Complete Guide: How to Write the Personal Details Section in Your CV

The Personal Details section is the first impression a recruiter has of you. Although it seems simple, its correct elaboration is crucial to project professionalism, precision, and facilitate contact. This guide provides you with a practical example and expert advice to optimize this essential section, improving the overall effectiveness of your resume.

What Information to Include in the Personal Details of Your CV?

This section should be concise, relevant, and easy to scan. Include only what is necessary for an employer to identify and contact you.

Full name: Use your legal name or the one you use professionally.
Professional title: A brief descriptor (e.g., "Senior Software Engineer" or "Digital Marketing Specialist"). Synchronize it with the key vocabulary of your sector.
Contact information:
- Phone number (with country code if applicable).
- Professional email address (avoid nicknames).
- City and country of residence (full address is not necessary).
LinkedIn profile: Ensure your profile is updated and consistent with your CV.
Portfolio or relevant website: Only if it adds direct value to your application (GitHub, Behance, personal site).

Optional and Debatable Information

Some data has become obsolete or can generate unconscious bias. Carefully evaluate whether to include them:

Date of birth or age: Generally not recommended to avoid discrimination.
Marital status or nationality: Not relevant for most positions.
Photograph: Only include it if it is common practice in your country and sector. In many modern professional environments, it is omitted.
ID/National ID Number: Only if the job posting explicitly requests it. It is usually provided in later stages.

Practical Tips for an Impeccable Section

Prioritize clarity: Use a clean format and a professional and legible font.
Verify accuracy: An error in the phone number or email can cost you the opportunity. Check it twice.
Maintain consistency: The name and title you use here must match those on your LinkedIn profile and your email signature.
Optimize for ATS: Save your CV as a PDF to preserve the format, but ensure the text is selectable.
Visual structure: Place this section at the top, using simple visual elements like small icons or separators to organize the information.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Including irrelevant or overly personal data.
Using an informal or unprofessional email (e.g., superman1995@...).
Providing links to personal social networks (Facebook, Instagram) unless they are relevant to the position.
Visually overloading the section with colors, large icons, or complicated designs that distract.
Lying about location or contact details. Honesty is fundamental; find out why lying on your CV is a bad idea.

Example of a Personal Details Section

María González López
Certified Project Manager (PMP) | Agile Methodologies Specialist

📍 Madrid, Spain
📞 +34 600 123 456
✉️ maria.gonzalez.prof@email.com
🔗 linkedin.com/in/mariagonzalezpm
🌐 portfoliopm.mariagonzalez.com

Note: This example uses simple Unicode icons to improve readability. Ensure they are discreet.

Integration with the Rest of Your CV

The Personal Details are the gateway. To create a high-impact CV, this section must be complemented with:

A powerful Professional Summary that captures attention.
A section of Quantifiable Achievements in your work experience.
A clear description of your Education and Certifications.
A strategic use of adjectives and action verbs to describe your skills.
Consider adding an Additional Information section only if it adds differentiating value (languages, volunteering, publications).

Remember: a successful CV is a strategic and coherent document where every part, starting with the personal details, works together to present you as the ideal candidate.