The CV Photo Debate: Enhancing Your Application or Hindering Your Chances?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. You have certainly heard this old adage before, used typically to drive home the fact that photos are captivating, beautiful, and attention-grabbing. What people often forget to consider with this saying, though, is that because a picture can be used in place of so many words, photos are often very telling. In the world of recruitment and job-hunting, digital CV-building has definitely made it simple to use a picture to support your curriculum. A photo can add a touch of personality and personalisation to the CV which can help it stand out from the rest, BUT, as mentioned, there is always another side of the coin.

So, is it irrelevant and somewhat naff to include a photograph on your CV? Is it worth including to secure your perfect job? Will it help or will it hinder? It is certainly a polarising topic (and one which my colleagues and I have discussed at length).

First Impressions

Recruiters within our business can review anything from 15 to 100s of applications per day for any variety of roles we are working on for our clients. The first stage of any screening process is a brief scan of a CV and cover letter. This “scan” may take around 30 seconds and is really to get a brief overview of the candidates’ skills and see if they can ascertain quickly if said candidate has the required elements for the role (as opposed to the “nice to haves”). A photograph on your CV has to be chosen carefully in this process. It may distract from your key skills if it is inappropriate or polarising in any way.

Recruiters in our team have said a photo can be a great identifier and helps them remember a candidate if they are personally more of a “visual” learner. It is a marker and one which can stay with them when recalling any candidates they have come across previously but maybe not spoken to yet or who had applied for other roles previously.

Is it relevant?

As a general rule, when weighing up a photo on your CV, we would always recommend you ask yourself: "is my personal appearance relevant to this position?" Some roles certainly demand a higher level of presentation, a certain “look” to perhaps match the brand or the style of the brand and certainly those roles which are seen as the “face” of the brand could, arguably require a particular kind of look. Certain industries have an expectation that applications for frontline roles such as media, airlines and hotels or hotel reception require photographs on CVs to speed along the initial screening process.

For these roles, some element of presentation will always form part of the recruitment screening…whether we like it or not. That may be via video cover letters or within the first interview (can’t hide ourselves in those forums). On the other hand, internally focused roles which are more about technical skills and less about customer interaction probably do not require a candidate to display themselves as part of the initial screening process and they are not as relevant at the later screening stages – beyond the standard expectation of tidy and professional.

If you are uncomfortable with using a photo on your CV, that’s totally understandable! It’s not (and should never be) a requirement, but it may be worth asking yourself why? Why are you comfortable sharing your image (if you are) in more public forums (Linkedin, social media) but not on a more private / confidential document such as your CV?

Candidate traction:

In a LinkedIn study, researchers found (using eye-tracking software) that recruiters spent 19 per cent of their time looking at a person's photo. LinkedIn's own statistics show that profiles with a photo receive 21 times more profile views and 9 times more connection requests. If you are a job seeker this is massive and certainly worth considering. After all, most of the time if you are seeking work then your LinkedIn profile is a key element of this (or it should be).

It is important to note that not just any photo should adorn your well-honed, beautifully tuned CV. Any photo you “put out there” to represent you (be in on a CV or LinkedIn profile, or indeed anywhere in view) should be professional and truly represent yourself. That doesn’t mean it has to be boring or overly posed. What we would say (and this is from experience) is that a photograph of you socialising, posed in a bathroom, a selfie, a group shot or one where it would cause the viewer to “judge” you unfairly is certainly not recommended. Remember: photos are telling. You can leverage this to your advantage, but it can also burn you if you’re overly relaxed about it.

What is a "good" photo for my CV?

If you do include a photo in your CV, how can it be done in a way that adds value to your application and “sells” you as a person, rather than distracts from your credentials? We like to call the ideal picture the professional “happy” photo. Head and shoulders, smiling naturally,  good lighting, a tidy and somewhat professional outfit and you are all done.

I don’t feel there is any need to engage professional photographers for your CV or LinkedIn profile (especially today, when phone cameras are so great). In fact, some of the worst CV photos I have seen are those that are “professionally posed” and distracting with the level of “touch-ups” or filters that have been used. Been to a special occasion recently or had any neutral photos taken? These would be ideal. Remember, it should look like you, maybe just very polished version of you, but it should still be authentic. Things like filters or modifying images are not ideal.

Ultimately the most important thing to remember if you choose to add a photo to your CV is to be yourself. With the amazing technology available in digital photography – photoshop and various apps on our phones we can really be tempted to “beautify” images of ourselves. If your professional headshot is entirely different than what you actually look like IRL, then it almost defeats the purpose of the photo altogether. Doctoring photos can really send the message that you are insecure or uncomfortable in yourself or worse still, comfortable with deception. Not that any of those things are actually true about you, but remember you are trying to make a positive impression and it’s best to play it safe!

There is no escaping the fact that photos can evoke emotional responses that have little to do with people’s skills and abilities. But remember, they can also be used to your advantage – make you memorable, make recruiters view and spend more time on your profile, make you seem professional and “on brand” as well as confident and comfortable in yourself.

Have a think about the image you wish to project, the role you are applying for and the relevance of your “image” for this role. Most importantly consider who you are and what you want to share about yourself in a visual way and make the choice you are comfortable with. Remember your CV is a marketing tool for you to get your next role, so do what feels right for you and will put you in the best place to secure that interview!

 Speaking of, while a photo on your CV can be great, it can only help you if it supports some really good CV content. Looking for a way to stand out from other applicants? Try out our CV builder below!