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Should You Put Your Address on Your Resume (Tips You Should Know)

should you put your address on your resume

Imagine that you are flipping through the pages of your local Sunday paper, looking for job openings. You see one that looks perfect, and you go to submit your resume online. But wait!

You cannot remember if you put your current address on your resume or not… should you take the chance and hit “submit” anyway? Or Should You Put Your Address on Your Resume? 

If you are like many job seekers, you might not want to take that risk! That’s why I have decided to discuss the reasons why including it is so important, as well as some tips on how to do it effectively. So let’s find out more…

The Importance Of Including Your Address 

It might not seem like a key factor; however, there are actually a few reasons why it is important to put your home address on your resume

First, if you do not include it, the employer could assume that you do not live in the area and are not willing to relocate. This could eliminate you from consideration for the job right off the bat! Second, the employer may not have a way to contact you if they are interested in setting up an interview. All they will have is your email address and phone number, which may not be the best way for them to reach you. 

Where do they send the paycheck then?

If you are successful in getting the job, your employer will need your contact details anyway to send your paychecks and for your tax. It could save you filling out more forms later on if you just include it from the start.

Lastly, your resume is a marketing tool that shows potential employers what you have to offer. If they cannot see where you currently live, it sends the message that you might not really want to stay in your current area for very long and could be planning a move in the near future.

What Is Geographic Preference?

What Is Geographic Preference

Another important factor to consider is recruiters. They often use what is known as a “geographic preference” when searching for candidates. This means that they will only look at resumes of job seekers who live in certain areas. So, if you do not have yours on your CV, there is a good chance that your CV will never be seen by the recruiter!

Should You Put Your Address on Your Resume – Simple Tips

There are a few simple tips that you can follow to ensure that your address is incorporated in your CV in the best way possible. First, make sure that your current address contains all of the relevant contact information (e.g., postcode, phone number, email address). 

Next, ensure that it is listed in the “Contact Information” section of your resume. You may also want to incorporate a brief line or two about where you currently live and why it would be a good fit for the job (e.g., if you live in a major city in close proximity to the company’s headquarters). 

Also, make sure to update it if you move to a new location! This may seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many job seekers forget to do this. 

What about Privacy?

If you are concerned about privacy and do not want to mention your full home address on your resume, you do have a few options. First, you could simply include the city and state where you currently live or simply the state if your home is located in a rural area. 

Alternatively, you could create a separate email address or phone number just for job applications that include only your name and the city/state of residence. This way, you can still include your location on your resume without revealing too much personal information.

Do You Need To Include Your Address For Remote Jobs?

Include Your Address For Remote Jobs

If you are applying for a remote job, there is no real need to include where you live on your CV. The employer will already know that you are not local to their area, and including it would only take up valuable space on your resume. However, consider including your country and/or state of residence; this will let the employer know what time zone you are in. 

Where To Include your Address

If you are not sure where to insert where you live, there are a few common options that most job seekers use. First, you can enter it in the header or footer of your CV. You could also list this information in the “Contact Information” section at the top of your CV (e.g., “John Smith 123 Main St., Anytown, CA 12345”). 

Alternatively, you could create a separate section on your resume specifically for it and relevant contact information. This is a great option if your current address is long or includes a lot of information (e.g., “John Smith | 123 Main St., Anytown, CA 12345 | 555-555-1212 | johnsmith@email.com”). 

When Not To Include Your Address

When Not To Include Your Address

If you are concerned about privacy or want to avoid any potential discrimination, there are a few situations where it might not be a good idea to put it in. 

If you are applying for jobs in multiple states or countries, it might be best to leave it off. This way, the employer will not be able to determine where you live or what your commute would look like. 

Don’t live in the local area?

Additionally, if you are concerned about discrimination based on where you live (e.g., if the employer is looking for local candidates only), then by all means, leave it off your resume! Instead, simply include a brief line saying why your location would be a good fit for the job (e.g., “I am willing to relocate to XYZ area”). 

Finally, if you are applying for a remote job, there is no need to mention where you live since the employer will already know that you are not local to their area. 

Improve Your Resume Writing Skills 

There is always room for improvement, and for that, I recommend reading up on Your Guide To A Stand Out Modern Resume: Make Your Resume The One That Stops the 6-Second Scroll, how to the Modernize Your Resume: Get Noticed…Get Hired, or Resume: Writing 2023 The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Resume that Lands YOU the Job! to begin with.

In addition, I also found How to Write the Perfect Resume: Stand Out, Land Interviews, and Get the Job You WantResume 101: How to Write an Effective Resume, LinkedIn Profile, and Cover Letter, a well as The Resume Writing Guide: A Step-by-Step Workbook for Writing a Winning Resume, to be extremely helpful guides.

Lastly, why not try The Resume Handbook: How to Write Outstanding Resumes and Cover Letters for Every Situation, or The Damn Good Resume Guide, the classic Resumes For Dummies, along with the Knock ’em Dead Resumes: A Killer Resume Gets MORE Job Interviews!, all available online in 2023.

Should You Put Your Address On Your Resume – Final Thoughts

So, ultimately, the decision of whether or not you do is up to you. If you are concerned about privacy or you are applying for a remote job, it may not be necessary to include your location on your resume

However, if you live in a major city that is close to the company’s headquarters or their other offices, it can be a good idea to mention where you live. This will make it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to determine if you are a local candidate, and it may give you a better chance of being considered for the job. 

As they say, it’s all about Location, Location, Location!

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