“Don’t Put Your Address on Your Resume!” – LinkedIn Advice from the Unemployed

If you’ve spent any time on LinkedIn, you’ve probably seen the same old career advice circulate like bad office coffee:

• “Never write a two-page resume!”
• “Cover letters are dead!”
• And, the current favorite: “Never put your address on your resume!”

Now, I love a good debate as much as the next hiring manager, but here’s the problem—most of this advice comes from people who have had 20 jobs in 20 years.

The LinkedIn “Experts” vs. Real-World Hiring Managers 🧐

For the past 25 years, I’ve been involved in hiring at every level. From small startups to some of the biggest companies in the S&P 500, I’ve personally worked with CEOs, Talent Directors, and hiring managers who actually know what they want on a resume.

Spoiler alert: Many of them still request a full address.

So, let’s break this down once and for all. When does it matter? Does putting your full address on your resume actually impact your chances? And should you ignore internet career gurus who have a 12-month expiration date at every job?

Let’s dive in.

🤔 Why Some Employers Still Want Your Address

You might think that hiring managers have suddenly become protective of your privacy, agreeing that your home address is some kind of state secret. But in real-world hiring, that’s not the case.

Here are two key reasons why real employers still ask for addresses:

1️⃣ Shorter Commutes = Better Employee Retention

A CEO friend of mine explained it like this:

“Employees who live close to the office are less likely to quit over long commutes.”

It’s a basic business decision—hiring managers want employees who won’t burn out from a brutal drive every day. If they see your commute is over an hour, they might assume you’ll leave after six months.

2️⃣ Work Eligibility & Compliance

A Director of Talent once told me:

“We use the address to make sure the candidate is legally eligible to work in the area.”

If you’re applying for a job in the U.S., your work authorization can sometimes be tied to your location. Certain industries or federal contracts may even require employers to verify this before making an offer.

📢 But I Heard Putting an Address on a Resume Is “Outdated!”

The internet’s advice on this is like a Facebook argument about pineapple on pizza—everyone has an opinion, and most people are wrong.

Are full addresses always necessary? No.
Will some recruiters glance at your resume and wonder why it’s missing? Absolutely.

Think about it—if you live in New York but apply for a job in Los Angeles without any explanation, what does that tell the recruiter?

• Are you relocating?
• Do they need to budget for moving expenses?
• Will you simply ghost them if things don’t work out?

Recruiters don’t have time to play detective. If an address helps eliminate unnecessary questions, it can make a difference.

💡 When Should You Include Your Address?

Okay, so should you slap your full address on every resume going forward? Not necessarily.

Here’s what makes the most sense:

✅ When the job application requires it (big companies sometimes filter applicants by location)
✅ If the company is specifically hiring local candidates
✅ When applying for government or federal jobs
✅ If your commute time could be a decision factor

And here’s when you can skip it:

❌ If you’re applying for fully remote jobs
❌ When you’re worried about privacy or personal security
❌ If it’s a super casual startup that only asks for basic info

🌍 The Modern Alternative: City & State Only

If you’re on the fence, a good compromise is listing only your city and state instead of your full street address.

For example:

👉 John Smith
📍 New York, NY (Open to Relocation)
📧 John.Smith@email.com | 📞 (123) 456-7890 | 🔗 LinkedIn Profile

This keeps it clean, and it tells the recruiter what they need to know without giving too much away.

Remember—many ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) still scan for locations to match resumes with job postings. So skipping location details altogether could accidentally remove you from consideration. 😬

💼 Final Thoughts: Who Should You Trust?

There’s no shortage of bad career advice out there. If you scroll LinkedIn long enough, you’ll find self-proclaimed experts who:

1️⃣ Have no actual hiring experience
2️⃣ Jump jobs faster than an intern on free lunch day
3️⃣ Swear they know the secret to landing 6-figure jobs overnight

🚨 Reality check: If someone has switched roles every 6 months, maybe don’t let them dictate your career strategy.

So, should you put your full address on your resume? Not always.
Should you blindly follow internet advice from random LinkedIn influencers? Absolutely not.