CV in 2026: Should You Still Include a Photo?

In 2026, the question of including a photo on your CV is still debated. However, a clear trend is emerging: in most cases, a photo is no longer necessary, and can even work against you in the worst-case scenario.

A Practice Being Increasingly Questioned

For a long time, adding a photo to your CV was considered standard practice, especially in Europe. Today, this habit is being widely reconsidered. Modern recruiters favor more objective hiring processes focused on skills, experience, and relevance.

In this context, a photo is often seen as a superfluous element that adds no real value in assessing your ability to perform the job.

A Real Risk of Discrimination

Including a photo can introduce bias into the hiring process, even unintentionally. Physical appearance, perceived age, ethnicity, or even clothing style can influence how a recruiter evaluates a candidate.

Many companies are actively working to reduce these biases through more inclusive hiring practices (anonymous CVs, automated screening tools, etc.). In this context, removing the photo is a simple way to promote fairness.

Read more: Best job search tools in 2026 (complete guide)

The Importance of Staying Objective and Professional

An effective CV in 2026 should focus on what truly matters:

1. key skills
2. relevant experience
3. measurable achievements
4. education

Any subjective element (photo, overly personal hobbies, vague descriptions, etc.) should be avoided if it does not add direct value to your application.

The goal is simple: allow recruiters to focus only on what matters most.

The Rare Exceptions

Of course, some industries are exceptions. If you are applying for roles where appearance is directly relevant—such as modeling, acting, or certain public-facing roles, a photo may be useful or even expected.

But for the vast majority of jobs (tech, finance, marketing, HR, etc.), it remains unnecessary.

Save Time with DeepSearchJobs

Good news: in 2026, creating a CV can also be much easier. With DeepSearchJobs, you can generate a CV in one click, optimized for recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS).

A fast and efficient way to stay focused on what really matters: your skills and professional value.

Conclusion

In 2026, not including a photo on your CV is no longer a drawback, it’s often a strategic choice.

It helps you:

1. reduce bias
2. highlight your skills
3. adopt a more modern and professional approach

👉 In short: unless you're in a field like modeling, it's better to skip the photo and let your experience speak for itself.