CV Template With Photo

In Germany, a professional photo (Bewerbungsfoto) has traditionally been considered standard practice and its absence can be noticed. A significant majority of German CVs include a professional headshot in the top right or top left corner. Use a high-quality, professionally taken photo if possible; many German cities have specialist photographers who produce CV photos for a reasonable fee. The photo should be recent, professional, and clearly identifiable as you. That said, photo inclusion is gradually becoming less universal in Germany, particularly in international companies and the technology sector, so the risk of omitting it is lower than it was 10 years ago.

No UK law bans employers from asking for a photo, but doing so creates legal risk under the Equality Act 2010. However, including a photo voluntarily is not illegal for the applicant; it is not done as a matter of convention, and for good reason: a hiring manager who sees a photo before making a screening decision may inadvertently apply unconscious bias based on characteristics that are legally protected. Some UK employers use anonymized screening at the initial stage. For UK applications, follow the norm and omit the photo regardless of what template you use.

Top left or top right of the header, next to your name and contact details. A circular crop at roughly 80 to 100px is the most widely accepted format in digital CVs. It should be prominent enough to see clearly at normal viewing size but should not dominate the page to the point where it competes with your name and credentials. The photo in this template is positioned top left; the alternative is top right, which is also widely used. The key constraint is that the photo should not take up space that would be better used for your name, title, and contact information.

Yes, if it meets the criteria: professional, recent, good lighting, business-appropriate clothing, neutral background, and clear at small sizes. A LinkedIn profile photo is often a close approximation of a good CV photo. Download the full-resolution version rather than a screenshot. If your LinkedIn photo was taken at a casual event, has a complex background, or is noticeably older than 2 years, it is worth getting a new one before including it on your CV. Consistency between your LinkedIn photo and your CV photo is also useful, as hiring managers frequently look at LinkedIn during the screening process.

In markets where photos are expected (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), omitting a photo can reduce your application's perceived professionalism, particularly for senior roles and in traditional sectors. Including a good photo in those markets is a mild positive signal. A poor photo (badly lit, informal, or clearly cropped from a social photo) can be a mild negative signal, as it suggests poor judgment or a lack of preparation. In markets where photos are not expected (UK, US), including one provides no benefit and introduces the risk of unconscious bias. The safest strategy: include a good photo where expected, omit it where not.