Personal data in a CV is information that allows for the identification of a natural person. Providing the most important data in your application documents will allow employers to familiarize themselves with your candidacy. Do you want to find out what are the examples of personal data and where to look for legal acts about them? Are you wondering how to enter a clause on the processing of personal data in your CV or whether to provide an address in your CV? Read and check!

This article will provide you with knowledge about:

Personal data in CV

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Personal data in a CV – the most important information in a nutshell

  • Personal data is any type of information that, even indirectly (by combining with other data), allows for the identification of a specific natural person.
  • Personal data in a CV should be kept to a minimum, providing a large number of personal details is an old practice.
  • You must always include a data protection clause in your CV in order for it to be included in the recruitment process.
  • Each country has its own regulations regarding the processing of personal data in a CV, so you should always read the information on what personal data to enter in your CV.

Personal data in your CV – which do you need to provide?

Providing important information will allow the employer to get to know you as a candidate and contact you. Over the years, the standards for creating application documents have changed. Currently, the personal data section of a CV usually contains only the necessary items.

In your CV, all you need is:

  • name;
  • surname;
  • telephone number;
  • email address.

You can also provide:

  • position;
  • link to LinkedIn profile;
  • a link to a portfolio;
  • a link to your website or other service;
  • city of residence.

Does the CV have to include an address?

No, but it can be there. If you are wondering how to enter an address, you can simply enter the city or town. You don’t need to enter anything else, because the employer does not need such knowledge. When you are hired, you will be given a personal questionnaire to fill out, in which you will provide the information necessary to sign the contract. The residential address on the CV is therefore optional.

Should I include my academic title in my CV?

You do not need to include your academic title in your application documents. The note MSc, PhD or PhD. is not needed. The exceptions are professions that should be performed only by people with appropriate education and those in which there are many people who have completed the courses themselves.

Personal data definition

So who can write an academic title in a CV?

  • lawyer (advocate, legal advisor, notary, judge, patent attorney, court bailiff, prosecutor);
  • doctor;
  • architect;
  • pharmacist;
  • clinical psychologist;
  • teacher;
  • nurse;
  • dietician.

When else is it worth adding an academic title?

  • Professions such as beautician and cosmetologist are often mistakenly identified. A beautician can only have completed courses or training. Cosmetology, on the other hand, is higher education. It is worth adding the academic title in the personal data section of the cosmetologist’s CV, as it is a way to emphasize your qualifications.
  • The profession of a dietitian can be practiced by people who have obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Still, we can easily find many courses, even online ones, after which you get a certificate. Due to the fact that dietetics courses are generally available, it is worth emphasizing your academic title in the personal data section of your CV to stand out from people who have completed the training.
  • If you are applying for a job at a university, you can emphasize your title, especially if it is, for example, a doctorate.

Personal data in the CV – should I give my date of birth?

There are many doubts about what data is needed in a CV . Providing the date of birth shows a lack of knowledge of the current recruitment rules. This can be considered an unnecessary element because it does not bring any useful information.

How to diversify personal data in a CV?

If you run your LinkedIn profile diligently, you can add a link to it immediately in the personal data section of your CV. The best will be an active link that will take the recruiter to your website immediately after one click. It is an online business card with which you can build your professional image on the web. If you have a polished portfolio, it is also worth including it in this section. It will also be a good idea to add the address of your website if you run one.

Check your websites periodically to make sure that all the information on them is up to date.

GDPR personal data

Contact details – what to enter? Guidance

All you need is your phone number and email address. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Provide an email that includes your name, optionally the first letter of your first name and last name. Avoid unprofessional names. The date of birth or random sequences of numbers and characters also look bad.
  • Enter an email address that you check daily to get back to you on a regular basis.
  • Don’t include your business phone number in the personal information section. You may be misunderstood.
  • If you enter personal data in English, German or another language, add “+48” before the phone number to Polish.
  • Double-check that you have not made a mistake or typo. Even one mistake will prevent recruiters from contacting you.

Contact details example:
Janina Kowalska
phone: 123-456-789
email: [email protected]

Personal data is

CV personal data – do not enter this

Giving too much information in your resume is not always a huge mistake. By simply entering them, you take up valuable space, it also deviates from current recruitment standards.

It is better not to provide this data:

  • Date of birth;
  • Place of birth;
  • age;
  • marital status;
  • the fact of having children;
  • the exact address in the CV is also unnecessary.

Personal data – what is it? Definition according to regulations

According to Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016, the concept of data is quite broad.

Personal data definition according to regulations:

“1) “personal data” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (“data subject”); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person;”

If you send your personal data in your CV with the clause attached, it will be processed. What does that mean?

“2) “processing” means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction;
(3) ‘restriction of processing‘ means the marking of stored personal data with a view to restricting their future processing;”

Also take a look at our other guides:

CV clause – everything you need to know + current CV clause
Retraining and retraining – how to effectively change your career path?
CV templates will make it easier for you to create a professional CV
Confectioner’s CV and cover letter – a collection of tips
How to create an effective doctor resume?

Personal data, examples – what counts as personal data and what does not?

The protection of personal data in CVs is very important. Even your email address can be counted as such data. What else can be considered them? Personal data in your CV also includes your name and surname. A detailed description supported by examples can be found on the European Commission’s website.

Personal data – examples from the European Commission:

  • name and surname;
  • Address;
  • An email address, such as imię[email protected];
  • ID card number;
  • Location data (e.g., location settings on your mobile phone)
  • IP address;
  • Data held by a hospital or doctor that may uniquely identify an individual.

Information that is not personal data as defined by the European Commission:

Personal Information, Examples

Personal data clause CV 2025 – what should it sound like?

Remember to always include the current GDPR clause in your CV. If you skip it, the recruiter may not even read your application documents.

“I consent to the processing of my personal data for the purposes of the recruitment process in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (GDPR)”.

You can also add information to your CV about the processing of personal data for the purposes of future recruitment. Then you will have a chance that someone will contact you after a long time and you will be able to present your candidacy at a job interview.

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Personal data in English – what not to include in your CV?

Personal data in English should include: name, surname, telephone number, email address; optional: a link to your LinkedIn profile, website or portfolio and your home address.

The UK has laws against discrimination, so you should read them well when you enter personal information in your CV in English. There are many things you can’t include in your application documents, because your candidacy probably won’t be taken into account when you enter them.

What personal data is protected?

  • Age;
  • sex;
  • marital status;
  • nationality;
  • religion or belief;
  • disability.

Also, do not add a photo, as race, including skin color, nationality, and ethnicity, is also protected.

Personal data in German – what can I enter?

When submitting a CV for work in Germany, you can only provide basic data (name, surname, phone number and email address). Other information is not required. Usually, however, Germans enter more personal data in their CVs, even stating the number of children.

You can enter this personal data in German (Persönliche Daten) in your CV:

  • name;
  • surname (nachname);
  • address (adresse);
  • place of residence (familienstand);
  • telephone (telephone);
  • e-mail (e-mail);
  • date of birth (geburtsdatum);
  • place of birth (geburtsort);
  • Citizenship (Staatsbürgerschaft).

You can place a professional passport-size photo of yourself in the top corner.

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