Photo on your résumé? I suggest no!

Over the past year or two I have seen an increase in the number of students’ résumés on which they include a photograph.  On one hand, I can understand this trend – we have our photos on LinkedIn, which is used by a lot of recruiters.   On the other hand, we still hear from most employers that they do not want to see your picture on your résumé.  If you do a Google search for this concept, you will hear arguments on both sides.

But, I suggest that you avoid a photograph on your resume, and here’s why:

    1. Employers are still concerned about risk related to discrimination.  A photograph immediately indicates to them a number of protected statuses (gender, age, and race, in particular).  Including a photograph can make a recruiter uncomfortable, and generally that’s not a good thing to do.

    2. Many large companies use “applicant tracking systems” to scan and screen your resume.  Images on the document can negatively impact how your document is brought into their systems.

This is a subjective situation.  In some industries and in some countries, it’s more common to have a photo on the résumé.  I also recognize that it is expected that you would add your photo to your LinkedIn profile, and that creates a bit of a mixed message.  But, as long as we still hear from recruiters that images on résumés are not the norm, I’d recommend you exercise caution!

Gary Miller, Executive Director

If You Like Tinder, You’ll Love This…

Have you ever heard of the old adage “a picture is worth a thousand words?”  When it comes to your profile pictures, this can very well be the truth! Anyone who is familiar with the popular dating site Tinder, will be familiar with the concept that this new website I’m going to tell you about has to offer.

Now, I don’t use the dating site Tinder because I’m happily married (love you Matthew), but from what I know users make quick judgments about people based on their photo.  I can only imagine the controversy a concept like this might instigate being that we, as people, are much more than one good photo.  However, what is undeniably true is that photos can make a “first impression” online. Do you look confident, fun, friendly? 

As a career professional I’m not exactly here to support your love life (although a career as a match maker might be cool).  My goals are more in line with supporting your career.  One of the major resources we encourage students to use is LinkedIn.  However, many students either don’t have a profile picture or they have an inappropriate photo up.  Well a new site is here to help: photofeeler! 

I signed up for an account and tested it out.  You can sign up for free and connect it to your LinkedIn or other social networking accounts.  After you vote on a few photos of other users, you get credits that you can use to get others to vote on your photos.  It is all free!  You start to see the results instantaneously as to the “competent, likeable and influential” look of your LinkedIn profile photo.  The feedback is objective and helpful!  The more votes you get, the more reliable your results are.  You can also use it to get feedback on your social and dating accounts – bonus! 

Try it out and let me know what you think in the comments section!

Deanna Rodin, Associate Director