Your Header is Your First Handshake: Getting the Contact Section Right

Your resume header is like the first impression at a networking event – get it wrong, and you might not get a chance to recover. Yet I constantly see talented professionals sabotaging themselves before they even reach the experience section. Case in point: I recently saw a header that included everything from zodiac sign to grandmother's maiden name. Okay, slight exaggeration, but you get the picture.

Let's start with the email address situation. If you're still rocking "hotboy2024@yahoo.com" or "princesscatherine@gmail.com," we need to have a serious conversation. International employers aren't necessarily judging your personality, but they are assessing your professionalism. Create a clean, simple email using your name: firstname.lastname@gmail.com works perfectly. Pro tip: if your name is already taken, add your profession or a number (john.smith.dev@gmail.com or sarah.jones2024@gmail.com).

Phone number formatting matters more than you think when applying internationally. That "+254" country code isn't just decoration – it's essential for global applications. But here's what most people get wrong: list your number as "+254 7XX XXX XXX" rather than "07XX-XXX-XXX." The international format immediately signals that you're globally minded and makes it easy for recruiters in different time zones to reach you.

Your LinkedIn profile URL should be customized, not that random string of numbers LinkedIn assigns by default. Go to your LinkedIn settings and create a clean URL like "linkedin.com/in/yourname." And please, for the love of reliable internet, make sure your LinkedIn profile matches your resume. Nothing screams "disorganized" like conflicting information across platforms.

Here's what NOT to include: your physical address (city and country are enough for remote work), marital status, age, photo (unless specifically requested), or references (save the space and say "available upon request"). International employers care about your skills and availability, not your life story. Ready to put that professionally polished header to work? Head over to remotehuntr.co.ke and start connecting with employers who appreciate attention to detail!