A CV header is the topmost section of a curriculum vitae that serves as a brief introduction to the hiring manager and allows them to quickly determine whether you may be a good fit for the position. Since recruiters tend to be extremely busy, creating an effective header is critical to making a great first impression and convincing them to read the rest of the document.
In this article, we’ll share 15 excellent examples of CV headers and explain how to craft one that gets you noticed in a sea of applicants.
Let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
The CV header should contain your contact information (full name, mobile number, email address, and location) along with your job title, relevant links, and personal statement.
To format your CV header correctly, place it in a separate section at the top left of the document.
You shouldn’t include your date of birth, photo, full address, company email address, and irrelevant social media links in your CV header.
To make your CV ATS-friendly and catch the hiring manager’s attention, tailor the professional title, links, and personal statement to the job you’re applying for.
What Is a CV Header, and What Should You Include in It?
A CV header is the section containing contact information and a personal statement placed at the very top of the document.
Due to its position on your CV, it is the first thing recruiters notice once your application reaches their hands. And given that you have less than 8 seconds to secure their attention, it needs to be flawless; otherwise, it can ruin your chances of getting the job.
So, here’s what to include in a CV header to make it pop:
CV Header Essential Information
Full name. Start by including your first and last name at the very top of the document.
Professional title. While this is optional, including the title mentioned in the job listing right below your name tailors your CV to the job and increases ATS optimisation.
Mobile number. Ensure all contact info on your CV, including your mobile number, is correct so recruiters can get back to you.
Email address. Use the name.surname@example.com format to create a professional email address.
Relevant links. Add links to your portfolio, professional website, or relevant social media profiles, such as LinkedIn.
Location. List your city and country in your CV header.
Personal statement. To make your application stand out and pique the recruiter’s interest, write a personal statement outlining your key qualifications, achievements, and motivation.
Here’s a simple CV header template you can use to get started:
CV Header Template Example
[Name and surname] [Professional title]
[Mobile number] [Email address] [City and country] [Optional: relevant links]
[professional title] with a passion for/expertise in [your main interest/specialisation]. Skilled in [relevant soft and hard skills]. Looking to [your motivation/career goals].
How to Format Your CV Header
To format your CV header correctly, you need to pick the right font size, layout, and placement.
Let’s explore each of these elements in more detail:
Font Size and Hierarchy
Choose a professional CV font like Arial and utilise visual hierarchy to create a purposeful CV header design that captures the recruiter’s attention and helps them spot the most important information first.
Here’s how to do it:
CV Header Formatting Tips
Make your name stand out by bolding it and using a large font size (ideally 16–18 pts).
Choose a slightly smaller font size (the one you will use for CV headings, usually 14–16 pts) for the job title.
Use regular font size (10–12 pts) for the rest of the CV header.
Layout: Top-Centre or Top-Left?
While both top-centre and top-left CV header layouts are acceptable, top-left positioning is more effective.
There are several text scanning patterns, but most recruiters naturally follow the F-pattern, meaning their eyes naturally gravitate toward the top-left corner of the document first. And since the CV header is the first element recruiters look for, that’s where you want to position it.
Placement: Standalone Section vs Document Header
Always place the CV header in a separate section at the top of the document to make your CV ATS-friendly.
Adding it to the document header (e.g., the header in Microsoft Word or another word processor) is not recommended because ATS struggles to scan headers and footers. Plus, if you put your CV header in a standalone section, you can rest easy knowing it will show up properly across all devices.
Good vs Bad CV Header Formats
Here are the key elements that can help you determine whether your CV header format is good or bad and how to fix it:
Design. A clean and minimalistic CV header design is perfect. Avoid overly decorative elements, such as emojis, as these make your document look unprofessional and affect ATS compatibility.
Organisation. Recruiters immediately reject cluttered and messy CVs, so organise your header in a way that is easy to read and looks neat.
Font size and style. Follow the font size guidelines discussed above and avoid fonts that are flashy, look unprofessional, or make your text nearly illegible, such as Papyrus.
With this in mind, let’s look at real-world examples of headers for different industries, including student CVs, engineering CVs, and career change CVs.
CV Header Examples for Different Industries
Here are some examples of CV headers to get you inspired:
Student/Entry-Level CV Header
Sophia Clarke Customer Support Specialist
+44 1304 123456 sophia.clarke@example.com Dover, England
I’m a patient and attentive social work student seeking a part-time job in customer service. I am eager to use the communication and conflict resolution skills I gained through volunteering in Cruse Helpline to provide excellent support for your customers and ensure their satisfaction.
Career Change CV Header
Sienna Baker Graphic Designer
+44 118 1234567 sienna.baker@example.com Reading, England behance.com/siennabaker984
Creative digital marketer seeking to transition into graphic design. Helped a skincare business refine its brand identity and develop a brand kit using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, contributing to a 60% increase in Instagram followers. Seeking to leverage digital marketing insight and design skills to help your company grow and raise brand awareness.
UI/UX Designer CV Header
Casey Patel UI/UX Designer
+44 24 1234567 casey.patel@example.com Coventry, England
With 3 years of experience in UI/UX design, I am passionate about creating visually stunning and accessible digital products. In my previous job, I led a website redesign that resulted in a 75% decrease in support tickets from users with visual impairments. I’m excited to apply my user-centric approach to help your company enhance digital products and business performance.
Project Manager CV Header
Jordan Wright Project Manager
+44 141 1234567 jordan.wright@example.com Glasgow, Scotland linkedin.com/in/jordanwright146
Certified Scrum Master with over 4 years of agile project management experience and a passion for continuous improvement. Led the adoption of agile methods at ABC Solutions, improving project delivery times by 35%. Seeking to assist teams in staying aligned and delivering projects on time.
Data Scientist CV Header
Morgan Thompson Data Scientist
+44 161 1234567 morgan.thompson@example.com Manchester, England linkedin.com/in/morganthompson615
Resourceful data scientist with strong expertise in machine learning, statistics, and data manipulation and visualisation seeking to translate complex data into actionable insights to help your company make data-driven decisions. Improved decision-making efficiency at ABC Data by 33% in six months.
Architect CV Header
Riley Hall Architect
+44 29 1234567 Cardiff, Wales rileyhallarchitecture.com
As a purpose-driven architect committed to sustainability, I have been designing energy-efficient residential buildings for the past 4 years. In 2024, I won the Global Sustainable Architecture Award for my latest project, EcoSpaces Cardiff. I’m eager to contribute my expertise to help your company achieve its environmental mission.
Software Developer CV Header
Taylor Cooper Software Developer
+44 20 1234567 taylor.cooper@example.com London, England taylorcooper.dev github.com/taylorcooper465
Self-motivated full-stack developer with 4 years of experience in software development. Built a scalable web application with Node.js and React capable of handling over 1 million monthly users with zero downtime. Hoping to contribute my problem-solving and programming skills to a dynamic team that embraces innovation.
Photographer CV Header
Imogen Wood Photographer
+44 115 1234567 imogen.wood@example.com Nottingham, England imogenwoodphotography.com
Meticulous photographer specialising in high-converting visuals for e-commerce companies. Captured product photographs that increased AirShop’s click-through rate by 48%, leading to a 25% increase in product sales within a year. Looking forward to boosting your e-commerce revenue through eye-catching product pictures.
Copywriter CV Header
Florence Parker Copywriter
+44 121 1234567 florence.parker@example.com Birmingham, England florencewritescopy.com
Versatile copywriter with a strong focus on SEO with 4 years of experience in B2B copywriting. Rewrote and optimised landing page copy for a SaaS business, increasing conversion rates by 35%. Hoping to contribute to your company’s success with original, high-impact copy.
Engineer CV Header
Jacob Scott Electrical Engineer
+44 113 1234567 jacob.scott@example.com Leeds, England
As an analytical and collaborative electrical engineer specialising in power systems, I am passionate about solving real-world problems. At my previous company, I designed control schemes that reduced power grid failures by 32%. I am hoping to contribute my expertise, along with MATLAB and Simulink proficiency, to your team.
Executive Assistant CV Header
Grace Bell Executive Assistant
+44 131 1234567 grace.bell@example.com Edinburgh, Scotland linkedin.com/in/gracebell552
Organised and energetic C-level executive assistant. Strong time management, coordination, and communication skills. Eager to provide top-tier administrative support to your company’s C-suite members.
Human Resources Specialist CV Header
Charlotte Harris Human Resources Specialist
+44 1225 123456 charlotte.harris@example.com Bath, England linkedin.com/in/charlotteharris9141
I am a proactive human resources specialist with a Master’s in human resource management. In my previous role, I reduced time-to-hire by 30% by optimising job postings, implementing pre-employment assessments, and automating interview scheduling. I am excited to help your business build motivated teams.
Business Analyst CV Header
Oscar Mitchell Business Analyst
+44 1253 123456 oscar.mitchell@example.com Blackpool, England linkedin.com/in/oscarmitchell468
Results-driven business analyst with 3 years of industry experience. Proficient in Power BI, Tableau, SQL, and Microsoft Excel. Improved operational efficiency by 25% at the previous company through data-driven initiatives. Looking forward to helping your company make strategic, data-backed decisions that drive company growth.
Translator CV Header
Thomas Edwards Translator
+44 1473 123456 thomas.edwards@example.com Ipswich, England
Detail-oriented legal translator fluent in English, German, and French. Translated over 1,000 legal documents, including NDAs, with 100% confidentiality and a 98% client satisfaction rate. Looking forward to contributing accurate, timely translations to your legal team.
Marketing Manager CV Header
Evelyn Mason Marketing Manager
+44 151 1234567 evelyn.mason@example.com Liverpool, England linkedin.com/in/evelynmason152
As a strategic and marketing manager with 6 years of experience, I have led a team of 10 marketing specialists through 12+ large-scale campaigns. Our latest marketing campaign increased product sales by 55%. I am eager to help your business thrive through innovative marketing strategies.
5 Elements You Shouldn’t Include in Your CV Header
Here’s an overview of the elements you shouldn’t include in your CV header, such as your date of birth, full mailing address, and irrelevant social media links:
5 Elements You Shouldn’t Include in Your CV Header
#1. Date of Birth
Since the UK has strict anti-discrimination laws, you shouldn’t include your date of birth or other protected characteristics, such as your marital status, in your CV. The only exception is if you have to be of a certain age to perform the job, in which case the job listing would already specify that you need to include your date of birth.
#2. Full Mailing Address
Unless specified otherwise in the job posting, there’s no need to list your full mailing address. For privacy reasons, you should only add your city and country.
#3. Personal Photo
In many countries, including the UK, you should only add a photo if your physical appearance is relevant to the job. For example, a photo may be appropriate for an acting CV, but not if you want to get hired in IT.
However, it’s fine to add a photo to your CV in some other places.
For example, Europass CVs, widely used across Europe, typically include a professional headshot alongside personal details, such as the date of birth. So, if you’re applying for a job abroad, research local laws and guidelines.
#4. Irrelevant Social Media Links
Linking to your LinkedIn, GitHub, Behance, or other relevant social media profiles is great since it gives more context on your professional background. However, some social media platforms, such as your TikTok or personal Instagram profile, have no place in your CV header; such links look out of place and only clutter the document.
#5. Company Email Address
Including a company email address is one of the most severe CV writing mistakes, as it shows a lack of professionalism and disrespect toward your current employer. Therefore, you should always use your personal email address in your CV header.
Still, make sure it looks professional; something like tigerrrgurl1988@hotmail.com can leave a bad first impression.
Should You Tailor Your CV Header for Each Application?
You should tailor your CV header for each application because it significantly increases the chances of passing the ATS check and shows that you’re willing to put the effort into landing your dream job. It also helps recruiters immediately determine whether you’re a viable candidate by making your CV relevant to the job you’re applying for.
While your name, location, mobile number, and email address stay the same regardless of the position you’re applying for, you can tailor the CV header to the job by tweaking the following elements:
CV Header Elements That Must Be Personalized
Job title. Check the job description and add the professional title mentioned.
Links. Only add links that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. If you’re a writer, for example, you can link to your portfolio, Medium, or a blog. Linking to your LinkedIn profile is appropriate for all jobs.
Personal statement. To craft an impactful personal statement that shows you’re the right person for the job, mention the skills and other qualifications outlined in the job description.
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Final Thoughts
And that’s all you need to know about creating a powerful CV header!
Although this is one of the most important CV sections, you shouldn’t overdo it.
Given that the ideal CV length is one or two pages, this section should be just long enough to spark the recruiter’s interest, but it shouldn’t take up too much space. Keeping it clear, simple, and to the point is key to ensuring the hiring manager reads your CV all the way through.
CV Header FAQ
#1. Should I put a header on my CV?
You should put a header on your CV with your contact information and a personal statement. You can also include links to relevant social media sites to help the hiring manager learn more about your professional background.
#2. How do I format my CV header for ATS?
To format your CV header for ATS, add it in a separate section rather than the literal header of the document. Use a simple, professional font and make sure to tailor the contents to the job description.
#3. Is it okay to use icons in my CV header?
It is okay to use icons sparingly in your CV header. Placing them meaningfully, such as adding a phone icon next to your mobile number, is generally fine. However, too many graphic elements can clutter your document and reduce ATS readability, so apply such CV header ideas in moderation.
