Whether or not you put a picture on your resume depends a lot on your industry and where you live. In this post, we talk about whether or not putting a photo on your resume is important and what kinds of jobs it can help you get.

The rules for resumes have changed, but photos are still not common on them.

And don't include one unless you work in a field where it's okay.

"The answer is no," said Graham Riley, CEO of CareerToolBox, when asked if photos should be on resumes. "There is only so much space on a resume, and a lot of resumes go through the applicant tracking system. How well the applicant tracking system works depends on how many resumes go through it. More pictures could change the way your information is shown to the recruiter."

Photos on a resume can also divert the attention of the recruiter or hiring manager. Riley said that people who put pictures on their resumes are looking for a way to stand out. "But people who looked into how long it takes a recruiter to look at a resume last year found that it was less than seven seconds."

So, while you have a recruiter's attention, it's important to make sure they pay attention to your skills and background.

One reason you might put a photo on your resume is to show where you live. Novoresume, a career blog, said that job seekers in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Scandinavian countries, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America should add photos to their resumes.

"Even if an employer doesn't ask for a photo, it's usually a good idea to include one on your resume in the above fields," Novoresume said. "However, keep in mind that each group has its own rules and that national standards can change. So, some employers may ask you not to send a photo with your application. If they do, you should follow their request.

I talked to Riley and $100K+ resume writer Ashley Cash about whether or not a photo should be on your resume.

When a picture should be on your resume

Since photos can be distracting, take up space on a resume, and look out of place for most job applications, you shouldn't include one on your resume.

But there are times when the rule doesn't hold. In addition to where you live, sometimes your job also requires it.

"There are probably one or two fields where putting a picture on a resume is a good idea," Cash said. "That comes down to real estate, because the pictures kind of make you feel like you can trust them. The second [industry] would be something in the entertainment business, like being a model, actress, etc., where how you look is just as important as what you know.

"Do you have the right "look" for whatever they're trying to find? Outside of these two very specific fields, I'm not sure if having a photo on a resume is helpful. I think it's important for people to think of it this way in the digital world we live in now: if someone wants to see your face, they can do so through a number of other channels, like LinkedIn. So, I would say very niche industries where there is a real benefit."

Where to put a picture on your resume and what kind of picture to use

Cash said that if you work in a field where a photo is helpful, you should put it next to your contact information in the top right or top left corner.

As for the type of photo you should use, if you're in the real estate business, use a professional shot, like the headshot you use for your other marketing materials that shows your brand.

"It's about the same if you work in entertainment," Cash said. "What is your headshot or image that you like to use as your brand? Cash said, "It goes without saying, but you don't want to use a selfie you took in your car or a picture you took on your phone or a friend's phone."

Why you shouldn't put a picture on your resume

Riley said that putting a photo on your resume doesn't help if you aren't in those industries.

"It could change the way things look," Riley said. "There are problems with the layout, it could get moved around, and it looks sloppy.

"If they only look at something for seven or even ten seconds, they won't necessarily hire you based on how you look. What they want to know is if you can quickly explain why you have the right skills and experiences. That will make people interested in an interview. Because you won't get very many interviews if you can't get people interested.

Riley and Cash said that instead of adding a photo to your resume, you should work on making your resume and LinkedIn profile better.

Cash said, "Our resume is meant to get the reader interested enough and tell our career story in a way that makes them want to set up an interview with us." "Without a picture, we can tell our story, talk about our best job, and show what we're good at. If we imagine it as a book. It's not a book for kids. It's not necessary for us to tell our story."

Cash said that when you tell your story on your resume, you shouldn't treat it like a biography.

Cash said, "What we really want to focus on are the most important parts of the work we've already done in terms of what we want to do next." "That's where most people go wrong. You don't want to fill your resume with just a list of your tasks. Instead, you should focus on the high-impact parts of what you do that really make a difference for the company. Focus on those things, and if you can link them to a real-world result or outcome, that's where you should put your time and energy.

Riley said to start by making your headline and objective/summary better.

"The headline says, 'This is who I am,' and this is what you get if they only read the first third of your resume," Riley said. "What do you want them to think about you if that's the only thing they read?

"What you bring to the table is what your goal is. "What I mean by that is that almost every job is filled to solve a problem. Are you presenting yourself as an expert in that problem with the skills and experience that will help the company solve that problem?"

Pay attention to how your LinkedIn profile looks as well.

"Your LinkedIn profile is where most recruiters will get their first impression of you, and you should make sure it has a profile photo," Riley said. "Your marketing materials are your cover letter, resume, LinkedIn profile, and picture on your LinkedIn profile. That is the same as your business logo. That follows you through the whole process of applying."

Don't take the time to choose a photo to put on your resume unless you work in a field or country that finds it appealing. Instead, use that time to improve your resume and show that you are the best person for the job you want.

Key Points: 

Should you put a picture of yourself on your resume?

  • Most of the time, you shouldn't put a photo on your resume.
  • Studies show that recruiters look at a resume for less than seven seconds, so you don't want to do anything to take their attention away. A photo on a resume can be a distraction.
  • It's fine to put a picture of yourself on your resume if you work in real estate or in the entertainment business. Some countries also like it when you put a photo on your resume.
  • If you put a photo on your resume, it should be in the top right or left corner, near your contact information.