Should I Put a Picture on My Resume (HR Experts Explain)

Should I Put a Picture on My Resume (HR Experts Explain) Resume with pictureGood idea? Terrible idea?Heres the issue:You sit for an interview. They love you. But then, landslide! They confuse your resume with someone elses. Youre stuck asking friends for spare change.Suddenly a resume picture sounds like a doggone good idea.But is it?This guide will show you:Why a resume with a picture is a bad career move.Why a picture on a resume makes a lot of sense (but you still shouldnt do it).What to do instead of putting a photo on your resume to get the same effect.Five resume photo tips if you want to ignore my great advice.Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. Wi th the same stuff.Create your resume now1Should I Include a Picture on My Resume?In the US, UK, or Canada, dont submit a resume-with-picture. These countries are bias-conscious. Employers worried about discrimination lawsuits often discard resumes with pictures out of policy. Though resume photos may seem like a good idea, most career experts warn against them.A resume with a picture isnt a bad thought, though. It lets employers connect the sheet of paper with a living, breathing human being. It ensures they wont forget you or confuse you with another applicant. But even resumes for fashion models or BMW salespeople should not include headshots.Should You Put Your Picture on Your Resume? No. Heres Why:Employer nightmare:She looks through 200 resumes. Ten have resume pictures. She hires someone.A few weeks later, disaster! One of the picture-on-resume applicants sues her for discriminationand wins.This scenario is all too real. Its so scary for businesses in the US, UK, and other cou ntries that businesses have created policies against photos on resumes.Some companies will actually toss out all resumes with pictures.Unless you know for sure that the company wont do that, dont add a resume photo (even though its a great idea for other reasons).Should You Send a Resume with a Picture for a Modeling Job?What about jobs like modeling or high-end sales, where appearance is a qualification?Nope.Even with a modeling resume, dont send a resume with a picture.Save the photos for your portfolio. If its online (it should be) put a link to it in your resume header.Pro Tip: Pictures on resumes are common in mainland Europe. CVs with resume photographs do add valuable job search info when theres no danger of a lawsuit.Want a clean, professional resume header even without a resume picture? See our guide: Professional Resume Header Examples Why They Work2Why a Resume With Picture Is a Good Idea (But Dont Do It)Its all too common.The hiring team sits in the conference room with a stack of 190 resumes.Wheres that candidate? they say. The one we like. Its this one, isnt it?Its sooo much easier with a picture on a resume. They can just say, Yep, this guy here.A resume with picture is a great idea because your face is like a logo for your job search.Employers can match resumes with faces and make it easier to keep their choices straight.Plus, these days anyone can find you on social media anyway. Its not like leaving your photo off a resume makes you sight-unseen.ButPolicies against resume pictures are silly, but for now, theyre here to stay. Dont try to fight them, or youll disqualify yourself from jobs you want.Pro Tip: Youre right that linking a picture to your job search is a good idea. Just dont put a picture on your resume. Need some ways to get around it? Thats up next.Now you know not to send a resume-with-picture. Want some other great tips to make a resume that gets job offers? See our guide: How to Make a Resume for a Job [from Application to Inter view in 24h]3How to Solve the Picture-on-Resume DilemmaMake them remember you.Dont let the hiring team confuse you with another candidate.Do include a photo in your job search.Just dont send a resume with a picture.Heres how:Put a Logo on Your ResumeIf a picture on a resume is like your job search logo, why not use an actual logo?This works.Companies use logos for a reason. They want instant recognition.In your job search, you do too.You have two options:Pick the Initials template in our resume builder and youll get a ready logo with your initials on your resume:Create my resume nowIts simple yet eye-catching. No wonder its one of the best resume templates available.Or, if you want something more sophisticatedFind an artist on Etsy or Fiverr who can whip up a logo cheap for you. Even quicker, use a free logo design service like Free Logo Design.Then use our resume builder or Canva to add your logo picture to your resume.Add a Headshot Photo to Your LinkedIn ProfileYou cant put a pho to on your resume.But you can put a picture on your LinkedIn profile.ThenPut your LinkedIn handle in your resume header.Voila. Instant resume with a picture, but without a picture on your resume.Half of all recruiters will click through to your LinkedIn profile.The best LinkedIn pictures follow a few rules. Use this LinkedIn profile picture advice from a study of 60,000 user ratings by PhotoFeeler.com:SmileSquint a littleHave a shadow on your jawlineDress wellLook at the cameraDo those things, and youll stand out in a good way.Add Photos to Business Cards and Stick Them to Your ResumesYou already know you shouldnt use a resume picture.SoPut a photo on your business card, then attach it to your resume.Its the best of both worlds.Employers who like resume photos will get what they want.Those who cant use pictures on resumes will toss the business card and keep the resume.Personally, I cant stand business cards without pictures.When I get home from a conference with a stack of cards, I cant match any of them to the people I met.The downside? Business cards with photos make you look a little like a realtor. :)Pro Tip: Are you making a resume to bring to networking events? Non job-search resumes or one-sheets definitely should have pictures on them.Your LinkedIn profile is an extension of your resume. See our guide for tips: 99 LinkedIn Profile Tips: Background Photo, Headline, Summary4How to Put a Picture on a ResumeWant to ignore my great advice not to send a resume with a picture?Do so at your peril.You already know a picture on a resume can get your resume tossed out.If you want to do it anyway, heres how. Follow the LinkedIn photo tips above:Smile (with your teeth)Squint a bitShade your jawlineDress for successMake eye contactShow your head-and-shoulders onlyHave an unobtrusive backgroundNo selfiesPlace your resume picture at the top left. (Its okay to use the top right too.)Pro Tip: Dont be afraid to pay for a professional resume photo. Professional pictures for work will make you look more, well, professional. Theyre worth the extra $100.Whether or not you send a resume with picture, a well-formatted resume can move you to the top of the pile. See our guide for help: Resume Format: Samples and Templates for all Types of ResumesKey TakeawaysHeres what you need to know about resumes with a picture:Dont put a picture on your resume. Too many employers will toss it from fear of a discrimination lawsuit.Do add a logo to your resume to personalize it (if you like).Also include your LinkedIn address in your resume. Then hiring teams can see your smiling face.Finally, attach a business card with a photo to your resume. If the employer has a no-picture-on-resume policy, they can toss the card and keep the resume.Why do you want to use a resume with picture? Whats your craziest picture-on-resume story? Give us a shout in the comments. Wed love to talk!