No. The resume confirms your career narrative. It should look designed and intentional, but not like it is trying to demonstrate your skills. That is what the portfolio URL at the top is for. A resume that tries too hard to be art often fails at being a useful document. Keep it clean, typographic, and quick to scan. Source: AIGA Careers Guide; D&AD.
For UK, US, and most Western markets: no photo. Creative directors care about your work, not your appearance. The exception is markets where photos are standard: Spain, Germany, Middle East, Southeast Asia. For editorial and fashion roles, some creative directors appreciate a photo as a cultural fit signal. Source: AIGA; D&AD; Campaign.
Your portfolio URL. A junior with a brilliant portfolio and a mediocre resume usually beats a senior with an excellent resume and an outdated portfolio. Put it at the very top, use a custom domain if possible, and ensure it loads fast and shows your current best work. This reflects hiring practice in the field, not survey data.
Your last 3-4 roles in detail. Earlier roles briefly with title, company, and dates. For a CD with 15+ years, curate ruthlessly. Short freelance stints can be grouped under a single Freelance entry to avoid a fragmented appearance. Source: Campaign; How Magazine.
PDF is the standard. It preserves the layout, typography, and design intent. Avoid sending Word for a creative role unless asked. File name: FirstName-LastName-Resume-2026.pdf. Keep under 2MB. The visual design of the PDF itself signals that you care about craft in everything you do. This reflects hiring practice in the field, not survey data.