This is a sort of follow up to a prior article I wrote which covered whether or not you should have a photo on your resume. I wanted to spend some discussing the photo itself, and more precisely if you should smile in your resume photo.
A lot of people are hesitant to put a phot on their resume because they’re not sure how to pose. Should you smile? If you should smile, how big of a smile?
All good questions to ask. If you are putting a photo on your resume, then you’ll want to make sure that it doesn’t throw off the recruiter or hiring manager who is looking at it.
A good resume photo can really improve your chances of landing a job, especially if you are applying to work in a client facing industry. Sales executives, customer service employees, and others who are working face to face with clients might benefit from a good resume photo.
Employees might not say as much, but they want to know what the applicants look like. And not all of them will take the time to search you out on LinkedIn. While some recrutiers check social media and LinkedIn, not all do.
So, it does make sense to sometimes add a photo. And if you’re going to add a photo it makes sense to make sure that you’ve have the right look. So, should you smile or shouldn’t you smile in your resume photo? Let’s see.
Don’t Be a Clown, But Don’t Frown
You don’t want to smile like a clown. You know the look. Those wide open crazy eyed smiles that people make jokes about. The wide open-mouthed smile is considered completely inappropriate. In many circles, an open mouthed smile is ridiculed and even the subject of meme culture.
That doesn’t mean you need to frown or have a “no teeth smile”.
In fact, there is a wide variety of smiles that you can use that are appropriate. Closed mouth smiles, open smiles, etc…
The two big things to avoid for LinkedIn photos are:
- Frowns
- Wide Open Mouth Smiles
Aside from these two types of looks, there’s basically no real uniform photo to use. Some people like to smile, some prefer a more serious look.
Serious is fine as long as you don’t frown. That’s just as bad as a huge open-mouthed smile. As a general rule, you want to have some sort of smile.
Even if it’s very slight, a slight smile is better than nothing. Think of the well known photographer saying “smile with your eyes”. A slight smile (not a smirk) is better than a blank face.
So, remember—no wide open gaping mouth smiles. You’re not creating a meme or photo for a youtube video, this is a professional resume photo. And no frown. Try and smile, even if it’s a hint of a smile.
Is a Resume Photo Even a Good Idea?
This is a large topic and I’ve covered it in more detail elsewhere. If you’re curious, then you can read that article here. But let’s summarize it below.
Should you use a photo on a resume? Is it a good idea to send recruiters? When you’re applying for a job posted online, should you be using a resume with your photo on it?
Well, it depends on a few things.
First, are you working in a customer facing role? Are you in sales? If so, then yes it would probably be a good idea.
If you’re a nurse or a manual laborer or someone else who is in the blue collar world, then it’s not necessary.
If you’re in pharmaceutical sales? Then yes, it would be a good idea.
Second, how good is the photo? There are a ton of people who post photos on their LinkedIn profiles and on their resume and the photos are trash. If you are taking a selfie, or taking a photo and cropping your face out and using that, then take pause.
If you’re applying for a entry level customer service role or admin role, than those types of photos are fine. However, if you’re applying for a more skilled role and a higher paying one such as an account executive or a sales executive then they will not be appropriate.
If you’re working in a higher level role, it’s better to have a professional LinkedIn photo taken and used. Take that photo and then you can use that for both your LinkedIn profile as well as your resume.
A professionally taken photo is simply much better. If you take a bad photo and use that on your resume it will hurt more than if you had no photo at all.
It’s better to simply not use a photo than to use a bad photo.
Remember, recruiters are looking for professional canadites. That means people who look professioanl as well as act professioanl. A well taken resume photo can help you, it might even help land a great entry level job.
What Type of Smile Works Best for a Resume?
It’s important to make sure that you have the right smile for your resume. You don’t want to have the aforementioned “wide open” smile. That’s become a joke in internet meme culture and if you smile with a big open mouth you’re going to get passed over. No one wants to hire someone who is so foolish to post a photo like that on their resume.
The best type of smile for your resume is either a hint of a smile, or a regular smile. A small smile, which is just a slight smile is best for most people.
Honestly, the best advice that I could give someone is to invest in a professional photo. If you are looking for roles in the executive level, or even if you’re working in a high base+commission role such as a sales executive or account executive or BDM, then it’s worth the money.
Photographers will be able to help you and work with you during the session and you’ll end up with a good photo.
There is a huge range when it comes to photographer prices. Some photographers will charge hundreds of dollars for a proper LinkedIn profile photo. Others might only be a couple hundred.
My advice would be to see this as an investment. You can use that photo endlessly (think of every time you use LinkedIn).
If you’re in a field that doesn’t require professional communication or networking such as medical work (nurses, therapists, and other staff) then it’s not really a “must”. But if you’re working in the professional space where people expect quality and professional behavior, then you should
Take a Look Around LinkedIn for The Perfect Smile
Really the best way to decide what’s a “good smile” for a resume photo would be to take a look around LinkedIn.
If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, sign up for one because they don’t allow you to browse without one. But you don’t need to use a photo when you first sign up.
Then check out profiles of people who are working in jobs that you are applying for. See what their photos look like. Obviously, the professional ones are going to be better. So take a look at a number of photos and decide which ones you like the look of.
You can then have a better idea as to what your resume photo should look like. If you don’t have the extra money to spend on a photographer, then just shoot the photo on a neutral background. You can have a friend or family member take the photo for you and then use that as your resume photo.
Hey I’m Chris . 20+ years in the industry. I’ve worked every role from Executive recrutier to Agency founder and consultant. If you want to learn more or reach me,vist the about page or use my contact form.