CV Template With Photo on the Right

Traditionally yes; a professional photo has long been standard in German applications, and it remains common, particularly in traditional industries, management roles, and client-facing positions. Since the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) of 2006, a photo is optional, and many employers no longer ask for one. The norm is shifting fastest in the technology sector and at international companies. If you are applying to a traditional German company and are unsure, a professional photo is still a common choice. Its absence in a traditional German application can be noticed; its presence in a company that does not expect it is generally harmless.

Click on the circular photo placeholder in the top right of the CV. A file picker will open. Select your photo from your device. It will appear immediately and be saved with the CV. When you download the CV as a PDF or export the HTML, the photo is embedded in the document and travels with it. No photo hosting or external service is required. The photo is stored as a data URL inside the HTML file itself, which means it works offline and the file is fully self-contained.

Plain white or light gray is the most universally professional and the standard used in professional application photos. Light blue is also acceptable and widely used. Avoid: outdoor backgrounds, office scenes with visible equipment or colleagues, backgrounds with any text, patterns or textures, and social or casual settings. A seamless background paper backdrop is what professional photographers use. At home, a plain wall lit with natural daylight from the side achieves a similar effect. The key principle is that the background should have zero visual interest; all attention should be on your face.

Yes. Glasses in a CV photo are entirely acceptable, provided there is no visible glare. If your glasses produce a glare under studio or flash lighting, either use a photo with natural light (which tends to produce less glare), tilt the glasses very slightly forward to break the reflective angle, or use the photo without glasses. The most important criterion for a CV photo is that it accurately represents what you look like in person, so hiring managers are not surprised or disoriented when they meet you for the first time.

Some multinationals operating across Europe ask candidates to leave photos off, particularly for equity and inclusion reasons, and many US-headquartered and UK-headquartered firms follow no-photo norms across their markets. If the company has a public diversity and inclusion policy or an obvious equity-focused culture, omitting the photo is the safer choice. When in doubt, the company's own job description or careers page may include guidance. If it does not, applying with a photo in a European market context is unlikely to be penalised unless the company's culture specifically expects otherwise.