# Resume Heading: Word Setup That Doesn't Hide Your Name

Build a clean resume heading in Word with the right contact fields, ATS-safe formatting, and a plain-text test that helps prevent parsing errors.

> Build your resume heading in the normal document body, not Insert > Header. Use your name, one phone number, email, city or region, and relevant profile links in plain text.

Author: Alex Brennan
Published: 2026-08-28T05:00:43.157Z
Updated: 2026-08-28T18:37:47.139Z
Canonical: https://yourunique.cv/articles/resume-heading

A clean resume heading puts your identity and contact details in the normal body of the Word document. Do not use Word's Insert > Header area for this information. Some applicant tracking systems may miss document-header content or place it away from the rest of your resume.

For most applications, use this order: full name, phone, email, city and region, then LinkedIn or portfolio links. Keep the block simple enough to copy into plain text without losing meaning.

## What belongs in a resume heading

Your heading should answer five practical questions: who are you, how can an employer contact you, where are you based, and where can they verify relevant work?

| Field | Include? | How to format it |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yes | Use the name you use professionally. Make it the largest text in the block. |
| One phone number | Yes | Use a number you answer. Include the country code if applying internationally. |
| Professional email | Yes | Use an address based on your name. Check it for spelling. |
| City and state, province, or region | Yes | Write a clear location, such as Austin, TX or Manchester, UK. |
| LinkedIn URL | Usually | Include it when the profile is current and relevant. |
| Portfolio or personal website | When relevant | Add it for design, writing, engineering, research, consulting, and similar roles. |
| GitHub or professional profile | When relevant | Use a direct, readable link if it supports your application. |
| Pronouns | Optional | Include them if you want to. They are not required for ATS parsing. |
| Work authorization | Optional | Add it only when it answers a stated application requirement. |

A resume heading does not need every possible link. Add the profiles that support the role. A software engineer may need GitHub. A designer may need a portfolio. An accountant may need neither.

Use a professional email address. Avoid an old school address, a joke, or a string of unrelated numbers. Make sure the display text and the destination match. A link that says LinkedIn but opens a personal page creates avoidable doubt.

If you want a role title below your name, keep it separate from the contact line. For example, place “Financial Analyst” or “Customer Success Manager” on the next line. Match it to the role only when it accurately describes your experience. For guidance on that line, see [Resume Title: What to Put Under Your Name in 2026](https://yourunique.cv/articles/resume-title).

## What should not be in the resume heading

Do not fill the top of the page with personal details that do not help the hiring decision.

- Do not include your full street address for most US private-sector roles. City and region are enough in most cases.
- Do not list multiple phone numbers. One reliable number is easier to parse and use.
- Do not add a headshot for US private-sector roles unless the industry or employer specifically demands it. A photo can create screening and bias concerns and may take up space needed for evidence.
- Do not add date of birth, Social Security number, passport number, marital status, or national identification numbers.
- Do not put “references available upon request” in the heading. References belong outside the resume unless the employer asks for them.
- Do not use a personal email that contains sensitive information.
- Do not place a QR code in place of a written URL. A QR code may not be readable by an ATS or by a recruiter reviewing a PDF.

Country norms vary. A photo, full address, or other personal information may be expected in some markets or industries. Follow the instructions for the location and role. Do not add sensitive data simply because an old template includes it.

## Correct resume heading block

Build the heading as ordinary text at the top of page one. This is a safe example:

```text
MAYA PATEL
Product Marketing Manager
(415) 555-0148 | maya.patel@email.com | San Francisco, CA
linkedin.com/in/mayapatel | mayapatel.com
```

A more compact version can work when space is tight:

```text
MAYA PATEL
(415) 555-0148 | maya.patel@email.com | San Francisco, CA | linkedin.com/in/mayapatel
```

The first version gives each type of information a clear place. The second keeps the block to two lines. Both are easier to select, copy, and parse than a graphic banner.

Use a readable font and enough contrast. Your name can be larger than the body text. Avoid decorative fonts. Do not depend on color, icons, or visual position to explain whether text is a phone number or a website.

## Word steps for a simple, ATS-readable heading

These steps keep the heading in the document body. They do not use Insert > Header.

### 1. Start at the top of page one

Open the resume in Word. Click at the beginning of the first page, above your summary or experience section. If the document starts with a large blank area, reduce the top margin rather than placing contact information in a document header.

### 2. Type the name as plain text

Type your full name on the first line. Press Enter once. Select the name and set a larger font size, such as 16 to 22 points. Use bold if it improves readability. Do not convert the name into an image.

### 3. Add an optional role line

On the next line, type an accurate professional title if it helps position you for the job. Keep it as text. Do not use a text box or floating shape.

### 4. Add contact details with text and separators

Press Enter and type one phone number, one email address, your city and region, and relevant links. Use a vertical bar or a simple bullet between items. For example:

```text
(415) 555-0148 | maya.patel@email.com | San Francisco, CA | linkedin.com/in/mayapatel
```

If the line becomes too long, split it into two ordinary text lines. Do not shrink the font until the details are unreadable.

### 5. Apply paragraph formatting

Select the heading paragraphs. Set alignment to left or center, but use one choice consistently. Set spacing after the final heading line so the next section starts clearly. Keep line spacing ordinary. Avoid several empty paragraphs used to push content down the page.

### 6. Add hyperlinks without hiding the URL

Select an email address or website and use Word's link command if you want it clickable. Keep the visible text descriptive and readable. A full URL is safer than a label such as “click here.” Check that the link works after exporting to PDF.

### 7. Save and export carefully

Save the editable Word file. Export a PDF using Word's standard PDF option. Open the PDF and select the text with your cursor. Confirm that the name, contact fields, and links can be selected in the expected order.

For more Word and Google Docs layout guidance, see [ATS Optimized Resume Template: Word and Google Docs Versions That Don't Break](https://yourunique.cv/articles/ats-optimized-resume-template).

## Headers that can split or disappear in an ATS

Think of the following as screenshots described in words. If your Word file looks like one of these examples, rebuild it with ordinary paragraphs.

### Text box layout

Screenshot in words: the name appears in a shaded rectangle on the upper left. The phone and email sit inside a second rectangle on the upper right. A thin line connects the boxes visually.

Problem: the ATS may read the right box before the name, read the boxes in an unexpected order, or skip one of them. A recruiter may see a clean design while the extracted text starts with an email address and ends with a name.

Fix: remove both text boxes. Type the name and contact lines directly into the document body. Use paragraph alignment and spacing instead of floating objects.

### Full-width color banner

Screenshot in words: a dark blue band stretches across the top quarter of the page. The name is white. Phone, email, and LinkedIn appear as small white icons with no visible labels.

Problem: white text may be hard to extract or may appear in the wrong sequence. Icons do not tell a text parser that a symbol represents a phone number. A banner also consumes vertical space.

Fix: use black or dark readable text on a plain background. Write the phone number, email, and URL as text. A small line under the heading is safer than a large shape.

### Icon-only contact row

Screenshot in words: a phone icon, envelope icon, pin icon, and globe icon sit in a row. The actual values are separated by large spaces. There are no words such as phone, email, or LinkedIn.

Problem: the values may be extracted without context. The location may be separated from the city. A symbol may be ignored entirely.

Fix: remove the icons. Use a line such as “(415) 555-0148 | maya.patel@email.com | San Francisco, CA.”

### Two-column top section

Screenshot in words: the name and title occupy the left column. Contact information occupies a narrow right column. The rest of the resume uses two columns as well.

Problem: reading order can move from the left column to the bottom, then back to the top of the right column. The heading may be split from the contact data.

Fix: keep the heading one column wide. If you use columns later in the resume, test the exported PDF and plain-text output carefully.

Run your PDF through the [ATS resume checker](https://yourunique.cv/free-tools/ats-resume-checker) with the target job description. It returns a match score, missing keywords, and gaps for that file and job. It is a useful check, but it is not a Workday or Greenhouse number. If you want a draft based on your actual profile facts, [YourUnique.cv](https://yourunique.cv) can use your resume and the job description before you review the result.

## The plain-text paste test

The fastest heading test does not require a special tool.

1. Open the exported PDF.
2. Select all text and copy it.
3. Paste it into Notepad, TextEdit in plain-text mode, or another plain-text editor.
4. Read the first several lines from top to bottom.
5. Confirm that your name appears first, followed by the role line and contact details.
6. Check every phone number, email address, location, and URL for missing characters.

If the heading is out of order, rebuild it. If the name disappears, remove images, shapes, tables, and document-header content. If a URL breaks across strange characters, write the full address as visible text and export the PDF again.

A checker can add another signal, but it cannot prove how a particular employer's system will process your file. The plain-text test catches basic problems before you apply.

If you prefer to start from a profile and a job description, [sign up for YourUnique.cv](https://yourunique.cv/sign-up). It can retain your layout or use a built-in template, then produce a PDF and an ATS read against that job. Verify the heading and all profile facts yourself.

## Apply-today checklist

- [ ] Save the resume as a readable PDF with a simple filename, such as `Maya_Patel_Resume.pdf`.
- [ ] Keep the resume heading in the normal document body, not Word's Insert > Header area.
- [ ] Check that your full name appears first and uses plain text.
- [ ] Include one phone number, a professional email, city and region, and relevant profile links.
- [ ] Remove your full street address, extra phone numbers, and a headshot unless the role or local convention requires them.
- [ ] Use clear section headings such as Summary, Skills, Experience, and Education.
- [ ] Match the skills section to the job description without adding skills you do not have.
- [ ] Review at least five experience bullets for specific actions, tools, scope, or results you can support.
- [ ] Paste the PDF into a plain-text editor and confirm the reading order.
- [ ] Run the file through the [ATS resume checker](https://yourunique.cv/free-tools/ats-resume-checker) before you apply.

A plain resume heading is easier to read, copy, and process. Keep the design modest at the top of the page. Put your evidence in the rest of the resume.

## Questions

### What belongs in a resume heading?

A resume heading should include your full name, one phone number, a professional email address, city or region, and a relevant LinkedIn, portfolio, GitHub, or personal website link.

### Should a resume heading use Word's Insert > Header feature?

No. Place the resume heading in the normal document body at the top of page one. Some ATS tools may miss or separate content placed in Word's document header area.

### Should I include my full street address on a resume?

Usually no. City and state, province, or region provide enough location context for most private-sector applications. A full street address adds personal information without helping most applications.

### How can I test whether my resume heading is readable?

Paste the resume into a plain-text editor and check whether your name, phone, email, location, and links appear in the right order. You can also run the file through the [ATS resume checker](https://yourunique.cv/free-tools/ats-resume-checker), which compares a PDF with a job description but does not provide an employer's Workday or Greenhouse score.

### Can YourUnique.cv help create an ATS-ready resume heading?

Yes. [YourUnique.cv](https://yourunique.cv) can use your profile facts, an uploaded resume, and a job description to create a tailored CV and check it against that job. Review every detail before applying.

— YourUnique.cv