Should You Put a Photo on Your Resume? The 2024 Answer

July 15, 2024
Resume Writing
4 min read
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To Picture, or Not to Picture: A Geographic and Industry Guide

The debate over whether to include a photograph on your resume has been ongoing for years. With the rise of visual platforms like LinkedIn, it's a question that has become even more pertinent. The correct answer is not a simple 'yes' or 'no'—it depends almost entirely on your geographic location and, to a lesser extent, your industry.

In the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom: An Emphatic NO

In these countries, the professional convention is strong and clear: do not put a photo on your resume. Including one is often seen as unprofessional and can lead to your application being immediately discarded, for several important reasons:

  • Anti-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Laws: Companies in these regions are legally bound to avoid discrimination based on age, race, gender, national origin, and other protected characteristics. A photograph provides this information, and many large companies have a policy of automatically rejecting resumes with photos to avoid any potential claim of bias or discrimination. It's a legal liability they are not willing to risk.

  • Focus on Skills, Not Appearance: Recruiters and hiring managers are trained to evaluate candidates based on their qualifications, skills, and experience. A photo can introduce unconscious bias and distracts from the most important information on the page.

  • Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Issues: Many Applicant Tracking Systems are not designed to parse images. A photograph can confuse the software, leading to parsing errors that can garble your resume's content or cause it to be rejected outright.

    • Your LinkedIn profile is the appropriate place for a professional headshot. Recruiters will almost certainly look you up there, but your initial application document should be photo-free.

    In Continental Europe, Asia, and the Middle East: Often YES

    In many other parts of the world, cultural norms are different. In countries like Germany, France, Spain, and many nations in Asia and the Middle East, including a professional headshot is not only common but often expected. In these cultures, a photo is seen as a standard part of a professional introduction, similar to listing your date of birth or marital status, which are also common on CVs in these regions.

    A resume (or CV, as it's more commonly called) without a photo might be seen as incomplete or as if the candidate has something to hide. If you are applying for jobs in these regions, it is generally a good idea to include a small, professional headshot.

    The Exception to the Rule: Creative and Performance Roles

    There is one major exception to the 'no photo' rule in the US, UK, and Canada. For jobs where your physical appearance is directly related to your work, a photo is not only acceptable but required. This applies to roles such as:

  • Actors

  • Models

  • Broadcast Journalists

  • Other on-camera performers

    • In these cases, the photo is not just a headshot but a professional 'headshot' in the industry sense of the word, which is a specific type of portfolio photograph.

    The Final Verdict for 2024:

    Applying for a job in North America or the UK?** *Do not include a photo. Let your skills and accomplishments speak for themselves.

    Applying for a job in Europe, Asia, or the Middle East?** *Do include a professional photo, unless the application instructions specifically say not to.

    Are you an actor or model?** *Yes, include your headshot as part of your standard application package.

    Following these geographic norms is a simple way to show that you are a culturally aware and savvy professional.

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