This happens a lot: I apply for a job and they ask for my complete address. Why? I would understand if they just want to know what city/town I'm in: That has bearing on how easily I can get to the office.
But why do they need to know my street address?
The only thing I can think: Indeed/LinkedIn/take-your-pick is building a profile of me based on this info, using my street as a proxy for my income, credit score, or, ultimately, for my social class.
From now on, when they ask me, I'm just going to put a rich person's address. For this one I used a Brooklyn townhouse where Maggie Gyllenhaal and one of the Saarsgaards lives.
That can be determined by Zip Code alone. Exact address isn't needed to determine which neighborhood an applicant is from in most major cities
True, but asking for your ZIP code feels more nebulous and undefined as to WHY. Asking for your full address is "oh, I guess so they can mail me things if they need to" for most applicants, so it gets looked past a lot easier. One of the few times where specificity wins out.