Photo or no photo?
When in doubt, follow the job ad and local conventions.
| Region | Common practice |
|---|---|
| USA, UK, Canada, Australia | Usually no photo — many employers prefer CVs without one to avoid bias |
| Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, much of Central Europe | A photo is common and often expected, though optional |
| Creative and client-facing jobs | A photo or portfolio link is often welcome |
What a good CV photo looks like
- Head and shoulders, facing the camera, natural smile.
- Plain, light background: white, light grey or soft blue.
- Even daylight, no harsh shadows.
- Clothes you would wear for the job; no sunglasses or holiday scenery.
- Recent — it should look like you at the interview.
Make it at home
- Take a photo by a window from about 1.5 m away at eye level.
- Replace a busy background with a plain one in White background or pick light grey in Remove background.
- Crop to a portrait ratio such as 3:4 or 4:5 in Crop image, leaving some space above the head.
- Save as JPG; for online forms keep it small (around 100–300 KB).
Frequently asked questions
What size should a CV photo be?
There is no standard. In a document it is usually printed about 3.5–4.5 cm wide; a digital file of 600–1000 px on the longer side is plenty.
Can I use a passport photo?
You can, but passport photos require a neutral expression. A slight smile usually works better on a CV.