First Things First: Your Resume Heading
Your resume heading, which includes your name and contact information, is arguably the most important part of your resume.
Branding
Your resume is a form of self-marketing. Be sure to consistently brand yourself if you have not already been doing so. Your name is the most important piece of information on your resume. If you are Barbara Scott on LinkedIn, make sure you are also Barbara Scott on your resume. If you choose to include your middle initial, go by Barb instead of Barbara, or use your full legal name, any of these options are fine as long as you are consistent as you build your brand and professional reputation.
In your heading and throughout your resume, order information based on importance (when reverse chronological order is not necessary). Your name should appear first and be more prominent than the rest of your contact information. Use a slightly larger font size and consider bolding your name as well.
To best protect your identity, you may choose to list only your phone number, email address, and LinkedIn page. Although employers typically contact you by phone or email to arrange an interview, contact information is traditionally listed in the order that communication has progressed over time. If you include a mailing address, list your address first, followed by your phone number, email address, and LinkedIn URL.
Some Common Mistakes to Avoid in the Heading:
- Having a different name on your resume than on your LinkedIn account. For example: Barbara Scott on your LinkedIn profile and Barb O. Scott on your resume. AI may recognize the names discrepancies as two different applicants.
- Using abbreviations for Avenue, Lane, or Street. Avoid abbreviations, as they can give recruiters the impression that you are taking shortcuts or being careless, which is not the message you want to send.
- Omitting your zip code.
- Listing the full state name in your heading, then using state abbreviations throughout the rest of your resume. It is best to be consistent.
- Omitting your area code or including a phone number that is no longer in service. Either mistake means an employer will not be able to contact you.
- Listing an unprofessional email address. Most of us recognize when an email address is inappropriate. Even subtle messaging leaves an impression. For example, HeyJen@gmail.com or FunnyFrancis@gmail.com are not offensive, but neither are they professional. Use your Penn State email address, or more importantly, an email account you check regularly.
- Including “https://www.” and a series of numbers in your LinkedIn URL. Customize your LinkedIn public profile by:
- Going to your LinkedIn profile page.
- Clicking the pencil icon in the upper right corner under “Public profile & URL.”
- In the upper right corner, click the pencil icon next to “Edit your custom URL.”
- Remove the arbitrary numbers and letters from your default URL and make it as concise as possible.
- Transposing numbers or letters. This is a common mistake that a proofreader might not catch, so type carefully.
When space on your resume is limited, arrange your contact information across the page, Example 1, rather than down the page, Example 2.
Example 1:
Barbara Scott
(814) 333-7123, bos21@psu.edu, linkedin.com/in/barbara-o-scott
Example 2:
Barbara Scott
(814) 333-7123
bos21@psu.edu
linkedin.com/in/barbara-o-scott
Using a consistent name across professional platforms, such as LinkedIn and your resume, ensures you are not inadvertently treated as two separate applicants. Careful proofreading is essential to avoid costly errors, especially with details you are highly familiar with, such as your contact information. It can be surprisingly easy to overlook mistakes in information you know well.
