Should your resume have a photo? A country-by-country answer
The photo question depends entirely on where you're applying. Here's the world map.
There's no universal rule for resume photos — the answer is a hard country-by-country map. Get it wrong and you either look unprofessional or hurt your ATS pass rate.
Skip the photo
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia. Photos are illegal or discouraged due to discrimination laws.
Include the photo
Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands (mixed), most of continental Europe, Japan, South Korea, China, Middle East, Latin America. Expected on a CV.
If you include one
Professional headshot. Neutral background. Business or business-casual. Head and shoulders. Recent. Never a party photo, holiday photo, or filtered selfie.
FAQ
What if I'm applying internationally?
Send the country-appropriate version. Two resume files is worth the effort.
Put this into practice.
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