Should I Include Pictures in My Resume?

Aaah, pictures on resumes! This is one of my all-time favorite topics.

As a seasoned recruiter I can tell you that it doesn't happen very often (fortunately) but when I get a resume with a picture on it.. I get giddy.

Sounds lame, but it's true.

Pictures of poodles

I've seen a LOT of pictures over the years. Some of them I can't "unsee…" As much as I try as unfortunately they are still emblazoned into my frontal lobe. The most memorable one I got was of a giant pink poodle. Smack up on the top right corner of the resume of some accountant lady was a poodle, all foofy and shaved and cotton-candy colored. The exposed skin where the poor doggy had been buzzed was even dyed cotton-candy pink. And did I mention large? This dog wasn't just large, this poodle was GINORMOUS.

To make it even worse (if that were possible) the person decided to take the picture of said cherished cotton-candy colored poodle from behind.

Thanks a lot oh Poodle Picture Resume Submitter. Now I will probably be in some nursing home in my nineties rolling around in my wheel chair muttering about some ginormous cotton-candy colored poodle's tooshie to all the nurses. They will more than likely up my meds and label me "That Crazy Lady That Talks About Poodles on Resumes." Ahem.

Anyhoo, thankfully that picture was an exception; most of the pictures I get on resumes are of actual people… (Not that some of those are much better, mind you.)

Pictures of people

Now let me just say for the record, I try really hard to keep it together at my desk when I come across one of these resumes. I really do.

But no matter how hard I try, I usually can't, as despite how the person usually looks in the picture, I inevitably bust out laughing and have to run back to my favorite co-worker's desk and show her the offending mug shot of the day.

One lady looked like she may have been naked. Although I could only see skin from her armpits up and the picture may have merely been giving off the illusion of nakedness, I still felt seriously uncomfortable. Not only that, but it felt like her eyes were following me no matter where I set her resume on my desk. (You know, like those creepy guys in the foyer area of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland whose eyes follow you? Yeah, just like that.) I couldn't handle it, I immediately had to shred her.

Here's a fresh example: just yesterday I got a resume from a young guy in his twenties on the beach with his red baseball hat on backwards, squinting from all the sun in his eyes. Although it was just a head shot, I'm sure it had been cropped and I imagine if we'd been able to pan out and see the ENTIRE picture, I bet he'd be holding a beer in one hand and a ciggy in the other.

How is this supposed to make me want to call him for an interview? Because he looks "cool"? Pull-lease.

Just say no

Very simply put, with the exception of applying for a modeling or acting job, pictures on a resume are a no-no.

Why you ask? What's the harm?

Because you are essentially saying "I'm hot, ergo you should hire me."

Ummm, yeah… No. Don't do that. Let your skills, experience and education you've listed on your resume speak for you. Then we'll decide whether or not you're "cool", look like a model (or a serial killer) once you show up for the interview.

If you're wondering if I ended up calling the Poodle Picture Resume Submitter for an interview...nope! I was afraid she would be putting that pic on every piece of company documentation that left her desk.

Step away from the pictures people. Save those darling snapshots for your loved ones. Want to stand out with a resume that will help you get hired? Check out my resume tips!

Happy job hunting!