In the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland, leave the photo off your resume. In some other countries, including parts of continental Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, a photo is a common convention and its absence can look odd. The rule is to follow the norm for the country and the employer, and to do whatever the posting says. Where it is not expected, a photo adds nothing to your case, can break layout and parsing, and invites a bias that employers would rather avoid.
This is one of the few resume questions where the correct answer changes with geography.
Why many employers prefer no photo
Reasons given by hiring teams in places where photos are discouraged:
- A photo reveals age, gender, ethnicity and appearance, none of which relate to the job.
- Employers who receive it might be accused of basing a decision on it, even if they did not.
- Some companies strip photos in an effort at fairer screening. See blind resume screening.
- Resumes with images can break software parsing or be returned unread.
Many employers in these regions have policies to discard or ignore photos, and some recruiters will find the inclusion a minor sign that the candidate does not know local practice.
Where photos are customary
In several countries, a professional photo at the top of the resume has long been expected. That is common in parts of Germany and France, in much of Latin America, and in some countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Norms are changing, and many multinational employers there now accept or prefer resumes without a photo. If you are unsure, look at how local employers write their application guidance, or ask a recruiter or careers adviser based there.
Do not assume. If the posting says nothing, and the company is international, a text-only resume is usually safe.
If you do include one
- Use a clear, recent, professional photo: head and shoulders, neutral background, plain clothing, good light.
- Keep it small, in the top corner, so it does not take much space.
- Avoid group shots, filters, sunglasses and casual settings.
- Check that the file does not bloat the document or break the layout in PDF.
- Make sure the text is still readable for software: use a simple layout and keep all text outside the image.
What to do instead
If you want to give a recruiter a sense of who you are, do it with substance:
- A clear summary and strong bullets. See resume summary examples.
- A link to a professional profile with a photo, where norms allow. See LinkedIn tips for recruiters.
- A concise cover letter that sounds like you. See how to write a cover letter.
Your profile photo on a professional network is separate from the resume. Use a good one, since recruiters do look at profiles, but do not treat it as part of the resume.
What employers should do
If you are on the hiring side, decide on a policy and state it in the application instructions: "Please do not include a photo." Remove photos before review where feasible, and make sure the intake form collects what you need as structured fields. A structured application page makes this easy, since the applicant answers the same questions and uploads a resume that you can read for content. See job application form design and AI bias in hiring.
A quick decision guide
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland | No photo |
| Local convention expects one, employer is local | Include a professional photo |
| International employer, unsure | No photo |
| Posting says "no photo" | No photo |
| Posting asks for a photo | Include one |
| Applying through a form with structured fields | Follow the form; resume text only |
Check before you send
Look at the posting, the careers page and any application guidance. Check the norms of the country. Run your resume through a plain-text copy and paste to see that nothing breaks. If the photo makes the layout fragile, remove it. For other formatting decisions, see resume format and common resume mistakes.
Questions people ask
Can a photo hurt you even where it is customary? Only if it is unprofessional. A clear, neutral photo does no harm where it is expected. A casual or heavily filtered one can.
What about a profile photo on a professional network? Recruiters look at those, so use a clear, friendly, professional image. It sits outside your resume, and norms there are different from those for the document you submit.
Should you remove a photo if the employer is international? If you are unsure, yes. A text-only resume is acceptable almost everywhere, and a photo is accepted only in some places.
Practical steps if your resume has a photo template
Many popular templates include a photo placeholder, and those templates often use columns and text boxes too. If you apply in a region where photos are discouraged, switch to a plain single-column layout rather than just deleting the image. Empty frames and odd spacing can remain. Then run a plain-text paste to check the order. The quickest way is to start from a simple document and add formatting only where it helps.
Common inquiries regarding this topic.
Should you put a photo on your resume?
In the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland, no. Employers generally prefer resumes without photos to avoid bias and legal exposure. In some other countries, a photo is a convention. Check the norm where you are applying, and the employer's own instructions.
In the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland, no. Employers generally prefer resumes without photos to avoid bias and legal exposure. In some other countries, a photo is a convention. Check the norm where you are applying, and the employer's own instructions.
The Resume World Team
VerifiedProduct & hiring research, Resume World
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