ATS Resume Contact Information Format: What to Write and Where to Put It
Incorrect contact information placement or formatting is one of the most common ATS resume mistakes. Many parsers miss contact details in headers, footers, or text boxes. This guide shows where and how to format contact info for reliable extraction.
Quick Answer
Place all contact information — name, phone, email, LinkedIn URL, and city/state — in the main body of the document on the first page. Never use Word headers, footers, or text boxes for contact details, as most ATS parsers skip those areas.
Key Takeaways
- ATS parsers often skip Word header/footer sections — contact info placed there becomes invisible.
- Name, phone, email, and professional URL should appear on the first line(s) of the document body.
- Including a full mailing address is no longer necessary — city and state or metro area is sufficient.
Action Steps
- Move all contact details into the main document body on page one, not in a Word header or footer.
- Format contact info as plain text separated by pipes or line breaks — no icons or graphics.
- Include: Full Name, Phone, Professional Email, LinkedIn URL (shortened), City/State.
Diagnostic Checklist
- Name appears as the first line of the document body in plain text.
- Phone number in standard format: (555) 555-5555 or +1-555-555-5555.
- Email address is professional — no nicknames or outdated domain names.
- LinkedIn URL is customized (linkedin.com/in/yourname) not the default random string.
- Location shows City, State (or City, Country for non-US) — no full street address needed.
- All contact details are in the main document body, not in MS Word header section.
Signal to Fix Matrix
| Signal | Why It Matters | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiter cannot see contact info in the ATS candidate profile | When ATS skips the header, the recruiter has no way to reach out without opening the raw document. | Move contact details out of the Word header into the first few lines of the document body. |
| Email address uses a personal or outdated domain (hotmail, yahoo with nicknames) | Unprofessional emails can reduce recruiter confidence even after ATS passes the application. | Create a clean gmail address with your name and use it consistently for job applications. |
Continue Reading Path
Follow this guided reading path to build topic depth and improve your ATS outcomes faster.
FAQs
Should I include my full home address on my resume?
No. City and state (or city and country) is sufficient. Full street addresses add no value and are a privacy risk.
Can I include a GitHub or portfolio URL in my contact section?
Yes, for technical or creative roles. Keep it on the same line or immediately below other contact details in the main body.
Does font size matter for ATS contact parsing?
Standard 10-12pt fonts parse reliably. Very small fonts below 8pt or unusual decorative fonts can cause extraction errors in some parsers.
Next Best Step
Use our tools to apply this guide and improve your next application.
Related Articles
ATS Passed, Still Rejected? 9 Recruiter-Level Fixes That Work in 2026
Understand why ATS pass does not guarantee interview calls and apply recruiter-level fixes to improve shortlist chances fast.
Low ATS Resume Score? 7-Day Recovery Plan to Improve Match Rate
Follow a practical 7-day framework to improve ATS score and recruiter relevance without keyword stuffing.
Rewrite Resume Bullets for ATS and Recruiters: Before/After Framework
Step-by-step bullet rewrite framework using action + context + outcome structure with real before/after examples.