Should you put a picture on your resume? for US jobs, usually not.
Resume photo norms differ by country and industry. For most jobs in the United States, a photo takes space without adding evidence, and your LinkedIn profile is the better place for it.
For most US jobs, leave the photo off your resume. US resumes are expected to focus on skills and experience, and a photo uses space you could give to results. Put a professional photo on your LinkedIn profile instead and link to it in your header. Exceptions include acting and modeling, where a headshot is part of the application, and countries where photos are customary.
Illustrative examples to adapt
Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.
Header without a photo
When to use: US applications.
Sam Rivera (illustrative) [Target job title] [City, State] · [phone] · [email] · [LinkedIn URL with a professional photo]
Acting resume note
When to use: Performing arts, where a headshot is expected.
Attach a separate headshot as the posting or casting call instructs; keep the resume itself to credits, training and skills.
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every sample on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Photo norms
| Context | Photo on resume? |
|---|---|
| Most US jobs | No |
| Acting, modeling, presenting | A separate headshot, as instructed |
| Countries where photos are customary | Follow local practice |
| LinkedIn profile | Yes, a professional photo |
| Online application systems | No; upload only what is requested |
The same line, rewritten
Illustrative example with placeholders.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | A resume with a large photo in the top corner and the contact details squeezed beside it. |
| Strong | A one-column header with name, target title, contact details and a LinkedIn link, and the space below used for experience. |
Why it matters: On a US resume the photo adds no evidence and takes prime space. The strong version gives that space to your experience and leaves the photo to LinkedIn.
Mistakes to avoid
- Adding a photo by default because a template had one.
- Using a casual photo.
- Embedding contact details inside an image.
- Ignoring country-specific norms when applying abroad.
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Questions people ask
Is it bad to put a picture on a resume in the US?
Do any US jobs want a photo?
Where should my photo go instead?
Should I include a photo for jobs abroad?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. Advice is labelled as advice. Every sample uses a fictional person marked '(illustrative)' or a 'Your name' placeholder, and every employer, school, date and result is a bracketed placeholder for your own true details.
- What a specific employer screens for: always read the posting.
- Your results: we never invent numbers, and you should never copy a result you did not achieve.
- Outcomes: no resume, letter or program can promise an interview or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 2, 2026.