Q: I am redrafting my resume, and I want to know whether I should include my address. What is the protocol?
A: The protocol of including an address dates back to the time when prospective employers responded individually to applications with customized letters. Today, though, many informed commentators believe citing an email address and a phone number are sufficient identifiers leaving more resume space to list competencies and valuable skills. Others, however, consider the failure to include an address a critical omission or as a sign of being less than honest.
As times have changed, so has the school of thought on this topic. To make the best decision, consider a handful of conditions. First, consider safety and privacy issues. To that end, I do not recommend including a home address on a resume getting posted on the Web for all of the good safety and privacy reasons objectors cite. Personally providing a hard copy of your resume is very different from an public posting on the Internet.
Applications for entry-level or highly technical roles do not tend to require the need for this piece of personal information. However, the higher up the hierarchy, the more trust and openness become critical to success. Therefore, when applying for a senior, highly visible role, include a valid home address. Do so, also, when going in for a one-on-one meeting.
To be ready for any situation requiring a resume, have at least two versions, one with and one without an address. Most importantly, be selective about when, where, how and to whom the version with the address is presented. For an interesting set of comments on this topic, see, “Why You Must Include Your Address on the Resume,” (Lavie Margolin, January 17, 2014 http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswersID5830511860310376452.)
Contact Karen Alphonse at Karena@execSearches.com or visit ExecSearches.com for more information about our career coaching services.
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