How to Add Personal Information in a Resume: Do's and Don'ts

Many jobseekers make mistakes in choosing what information should not be added. There's a list of personal information that should not be added to a modern Australian resume: 

Never include: 

• Date of birth or age 

• Marital status 

• Religion or nationality 

• Gender 

• Photo or headshot 

• Full street address 

• Medicare or Tax File Number 

• Current salary expectations 

• Unrelated social media accounts 

In Australia, according to federal and state anti-discrimination laws, it is not allowed to ask candidates about their marital status, sexual orientation, religion, and nationality. It prevents employers from unfair treatment. 

In North America, labour laws regarding discrimination are incredibly strict. To prevent lawsuits based on race, age, or appearance, many HR departments automatically discard resumes containing headshots. 

The Top 5 Resume Mistakes That Lower Your Chances 

Making mistakes in your resume can increase your chance of getting rejected before landing an interview. Many professionals make these mistakes unknowingly. The most common mistake that job seekers make in their resume is adding an unprofessional email to their resume. An email listed as “[email protected]” sends wrong message. Create a neat, professional email for job hunting. Don’t include numbers or nick names in it. 

Before adding a phone number, make sure it is working and your voicemail greetings are set. It may sound basic, but many candidates lose opportunities due to being unreachable by potential hiring managers. 

Forgetting to customize your LinkedIn URL is another common mistake. That long string of numbers and letters looks unorganised. Take 30 seconds to personalize it to your name so that it’s clean and professional. Including too much information can also clutter your resume and make it difficult for employers to read. Every detail on your resume should be valuable. Adding information such as birthdays, marital status and religion just takes extra space. 

Formatting your contact information is important for recruiters to read it in a few seconds. Most of the job applications now are first scanned by ATS. If you use extra white spaces and unusual formatting, then your application will be rejected instantly. Don’t use fancy fonts and bold letters or vibrant colors in your resume. Use basic fonts like Arial and Calibri that can pass Application Tracking Systems. 

How to Format Your Personal Information Section

The layout of your contact details matters as much as the content. The centred header format looks polished for creative roles, while the left-aligned header is better for corporate positions and ensures ATS-friendly resume format compatibility. Both formats work. 

Write a Good Resume: Beyond Just Contact Details 

Writing a resume starts with adding the correct personal information and header information. But writing a good resume takes multiple steps to get real results. After your contact section, add a carefully crafted summary that tells hiring managers what value you bring and why they should hire you. 

It’s okay for your resume to be 3-5 pages in Australia, unlike the 1-page restriction in the US. You can showcase your potential and achievements properly, just make sure every page counts. 

Personal Details on a CV vs. Resume 

In Australia, the words “CV” and “resume” are used interchangeably. You don’t need to be anxious about which one to work on, as they both refer to the same document. However, if you're applying for academic or research positions, you might need a more detailed academic CV that includes publications, research projects, and conference presentations. 

The Mentorship Edge: Getting Your Resume Right the First Time 

The fastest way to turn a good resume into a standout one is through a mentor’s expert review and honest feedback. Mentorship allows you to learn what hiring managers look for in an ideal candidate in a specific industry. When you connect with top Australian mentors through a platform like Emergi Mentors, you learn from professionals who've been on both sides of the hiring table. You can also access free AI resume reviews. Having a mentor can save you months of trial and error and support your career growth. 

How to Add ATS-Friendly Contact Information 

In 2026, your resume needs to pass through two filters, the Application Tracking System (ATS) and human recruiters. Applicant Tracking Systems are used by 95% of Fortune 500 companies and 68% of employers overall. 

To make your contact information ATS-friendly: 

• Use the standard label/section header like “Contact Information” or leave it unlabeled in your header 

• Avoid text boxes, tables, or graphics, as they confuse scanning software 

• Use simple fonts such as Arial, Calibri, and Times New Roman. 

• Save your resume as a PDF or DOCX file 

Another important step you can take to make sure your resume passes ATS is testing your resume by copying it into a plain text editor; if the formatting breaks, the ATS probably won’t be able to read it either. 

Making Your Resume Work for You 

According to a Seek poll, 25% of job seekers spend between 3 to 6 months looking for a new job. With some roles like entry-level jobs attracting over 500 applications, you need to learn what makes your resume work and can give you an advantage over others. Your contact information may look like a small detail, but it's often the deciding factor in whether a recruiter can connect with you.

Your personal section sets the tone for the entire resume; if recruiters spot a mistake at the beginning of the resume, they will instantly reject it. Before anyone reads about your impressive achievements, they look at the contact information you provided. The key is keeping it simple, professional, and focused on making it easy for employers to contact you. Skip the unnecessary details, format it cleanly, and make sure everything is up to date and accurate.