Updated December 2024
“What are some creative ways I can stand out from the competition during my job hunt?”
This is a question nearly every job seeker is asking themselves in 2025, and for good reason. Now more than ever people are looking to get an edge and make a memorable impression. In a world filled with TikToks, boomerangs, memes, GIFs, and emojis, including some sort of virtual twist on your resume may seem like a clever idea.
But is a resume picture or some other virtual element really going to land you that job? The answer may not be what you think.
In this post, we will go over why you shouldn’t include a picture on your resume.
4 Reasons Not to Include a Photo on Your Resume
A Resume Photo Can Be Distracting
Here is one important stat to consider: 24% of hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds looking at a resume, according to a CareerBuilder study. That means if a hiring manager is looking at your resume picture or professional headshot, they are spending less time analyzing what is most important–your skills and experience.
A suitable alternative to including a resume photo is to add a link to your LinkedIn profile or other social media profiles. If an employer wants to know what you look like, they can always conduct a social media background check.
If you are going to include links to your social media, make sure your profiles don’t contain anything that could cost you the job. (Another CareerBuilder survey found 54% of employers didn’t move forward with a candidate because of something on their social media profile.)
The bottom line is that you want to get the job because of your skills and experience, not because of how you looked in your professional headshot.
A Resume with a Photo Could Get Instantly Thrown Out
Having a resume picture can not only distract hiring managers from analyzing your skillset and background, but it can also get you immediately taken out of the running.
You might be wondering, “Why in the world would a company throw out my resume because of a photo?”
The simple answer is because they don’t want to make decisions based on biases–conscious or unconscious. A hiring manager might choose to disregard a resume with a photo rather than risk making a biased decision.
And that’s if they even get a chance to review your resume. Depending on the company you’ve applied to, the hiring department may have a policy in place that prohibits a resume with an attached photo from being considered in the first place.

Resume Pictures Could Make You Look Unprofessional
As mentioned earlier, it’s normal to want your resume to stand out, especially in today’s ever-evolving digital landscape. But adding a photo or other virtual elements can leave your resume looking cluttered and unprofessional, two characteristics of low-performing resumes.
If a resume looks too busy or too different from the standard format, employers may not want to take the time to dive into it and find the important stuff. If your resume deviates too much from the norm, it could come off as unprofessional.
Also, a photo takes away space from your skills and experience sections. And it could make your resume longer than you want it to be.
There are other ways to be creative with your resume while still remaining professional. For example, pick a professional font or make your educational and professional accomplishments the focal point.
A Resume Picture Can Confuse the Tracking Systems
You want your resume to get past the computer and into human hands. What does this mean?
Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to automatically screen resumes for the top candidates. These systems read resumes and help identify keywords, skills, experiences, and whatever else a company is looking for in your resume.
But if you attach a photo to your resume, you could confuse the system. This would occur because most systems are only designed to read plain text on a resume, not images.
In fact, nearly 75% of qualified candidates have been rejected by an ATS because the system couldn’t read their resumes, according to Forbes. This means when it’s time for your resume to be scanned, the computer could malfunction due to the photo, and your resume might not make it through to the hiring manager.

Is It Ever Okay to Include a Resume Photo?
Maybe you’re in the acting or modeling business and wondering if there’s an exception for your industry. However, the answer is still the same. Best practice is to not include a picture on your resume.
If you’re trying to break into the acting business and want to land an audition, you’ll obviously need to submit photos. Headshots are vital to getting roles. They should be included separately, though.
Unless a job requests that you submit photos with your resume, it’s best if you skip attaching them.
Instead, you can display your professional photos on your social media like LinkedIn, online portfolio, or personal website. Always read the guidelines on the job application before you move forward with attaching extra items that weren’t asked for in advance.
Should Your Picture Be on Your Resume?
In 2025, job seekers are always looking for opportunities to make themselves stand out from the other candidates. A resume picture or other virtual element could seem like an attractive option.
You may find yourself asking, “Should I include picture on my resume?” The answer to that question is no, you should not. That is because a resume photo can:
- Distract the hiring manager from what’s most important (your skills and experience)
- Get instantly thrown out of the pile to avoid bias or discrimination
- Make you seem unprofessional due to a cluttered format
- Hurt you from getting past an ATS and into human hands
If you have professional headshots or photos that you want employers to have access to, there are other ways to do so. These alternatives include linking to your social media, online portfolio, or personal website within your resume. You can also attach them as separate files.
At the end of the day, you will be judged on your skills and experience, not how you look in your resume picture.
If you have a resume you’d like to put to the test, check out Insight Global’s job board.
