Resume Photo: To Include or Not — The Country-by-Country Guide

The resume photo question has a clear answer for most markets: in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, do not include a photo. In Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and most continental European countries, including a professional headshot has traditionally been expected. In Japan, South Korea, and much of Asia, standard application forms include designated photo boxes.

The reason North American and British markets discourage photos is straightforward: anti-discrimination law. Including a photo allows implicit bias based on appearance, age, race, and gender — most large employers in these markets actively discourage or explicitly prohibit photos to minimise legal and ethical risk. Some recruiters are trained to discard photo-containing resumes to avoid the question entirely. In these markets, a photo is actively harmful, not neutral.

If you're applying to the German market and you include a photo, it should be: a professional headshot (shoulders and above), taken by a professional photographer against a neutral background, with business-appropriate attire, and genuinely current (not from 5 years ago). Selfies, casual photos, and low-resolution images are worse than no photo at all.

For international applications across multiple markets, maintain two resume versions: one without a photo for English-speaking markets, and one with a professional headshot for continental European or Asian markets. AI-checker's templates support both formats cleanly.