Reply With QuoteIf you are a model or such where your appearance is part of your job then yes.
anything else then certainly not.
but may as well have a good pic up on linkedin so the stalkers in hr arent put off immediately ;)
Hi Guys and Girls,
Quick one: I'm updating my CV for the first time in 10 years. It seems the stuffy Times New Roman font and all black typeface are a thing of the past and it's now jazzy sans serif and colour. What's your views on putting a photo on your CV? Yes/no? Any opinions?
Also any help you could give me in writing a good CV would be appreciated.
Cheers
G
If you are a model or such where your appearance is part of your job then yes.
anything else then certainly not.
but may as well have a good pic up on linkedin so the stalkers in hr arent put off immediately ;)
Last edited by Josh B; 21st November 2014 at 10:35.
Clear, concise, Arial typeface, no more than two pages, PERFECT spelling and grammar.
If anyone sent ANYTHING here in a comedic typeface or with colour, it would go straight in the bin.
Unless you are applying to the circus? Or Google.
Absolutely correct. Nothing should take the reader's attention away from the facts of your CV. I think Helvetica is also good.Originally Posted by DB9yeti
Unless you are a graphic designer or similar: what they said.
Might well be applying to Google :) I work in Information Technology.
No photo.
No errors.
Plenty of so f%^&king what.
In that case, read this:
http://uk.businessinsider.com/how-to...d-2014-11?r=US
It doesn't matter if you are a developer or not.
Seems a popular option there days, but imho NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!
Too easy to be put off someone by a picture even if they're really good in many other respects.
Unless you're a stripper, your qualities probably aren't easily assessed from even the best photo and lots of people include photos which really AREN'T the best.
Linked in usually has a picture, but I wonder if even that's a great idea as people will look and think "Too old", "Too young", "Too scruffy", "A bit smug", "Ooooh, an earring" or "Yuck a beard!".
M.
No colour (ever)...no photo (unless they request it).
It doesn't matter what you're applying for.
Depends where you are, here in Germany its standard, in fact its a very useful tool for candidate selection... ahem
No!
The only time I've received a CV with a photo on it, was from a 17? ish year old girl. And judging by the photo was taken at the school prom (bless her)
At least she had the excuse of being young enough to make the mistake.
Unless you're going for a modelling job of course ;-)
Quite - always helpful for somebody to unleash they inner racist (although I'm sure that's not what you meanDepends where you are, here in Germany its standard, in fact its a very useful tool for candidate selection... ahem
I would hate photos on CVs to become the norm in the UK.
Definitely no photo. What purpose would it serve?
LOL, I work in the fragrance industry, I have a duty to only employ people that fit with that perceived image. AhemQuite - always helpful for somebody to unleash they inner racist (although I'm sure that's not what you mean
I would hate photos on CVs to become the norm in the UK.. Its funny though, the photos, in some cases at least, give you an immediate impression of someone and can, if you're not careful, form an opinion.
Mind, saying that, I've interviewed some people whose photoshop skills clearly outweigh the ones I was looking for...
Won't their name usually give them away?Quite - always helpful for somebody to unleash they inner racist (although I'm sure that's not what you mean
I would hate photos on CVs to become the norm in the UK.
In a previous job they trialled discrimination free CVs.
Basically, HR would remove names, sex, age and graduation dates from all applications before handing them on to the hiring manager.
It lasted about two weeks.
Depends on the job and the sector.
Generally in finance, science, engineering etc (the real jobs) then no.
In media, marketing, the arts etc then possibly.
NO to photo.
2 page rule is rubbish.
Good tips here: http://garychaplin.com/2014/01/02/cv-tips/
Cheers,
Mark C
Yes. Ideally dressed to impress and doing something that illustrates a personal trait you outline on the CV.
Something like this.
Not only does he look the business, he also has eyesight issues and a mental deficiency that means he can't tell the time at a glance. Or he is a watch obsessive not doing work.
Its a No from me, as the above have stated one page of A3. Keep away from serif types, Arial or Helvetica.
I've just redone mine, so had to ask a little advice.
Good luck in getting the new post
I have thought that Germany was moving away from photo CVs? I do get an application from Germany every now and then and there are still some who use photos (some glue an actual photo anto the CV), but they are clearly in the minority.Depends where you are, here in Germany its standard, in fact its a very useful tool for candidate selection... ahem
It's a "no" from me too. I'm sure ***isms are still in play even if subconscious, be that age, race, gender or whatever.
Put yourself in the position of someone who has had a pile of 200 CVs dumped in front of them and have been asked to reduce the pile to 10, by lunchtime please. Would your CV stand out?
The photo thing reminded me of the old joke wherein a firm advertised for a new secretary to the MD and amongst the replies was a very badly written CV awash with spelling and grammatical mistakes but attached was a photo of the applicant a very well endowed young blond lady in a mini skirt
The MD;s reply was you have got the job and we do have spell checker.
Unless your appearance matters for your role, such as model, actor, porn star, whatever, then I'd say no.
Mrs Stomach is a CV writer (and available at discount rates to TZ-ers) and says no to putting the photos on CVs.
Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Is your pic on that page? Do you have a FB profile? Is your pic on that page? You should act accordingly. In most cases, the HR company does a search for you on Google after your letter has been selected. Or sometimes even before.
(Reminds me of a friend of the family: she was offered a job as oncological surgeon somewhere in Holland. All she needed to do was a sending her CV to the hospital's Board. She asked me - former Dutch language teacher- to check her CV. My first reply: 'I hope you're better with a scalpel. With a pen you're hopeless.' She got the message, changed her CV and got the job. And she's a d@mn good surgeon!)
Menno
Last edited by thieuster; 21st November 2014 at 14:49.
I'm mindful of the Viz top tip:
"Ensure you don't employ unlucky people by immediately binning 50% of all applications"
Yeah, coz that Michael Johnson is such an obvious name, right?
Of course, if they're from Bongo-bongoland it'll be immediately apparent...
Worse still, you can't even tell which watch he's wearing! Such inconsideration...Yes. Ideally dressed to impress and doing something that illustrates a personal trait you outline on the CV.
Something like this.
Not only does he look the business, he also has eyesight issues and a mental deficiency that means he can't tell the time at a glance. Or he is a watch obsessive not doing work.
M
Last edited by snowman; 21st November 2014 at 15:27.
Arial is a Microsoft "we can't be bothered to pay anyone royalties' font.
Helvetica is a design classic, I studied with a very successful professor of industrial design and the only fonts he would use were Helvetica and Tekton Pro.
Mmmmm - Tekton Pro looks worryingly close to Comic Sans!
I always send my CV in a combination of Wingdings and Ambassador Script Alternate Capitals.... I wonder why I never get any interviews?
M.
I think it should be compulsory. That said, Ive never included mine.
It's just a matter of time...
Just in case there is any doubt from the above posts......No to the photo / fancy fonts / colours. I'd bin your application without reading it if that arrived on my desk.
Does that mean I should take my full colour family crest off too?
In a similar way to how a competent fake resembles a Rolex, even if they get the major details right the fit and finish doesn't compare :-)
Given that most CVs are read on screen rather than printed out on paper these days, I understood that the current font of choice is Verdana, which is designed to look equally good in either medium.
I guess a lot of this is subjective but the one thing that really annoys me is the paragraphs of guff that a lot of people seem to be writing at the beginning of their CVs e.g. "I am an experienced, visionary leader used to working with clients in the C suite blah blah blah". I just want the facts i.e. education, work experience etc and find hunting for it really annoying.
Long CVs really frustrate me too. When I applied to my current job, my CV was 1 page. I remember the recruitment agency was shocked and actually asked me "Is that it?". The CV is not going to get you the job - it's purpose is to get you an interview!
Dammit! Now I am beginning to think I shouldn't have bought that title and the coat of arms.
Best,
Lord Banana of Pratts.
What's a CV?
Ive had one, not the best Citroen Ive had but not bad
RIAC
I've always thought they came in pairs.
Full on chortle!
And in answer to the OP.... NO
Yes agree , I don't have time to wade through piles of gaudy fluff I wany facts plain and simple. I'm not interested in mission statements from applicants telling me what they think of themselves either.
If you want to stand out print it nicely on quality paper with a matching envelope. I also like handwritten covering letters.
A friend of mine from uni put her photo on her CV. In the law, the professional bodies are very keen on equal opportunities, gender equality, objective suitability assessment blah blah blah.
She had an interview for very job she applied for.
Being a redhead with perfect norks did help.
I think you made that up. Unless I see a picture I'm not going to believe you.
A few years ago, I had a young lady apply for one of my roles, her LinkedIn profile was of her on a beach in a bikini. Could not take the applicant seriously no matter how attractive. FB yes, LI, hell no!!
I'd not do a photo, and as mentioned make sure spelling etc is perfect. Recently had a cv where 'attention to detail' was incorrectly typed....FFS!
I couldn't help but see if this was prevalent on LinkedIn
It is: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/john-ward/56/376/547
And worse he's wearing his watch on the wrong wrist
Not only does he look the business, he also has eyesight issues and a mental deficiency that means he can't tell the time at a glance. Or he is a watch obsessive not doing work.
Photo No, Silly Fonts No
A CV structured to each job application YES
Ha!I think you made that up. Unless I see a picture I'm not going to believe you.
At the time in question she was paying her way through uni by singing in a (fairly successful) all girl band. The manager decided they were all too fat on account of thir ribs not showing through and made them go on the Atkins diet. It was a crying shame - though pleased to say 12 years later she's back to her old pneumatic self.
Oh dear!
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