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Should You Put a Headshot on Your Resume?
A resume photo belongs where the employer and application format welcome it. Learn how to decide, how to frame one and how to reuse a professional portrait on LinkedIn.
Updated 3 min read
Should you put a headshot on your resume?
Start with the job posting and the application template. A photo can be useful in one application and unnecessary in another. The guidance below names the sources we checked on October 6, 2026, so you can distinguish a local recommendation from an employer's requirement.
If a photo does not belong in the document, a LinkedIn portrait or an about-page headshot can still give your professional profile a clear, recognizable face.
What current career guidance says
| Application context | Source guidance | Practical choice |
|---|---|---|
| US resume guidance (Harvard) | Do not include a picture | Use a text-led resume; follow the actual application instructions |
| Canada (Job Bank) | A photo is not the norm and is discouraged | Keep the resume focused on skills and experience |
| Germany (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) | A photo is optional | Include one if it suits the application; omission is valid |
| Europass CV guidance | Recommends a professional photograph | Adapt the template to the destination and employer |
| Other countries and employers | Requirements differ | Check the vacancy, local career service and specified template |
Sources for the regional advice
Harvard's resume guide advises against a picture. Canada's Job Bank says photos are not the norm in Canadian resumes. Germany's Bundesagentur für Arbeit describes the photo as optional. Europass recommends a professional photograph in its CV guidance.
Specific instructions can be narrower than country conventions: Oxford's Summer Internship Programme explicitly requests a CV without a photo. Follow the instructions for the application you are submitting.
If you include a photo
Choose a current portrait with a familiar expression and recognizable features. Frame head and shoulders, leave room above the hair and keep the background calm. Wear the level of formality you would choose for a conversation with that employer.
Use the size and position specified by the form or template. There is no single worldwide CV-photo dimension. Our profile photo cropper offers a 600 × 600 pixel square as a practical export, not an official resume requirement. Check the final PDF at normal reading size and keep qualifications easy to scan.
For clothing and expression, read what to wear and headshot poses.
What a resume-appropriate headshot looks like
These looks from the Smart Headshots AI LinkedIn pack show the framing that reads well both on a CV and on a profile: head and shoulders, formal or smart-casual attire, calm background, direct eye contact.
Poses that work at resume size
A resume photo is printed small, so the pose has to read instantly. Square shoulders or a slight three-quarter turn, chin level, eyes to the lens. These references come from our poses guide.
Backgrounds that print well on a CV
Plain and light is the rule for a professional headshot for resume use. These backdrops from the Professional pack are the kind that survive a black-and-white copy.
One portrait, several professional uses
Choose a consistent portrait for LinkedIn, your portfolio, email signature and company directory. If your resume stays photo-free, add relevant profile links where the employer permits them.
Smart Headshots AI trains a private model with your own photos and gives you a gallery of professional looks to choose from. Explore the LinkedIn pack or Professional pack. Every individual order includes a full refund within 7 days of delivery; Professional and Executive include one free re-run.
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