PO Box on Resume?

Someone may have said this, but I don't have time to read the responses... if you use something like the UPS store you usually get an actual street address and the "PO Box" is actually called a "Suite" so it isn't as noticible that it's a PO Box unless they happen to know of that specific address as a UPS store.

I actually never put my address on the resume. I put name, city, state, email address and phone number.

It would be fine, I think. But how would you get the mail out of your PO Box? Why not put your desire to change states in your cover letter. You would probably get the most consideration for the job in the new state in you lived in the county of desired job.

The reason those that are in the state are first to be considered is becasue you would need to get certified in the state to actually teach there, so school would rather teacher that are already certified in the state. I would research the certifications for that state and be sure they are well noted in your resume/cover letter.

Good Luck!

Hi K.,
What you can do if you are concerned about putting "PO Box" on your resume, is find the physical address of the post office itself, then your PO box becomes your apartment. I have done this before and it is acceptable for you to have your mail addressed this way.
Hope this helps and good luck!

Like you're hiding something.

I wouldn't think it would be a good idea. If they run a background check on you, your IL address will appear on your credit report and not the P.O. address.

I wouldn't do it. If anything, I'd write them a letter and explain your situation and hope for the best.

Besides that, most fraud perpitrators use a P.O. Box. So, I wouldn't suggest ever using a P.O. Box unless you are having issues receiving your mail at your house address.

Good luck.

I teach and recently relocated, so I've been where you are. :)

Best thing to do is to make some calls to the local schools, in the area you're looking at, and tell them your situation. I only needed a resume for job fairs and interviews. In order to be considered here, I had to put in an online application. Once the application was in, principals could review it to see if I fit the needed positions they were offering. Because it was competitive I had to make some calls in order to get my name out there and get them to take a closer look at my application. I got many interviews this way and was offered a few positions. This was just last year when jobs were beginning to become scarce in education as budget cuts were being made. It's not easy, but it can be done.
I wouldn't use a PO Box because it will eventually come out somehow (interview, when offer is made, etc.) that you are relocating. Why not be upfront and honest about that? Principals like that and many principals I interviewed with wanted to know why I wanted to relocate (my husband's job) and if I planned on settling in the area and making roots there. As long as they know you won't just up and leave, they will give you a chance.
Good luck to you and yours!

Do a Google search "is it wise to put a PO Box on a resume."

And yes, as the other poster said, you'd need to be credentialed/certified in the state you are applying for. As you said, is is competitive.

PO Boxes are perfectly acceptable addresses on resumes. Why would anyone want to give out a home address to strangers anyway? I was in personnel many years and didn't think twice about a POB. Most people are contacted by phone and email now but you do need to either have someone pick up your mail or have it forwarded quickly. There are services that do that other than the USPS.

As far as having a phone number matching your POB addressm there are so many people with cell phones now with different area codes that no one even blinks anymore. If you will seriously move if offered a job, I say go for it!

M.

Do you want to open a PO box in the new state? What if a potential employer responds to you by letter, will you be able to get it in a timely manner?

Just my opinion, but why not use your current address on the resume and in your cover letter include something like "we are in the process of relocating to...."

You might want to look into mailbox options other than through USPS. I currently rent a mailbox at a UPS store, and used to have a P.O. Box. While the UPS store charges more, I've found that the extra cost is worth it. One of the advantages is that the address does not appear to be a mailbox, but a regular street address. Because the address is not a P.O. Box, I never have problems with packages. The UPS store also provides much better service.

I think a PO BOX would be fine. I have worked in HR and never gave it a second thought if I ran across a POB or no address on a resume. In fact, I have never put my address on my resumes. I give my name, email address, city and state, and home phone number.

Huh...Not sure it would be the first thing I would notice. Meaning, it wouldn't get automatically flagged as "bad".

If the area you are moving to is even vaguely rural or ex-urban, I think you could definitely get away with it since many rural communities have limited direct-to-mail box delivery and therefore lots of residents keep a PO box.

I second the suggestion that you get a box and a delivery/shipping store since they let you use their address+"number" and again, unless it is a small town, no one will ever know.

Go to a UPS store or a mail box store. Then you can use their street address. Instead of putting PO Box 222. Put apartment 222. You now have an address in their state.

Good luck to you.

I don't know much about the PO Box, but I wanted to address another mom who said something about a different area code number on the phone...I would not worry about that. My husband and I have lived in NC for over a year now, but have no intentions of getting a new cell phone number for down here. Our numbers have been the same forever, that it makes no sense to switch them, and we have NEVER had an employer (or potential employer) think twice about because we have an address here. In this day and age, it is SO common to not switch your phone. I figure as long as you have a PO Box, you should be fine!

I think it would look rather confusing and possible raise some questions about you as a candidate... unless you also have a Phone # in the correct area code... I mean, isn't that how most candidates are contacted... by phone? So when you list your phone # (in a different state's area code) and your address is a local P.O. box... it would make me wonder what you were hiding...

I agree that a notation in your cover letter is more appropriate.