What Contact Information to Put on Your LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn profile can be perfectly written and keyword-rich — but if recruiters cannot contact you easily, it limits results. At the same time, sharing too much personal information online carries its own risks.
Here is how to approach the contact information section strategically.
Where Contact Information Lives on LinkedIn
LinkedIn has a dedicated Contact and Personal Info section, visible to your connections. It can include:
- Email address
- Phone number
- Address
- Website
- Twitter (X) handle
- Birthday
- Instant messenger details
Depending on your privacy settings, some of this information is also visible to people who are not connected to you.
What to Include
Email address
Include a professional email address that you check regularly. A personal Gmail or Outlook address is fine — it does not need to be a professional domain. Avoid email addresses from jobs you have left (work email may not forward indefinitely).
Website or portfolio URL
If you have a personal portfolio site, professional website, or online presence that supports your work — add it. Writers, developers, designers, consultants, and others with portfolios should always include a URL here.
Custom LinkedIn URL
Your LinkedIn URL should already be customised (covered in a separate article). Ensure it is current and clean.
What to Think Carefully About
Phone number
Adding your phone number makes it easier for recruiters to contact you directly and shows openness. The risk is unsolicited calls. Consider:
- Are you actively job searching? If so, adding your number may generate useful contact.
- Are you happy to field calls? If not, omit it and let recruiters initiate through LinkedIn messaging instead.
Many professionals choose to omit their phone number from LinkedIn and share it only when a recruiter initiates contact through messaging.
Address
LinkedIn lets you add your city and country, which is recommended — it helps recruiters understand your location and time zone. Do not add your full street address. City-level location is sufficient and keeps your personal details private.
Privacy Considerations
LinkedIn contact information is visible to different groups depending on your settings:
- Your connections can see all information you have added
- Non-connections can typically see your name, headline, and photo, but not contact details unless you make them public
If you want to maximise recruiter contact, consider making your email address visible to your network. If you prefer to manage inbound contact through LinkedIn's messaging system, keep contact details visible to connections only.
Email Address Best Practices
Use an email address you check daily. Do not use:
- A role-specific email at your current employer (you lose access when you leave)
- An old email from a university or former employer
- An email address that looks unprofessional (nicknames, slang)
A simple firstname.lastname@gmail.com or similar is ideal.
Social Media Links
LinkedIn allows you to link to Twitter/X and other social profiles. Only add these if:
- Your social media presence is professional
- Your posts and interactions would reflect positively in a professional context
- You are actively using social media as part of your professional brand
If your Twitter account is personal and informal, leave it off your LinkedIn profile.
After Adding Contact Information
Send yourself a connection request (or ask a friend to check) and verify what is visible on your public profile. Knowing exactly what information is visible to whom is important for managing your privacy and your professional presence simultaneously.
Use CVCircuit to ensure your CV header presents your contact information with the same consistency and professionalism as your LinkedIn profile — so recruiter expectations are met at every touchpoint.