, setting the tone for the rest of the resume. For example, ‘Senior Product Manager’ or ‘Lead Software Engineer’ gives employers immediate insight into your qualifications.

2. Languages Known

India's rich linguistic diversity means multilingualism is common and sometimes even expected in the professional realm. If you speak multiple languages, be sure to mention them on your resume. Additionally, you can include language certifications, such as TOEFL or IELTS, to provide additional credibility. Proficiency in multiple languages can open various professional opportunities and make your resume more noticeable to employers. 

However, not all information contributes positively to your job search. Now, let's explore the personal details you should avoid including in your resume.

Personal Details to Avoid from Resumes

While including personal details generally enhances your resume, certain information can have the opposite effect. Let’s see what personal details are best left out of your resume:

  • Personal Identifiers - Including your nationality, gender, marital status, religion, or sexual orientation in the resume can unintentionally open doors for bias. While India has made progress in reducing discrimination, these identifiers can still lead to prejudices in hiring processes. 
  • Applicant Photo - While some industries may require a photo, in most cases, including one can lead to unconscious biases. Studies show that skin colour, attire, or even a smiling photo can affect perceptions of your professionalism and suitability for the role. Interestingly, 88% of resumes are rejected simply because they have a picture on them.
  • Date of Birth - The date of birth is a personal detail typically unnecessary for job applications. Excluding it can help prevent any form of age discrimination, which still exists in India despite progressive reforms.

A well-crafted resume gets you through the door, but your interview performance seals the deal. Explore expert-led mock interviews on Topmate to turn your resume into results. Practice with professionals, get real-time feedback, and boost your confidence to land your dream job. Prepare like a pro today!

Now that we’ve covered what personal details to avoid, it’s essential to ensure that the remaining information on your resume is presented in a way that’s both professional and easy to read.

Formatting Your Personal Details in Resume

A well-formatted resume highlights your qualifications and makes it easier for the hiring manager to read. Here’s how to format your personal details effectively:

  • Ensure Your Name is Well Highlighted - Your name should be the largest text on your resume, ensuring it stands out. Write it in a large, clear font at the top to make it easy for the hiring manager to identify you at a glance.
  • Separate Each Contact Detail for Clarity - Use bullet points or simple formatting to clearly separate your contact details (email, phone, and LinkedIn). This helps the employer find your information quickly.
  • Avoid Hard-to-Read Cursive Fonts - Cursive fonts may look stylish but can be hard to read, especially for professional documents like resumes. Stick to clean, simple, and easy-to-read fonts, such as Arial or Calibri.
  • Maintain Consistency in Font and Style - The font and style of your resume should be consistent throughout, maintaining a professional appearance. Avoid using different fonts in different sections of your resume.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, a resume is more than just a list of qualifications. It’s your first handshake with potential employers–a reflection of who you are as a professional. The personal details you include play a vital role in this. By ensuring that the personal details in your resume are clear, your professional identity is defined, and your formatting is impeccable, you enhance your chances of standing out to potential employers.

At Topmate, we understand the impact of a well-crafted resume. We offer professional resume review services that ensure your resume is flawless and strategically designed to increase your chances of landing that crucial interview. Our experts provide personalised feedback on the formatting, structure, and personal details that will make your resume stand out in today’s competitive job market.

If you’re ready to make your resume speak volumes about yourself, have your resume reviewed for free by professionals who know what employers are looking for. For more guidance and expertise, you can reach out to our team of experts anytime.

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