Photographs on CV

Blisterman

What are you guy's thoughts on putting a photo of yourself on a CV.
I'm currently looking for a job in an Architect's office, and up until now, I didn't include a photo of myself on my CV.
I was talking to someone, in the recruitment business recently, and she recommended that I put a picture of myself in my CV, as I am a young, slim, tall white male, and as unfair, and wrong as it is, these things can make a difference.
I' not condoning this, but being brutally honest, I need to use everything I can to get an advantage over other applicants.

On the other hand, putting a photo on a CV, has the potential to look very tacky.
I'm also afraid employers might think I'm insinuating that they would employ people based on appearances, and be insulted by it.

What are your opinions on this matter?

DarkJager

If its done right, such as having your CV in a PDF format, then it looks very professional. Just make sure the picture isn't of you passed out in a puddle of sick with a beer in your hand and you'll be fine!

AARRRGH

I think it's creepy.

IRISH RAIL

ive seen some good and some dreadful stuff out there personally I wouldnt do it myself.

mickoneill30

Yeah they can make a difference. Whether it's a good or bad one though isn't up to you. You could get someone that hated young, tall, slim white males. I'd leave it off.
If you have to rely on your looks to get a job then that's not a good start. If your CV is good enough it won't matter if you've two heads.

AARRRGH

It might be OK for sales jobs, or jobs where you have to deal with the public.

damnyanks

Dont most companies ask not to put pictures or DOB on your CV ? Can open them up to discrimination complaints.

eth0_

I am involved in recruiting staff and personally I would find it a bit weird if I received a CV with a photo on it :-)

BuffyBot

I generally don't unless it's specifically requested - I've never seen the point of it anyway.

Likewise, when recruiting, photos are actually a bit of a put off for me.

watna

I'm a recruiter and as a rule, you shouldn't put a photo on your CV, or your date of birth or marital status. it opens companies and yourself to discrimation, whether it's positive to you or otherwise. We got a hilarious one once of a guy posing for the camera with his jacket slung casually over his shoulder. In the other photo he was sitting with a laptop on his knee laughing. Very funny! We rememberd his name but for the wrong reasons. I wouldn't reccommend it!

Alun

It does indeed seem to be 'not the done thing' here in Ireland, but is an absolute necessity in some countries. I seem to remember that in Germany everyone asked for a photo and your CV would probably just get binned if there wasn't one! Sometimes what seems ridiculous in one culture can be de rigeur in another a bit like leaving off stuff like DOB, marital status etc. all of which were considered absolutely necessary back in the days when I was still going through the hoops of the interview 'circus'.

watna

Alun wrote:

It does indeed seem to be 'not the done thing' here in Ireland, but is an absolute necessity in some countries. I seem to remember that in Germany everyone asked for a photo and your CV would probably just get binned if there wasn't one! Sometimes what seems ridiculous in one culture can be de rigeur in another a bit like leaving off stuff like DOB, marital status etc. all of which were considered absolutely necessary back in the days when I was still going through the hoops of the interview 'circus'.

You make it sound like the stone ages, I'm sure you're very young really! It's true though, CVs we get from Germany or Eastern European countries will always have photos. Sometimes candidates will check before they send CVs in what is the practice in Ireland (we recruit from around the world). if you're job hunting abroad, not in Ireland I'd check with someone in that country first!

pclancy

Its a very common thing on foreign CVs i see, especially EU and Indian candidates. Ive never seen an Irish CV with one, I would think it pointless to be honest, its not going to influence you getting a job at all, if anything many people might think it weird. Your skills sell you, not your face.

leeroybrown

I wouldn't include a photograph on a CV unless (1) it was specifically requested or (2) the application was going to a country where a photo is normal.

Jo King

Not including a date of birth seems over the top. It is usually possible to judge a persons age bracket from information on a cv. Years of leaving school and college as well as the employment history, should make it obvious what age bracket the candidate falls into.

Dudess

I disagree. There's disgusting ageism out there. I'm not even 30 but I bet, since I'm not 21, I'd be considered "past it" if, say, I wanted to work as a radio promotions girl or as a sales assistant in certain clothes shops.
How the hell would a 45-year-old (woman especially) fare? No, I don't think there's any need for the recruiter to be aware of the number of years a person has been on this earth. When a woman in her 40s with a great figure and great legs wears a short skirt and looks fab, the "she shouldn't be dressed like that at her age" remarks are still passed (mostly by other women). If nobody had any idea of her age, if birth certificates didn't exist, I bet people would just say she looks great and nothing else.
And I don't see why you'd have to give the years you completed particular courses. Dates of employment, yes, but most people aren't going to go back to the very first job they ever did - only the most relevant ones.

mickoneill30

Dudess wrote:

And I don't see why you'd have to give the years you completed particular courses. Dates of employment, yes, but most people aren't going to go back to the very first job they ever did - only the most relevant ones.

I agree with you but you can't hide your age very long. If you go to an interview that is for a job looking for a 20 year old your 45 year old might find out that they hired somebody more 'qualified'.

Dave!

Eastern Europeans always seem to have photos on their CVs... I wouldn't do it though.

Dudess

mickoneill30 wrote:

I agree with you but you can't hide your age very long. If you go to an interview that is for a job looking for a 20 year old your 45 year old might find out that they hired somebody more 'qualified'.

Well you certainly can't hide being 25 years older! But to go back to my own case: I'm 29 and I look four or five years younger (no, it's not all in my head - I've been told it's the case by several people!)
Anyway, say I went for a job that had an unofficial cut-off point of 25/26 and my CV impressed the recruiters and I did a good interview (but the recruiters were unaware of my age and they just presumed, based on my appearance, that I was about 25) why should my chances be scuppered if they were to find out the date on my birth cert? Yet if that happened, I'd immediately be viewed differently even though I'm the exact same person.