Does your address matter when applying?

Hello,

Just had a quick question for the forum and was wondering if I could get some advice....

I currently am a recent graduate and live in upstate NY. I want to move to NYC and work there while I am young and have nothing holding me back. So my question to you is:

When NYC employers are looking at resumes and they see that I am from upstate NY, will this alter their decision on whether or not to even consider me? Would it be better to put a friends address on my resume who actually lives in NYC so that they think I am living down there already? Would that even matter? Any advice welcome!

Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer.

-MJ

14 Comments
 

Reviving this thread because I have the same exact concern. Would you guys use the local address of a friend when applying from out of state? Keep in mind my current job has the city in which I'm currently in listed next to it, so wouldn't that raise some questions? I would certainly be up-front about my immediate intentions of moving, but I feel like having an out-of-state address at the top could potentially be getting me dinged prematurely, Thoughts?

 

Understood, but there lies my point. At least I will have made it TO the interview. At that point I could explain my situation.

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Some companies even offer paid relocation, so I don't think any deception is required here.

Sure, but many smaller ones don't. And why deal with paying for relocation when there may be equally-qualified candidates locally?

 
Best Response

I have interviewed and hired hundreds of people for all sorts of positions in all sorts of companies and if someone put an address that wasn't theirs I would think, and I don't mean this in jest, that they're an idiot and would ding them. For the most part people hiring are looking more for the right person rather than someone who lives next door to the office, especially for an experienced hire. Someone moving for a job or giving a relo package isn't that big of a deal. Having to explain in an interview why you put an address that isn't yours in a city where you don't live is unnecessary and, as you noted, that's if you even get that far because your resume has your job's location. Someone looking at that could easily question why you work in Cleveland but you live at 51st and 2nd and toss it.

 

these days when anyone can buy a "prestigious"mailing address or phone #, doesn't matter as much as it may have used to. personally when looking at resumes i dont care whatsoever

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thatsWACCIn a recent superday, the MD I was speaking with pointed out that we lived one street away from each other. We talked about the neighborhood for the majority of the time I spoke with her. Got the offer.

I think something like this is the only way it would help/hurt you. Whoever is reviewing the resumes may recognize your address/location and make you stand out in their mind.

MM IB -> Corporate Development -> Strategic Finance
 
Anacott_CEOA lot of smaller firms focus on address just based on the current location. When I was trying to relocate, I can't tell you how many responses I got in the form of "I'm sorry, we only take local candidates."

I know, I don't live near any large cities and have had the same problem. I did get a couple interviews by putting my sister's address on my resume to appear local. haha

 

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