The short answer: in most cases, leave it off. A photo takes up space, can trip up applicant tracking software, and in many markets invites hiring bias that reviewers are trained to avoid. But the honest answer depends on your country and your field, so decide deliberately rather than by habit.
Where region and role decide it
Norms differ sharply by market. In the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and much of the anti-discrimination-focused world, a photo is discouraged and some recruiters discard photo CVs to sidestep bias claims. In parts of Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere, a headshot is still common and expected. Field matters too.
- Leave it off: corporate, finance, tech, government, and any application going through an ATS.
- Consider it: acting, modelling, and client-facing hospitality roles where appearance is genuinely part of the job.
- Follow local norms: if every peer in your country and industry includes one, an omission can look odd. Check what is standard where you are applying.
If you keep it, do it right
When a photo is expected, treat it as professional signalling, not a social snapshot. Use a recent, high-resolution headshot with plain lighting, neutral background, and the attire you would wear to the interview. Crop to head and shoulders and place it small in the header. Avoid selfies, group crops, and anything with heavy filters.
One caution: an image embedded in a header or text box is a common reason parsers misread a page. If you include a photo, verify the file still parses cleanly and that none of your text got swallowed.
Not sure how your file reads to a machine? Run it through the ATS checker to confirm nothing broke, and if you want a photo-free layout that recruiters expect, start from an ATS-friendly template or browse the full template gallery. The CV guide covers what to prioritise in the space a photo would take.