Should You Put Your Address on Your Resume Pros Cons

Should You Put Your Address on Your Resume Pros Cons Should I put my address on my resume? It seems like a no brainer. But whether to include your address on your resume is a pretty controversial topic.Theres a bunch of arguments both for and against.Some say putting an address on a resume makes it harder to find a job. On the other hand, some say leaving it out is the problem.What it all comes down to though is having the best shot at being hired. Youre not interested in reading a dozen opinions that all say different things. So Im going to cut through the noise so you dont have to.This guide will show you:How to write an address on a resume.The pros and cons of writing an address on a resume.How to include your address on a resume without harming your job search.Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates an d create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowHeres a selection of guides on what should be included in a resume:What to Put on a ResumeHigh School on a ResumeGPA on a ResumeDegree on a ResumeRelevant Coursework on a ResumeCum Laude on a ResumeMinor and Major on a ResumeReferences on a ResumeResume Sections and Categories1How to Write an Address on a ResumeWhen putting your address on your resume include either your full mailing address (street address, city, state, and zip code), or just your city and state. Its a good idea to write your state name in full if the postal abbreviation is easily confused with another, like MI, MS, and MO.Heres how the two variations look.Address on a Resume Examples103 S Commercial St, Branson, MO 65616Branson, MissouriThats how to write your address on your resume. Next, lets cover where to put your addre ss on your resume.Thankfully thats not up for debate. Just include your resume header, alongside your name, optimized LinkedIn profile and cleaned up social media links.Now for the controversial part. Lets look at the arguments for and against putting your address on a resume.Want to learn how to write every section of your resume? See our guide: How to Create a Resume for a Job [Professional Writing Guide]2Home Address on a ResumeProsAddresses in resumes date back to the time when an employer could only write back by sending you a paper communication device known as a letter.Back to modern times however and everything occurs online, but this holdover from recruitment days of yore still persists.Heres some of the arguments for including your address on your resume.LocationIf your home address is close to the workplace youre applying to, then it could be seen as a positive.If there are two identical candidates separated only by geography, plenty of hiring managers would prefer the on e less likely to turn up to work late. Theres also the issue of avoiding potential problems with relocation.Makes sense.Background ChecksSome say that including your address on your resume helps employers carry out background checks.However, these usually take place later in the recruitment process, and if the employer needs your mailing address they can ask for it.So dont let this make you feel obliged to include your address on your resume. Its a pretty weak argument.ATSThis has been presented by some experts as the ultimate argument for why you should put your address on your resume.The claim is that ATS software scans for your address as a resume keyword. A keyword so essential youll get rejected if you dont include it.ButThe only original source insisting that an ATS compliant resume means including your address is a Timemagazine article. It says, If you dont include it, you might not get considered at all. Its from all the way back in 2012, so its out of date and it was vague about the source of the info.It doesnt help that the companies responsible for developing ATS suites remain tight-lipped about the exact specs of their products. If they publicize that info candidates could game the system and make the software useless for their customers.So in the absence of evidence either way, Im going to file this under unproven.If I still havent convinced you then relax. Ive got a tactic for you to beat the system.But firstWhat are the arguments against putting your address on a resume?Maybe youre wondering how to address a cover letter? Go one better and learn the whole nine yards with our guide: How to Write a Cover Letter Thatll Get You Noticed3Putting Your Address on Your ResumeConsThere are some purely practical arguments against writing your address on a resume and some reasons that are sinister. First up, a practical consideration.LayoutYour takes up valuable page real estate in your resume layout. When youre aiming for a one or two-page resume those few characters can make all the difference.A mailing address has no practical purpose these days, so use that space for other resume sections to target more skills, experience or education.You know, the stuff that actually lands you the job.Good point. With 250 applicants battling for each job, one additional skill or achievement could make all the difference. This one makes perfect sense.LocationIf your mailing address is a long way from your desired place of work then this could put off recruiters.Yes, it cuts both ways. Why take the risk of someone relocating from 500 miles away when you have an acceptable candidate in the same city?Or maybe the hiring manager doesnt think a candidate from Vermont could be a good cultural fit or have the expertise to work for an oil company in Dallas. This seems plausible.But there are even darker reasons your address may work against you.Discrimination and BiasTitle VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects individuals against employment discrim ination on the basis of race and color as well as national origin, sex, or religion.Sadly though, resume bias still persists. On average, white applicants receive 36% more callbacks than black applicants with identical resumes. Compared to Latino applicants, its 24% more.So how is this relevant to putting your address on your resume?It could be that you live in an area stereotypically associated with a certain demographic. Therefore you could be discriminated against and rejected because of your address.Directly asking about a candidates racial background would be considered an illegal interview question. But making a decision based on your address is a way of getting around that.You probably wouldnt want to work for an employer where decision-makers hold such reprehensible views.ButA jobs a job, so you may wish to leave out your address to cover that possibility and hope the person carrying out the interviews isnt so judgmental.Discrimination has been statistically proven to exist, so this one is a reasonable argument for not putting your address on a resume.Bet you didnt see that coming when you started reading.When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.4Conclusion and SolutionsThe arguments for including your mailing address arent convincing and the evidence backing them is weak.On the other hand, at least one of the arguments against is backed by solid evidence and they seem more plausible.There is a real practical implication when you look at the way it impacts your resume layout for example.Therefore, my final answer to should I put my address on my resume isShould I Put My Address on a ResumeIts optional. SoIf you think youve got an advantage from living close to your desired employer, include your address in the header o f your resume.If youre worried about discrimination or you live further away, dont put your home address on your resume.If youre really worried about the ATS implications of leaving out your address then do this. Put the city and zip code of the employer on your resume in your professional summary.ATS software is programmed to scan for keywords. This way itll pick up the location keywords and youll be covered.It may look slightly odd when a human looks at it, but not enough to get you rejected. Heres how to do it.ATS Resume Address ExampleEnergetic and driven customer service rep with 3+ years of professional experience assisting customers in resolving challenging issues. Awarded Consultant of the Month three times. Helped reduce First Response Time by 20% within the first quarter of employment. Looking to support ABC Inc. in San Diego 92071 in its drive to become a market-leading solution through proven customer support skills.Not strictly necessary, but a way to get around this po tential issue if it concerns you.Thats it, weve fully addressed this question!Key TakeawaysLets sum it up.If you do include your address on your resume, the place to put it is in your resume header.Should you put your address on your resume? Its optional. In certain situations, including it could be helpful, but leaving it out wont get you rejected.Put the city and zip code of the employer in your professional summary if youre really concerned about being rejected by the ATS.Have you got anything to add to the debate? Maybe some insider tips to answer the ATS question of do you put your address on a resume. Let us know in the comments section.