How to Include Your Phone Number on a CV (With Examples)

While you may prefer to be contacted by e-mail, many recruiters will want to speak to you personally, whether to clarify information or to conduct an initial phone interview. Here are some points to bear in mind.

How to write your phone number on your CV

The best approach to writing a phone number on your CV or cover letter may differ depending on the country, but it's important to adopt a consistent and professional approach to phone number formatting, regardless of your location. To ensure clarity and avoid any potential dialling errors by recruiters, it is advisable to break down the number into smaller, easily readable segments. Regardless of the format, it’s also best practice to put a label in front of your phone number, such as ‘Tel:’ or ‘M:’ (for mobile).

Take a look at this CV example header, adopting a standard UK presentation of the phone number:

The right phone number can vary by country (see national conventions for writing phone numbers). However, here are a few tips:

Mobile numbers

As mobile phone numbers can be quite long, it’s best to break them up, so there’s no chance of recruiters mis dialling. Here's how to write a UK phone number on a CV, with examples for other countries:

• 07911 123456 (UK)
• 086 123 1234 (Ireland)
• 021 5678 4567 (New Zealand)
• 06 4667 46678 (South Africa)

Landline numbers

When including a landline number on your CV, you need to include the area code at the beginning of your number. Add it in brackets so it's clear this is the area code, and break it up as follows:

• (01482) 467855 (UK; area code lengths vary according to region, but a five-digit area code is the most common)
• (01) 437 4775 (Ireland; area code can be two or three numbers long)
• (09) 20 567 7996 (New Zealand; the first four or five digits indicate the region and area)
• (011) 978 4667 (South Africa)

International dialling

If you’re applying for a job abroad, you will need to also include your phone number's international dialling code on your CV. Here are some examples:

• +44 (UK)
• +353 (Ireland)
• +64 (New Zealand)
• +27 (South Africa)

Drop the first digit of the area code or mobile phone number when listing your number in the international format. This is replaced by the international code (which is dialled as "00", followed by the code, for example, "0044"). Add the international dialling code to your CV as follows:

• +44 7656 845748

Jobseeker's CV templates can help you present your phone number in a professional manner, together with other personal and professional information in a clear, eye-catching CV header.

Advantages of adding your phone number on your CV

In a competitive job market, candidates can be snapped up at a moment’s notice. If a recruiter can’t reach you, they may take your lack of availability as a sign of disinterest and simply move onto the next availability candidate. This means it's essential to add your phone number to your CV. Here are some of the key advantages of doing so:

Preparing for calls from recruiters and employers

If you’ve included your phone number in your CV, you can expect recruiters and employers to call you rather than send an email. This is because it’s a lot quicker for them to screen you over the phone than emailing back and forth. It’s also a way for them to gauge your phone manner and get a feel for your personality.

However, if you have applied for multiple jobs, it can be hard to remember what you applied for, and where. That’s why it’s a good idea to be prepared for calls by keeping a record of all job applications in a document that includes the job title, the company, the contact person and the stage of the application process (e.g. screening call received). The last thing you want is to receive a call and to let on to recruiters that you’ve forgotten you’ve applied for the job.

An easier way to keep track of applications is by using an online CV builder. With Jobseeker, you can track your applications via the ‘Applications’ tab by adding notes and a status for each entry. This saves you from having to manually enter each job in an Excel or Word document.

Answering calls

Recruiters’ calls can trigger mixed feelings. It may not be convenient to take the call if you’re in a noisy environment, or you may just not be prepared. If you’re not too excited about the job you’ve applied for, the call may even trigger feelings of irritation or annoyance.

Whatever your situation, honesty is the best policy. If you’re unable to take the call at the moment, explain to recruiters that you’ll call them back once in a quieter spot. If the latter situation applies to you, let them know straight away that you've decided to pursue other avenues, while thanking them for the opportunity. You never know when you’ll need a recruiter, so it’s best to keep your tone friendly, conversational and polite.

Recording a professional voicemail message

It’s natural that you won’t always be available to pick up calls, especially if you are in a full-time job while job-hunting. Recruiters and employers will understand this and be accommodating. However, it’s important to set up a professional voicemail message which informs them who you are and when they can expect to hear from you.

Here are a few examples of voicemail messages for different scenarios:

General message

When you are occupied due to work, school, etc.

If you’ve applied for multiple jobs

Final tips for including your phone number on your CV

In this article, we've covered how to include your phone number in your CV, the advantages of having it as a point of contact, how to prepare and answer calls, and what to do with your voicemail. Below is a list of tips to ensure you include your phone number on your CV in the most professional way:

Using a CV builder like Jobseeker can help you include all the necessary information on your CV to make a positive impression on recruiters or hiring managers. Jobseeker's CV tools and resources equip you to create a professional-looking CV that stands out from the crowd, meets employers' expectations and is compatible with ATS screening software. Sign up today and access a wealth of CV and cover letter examples for inspiration.