How and When Should You Use a Resume Template with a Photo in 2023?

A good resume is like a golden bridge that connects your potential, skills, and experiences to your future career aspirations and goals.

It brings you a step closer to the career you’ve been dreaming about by helping you maximize your chances of landing interviews.

But, building a resume from scratch without a basic understanding of the best industry practices will lead you nowhere in the current job market.

Studies show that an estimated 75% of resumes are rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) due to poor formatting, inadequacy of keywords, and other factors.

This means, even though you might have all the right qualifications and experience for the job, you might still be rejected due to your inability to showcase them effectively on paper.

So, one of the best ways to create a brilliant resume that can impress recruiters right off the bat and help you surpass ATS, is by using a pre-formatted resume template.

And depending on the country, industry, and company culture, you can even use a resume template with a photo to stand out from the crowd of applicants.

Read on to learn about resume templates with photos and get clarity on related questions like the following:

What is a resume template with a photo?
When should you include a photo on your resume?
How do I make an online resume with a picture?
What are some tips for using resume templates with photos?

What is a Resume Template with Photo?

A resume template with a photo is a pre-designed document that includes a structural outline, a customizable format, and a designated area for uploading a headshot in the resume.

It helps job seekers create professional, ATS-friendly resumes with less effort and time that are easy to read and visually appealing.

There are plenty of options for online resume builders that offer pre-designed templates with the feature to upload a headshot in the resume.

Out of the bunch, Hiration is one of the best platforms that offer users 30+ free resume templates and advanced AI features for helping job seekers create excellent resumes with or without uploading a photo.

Also Read: What are some free resume templates that you use in 2023?

When Should You Use a Resume Template with a Photo?

When it comes to uploading a photo of yourself in a resume, you must consider factors like location, industry, and company culture before making a decision.

In many countries like the United States, applicants are advised not to include a picture of themselves in their resumes as it can lead to discrimination or biased judgments, even if unintentional.

However, there are some exceptions to it. Given below are some scenarios and instances when you can (or must) use a resume template with a photo:

Your job industry calls for it: If you are applying for a job that requires a specific look like an acting or modeling gig, you must use a resume template with a photo.
Consider the location of your employer: In some European and Asian countries like France, Germany, and South Korea, it is a common practice to use resume templates with photos. It is in fact, suspicious to not include a picture in your resume or CV. If you are applying to companies based in these countries, do your research and add a picture to your resume.
The employer specifically asks for it: In some cases, the employer might explicitly request applicants to use a resume template with a photo and in such cases, you can comply with the request and add a headshot to your resume. Read the instructions provided in the listing to identify such instances.

Also Read: What are some of the best sales resume templates that you can use in 2023?

How To Make an Online Resume with a Picture?

As stated earlier, one of the best ways to create a resume using a professional resume template with a photo is by using a resume builder tool like Hiration that offers ample templates that users can choose from.

Here are the steps you can take to build a stellar resume with a headshot using Hiration’s resume builder:

Step 1: Log in to the Site

Hiration is a free-to-use tool with subscription-based plans that users can purchase once they try out the advanced features using the free version.

All you need to do is log in to the site using your email and other details. If you are unable to complete making your resume in one go, you can log in to your account later to complete making your resume.

Step 2: Choose a Resume Template with a Photo

Hiration offers 30+ resume templates that you can choose from. All the templates are optimized for ATS and are suitable for any job profile.

And if you can’t make a decision on which resume template you want to opt for, you can switch between these template options with a single click without leaving the page or making changes to the contents of your resume.

Step 3: Upload Your Current Resume or Use Samples

If you already have a resume, you can upload it to the site and use one of the pre-designed free resume templates without changing the content of your existing resume.

You can also have your resume reviewed and updated in the tool using the AI resume reviewer and actionable tips provided by the AI assistant.

Step 4: Upload Your Photo in the Personal Information Section

Now, to add a photo of yourself to the resume template, simply click on the personal information section present at the top and click on the upload photo button.

Hiration pro tip:

Ensure that the size of the photo is not more than 100-200 KB to avoid making your resume file too large.

Also Read: Which is the best resume builder in 2023?

Tips for Using Resume Template with a Photo

There are certain dos and don’ts you must follow while using resume templates with photos to ensure that it is done the right way. Given below are some tips for the same:

Since resumes are professional documents, ensure that you choose a professional-looking headshot for your resume. The photo must ideally be taken with professional clothes and a plain white background.
To avoid making your resume look unprofessional and childish, choose a simple resume template that has a simple format without bold colors and fonts.
The optimal size of the photo you upload to your resume must be a 2-by-2” picture as it is big enough to show your features but isn’t distracting or big enough to occupy too much space in your resume.
Consider using the same picture of yourself in your resume as in your LinkedIn profile to support your personal branding and maintain uniformity.

Also Read: What are some of the dos and don'ts you must follow to build a stellar resume for any job profile?

Key Points from the Blog

A resume template with a photo is a pre-designed document that includes a structural outline, a customizable format, and a designated area for uploading a headshot in the resume.
When it comes to uploading a photo of yourself in a resume, you must consider factors like location, industry, and company culture before making a decision.
One of the best ways to create a resume using a professional resume template with a photo is by using a resume builder tool like Hiration that offers ample template options that users can choose from.
Since resumes are professional documents, ensure that you choose a professional-looking headshot for your resume. The photo must ideally be taken with professional clothes and a plain white background.
Use a 2 by 2” picture in your resume and ensure that the size of the picture you want to use in your resume is not more than 100 or 200 KB.

Wish to build your resume using a stellar resume template with a photo? Use Hiration’s ChatGPT-powered resume builder with 24x7 chat support. If you have any questions, you can write to us at support@hiration.com.