The practice of including a physical address on a resume has changed significantly. For decades, the full street address was a standard inclusion in the contact information section. However, with the rise of digital applications and remote work, this convention has become largely unnecessary and potentially detrimental. Current best practices focus on prioritizing candidate privacy and optimizing documents for automated screening systems.
The Shift Away from Full Street Addresses
The requirement of providing a complete mailing address has become obsolete. Retaining this detail on a public-facing document introduces a potential risk to personal security and privacy in the digital age. Job seekers often prefer to keep their exact residential location private until a formal offer or background check process requires it.
Including a full address can inadvertently expose a candidate to unconscious biases from hiring managers. Recruiters may make assumptions about commute time, socioeconomic status, or even age based on a specific neighborhood, leading to unwarranted distance bias. Furthermore, the space on a resume is extremely valuable, and removing the unnecessary street address allows for more room to detail professional achievements.
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) do not require a full street address for geo-matching. These systems primarily use location keywords to filter candidates and determine if they are local to the job posting area. Providing just the city and state is sufficient for the ATS to properly categorize the application for location-specific searches.
Essential Location Details to Include
The accepted standard for indicating location on a modern resume is to provide only the necessary geographic information. This concise approach ensures the candidate meets the basic location requirements of the role without oversharing personal data. This minimal detail is what the majority of recruiters and ATS software need to proceed with an application.
City and State
Listing your city and state is the absolute minimum requirement to show proximity to the potential workplace or to comply with state-specific labor regulations. This detail helps recruiters confirm a candidate’s local status for in-office or hybrid roles. The recommended format is simple and clear, such as “Chicago, IL” or “Phoenix, Arizona”.
Optional Zip Code
A zip code is considered optional, but it can be useful in specific situations. Some Applicant Tracking Systems allow recruiters to perform hyper-local searches based on a radius from a specific zip code. However, similar to a full address, a zip code can still contribute to distance bias if the area is far from the office location.
Handling Remote or Relocating Status
For candidates applying to roles outside their current area, specific phrasing clarifies their intentions to the employer. If you are applying for a remote position, you should still include your current location, followed by a clear indicator like “Remote” or “Open to Remote”. For those actively planning a move, the best practice is to list the target location, such as “Relocating to Austin, TX – Available Q1 2024”.
Proper Placement and Formatting of Contact Information
The location details should be integrated into the contact block at the top of the document. This placement ensures the information is immediately visible and easily parsed by both human readers and automated systems. The contact information should typically be aligned to the left or centered in the resume’s header.
Maintain a consistent, single-line presentation for all contact elements to maximize space and readability. The location should appear alongside the phone number, email address, and professional URL, often separated by a simple vertical bar or a small dot. The font size for the location should not be excessively large or bolded, keeping it visually equal to the rest of the contact details.
Special Cases When a Full Address Is Necessary
While the general rule is to omit the full street address, there are rare instances where this information is explicitly mandated. These exceptions usually involve formal application processes rather than the initial resume submission itself. The job description or application portal will make it clear if the full mailing address is required.
Federal or specific government positions often require a complete residential address for security clearance or background investigation forms. Certain international applications may also adhere to traditions that necessitate full address disclosure for initial vetting. Job seekers should only provide the full details if the application system or the official job posting explicitly requires it.