Your background and skill set perfectly match the job you’re applying for, and the references you’ve provided are solid. Unfortunately, that fabulous photograph you decided to include within the header of your resume for personal branding purposes isn’t as impressive as you’d hoped!
At Walrath, we recruit candidates for several industries; as of right now, we don’t specialize in any industries that would require head shots as part of the application process. It’s difficult to take an office manager, app developer, or CPA seriously when the single most important piece of his/her application contains a head and shoulder photograph – or even more distracting, a full body shot. Regardless of how an individual looks in the photo, professionalism takes a serious hit when you click the “insert image” icon.
Are Good Looking People More Employable? Not necessarily.
In his 2010 study, Bradley Ruffle concludes that including a head shot as part of an application reduces the chances of getting a call back from companies and employment agencies by 20 to 30 percent. Though this varies slightly depending on the genders of both the applicants and those who are reviewing resumes, head shots are usually not in good taste. The applicant’s reasoning behind including the photograph makes more of an impact than the actual appearance of the person, good looking or not. When we come across a resume with a head shot-bombed header, we immediately question why the individual – who is not a model, actor or actress, broadcast journalist – felt it necessary to include the photo. What we’re really looking for are skills and experience; on a professional document like the resume, head shots are extremely distracting (for the wrong reasons.)
Thinking that your good looks make you a more marketable candidate? Think again (and close that “insert picture” window!)