Picture on Resume: Should You Include a Resume Photo or Photograph in Your CV?

Adding a photo on your resume might seem like a good idea. After all, first impressions matter, right? In reality, including a picture on your CV can actually work against you.

All recruiters are human beings (or at least we think we are). This means that as soon as you add a photo on a resume, you are introducing bias into the decision process. That bias can work in your favor, or against you... But don't take my word for it.

Studies show that when a photograph on a CV or resume is included, people make instant judgments based on appearance (often without even realizing it). Researchers have found that "attractive" candidates often get more interview callbacks and even better salary offers (10 to 20%!), compared to "average looking" candidates with the same qualifications.

One experiment in Spain showed that the same resume received 24% more interview invitations when paired with an attractive resume photo versus a less conventionally attractive one.

(If you're curious to learn more about our poor judgment skills, read the paper below !)

source “Weight, Attractiveness, and Gender when Hiring: a Field Experiment...”

The point is: "unconscious bias" is inevitable. So you have to decide whether adding a photo on your resume is a gamble you want to take.

It's not just about you. You have to consider the employer's side of things too...

A picture on a resume can also reveal details like age, gender, ethnicity, and other characteristics that hiring managers aren't supposed to consider. Because of this, companies are being "discouraged" to let pictures cloud their judgment.

In the U.S., the EEOC advises against employers requesting a picture on resume submissions to avoid discrimination claims. The same principle applies in the U.K., France, and many other countries with anti-bias legislation.

source Discrimination in Hiring and Anonymous CVs in France (CV Anonymes)

What does this mean for you? Well, if there's one thing we know about companies is that they like an easy-fix to a complex problem. Many businesses will simply discard resumes with pictures.

Here you go, problem solved !

But... the issue of whether to add a photo on resume documents is slightly more complicated than that. Depending on where you plan on reluctantly go to the office 3 times a week, expectations differ.

Before it all gets too confusing, here's a quick and simple breakdown of resume photo expectations across different regions, with a 'rule of thumb' for each.

In the U.S. and Canada, including a photo on your resume is a hard no. Anti-discrimination laws like the Civil Rights Act and the Canadian Human Rights Act are there to make hiring fair, so recruiters avoid anything that could bias a decision, including your face.

Further south, though, it's a different story. In countries like Guatemala or El Salvador, adding a professional photo is still expected, especially for local roles. If you're applying to a multinational company, though, the no-photo rule might still apply. When in doubt, follow what the job post says or go without.

In South America, photos on resumes are still the norm in many countries. Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, and others usually expect you to include a headshot, especially for local roles or anything customer-facing.

That said, places like Brazil and Argentina are starting to move away from this, especially in tech or international environments. There are anti-discrimination laws on the books, like Brazil’s Lei nº 9.029 or Argentina’s Ley de Empleo, but it’s not yet standard to omit photos like in the U.S. or Europe.

If you're applying locally, a clean, professional photo is often still expected unless the job ad says otherwise.

In Europe, it really depends where you are. In Western Europe (places like Germany, France, and Spain), it’s still fairly common to include a photo in your CV, even though it's not required by law. In Northern Europe (Sweden, UK, Netherlands), it’s the opposite: photos are usually left out to avoid bias, and anti-discrimination laws like the Equality Act or Dutch Equal Treatment Act back that up.

In Eastern and Southern Europe (Hungary, Romania, Italy), a photograph on your CV is still expected in many industries, especially traditional or public-facing roles. If you’re applying to a multinational, you’re generally safe skipping the photo. If it’s a local role, check the norms or just look at what other people in the region are doing.

Asia has some of the strongest expectations when it comes to resume photos.

In countries such as Japan, China, and South Korea, a resume photo is still the norm, and leaving it out might even hurt your chances in more conservative industries.

Places like India, Malaysia, and Singapore are more flexible now, especially in international environments or modern industries. Some countries are just starting to move away from photos, but overall, tradition plays a big role.

If you're applying locally, you’ll probably want to include one unless you’re specifically told not to. For global or startup roles, check the company culture first: they often prefer a resume without a picture on it, in order to reduce the risk of bias.

In Australia and New Zealand, don’t include a photo. It’s not just a trend. It's backed by anti-discrimination laws like the Fair Work Act in Australia and the Human Rights Act in New Zealand. Recruiters are trained to ignore appearance and focus on skills.

In the rest of Oceania, it’s a bit more relaxed. Places like Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga may still expect a photo (especially for roles that are public-facing) but it’s not a must unless the job post specifically asks for one.

In Africa, resume photo expectations vary a lot depending on the country and the type of job you're applying for.

In North and Southern Africa, especially in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia, employers generally expect a photograph on your CV, often attached in a formal layout.

In contrast, countries like South Africa lean toward global standards and discourage photos to avoid bias.

Across the rest of the continent, it’s a mixed bag. Some industries still ask for a photo in your CV, especially in government, education, or customer-facing roles, though international companies are increasingly moving away from the practice. If you're unsure, skip the photo (unless it's clearly requested).

Hopefully, you're starting to see the trend here: most countries accept CVs without a photograph, and those who do are starting to move away from resume photos anyway.

It’s not just about bias. As a recruiter, resume photos tended to made my job harder.

Most companies use ATS software to filter resumes before a human even sees them. Since these systems are designed to parse text, adding a resume photo or picture on resume disrupts formatting and can prevent proper parsing, meaning your application might be discarded automatically.

It means that you might be getting automatically rejected by a piece of software, simply for adding a photo.

(To learn more about that, check my article on How ATS Actually Work).

Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds skimming a resume.

They are going to try and locate key information on the page quickly. This is why you usually want to stuff your 1st page with your "Best Of" ( Profile Summary, Technical Skills, Education, Most Recent Job

Adding a headshot usually takes up a lot of space that could be better used.

You can think of it as adding useless information in the "Above The Fold" content of a website's landing page. It's not going to convert well.

You probably got the general idea by now: most regions do not require resume photos, and the few more conservative areas are starting to move away from them.

This being said, if you're in a region or industry where it's still expected, it’s worth making sure your photo doesn’t hinder your chances.

This section is about how to nail it, if you must do it!

Follow these simple guidelines and you should get a decent output:

• Use a neutral background, plain wall, soft lighting, no clutter. Branded office settings are okay if they look intentional (and if your current company name bears credit).
• Wear what you'd wear to an interview. That means no hoodies, gym tanks, or party outfits in your picture on the resume.
• Frame it like a headshot. Face the camera, look natural, and skip the weird selfie angles!
• Keep your expression professional but approachable. You’re not posing for a passport, but it’s also not a dating app either. You can pose with a "measured" smile.
• No heavy filters or edits. The photo in your CV should reflect how you actually show up at work.

Yes, recruiters may still want to know what you look like. Maybe not during the first review of your resume, but before giving you a call or welcoming you for an interview. We're all human, and it's always good to "put a face to the name".

So if you're set on sharing your appearance, skip the picture on your resume and post a professional resume photo on LinkedIn instead. Same visibility, fewer risks.

Post a headshot taken in a professional setting (bonus points if it’s during a public speaking event), and the job is done.

Rather than having a hiring decision be made on a single photo, LinkedIn gives you the opportunity for 360-degree personal branding.

You can control the narrative and add much more info about yourself than a single photo would ever convey.

Yes, this may cause bias, but if done well, it’s likely to work in your favor.

If you’re applying for a tech role or any job in markets like the U.S., U.K., Canada, or Australia, leaving the photo off your resume is the smart move. This will help prevent bias, avoids legal risks, and keeps your resume clean and professional.

Let your skills, experience, and accomplishments do the talking, and use your LinkedIn profile for personal branding instead. In today’s job market, a resume without a photo isn’t just acceptable. It’s expected.