Resume Header: What to Include + 8 Examples (2026)

Your resume header is the first thing recruiters see, and the first place where Applicant Tracking Systems look for critical information. With 97.4% of Fortune 500 companies using a detectable ATS in 2026 and recruiters spending only 7.4 seconds reviewing each resume, getting your header wrong could mean instant rejection before anyone reads your qualifications.

What To Include In a Resume Header

A resume header is the section at the top of your resume containing your name and contact information. Of all the resume sections, it's the simplest: it tells recruiters who you are and how to reach you if they want to schedule an interview.

Despite its simplicity, the resume header is where many job seekers make formatting mistakes that confuse ATS systems or create unprofessional first impressions.

A professional resume header includes:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• City and state (or country for international applications)
• LinkedIn profile URL (optional but recommended)
• Portfolio or personal website (if relevant to your industry)

What doesn't belong in your header:

• Full street address (privacy concern and outdated practice)
• Unprofessional email addresses (e.g. cool_max82@aol.com)
• Multiple phone numbers
• Social media links unrelated to your profession
• Photos (unless applying in countries where they're standard)
• Age, marital status, or other personal details

How to Create a Resume Header

1. Choose Your Name Format

Your name should be the most prominent text in your header. Use your full professional name—the one you use in professional settings and on LinkedIn.

Best practices:

• Use 16-20pt font size (larger than your body text)
• Bold your name to make it stand out
• Avoid nicknames unless that's how you're professionally known
• Include credentials only if they're directly relevant (e.g., "Jane Smith, CPA" or "John Doe, PhD"), and list the rest with your other certifications on a resume

Example:

2. Add Your Phone Number

Include one phone number where recruiters can reliably reach you. Make sure your voicemail is professional and has space for new messages.

Format options:

• (512) 555-0147
• 512-555-0147
• 512.555.0147

All three formats work with ATS systems. Choose one and use it consistently across all application materials.

Pro tip: If you're applying internationally, include your country code: +1 (512) 555-0147

3. Create a Professional Email Address

Your email address should be simple, professional, and easy to type. Hiring managers will use this to send interview invitations and follow-up communications.

Professional format:

• firstname.lastname@email.com
• firstnamelastname@email.com
• firstname.middleinitial.lastname@email.com

Avoid:

• Nicknames (partygirl2024@email.com)
• Numbers that look like birth years (john1985@email.com)
• Outdated email providers that suggest you haven't updated your contact info in years

Create a dedicated job search email if your current address isn't professional. Gmail, Outlook, and ProtonMail are all acceptable providers.

4. Include Location

You don't need your full street address on your resume- it's a privacy risk and takes up valuable space. City and state (or city and country for international applications) is sufficient.

Format examples:

• Austin, TX
• Toronto, ON, Canada
• Remote (if you're specifically seeking remote positions)
• San Francisco, CA (Open to relocation)
• Austin, TX (Relocating March 2027)

If you're studying or working in the US on a visa, list the US city where you live now; an international student resume follows the same location conventions as any other US resume.

Why location matters: Recruiters use location to assess commute feasibility, time zone compatibility, and whether relocation assistance might be needed. ATS systems often filter candidates by location, so include it even if you're willing to relocate.

5. Add Your LinkedIn Profile URL

A LinkedIn profile link is now standard practice for most professional roles. It gives recruiters additional context about your experience and shows you maintain an active professional presence.

How to customize your LinkedIn URL:

• Go to your LinkedIn profile (by clicking on the 'Me' icon on the top right)
• Click "Edit" (pencil icon) next to your name
• Then click on "Edit contact info"
• Customize your URL to: linkedin.com/in/yourname
• Use this shortened URL on your resume

Format on resume:

• linkedin.com/in/sarahjohnson (without the https://)
• Keep it simple and readable

6. Include Portfolio or Website Links

For certain industries like design, software engineering, writing, marketing, photography- a portfolio link is essential. For others, it's optional but can strengthen your application. If you don't have a portfolio site yet, list your projects on a resume in their own section instead.

Include a portfolio link if:

• Your work is visual or requires demonstration (designers, software developers, writers)
• You have a personal brand or thought leadership presence
• The job description specifically requests work samples
• Your website showcases relevant projects or case studies

Format:

• yourname.com
• github.com/yourname (for developers)
• behance.net/yourname (for designers)

7. Add a Job Title or Headline (Optional)

A short job title under your name, such as "Senior Data Analyst", tells recruiters at a glance which role you're targeting. Add one when you have a clear target and your recent experience supports it, or when you're changing careers and want to frame your new direction.

Keep it under about 10 words, and match the job posting's title when it accurately describes you. Strictly speaking, a header and a resume headline aren't the same thing: the header is your name and contact block, while the headline is a one-line pitch that can sit inside it or directly below it.

Example:

Once your header is in place, the next thing recruiters read is your resume summary, so make sure it picks up where your name and title leave off.

Resume Header Formatting

Whichever resume format you choose, your header will typically follow one of 3 layouts:

1. Standard Header Layout

This centered format is the most common and looks professional. It is also the safest to use for ATS compatibility.

2. Left-Aligned Header Layout

Some job seekers prefer left-aligned headers, which also work well with ATS:

3. Two-Column Header Layout

Two-column headers can look modern, but they're the riskiest layout. You can't know which ATS a company uses, and some systems read columns out of order, which can scramble your contact details. Use the standard or left-aligned layout instead:

Resume Header on Page Two

If your resume runs to two pages, repeat your name at the top of page two, optionally followed by "Page 2", so a printed or forwarded copy stays together. Type it as regular text at the top of the page body rather than in Word's header or footer area, for the same reason your main header belongs in the body: many ATS systems skip those areas.

Common Resume Header Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Using Text Boxes or Headers/Footers

Why it's a problem: Many ATS systems can't read text inside text boxes, headers, or footers. Your contact information might be completely invisible to the system. Knowing how ATS works explains why: the parser reads the main body of the document, and content placed elsewhere can be dropped.

Solution: Place your header in the main body of your document using standard text formatting.

Mistake #2: Including Unnecessary Personal Information

What to avoid:

• Date of birth or age
• Marital status
• Social Security number
• Religious affiliation
• Political affiliations
• Physical characteristics

Why: This information isn't relevant to your qualifications and can introduce unconscious bias. Employers avoid collecting this information to protect themselves from discrimination claims, so including it can hurt your chances.

Mistake #3: Unprofessional Email Addresses

Email addresses like "partyking2024@email.com" or "hotchick85@email.com" immediately undermine your credibility.

Quick fix: Create a new email address using your name. It takes five minutes and dramatically improves your professional image.

Mistake #4: Broken or Incorrect Links

Common issues:

• LinkedIn URLs that lead to error pages
• Portfolio links that go to "under construction" pages
• Typos in email addresses or phone numbers

Solution: Test every link before submitting your resume. Send yourself a test email. Call your phone number to verify it's correct.

Mistake #5: Inconsistent Formatting

Using different fonts, sizes, or styles within your header looks unprofessional. Keeping formatting simple and consistent is also one of the easiest ways to optimize your resume for ATS.

Best practice: Use the same font throughout your header (and ideally throughout your entire resume). Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica.

Resume Header Examples by Situation

The right header depends on where you are in your career. Here are eight header-only examples you can adapt.

1. Student or recent graduate: keep it simple, and add LinkedIn so recruiters can see your activities and coursework.

2. Career changer: put your target title under your name so the new direction is clear before anyone reads your career change resume in full.

3. Relocating candidate: list your target city with the month you'll arrive.

4. Remote-only candidate: say "Remote" and add your base city so recruiters can check time zones.

5. Licensed professional: add the license after your name when the job requires it.

6. Designer or developer: add your portfolio and GitHub, written without https://.

7. Executive with a headline: a headline under your name frames your level and specialty before the reader reaches your summary.

8. International applicant in the US: use the US city you live in and a US phone number, and leave off your photo, date of birth, nationality, and visa status.

Resume Templates With ATS-Friendly Headers

Below, you will find some of the most popular resume templates illustrating how the header is structured. Each one is among our free resume templates and uses an ATS-friendly header layout.

1. Professional Resume Template

Who Should Use the Professional Resume Template?

This template is best for candidates seeking corporate roles, finance, consulting, business operations, and project management roles.

2. Simple Resume Template

Who Should Use the Simple Resume Template?

This template is ideal for entry-level roles, career changers, applicants with straightforward career paths, and industries preferring conservative presentation.

3. Modern Resume Template

Who Should Use the Modern Resume Template?

This template is best for tech companies, creative agencies, startups, marketing roles, and design positions.

4. Creative Resume Template

Who Should Use the Creative Resume Template?

This template is best suited for candidates seeking design roles, creative positions, or positions in marketing, advertising, or media.

5. Technical ATS Resume Template

Who Should Use the Technical Resume Template?

This template is ideal for software engineers, data scientists, IT professionals, cybersecurity specialists, and technical architects.

Additional Examples

For more layouts, our ATS resume examples cover over 20 resume templates across different industries and career levels, along with free sources for downloading ATS-friendly resume templates.

Resume Header Checklist

Use this checklist to verify your resume header is optimized for both ATS and human reviewers:

Contact Information:

• Full professional name (no nicknames)
• One phone number with professional voicemail
• Professional email address (firstname.lastname format)
• City and state/province (no full street address)
• Customized LinkedIn URL (if you have an active profile)
• Portfolio/website link (only if relevant to your industry)

Formatting:

• Header is in the main document body (not in header/footer section)
• No text boxes, tables, or columns that might confuse ATS
• Consistent font throughout header (Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica recommended)
• Name is larger and bolder than other header text
• Contact details use standard separators (| or line breaks)
• All links are tested and working

What's NOT Included:

• No full street address
• No unprofessional email addresses
• No personal information (age, marital status, photo)
• No broken or outdated links
• No irrelevant social media profiles

Final Check:

• Information matches your LinkedIn profile exactly
• Phone number and email are correct (test them!)
• Header takes up no more than 10% of page space
• Format is clean and easy to read at a glance