"Should I put a photo on my CV or not?" — one of the most common hesitations for job seekers. The answer isn't a simple "yes" or "no"; it depends on the country you're applying to, the sector and the quality of the photo. In the UK, US and most English-speaking markets the default is clear — and this article gives you the exact rules.
UK, US, Ireland, Canada, Australia: No Photo
In the UK, US, Ireland, Canada and Australia, you do not put a photo on your CV. The reason is anti-discrimination law and hiring practice — employers want to avoid being influenced by age, gender or ethnicity, so they expect a photo-free CV. In some cases a photo can even get your application filtered out before it's read. A clean, photo-free, ATS-friendly CV is the professional standard.
Where a Photo Is Still Expected
In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, a photo is still common (the "Bewerbungsfoto"). Parts of Southern Europe, the Middle East and much of Asia also expect or accept one. So "Europe = no photo" is wrong — you need to research the specific country. If you're applying somewhere a photo is the norm, a professional headshot is the way to go.
If a Photo Is Expected: The 6 Rules of a Good One
- Plain background — light grey, white or soft blue
- Good lighting — a clear, shadow-free face
- Professional clothing — appropriate to your sector, understated
- Natural smile — warm but not overdone
- Current — don't use a photo from 5 years ago
- Right resolution — no blur or pixelation
Photos to Avoid
- Selfies or holiday snaps
- Images cropped from a group photo
- Heavy filters / Instagram effects
- Sunglasses, hats or a cluttered background
Where to Place the Photo (When You Use One)
The safest spot is the top-right or top-left corner. Photos embedded in the middle of the text flow both break the design and cause some ATS software to misread the CV. Using a ready-made template removes this problem entirely — in our CV examples the photo position is already optimised.
Photo or No Photo — Switch in Two Clicks
On CVLayer, turning the photo on or off is a single click. Prepare a photo-free version for the UK/US and a version with a photo for markets that expect one — in seconds.
Try Free →