With resumes now primarily submitted online, one question comes to mind when putting together your contact information on your documents: do I need to include my address?
While addresses were traditionally required in the resume process, today it is more so up to the person applying, their circumstances, and the specific requirements of each position. Look at the job description and see what they require first.
JOB POSTING REQUIREMENTS
Is the position remote? If so, your location likely is not as big of a concern for the hiring manager. You could list simply your city and province, or choose not to list your location at all.
Do they explicitly note a need to work somewhere specific? Then you may wish to include your location. Location could be a keyword in their ATS screening as well! So your address acts as another checkmark on your application.
On the other hand, it is also important to bear in mind that including this information could create a distance and location bias if you do not match their location criteria, so try to address that in your resume or cover letter. Are you open to relocation? Let them know! Or consider keeping your location slightly broader, and check what boxes you can match in terms of location (whether that’s region, province, or otherwise).
CONSIDER WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH
If there is no note in the job posting specific to location, then the decision primarily falls to you and your level of comfort in sharing your information. There are a few other things to bear in mind when considering whether to include your address or not on a resume.
Pros of an Address on Your Resume
- It’s something hiring managers already expect to see, and doesn’t cause them to question why you might have left it off.
- Similarly, indicating your location allows hiring managers to understand what your commute might look like and thus what your routine might look like in getting to a new position each day. This could even help in shaping your job offer; for example, providing a remote work option or financial help in relocating might be something they could consider if they know your location ahead of time.
- In cases where a hiring manager may need to do a criminal record check for a position, they will need to know your location to acquire that information.
- Including your address allows hiring managers to start building a profile on you. Whether that contributes to your file should you get offered the position you are currently applying to, or if they store your information for future positions, you are helping them as much as possible in information-gathering and making the hiring process simpler.
Cons of an Address on Your Resume:
- Adding your full address can feel outdated. If you feel like this doesn’t suit you or the position you are applying to, you could consider just including your phone number and email.
- It can take up valuable space in your resume design, that could be used for other information. If your resume is starting to feel cluttered, and the space you have allotted to a detailed address could be put to better use for more information on your experience, consider removing details or removing your address altogether.
SETTING YOUR OWN BOUNDARIES
Think about the above in your own context as well. What are your own boundaries around privacy and sharing your information? Are you comfortable sharing your exact address with the hiring company right away?
Do what you are most comfortable with. In the end, it is your personal information being shared in their online portals, and your information in their hands. So long as you address the essentials the job description requires, how and when you present that to hiring managers is up to you.
IF INCLUDING YOUR ADDRESS, HOW SHOULD YOU WRITE IT OUT?
There are different ways you can list your address, or location:
Listing you full address:
List in full, on one line if possible. Abbreviations can be used to ensure all fits on one line.
Example: 123 Mill Street, Vancouver, BC, 1V1 V1V
List just the city and province:
Example: Vancouver, BC
List just your city, province and postal code:
Example: Vancouver, BC, 1V1 V1V
If you are relocating, that can indicated in your resume with city and province:
Example: Relocating to Edmonton, AB
FINAL TIPS
There are some instances when we advise that you refrain from using your address altogether. If you are posting your resume to a highly public forum or website where people can access your resume freely and contact you about upcoming positions, do not include your address to ensure your privacy and security.
~ written by Lucy Fox
