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Should You Include A Picture On Your Resume

Argument: It Steers The Recruiters Attention Away From The Important Stuff

Do you have your picture on your resume?

On average hiring managers only spend 6 seconds on each resume. You have a very limited amount of time to sell your skills and competences.

Examining your photo, no matter how good-looking you are, might take their attention away from the important details about your work experience, skills and knowledge.

Use that precious time better than giving the hiring manager a chance to concentrate on your photo.

Or would you like to get hired mostly for your good looks?

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  • The photos and pictures must not include violent, threatening, un-sober or sexual elements. The photos and pictures must not display weapons, money or illegal drugs.

Why Is A Picture Important On A Resume

A good attractive picture will attract the recruiters to spend more times on your resume. Enabling them to ignore all the flaws in your resume. A good pictures will entice their interest to read more, to dwell more and to understand more about you. Perhaps they might spend another 5 seconds to go through your resume.

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The United States Of America

Verdict: never include

In the US, it is often considered very strange to have a picture on your resume. In fact, you will often hear that including a photograph with your application can cost you the job interview.

Employers in the US assume that photos give information that should not contribute to the hiring decision – such as appearance, ethnicity, gender, and other categories protected by labor laws. As a result, they tend to avoid resumes that have a picture of the applicant attached to it.

If you decide to include one, it implies that you dont understand the hiring norms. Therefore, we advise you to stay on the safe side and only ever include a profile picture if specifically requested by a potential employer.

An Ats Can’t Process A Photo

Resume Photo: Should You Put Your Picture on Your Resume?

Most employers use an automated software called an Applicant Tracking System to scan your resume. These systems extract information from your resume and determine whether you would be a good candidate for the position.

These systems are unable to read or process images, and that may result in your resume being automatically discarded. That means that getting past the ATS is crucial for any job search.

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It May Cause Discrimination

Many HR professionals agree that including a photo on a resume may lead to discrimination based on age, race, gender, or other factors.

It may not be deliberate. Recruiters are human. And it’s a human tendency to judge someone based on their appearances.

That is why, in countries like the USA, many recruiters discard resume image, name, address before passing them to the clients to avoid discrimination.

When Is Including A Resume Photo Not Recommended

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suggests that US employers should not request a resume photo from a job applicant, and the same advice is given in other countries, including the UK and Germany.

This is largely because these countries have strict employment laws regarding discrimination and labor.

When it comes to deciding whether or not to include a photo, research is vital in both the UK and Germany, a company can not request a resume photo. However, they are still widely expected in Germany.

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Why Are Resume Photos Often Discouraged

Employers can be unknowingly influenced by the look of the individual they see on the resume through unconscious bias.

For example,

When drafting a job description, an employer pictures a young, energetic go-getter to take up the role. On looking through a pile of resumes, they immediately disregard the one that features a woman with graying hair because it does not fit with their mental image, despite her being far more suited to the role.

Had the employer not seen a photograph, this woman would have been put forward to the next stage of the process.

A resume photo can be a poison chalice for an employer, creating strong grounds for claims of discrimination against it if the individual does not secure an interview.

What would have been a name with qualifications that do not quite reach the required standard for the role, suddenly becomes a person who is a certain gender, color or weight all of which can be brought into discrimination disputes if they do not get the role.

The Employer Disregards Resumes With Pictures

Should you put a photo on your resume?

Some employers have guidelines that instruct their human resources department to disregard resumes that have pictures on them. While they may not specifically state this in the job listing, companies with these guidelines do not consider candidates who have a picture on their resume. If the job description doesnt mention adding a picture to your resume, you can exclude it.

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When In Doubt Play It Safe

Including a picture on your resume may be an obvious choice when applying to jobs internationally or in certain industries.

In most cases, however, the practice is unnecessary at best and harmful at worst.

The consensus among hiring managers remains that it often decreases a candidates chances of receiving a job.

Instead, consider the many indirect ways to add a personal touch to your application.

We have countless resources here at Zippia to guide you along with this and all other aspects of your job search. Feel free to make use of them, and good luck.

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What To Do Instead Of Including A Photo On Your Resume

If you’re tempted to include a photo on your resume because you feel that your appearance is an asset that will help you get the job, there are other more professional ways that you can supply a photo to the hiring manager.

  • Mention your professional networking profile
  • Include a business card.
  • Refer the employer to a blog or social media account.

Some Recruiter Consider Resumes With Picture Unprofessional

Resume Photo: Should You Put Your Picture on Your Resume?

Many recruiters think that putting pictures on resumes is unprofessional. It sends a wrong impression of the candidate to the employer.

Your resume should only contain information about professional skills and demonstrate how you will be a valuable asset to the company. A resume photo does not provide any of this information and can be a major turn-off for the employer.

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Option : Add A Photo To Your Networking Resume

Another possible exception to the accepted wisdom regarding the inclusion of photos is when you are utilizing your resume mostly for networking purposes. If you are distributing resumes at conferences or other events where you will be interacting with many individuals, a photo can help new contacts to remember you.

In addition, if you are being referred by your contacts to other individuals who don’t know you, you might include a picture on your resume if you believe your appearance would be an asset. You can mention to networking contacts that you would be glad to furnish a version of your resume without a picture if they would like to forward your document to other individuals for formal job screening.

It Could Introduce Unconscious Bias

Workplace discrimination laws in the U.S. make it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, or disability, at any point in the employment process. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces workplace discrimination laws, advises employers to “not ask for a photograph of an applicant,” unless needed for “identification purposes” after “an offer of employment is made and accepted.”

Whether you intend to or not, “you’re totally introducing unconscious bias into the whole mix” by adding a photo to your resume, Copeland says. Unconscious biases are the deeply ingrained stereotypes people may unintentionally act upon socially, in the workplace, and in the hiring process. And some HR managers worry they could be accused of making these kinds of judgments early on in their selection process, says Belyna, of the Society of Human Resource Management.

“They get really anxious when they open a resume and somebody’s face is in front of them,” she says.

Even if you think a photo of yourself wouldn’t deter someone from hiring you based on their unconscious biases, it’s best to prevent any kind of discrimination whenever possible, experts say.

Whether we like it or not, there is discrimination and ageism in the workforce,” Yang says. “It can be too risky to include your photo on your resume.

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Should I Put A Picture Of Myself On My Resume

For job seekers, having a well-crafted resume is of the utmost importance. It is their first contact with their potential employer, and their chance to make a good first impression.

Resumes are also important as they are the gateway to the interview, which means they need to be good enough to grab the employers attention.

Thats why resume building is sometimes a stressful task, with job seekers asking themselves lots of questions in the process such as, How much information is too much information?, and Should I write down my hobbies or not?, those are just some of the more common questions job seekers ask themselves while writing their resume.

Another important question is Should I put a photo or picture on my resume?. A lot of people think that by adding a photo onto their resume they are increasing their chances of landing job interviews.

Job seekers usually add a photo or picture on their resume to show off, among other things, their personality.

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Should I Put A Photo On My Resume?
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    It Takes Up Valuable Space

    Your resume is meant to be a concise summary of your relevant experience and qualifications, ideally contained to one page . Adding a photo invariably means less room for everything else, including your work history and accomplishments, education, skills, awards, and other informationand the tradeoff simply isnt worth it.

    Plus, if youre shrinking your photo down to a teeny tiny thumbnail to maximize space, Wethers says, that indecipherable image is probably doing more harm than good. Do you really want that recruiter to spend their time squinting to make out your face rather than reading about what an amazing candidate you are?

    Argument: Ones Looks Are Not Relevant To The Job Position

    Okay, you might be hot. Why not gain some extra points by showing off your picture then?

    Despite what weve just said about unconscious biases, you should consider one more thing:

    Does your appearance bring any value to the job youre applying for?

    You have to consider for what job positions its relevant and for which it is not. There are plenty of positions where looks matter, such as modeling or acting jobs, brand ambassador/representative jobs, etc.

    When theres no legitimate reason why looking hot might be an asset to the job, we advise you not to include it.

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    It Could Lead To Rejection

    Sometimes, including a photo can be the sole factor that gets you knocked out of the running for a position.

    Some employers consider it unprofessional and others take the view that a photo is being used to take the focus away from a lackluster resume.

    If an employer makes a negative assumption about an applicant based on their photo, it could bring their application to an abrupt end, regardless of the other content there.

    It can be a specialist tracking bot, used to sift through resumes and discard those clearly unfit for the role, that is thrown by the appearance of an image and has cast the resume aside.

    Is Putting A Photo On A Resume A Good Idea

    Should I Put My Picture On My Resume?

    Earlier this week, I received resumes from two different people who are currently searching for employment. One came from a high school senior looking for a part-time job. The other came from a career professional who had been laid off during the employment crisis that followed coronavirus lockdowns in 2020.

    Though both resumes included past work history, a nice list of accomplishments, and most of the recommendations for putting together a stellar resume, each also included a headshot . Though the images are professional and both women are quite striking, seeing their pictures on their resumes made me feel uneasy.

    It’s hard enough to get your resume in front of a hiring manager when employment rates are at an all-time high, so I worried that these photos would distract readers from carefully reviewing each woman’s qualifications or create a hiring bias. But I didn’t feel confident making that recommendation without talking to other job search experts.

    In the post below, you’ll find answers to the question, “should I put my photo on a resume?” from various career experts. If you don’t have time to read the entire post, the short answer is no–unless you are applying for a creative job such as a job in performing arts.

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    Should I Include A Profile Photo On My Resume In 2021

    To include or not to include â that is the question.

    A good resume is your golden ticket to your dream job. It is important to effectively present yourself and your experience on your one-page resume. One might ask — should I present myself with a photo on my resume or just text?

    When you ask your peers or mentors, you are likely to get diverging opinions. The results are even more blurred when you seek help from Google.

    The answer to this frequently asked question is that it depends â very similar to the GPA dilemma. Youâre probably tired of hearing this answer over and over again. However, when deciding whether to include your photo on your resume, it is especially important to consider the circumstance as it can make or break your chances of landing a position. In this guide, we will dive into the various scenarios when you should or should not include your profile photo on your resume and examples of good and bad profile photos.

    It Can Make Recruiters Fear The Appearance Of Discrimination

    The Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionthe agency that enforces federal laws barring employment discriminationrecommends that employers avoid asking candidates for photos. Requesting photos on resumes or in job applications is not wise because the photos could be used as evidence that the employer had knowledge of an applicants membership in a protected class, if an applicant or employee files a discrimination claim, the EEOC said in a statement emailed to The Muse.

    But even if a company didnt ask for photos, receiving resumes with headshots could put hiring professionals in a sticky situation. The images existence on application materials could work against the organization in a potential discrimination claim. In some cases, concerns about the appearance of discrimination might be enough that a company pulls any resumes with pictures of candidates out of the running.

    Weve heard firsthand from a lot of recruiters that wont even review applicants that submit a photo, Jon Shields, Marketing Manager at Jobscan, has told The Muse. They just cant make themselves more vulnerable than they already are to any possible claims of discrimination.

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    Should You Include A Picture On Your Resume Or Cv

    You probably already know that every element of your resume or CV will be scrutinized by recruiters. That makes the decision to include a photo of yourself, or not, an important one.

    Theres lots of confusion around resume/CV photos. For some, putting a headshot on a job application seems entirely foreign for others, its standard practice.

    Much like your decision on whether to submit a resume versus a CV depends on the country in which you applying to work, resume photo customs vary from country to country.

    Its important that job-seekers ready themselves for such cultural difference when applying for positions.

    To help you eliminate the guesswork, were covering the globe, breaking down where you should and shouldnt use a resume/CV picture. .

    DO NOT include a resume photo in the following countries:

    • United Kingdom
    • Ireland
    • United States

    The reasons for not including a professional photo on your resume in these countries is simple: strict anti-discrimination and labour laws. Companies must be able to prove that their hiring processes are free from any profiling based on race, gender, age, appearance, etc. So, out of precaution, they prefer not to see candidate photos accompanying job applications.

    Obviously there can be exceptions to this rule, such as the case of applying for modelling or acting jobs.

    Include a resume photo in the following countries:

    • Austria
    • Asia
    • South America

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