Should I Put My Address on My Resume?
It’s the eleventh hour and you have uploaded your resume on Indeed, Ziprecruiter, and countless other online job applications with no luck. If you have not heard back from anywhere you applied, you might need to take a hard look at your resume. Is there something missing? Some resume templates have a section for you to put your image on your resume, while others have a spot allocated for your home address. Are these items that you need to include?
The original intent for putting your personal street address on your resume was so employers could reach you via physical mail. Now that we are in the twenty-first century, most job applications occur electronically which leads many to wonder if it is still necessary to include a home address.
Today, if your resume already includes at least one way to get in touch with you (e.g., your phone number or your email address), then including your address is optional, but not necessary or even recommended. It may not be safe, considering some circumstances.
Just because you do not need to include your address does not mean you shouldn’t include your location. Any resume writing service that excels will tell you to include your general location–stating the city and state you are located in can be extremely beneficial. Even if the job you are applying for is remote, many employers will need to know where you are located so they can operate under appropriate employment laws and make any necessary human resources adjustments. Many remote jobs also turn into hybrid or in-person positions; stating your location can save both you and recruiters time and energy if your location becomes an issue for employers.
Reasons Not to Include Your Address on Your Resume
You may wonder if writing your address on your resume could negatively impact your chances of being hired, or if putting your exact address versus your general location can have unintended consequences.
It Can Open the Door to Bias
Whether intentionally or not, your address may trigger some biases from hiring managers. For one, it is considered outdated to put your address on your resume, which may give hiring managers the impression that you have not kept up with current practices regarding job hunting and recruitment. If you are an older job seeker, this can lead to other stereotypes or age-based biases that unfortunately occur in many hiring scenarios.
Including your address can also open you up to biases based on your neighborhood. Where you live should not open the door to preconceived notions about the people in your area or you–but unfortunately, it does happen. When you use a general location instead, hiring managers and recruiters will not be able to pin specific stereotypes or biases onto you.
You Can Risk Your Safety and Security
Not all job-search websites are created equal. While these websites work hard to keep scammers and fake postings off their platforms, many slip through the cracks. When you include a lot of personal information (such as your contact information and address) you can open yourself up to identity theft.
Last year, RoundTable Technology released an article about how to spot fake job listings and scams. These scams have been so prevalent that many job seekers are also discussing the issue on web forums.
In the best-case scenario, you’ll get some spam calls or emails. In the worst-case scenario, you could fall victim to an identity theft scam. It can also be unsafe for your home address to be posted on a job search website where you cannot control who can see or access that information.
In Conclusion
Having your full home address on your resume can open you up to biases from hiring managers and recruiters, and can also put your privacy and security at risk. A better approach is to state your general location–this way, you can keep your options open for remote, hybrid, and in-person work.
For more professional tips on applying for jobs and perfecting your resume, consult our trusted experts at theJub.
Author: Becky is a contributor for theJub. She’s a writing and talent acquisition specialist who loves to apply her skills through creative writing and editing.
