Why you should NEVER include pictures on your resume

True story: We once received a very strange intern resume that included a page of pictures of the job applicant dressed in various cat costumes. This is by far the weirdest resumesubmission we’ve ever seen, but the problem was not only the girl’s poor judgment in sharing pictures of an unusual hobby -- she really shouldn’t have included any photos at all.

Though cat pictures are less prevalent, it's not rare for applicants put a small headshot in the corner of their resumes. Unless you’re an actor, pictures do NOT belong in a job application. First of all, the hiring manager is going to look you up on social media anyway, so if you really want him to see what you look like, rest assured, he will. But more to the point, adding a photo to your resume is unprofessional. It suggests that you are expecting to be hired based on your looks instead of your skills, and this can definitely backfire.

​Don’t let a picture distract from all the awesome qualities you’ve listed on your resume. But DO put a picture on your LinkedIn profile. It adds credibility and will earn you more profile views.

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-- Angela Silak & Cindy Kaplan