Picture Perfect: Resume Photo Do’s & Don’ts

Stand out in a good way with easy photo tips to make you look professional and oh-so-employable!

By Aqilah Naqlis on 2023-11-27 at 7:11 AM

Updated on 2023-11-27 at 7:11 AM

While it’s not required, many job seekers in Malaysia choose to include a photo on their resume to make their application stand out.

If you’re thinking about adding a photo to your resume, it’s a good idea to know the dos and don’ts to ensure it helps your job search rather than hindering it.

Resume Picture Do’s:

  • Face the camera
  • Have good lighting (Tip: Daylighting works great!)
  • Take your photo against a plain or non-distracting background
  • Show an approachable and friendly smile
  • Wear a professional/appropriate outfit 
  • Crop photo to show your head and shoulders only
  • Make sure the photo is high-quality

Resume Picture Don’ts

  • Take your photo against distracting or busy background
  • Wear inappropriate outfits or styles (if you wouldn’t wear them to work, you shouldn’t wear them for your resume picture)
  • Crop the photo too close or too far from your face
  • Take your photo in poor lighting
  • Use a selfie

It’s worth noting that in countries like the US, Canada, and New Zealand, it’s actually not allowed to include photos of yourself on your resume due to strict anti-discrimination laws.

If you’re still unsure whether you should include your picture on your resume, we weigh the pros and cons for you in this article.

Got a profile picture of yourself ready? Head to LinkedIn, make it your profile picture and start building your personal brand. Find out how your LinkedIn profile can land you job interviews in our article here.

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Sign up on Hiredly and use our Resume Builder to create a professional, customisable resume that recruiters will love – no design know-how or extra software needed. It also gives you accurate job recommendations on Hiredly.

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Level up your resume game with other tips on Hiredly:

By Aqilah Naqlis on 2023-11-27 at 7:11 AM