Should you put your address on a resume?

"Should I put my address on my resume?" is a question many job seekers ask when preparing their resume for a job search. While you've no doubt heard people emphasize the importance of "location, location, location" in any number of situations, the answer here is not so straightforward, with both pros and cons associated with including this personal information. Weigh these considerations before deciding whether or not to put your address on a professional resume.

Employers know how long your commute will be

When employers do some further digging into the location of your address, they could also be doing a quick calculation of how long your daily commute would be. This can work against you if your daily commute is long. Employers know that people who travel a significant distance to work are often tired and stressed, which are two factors that can cause employees to quit early. Obviously, this potential problem can throw up a red flag for employers.

Missing information can make employers cautious

Addresses are one of the traditional standard resume features—you won't find a resume template that doesn't include space for an address. So omitting yours could send off alarm bells to some conservative employers. For these hirers, your resume will seem incomplete, and they may wonder if you're trying to hide something or just lacking attention to detail.

It lets employers perform background checks

Employers want to perform background checks on potential hires, but this task is made more difficult without an address. You want to make life as easy as possible for anyone who may offer you a job, and providing your address would help your case.