{"id":2293,"date":"2020-07-31T11:47:11","date_gmt":"2020-07-31T09:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myjobgermany.com\/?p=2293"},"modified":"2022-06-18T22:30:15","modified_gmt":"2022-06-18T20:30:15","slug":"professional-photo-for-cv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myjobgermany.com\/professional-photo-for-cv\/","title":{"rendered":"Invest in a professional photo for your CV"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Do you believe to improve your chances of a job in Germany when you NOT put a photo on your CV? That’s bullshit, and let me tell you why.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of my clients told me about what he has learned in one of the lectures at university. I’m quite sure that the professor was an expert in his domain. But also in the art of self-marketing? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Think for a moment about what you think about this question:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After the lecture, the professor gave his international students some tips on how to apply for a job<\/strong> in Germany. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I have a very clear answer to this question. And I’m heartless \ud83d\udc98 about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, you DO need to add a photo to your CV.<\/strong> A terrific photo! \u2728<\/p>\n\n\n\n A brilliant picture! A photo, in which you look so charming, friendly and winning in the camera, that every HR will have their heart opened\ud83d\udc93\ud83d\udcaf\ud83d\udc9d. One that makes your future colleagues so emotional that they do a shoutout\ud83d\udd0a to HR to bring forward the hiring date. Because they can\u2019t wait until you join the team and share desks with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I speak of a photo,<\/strong> I do not mean: <\/p>\n\n\n\n I talk about a professional photo taken by an experienced and well-trained professional photographer. One that takes modern photos in 2020-style in the way of German \u201cBewerbungsfotos\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you know me, well, you know there’s never one absolutely right answer for me. This time, though, there’s only one option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let me explain why I’m so outspoken:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Germany, a photo on the curriculum vitae is common. MyJob Germany – Advice<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n \u201cEspecially as an international candidate, you need the most brilliant<\/strong> and professional picture<\/strong> that you’ve ever had. <\/p>Nicola Pilz<\/strong>, Career Mentor for more than 20 years<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Even the German anti-discrimination law didn\u2019t affect this habit. Since 2007, this law has been in force, and companies are no longer allowed to reject an individual without a photo on the CV. The photo lives on, despite the law: More than 90% of all applicants add their photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a survey, 80% of the personnel managers interviewed stated that the photo is important in the recruitment process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without a photo, a very important element is missing. It’s a bit like when a colleague is walking into the office in the morning and not saying hello.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The absence of the photo may trigger a cloud of associations in HR of all sorts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like, is the applicant too scatterbrained and forgot the photo? Or not interested in the job by heart. That’s why she \/he didn’t bother. Or, the applicant is not German, so she\/he’s not familiar with German customs. Upps, caution, because who knows what other things about our working life she\/he may not be aware of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the photo is missing, aggression is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have to admit that I was fed up in the past. It was when I had an application on the table and I couldn’t get a complete impression. Because \u2026 no photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let me explain why. This candidate, who had not submitted a photo, made my work more difficult than necessary! I have to examine the documents again very carefully and give my colleagues a detailed explanation of why I consider this applicant eligible for the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If later on in the interview the applicant turns out not to be the perfect match, this always falls back on me a bit. Then my colleagues tell me, irritated, they could have saved themselves the interview. Plus, that would have been obvious from the photo. Instead, they’d have wasted an hour\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n For an internship or a student job, a simple photo is quite enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wouldn’t expect an expensive photo from a school leaver applying for a training position either. But, my requirements for an educated applicant are different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Professionalism, also in appearance, is what I expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prices vary greatly. In my home town Paderborn it is about 30-35 EURO. This price means that you will receive a digital photo. Together with the photographer, you choose the best one out of the numerous photoshoots taken. The photo will be edited and then you get a USB stick or a CD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of these tips was not to submit a photo along with CV.<\/strong> He said, that a photo on CV would reduce the chances to find a job in Germany because they are foreigners in Germany. <\/strong>
A student from this lecture recently told me about it and asked me for my advice: As a non EU-professional, should I insert a photo to my CV, yes or no?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nYes, you do need a picture <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat kind of picture?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nProfessional photos are a given<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHR people expect a photo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nA CV without a photo may arouse aggression<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For a thorough pre-selection, I need significant applications. If an applicant does not give me these, I’m faced with a dilemma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFor academics, a professional photo is a must<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A standard photo taken with an iPhone in favorable daylight is enough. It’s most important to have a friendly and likable expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow much is a professional photo? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n