Including a Resume Picture How-to + Pros Cons

Including a Resume Picture How-to + Pros Cons Should I Include a Resume Picture? Pros, Cons, & ExamplesMarch 20, 2019 By Jess Chen Reviewed by Mark Slack, CPRWWondering whether you should use a resume photo? Learn how to include a resume picture and determine if its the right move for you.Make a Resume in MinutesIn todays social media obsessed world, personal branding is no longer reserved for companies. Everyday people are taking their images into their own hands. A carefully chosen resume photo may be the latest step people are taking to further establish their personal brands.So, is a resume picture an asset that job seekers should include on their resumes?Or is it a job application faux pas that should be avoided at all costs?Regardless of which side of the issue youre on, here are five questions you should ask yurself before putting yur photo on your resume.5 Essential Questions to Ask Before Including a Resume Picture1. Whats the Job Youre Applying for?Unless youre a model or actor, its highly unlikely that your appearance will influence hireability.Consider what job youre applying for. Unless youre going for an acting or modeling gig, your physical appearance wont (and shouldnt) figure heavily into your hireability.Simply put, adding a resume photo wont help your employer better understand how youd be suitable for the role. And since space on a resume is prime real estate, youre better off just leaving it out.However, if the job is one where your appearance and friendly demeanor are assets, enclosing a resume picture becomes more appropriate. Including a resume photo may even convince hiring managers of your suitability for the job. By providing hiring managers with your image, you give them more of your personality to consider outside of dry lines of text on a sheet of paper TipWant to add some color to your resume without using a photo? Our free, downloadable free resume templates will give your resume a stylish flair.2. Whats Customary in Your Co untry?While some employers expect applicants to include a resume photo, others wont even look at your resume because a resume picture is seen as an unprofessional and potentially risky addition to your resume.One major reason why your employer might throw out your resume is to avoid being accused of discriminatory hiring practices. In some countries, discriminatory hiring is a crime enforceable by law.Violating employment discrimination laws in many countries is a serious matter with dire consequences. An example of this is with the anti-discrimination employment laws in the United States. Companies such as Abercrombie Fitch and Wal-Mart have faced large fines and destroyed reputations thanks to discriminatory hiring practices.What does this mean for you? Long story short, you need to figure out if its generally acceptable to include a resume photo in your target jobs country.To give you a head start, weve included some countries that use resume pictures and some that do elend belo w.Do Use Resume Photos in These CountriesIncluding a resume photo depends on where youre job hunting.ChinaJapanSouth KoreaPhilippinesMost European nationsDont Use Resume Photos in These CountriesUnited StatesCanadaAustraliaUnited KingdomIrelandThe NetherlandsSwedenIndiaSources Experteer, Kickresume, Jobstreet TipRegardless of what country your target job is located, you should make sure your resume looks clean and neat by adhering to established resume formatting practices. Take a look at our guidelines for the resume margins, fonts, and paper you should use.3. What Impression Do You Want to Make?Are you aware that most HR managers give each resume only about a 6-second glance over before discarding it?Ask yourself Do you really want the HR manager to spend those valuable six seconds distracted by your appearance?Instead, direct the HR managers focus towards your hard-earned work experience and accomplishments, and impress them with your abilities instead. TipStruggling to make yo ur work experience come alive? Learn how to compose riveting work experience bullet points with our how to write a resume guide.4. What Should a Resume Photo Look Like?If you do decide to add a resume picture, make sure it gives the right impressionGenerally speaking, any picture you include should be professionally-taken, and clearly shows what you look like.Use a front-facing portrait for your resume picture.Dont use a selfie as your resume picture.After all, this will be the hiring managers first impression of you, so you dont want to look unprofessional or unreliable. Using a selfie or otherwise unsuitable resume photo is sure to get your resume trashed before your experience and accomplishments even get the chance to floor the hiring manager.Professional Photo Dos and DontsDo UseDont UseA professionally-taken photoA selfieA photo where youre facing straight towards the cameraA photo taken at an angleA photo with good lightingA photo with bad or harsh lightingA photo where your face is clearly seenA photo where your face is obscuredA photo of you with a friendly smileA photo where you look bored or unenthusedA photo where youre dressed geschftsleben casualA photo where youre wearing inappropriate attireA photo where your hair is neat and out of your faceA photo where your hair looks unkemptA photo where youre wearing tasteful accessoriesA photo where youre sporting too many piercings, tattoos, or accessoriesIf the photo you want to put on your resume matches the Do Use criteria above, your resume picture may increase your chances at landing an interview. TipNervous about the interview? Learn how to prepare for and ace the interview with our expert interview tips.5. Does It Really Matter?Employers can find your appearance online.In todays technologically interconnected world, does it really matter whether or not you put your picture on your resume? After all, unless you have a super common name (or superior privacy settings on everything), your appearance will be a quick Google, social media, or LinkedIn search away.In short, the answer is yes it does matter.If its common practice to keep resume pictures off your application documents, you should still stick to convention and exclude it. If your employer is intent on seeing what you look like (which they generally should not be), he or she could just search for your photo online.By playing it safe, you wont accidentally come off as unprofessional or endanger your employers reputation by mistake. And if your impeccable work record doesnt impress the hiring manager, youre probably better off working somewhere else where youd be better appreciated. TipTired of traditional 9-5 jobs? Satisfy your wanderlust and get paid along the way through the unconventional world of travel jobs.Dont Want to Use a Resume Photo? Two Other OptionsLets say that you decide to keep the photo off your resume, but youd like to make your picture easy for prospective employers to access in the event they want to do so.There are two key ways you can include your photo while youre applying for jobs that are still professional, and will leave your employer with a positive impression. TipWhile youre thinking about whether to include a resume picture, also consider whether you need to include your address on your resume or not.1. Attach Your Business CardOne way to skirt the rules of adding a photo directly to your resume is by paper-clipping your business card to your resume. Since some business card formats include a photo, attaching one to your resume is a great way to subtly factor your appearance into the hiring process.This method is especially effective after meeting a potential employer at a networking event. The picture on your business card will help them remember you, potentially giving you an edge to be called in for an interview.2. Provide a Link to Your LinkedIn or PortfolioYour LinkedIn profile is a professional alternative to a resume picture.If a prospective employer is goi ng to check your social media for clues on what you look like, why not provide them with links to the most professional of your online profiles?To do this, you can provide a link to your LinkedIn profile or online portfolio directly on your resume. Both are likely to feature a professional profile picture of you, and you since you created them with job hunting in mind, you might as well leverage them to your advantage.Plus, your LinkedIn profile and online portfolio will create much better impressions of you than other channels like your facebook inc or Instagram accounts, which are more casual and might feature images of you that youd rather your employer not see. TipThe resume templates provided by ResumeGenius provide you the option to include these links.Final TakeawayIf youre wondering whether or not including a resume picture is a smart move for you, there are many considerations to take into account. Ask yourself these five essential questions to help you decide whether putt ing your photo on your resume is right for you.Still confused on how to perfect your resume? Dont forget to check out our easy-to-use free resume builder or our professionally-written resume samples. Or, feel free to leave a comment below

9 Ways to Make Working From Home More Enjoyable

9 Ways to Make Working From Home More Enjoyable Ah, working from a home office. It sounds so.relaxing.And itcanbe. But, sometimes it can feel like drudgery, if we dont treat ourselves well.What are some of the best ways to make working from your home office mora enjoyable? Here are nine1. Make sure you have the right equipment.When you work from home, there should be no difference in professionalism. This means you need a computer, of course. Youll also need high-speed Internet service and a router. You may need a printer. For calls or virtual meetings, a headset with a retractable mic can help you stay connected while keeping your hands free.Not an expert at unterstellung things? Do some research or ask for help. Bottom line, get yourself set up so that no one can ever complain that because you work from home, it affected the quality of what you delivered.2. Make your environment more inviting.Make your home office welcoming. Put some fresh flowers or a plant on your desk. Buy yours elf a nice pen. Even a comfortable chair that supports you ergonomically can make a difference.Move your desk so you can have a better view out of the window, if needed. Make it somewhere youwantto be.3. Get out of it once in a while.While working from home can be all you thought it would be, it can also be a trap.Spendtoomuch time in your home office, and you may just find yourself uninspired, unmotivated and, well, even depressed.Plan to get out occasionally. Attend an industry luncheon. Meet a friend for coffee. Take a walk. Just get out of the office, at least for a little while. Taking a break is good for you. And seeing other people is important for your mental well-being.4. Sit in different locations.Yes, you should have a designated workspace if you work from home. But thatdoesntmean you always have to sit there andonlythere.We all have laptops these days, so why not move around occasionally? Sit at the dining table. Sit on the porch. Work from another room. It can help spur your creative juices to have a different view.5. Stock your kitchen with the good stuff.Just because you work from home doesnt mean you shouldnt have nice things.Buy the coffee you loveand splurge on that fancy creamer. Keep healthy snacks on hand. Stow away a few treats for Friday afternoon. Chocolate, anyone?And if you feel guilty about it, just remember that if you worked in an office, your employer would be supplying all these things so why shouldnt you have them, too? And anyway, youre already saving money by working from home (about$4,000 on average), so dont feel bad about treating yourself a little.6. Music soothes the soul.Working from home is so peaceful. But sometimes, it can get a littletooquiet.If you dont already have a streaming music service, invest in one. Spotify or Apple Music can help break up the silence and make working from home more enjoyable. You can even take a dance break when your favorite song comes on with no one watching.7. Get a pet.So you dont hav e coworkers surrounding you when you work from a home office. That doesnt mean you dont need company.Consider adopting a pet. A cat or dog that needs a home can make an ideal office buddy. When you need a stress break, your new friend will be there to confer withor just to hang out.8. Take advantage of apps.Working on your own means you may have no human to help you with everyday tasks, like quick graphic design or proofreading an email or document. There are solutions.Pablo is a free graphic design tool that helps you create social media graphics lickety-split. Grammarly is an editing tool that helps catch errors and enhance your writing. There are free versions of both.9) Plan to connect to the outside world.Say you need a break, but you cant leave your home office. (Yes, there arethosedays.)Twitter chats can provide a respite by connecting you in real-time with others in your field. You can learn something, make new friendsandhave some fun.--Youll find Michelle Garrett at the int ersection of PR, content absatzwirtschaft and social media. A true mompreneur, Michelle launched her consulting business so she could better balance work with motherhood. Shes a public relations consultant,