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Resume with Photo: To secure a job at any company, your resume is the first thing requested. Decisions regarding the position or responsibilities assigned to you are often based on it.

Resume with Photo: Whenever we apply for a job, our resume is the first thing that shapes our image in the eyes of the company. A well-crafted resume helps you land an interview. Young job seekers often face a dilemma about whether or not to include a photograph in their resume. Some believe a photo makes the resume look attractive, while others feel it appears unprofessional.

Should you include a photo in your resume?

There is no fixed rule or law regarding the inclusion of a photo in a resume. It depends entirely on the country and the type of job for which you are applying. In India, both types of resumes are accepted. However, in recent years, the Indian corporate sector has increasingly prioritized resumes without photos. Conversely, if you are applying for jobs in places like the US, the UK, or Canada, including a photo is strictly discouraged. Companies there often immediately reject resumes with photos to avoid allegations of bias.

Additionally, if you are entering fields like aviation (air hostess or pilot), hotel management, acting, modeling, or media—where your appearance and personality matter—including a photo is essential. However, for desk jobs in sectors like IT, coding, finance, or banking, a photo is not required.

Pros and cons of including a photo

One advantage of including a photo is that, in creative fields or roles involving direct client interaction, a good professional photograph can convey confidence. However, there are downsides too; recruiters may sometimes form an opinion about a candidate—even if unintentionally—based on age, gender, caste, or physical appearance upon seeing the photo. This can overshadow your actual qualifications. Moreover, a resume should generally be limited to one or, at most, two pages. Including a photograph takes up valuable space that could otherwise be used to detail your skills or work experience.

Expert Advice

Experts suggest that if you wish to take a safe and professional approach, you should avoid including a photo in your resume. Instead, you can provide a link to your LinkedIn profile at the top of the document. Since your LinkedIn profile features a professional photo, recruiters can view both your profile and your photograph if they wish to do so.