The short answer
There is no universal rule. In the UK, Ireland, the United States and Canada a photo is generally not included, and some employers prefer you leave it out. In much of continental Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal) it is still common, though never mandatory.
The practical rule is this: include a photo only if it is professional, the job ad doesn't exclude it, and it's customary in the country and industry you're applying to. A bad photo does more harm than no photo.
Why the topic is debated
Supporters say a photo makes the application more personal and helps the recruiter remember you after the interview. Critics point out that a photo says nothing about your skills and can trigger biases, even unconscious ones, related to appearance, age, gender or origin.
That's why in several countries, especially English-speaking ones, employers explicitly ask candidates not to include one: they want to protect their hiring process from possible discrimination claims. In continental Europe the picture is more nuanced.
When a photo is a good idea
- Customer-facing roles: retail, sales, hospitality, tourism, front office. A well-groomed appearance is part of the job.
- Communications, fashion, entertainment, events: personal image matters and a photo is often requested.
- Applications in countries where it's the norm: in Germany, Austria and Switzerland it is still very widespread; in Italy, Spain and Portugal it is common.
- Speculative applications to small businesses: an owner receiving many CVs by email often remembers candidates with a photo better.
When it's better to leave it out
- The ad says so: "please do not include a photo" or "anonymous selection" leave no room for interpretation.
- Applications in the UK, Ireland, the US and Canada: the convention is not to include one, and some companies handle CVs with photos awkwardly.
- Large international companies: many apply inclusive hiring policies and prefer CVs without photos.
- You don't have a suitable photo: a selfie, a crop from a group shot or a holiday picture look unprofessional.
What the perfect photo looks like
- Framing: head and shoulders, facing the camera or slightly turned. Your face should fill a good part of the image.
- Background: neutral and plain (white, light grey, a bare wall). No landscapes, messy rooms or other people.
- Lighting: natural and from the front, for example facing a window. Avoid harsh shadows and direct flash.
- Clothing: consistent with the role and the company's culture. If in doubt, one level more formal than you'd wear at work.
- Expression: look at the camera with a natural smile. It should convey openness and confidence.
- Editing: light corrections to light and colour are fine; filters and face edits are not. The person you meet at the interview must recognise you.
- Up to date: the photo should be recent, roughly from the last 2-3 years.
You don't necessarily need a photographer: with a recent smartphone, a light wall, good light and someone taking the picture from a couple of metres away, the result is perfectly decent. For roles where image matters a lot, a professional headshot is an investment that pays off.
Mistakes to avoid
- Selfies with your arm in the frame or taken in a mirror.
- Sunglasses, hats, social media filters.
- Photos cropped from a group picture, with other people's shoulders or hair at the edges.
- A tiny, pixelated photo or, conversely, a huge one taking up half the page.
- Leisure poses and clothing (beach, gym, parties).
- Very artistic black-and-white photos, unless you're in a creative field and it's a deliberate stylistic choice.
Size, format and position
- Position: at the top, to the left or right of your name, in the header.
- Size: roughly passport-photo size (3-4 cm wide). It should accompany the CV, not dominate it.
- Shape: rectangular or round depending on the template; what matters is that your face is centred.
- Resolution: at least 400x400 pixels so it stays sharp when printed.
- File format: JPG or PNG to insert into the document; then send the CV as a PDF.
Recruiting software (ATS) ignores images, so a well-placed photo won't stop your CV from being read. Problems arise when your name, contact details or other information are also inside an image or graphic element: the software can't read that information.
Photos and data protection
No law requires a photo and, in most European countries, none forbids it. However, a photo is personal data and, like everything in your CV, its processing by the employer is governed by the GDPR in the EU and similar rules elsewhere.
Equality laws in Europe, the UK and the US also prohibit discrimination in access to employment, for example on grounds of gender, age or ethnic origin. A recruiter cannot reject a candidate for their appearance, and a job ad should not ask for physical requirements that aren't necessary for the role.
What about a data processing statement?
In Italy it's customary to end the CV with a sentence authorising the processing of personal data under the GDPR, and many Italian recruiters expect it. In most other countries it isn't used and isn't necessary.
Photo on your CV vs. photo on LinkedIn
On LinkedIn a photo is practically essential: profiles without one look incomplete and get fewer views, wherever you are. If you use a photo on your CV, use the same one (or one from the same shoot) on LinkedIn: a recruiter who opens your profile after reading your CV recognises you immediately, and your professional image stays consistent.
Checklist before adding a photo
- Does the job ad require or exclude a photo?
- Is it customary in the country you're applying to?
- Is the photo recent and sharp, with a neutral background and good light?
- Is your clothing appropriate for the role?
- Does the photo take up a modest amount of space without covering important information?
- Are your name, contact details and text outside images and readable by software?
If any answer makes you hesitate, a CV with no photo but strong content is the better choice. With WizardsCV you can choose templates with or without a photo and switch between them in one click, then download your PDF for free.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put a photo on my CV?
It depends on the country and industry. In the UK, Ireland, the US and Canada, generally no. In parts of continental Europe it's common but optional: include one only if it's professional and the ad doesn't exclude it.
Is it better to have no photo or an unprofessional one?
No photo. A careless picture (selfie, messy background, casual clothing) communicates the opposite of what you want to convey.
Can a photo on my CV cause discrimination?
It can expose you to unconscious bias, which is why many employers in English-speaking countries prefer CVs without photos. Discrimination in hiring is illegal, but leaving the photo out removes the risk entirely.
Do photos cause problems with ATS software?
Usually not: ATS ignore images. What matters is that your name, contact details and content are plain text and not part of an image or graphic.
