Amanda Clark — June 24, 2017 The job search process has changed a lot over the years. We’ve shifted from the days where job openings were posted on store fronts and in newspapers to websites and online job boards. In many cases, you’re uploading or emailing your resume, not handing out hard copies. When an employer wants to get in touch with you, they’re emailing or calling, not sending a printed letter. So, this brings us to the question of whether or not you still need to include your full address on your resume.
Unfortunately, the answer isn’t a clear-cut yes or no and may depend on your individual situation. There are some people who strongly believe that you should always include your address, while others leave it off completely. There are pros and cons to both trains of thought.
Pros and Cons to Including Your Address
Pros:
- It shows employers that you’re local. Many hiring managers want to have a general sense of where you live and how far you are from the business.
- It can clear up confusion based on job history. If you’ve worked remotely or relocated, your career history may show cities or states that are not where you currently live.
- If you’ve recently moved, it shows that you live in the area where you are applying for jobs. Your previous job may have been in a different state, but your address shows you live where you’re applying.
- It doesn’t look like you’re hiding anything. Sometimes people leave their address off if they’re trying to relocate and don’t want to show that they live out of the area.
Cons:
- On the flip side, if you are relocating, having your current address can make employers wonder why you’re applying for jobs in a different city or state, or wonder if you’re serious about moving.
- It can bring up concerns about whether you’ll stick with the job if you have a long commute.
- Some people are concerned about their privacy and potential identity theft.
If you don’t want to include your full address, you can always just list your city and state. This still gives employers a sense of where you are – and often times they’ll be able to figure it out anyway by looking at your most recent job or searching you out online, so why not include it from the start?
If you are relocating and are concerned about the impression your address will give, mention your relocation in your cover letter or in a quick line on your resume. Avoid the temptation to lie about your location or use a friend’s address in the city you’re headed to. It can cause an awkward situation if an employer discovers you’ve lied, or if they call you to come in for an interview the next day and you have to explain that you can’t because you don’t actually live there – or are scrambling to change your plans and buy a last-minute plane ticket. Remember to always be honest on your resume.
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