Why did nobody tell me that having an out-of-state area code on your phone number gets your resume instantly thrown in the trash?
So I moved to Chicago about two years ago. I kept my old cell phone number with a Florida area code because changing numbers with banks and two-factor authentication is a giant pain in the neck. I never thought twice about it.
when I started applying for local hybrid jobs three months ago, I sent out over ninety resumes. My city address was clearly printed at the top of the page, but I was getting zero phone calls. Not even basic initial screenings for entry-level roles I was fully qualified for.
Last week I grabbed lunch with an old college buddy who works in recruiting. I showed him my resume on my phone to get his feedback. He took one look at the header, tapped my phone number, and asked, "Why are you applying to Chicago jobs with an 813 Florida area code?"
He told me recruiters glance at contact info for two seconds. If they see an out-of-state area code, they automatically assume you are out of state and need relocation money, completely ignoring the written city address below your name. I set up a free local Chicago number on Google Voice, swapped the ten digits on my resume, and sent out ten applications. I got two interview calls in forty-eight hours.
I should of changed it two years ago, but losing three months of applications to a three-digit area code was ABSOLUTELY infuriating. Has anyone else had an out-of-state phone number ruin their local job search?