Posts

Having Your Picture on A Resume Could Hurt Your Job Search

/in /by

You decided to update your resume to kick off your 2021 job search. Instead of just making a few tweaks, you are completely rebuilding it from scratch; you are crafting a new skills section, updating your work experience, and adding a resume objective. You start to look at templates online to give your resume a little flare and notice some with a space for a headshot. So, you begin to think, “should I add a picture of myself on my resume?” Having your picture on a resume could hurt your job search – here’s why.

Diversity and inclusion hiring efforts

Many companies are focusing on diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) in their hiring efforts this year. Companies across the country are implementing new DEI policies to offer safe and fair hiring practices and committing to hiring more diverse talent in 2021. Therefore, adding your picture to your resume could hurt your chances of receiving a callback due to an increased emphasis on DEI hiring. Your image can also trigger unconscious biases of hiring professionals, so it’s best to leave your photo off your resume.

It can be distracting

In 2021, there will be a ton of competition for job seekers. You will be going head-to-head with many other talented people, and you cannot afford any distractions. And that is what your photo on your resume will do – distract. If you put your headshot (or any image) on your resume, it pulls the attention away from your skills, work experience, and background. Many people believe adding a photo of themselves will make their resume stand out in a sea of applicants. However, as a recruiter or hiring manager sifts through endless resumes, the last thing they want to see is a headshot of a candidate. They are looking for your qualifications, not a tiny thumbnail image of yourself. Keep the attention on your skills by omitting your headshot on your resume.

It takes up too much space

When crafting your resume, you only have so much space to convey your work experience and other qualifications. Typically, your resume is a very concise document, with only a page or two (depending on the stage of your career) to share your qualifications with a hiring manager or recruiter. Why take up valuable space with a headshop instead of using that area to add more skills, certifications, or other information? Adding a headshot doesn’t add as much value as your skill sets and experience.

There are a few exceptions

These are three reasons why having your picture on your resume can hurt your job search. There are some exceptions to this rule. For example, it is customary for some countries to have a resume picture, such as Spain, Germany, and Italy. In some industries, it may be acceptable to use a photo, too. Although you generally want to avoid using a resume photo in the United States, it’s ultimately up to you. If you are going to use one, please make sure it is a professional headshot.

Here is how and where you should use a professional headshot

A professional headshot doesn’t necessarily have to be taken by a professional photographer – it just has to look professional. Use great natural lighting, have a neutral background, dress for success.

Make sure your photo is from the shoulders up. The point of a headshot is to see your face, not your entire body.

Don’t crop yourself out of a picture with others. It looks cheesy and unprofessional. Sorry, you cannot crop yourself out of a wedding photo with your spouse!

Upload your professional headshot to your LinkedIn profile, professional online portfolio, or add it to your email account. These are all excellent ways to show off your headshot without including it on your resume.

If you want more advice on how to take a DIY professional headshot, check out our guide below!

How to Take A DIY Professional Headshot

Your Diversity & Inclusion Hiring Playbook

/in /by

Diversity is a hot topic in the world today, and many companies are scrambling to recognize deep-rooted unconscious biases and improve how they hire and manage their teams. While the first step of identifying and admitting bias can be the most challenging, it is also the most important for implementing actionable change. However, once you’re ready to tackle injustice and be a part of the change, where do you start? We’ve gathered just a few resources for diversity hiring that will get you started. 

→ You will probably need to overhaul your hiring process. Here’s a great breakdown of how to begin:

Recruiting For Diversity

→ For more on how browsing candidate’s social media profiles could be leading to bias hiring decisions:

Should Employers Screen Candidate’s Social Media

→ Learn about false-positive and false-negative hiring decisions and how you can avoid them, thus building a diverse and qualified team:

How To Avoid False-Negative Hiring Decisions

→ Creating a diverse team doesn’t start with hiring. Learn more about action steps you can take starting today:

Diversity in Hiring Doesn’t Start With Hiring

→ For more insight into the modern gender hiring landscape:

Modern Women Make Strides In The Workforce

→ Did you know that “hiring for culture fit?” actually leads many teams to lack diversity? Learn more here:

Don’t Hire For Culture Fit, Do This Instead

→ Take a few (free!) courses on LinkedIn Learning that cover everything from bias in all of its forms, cultural competence, communication, allyship, and accountability.

Diversity, Inclusion, And Belonging For All

This is just the beginning.

Learn more about how partnering with a recruiting firm can help you achieve your diversity hiring initiatives. Johnson Service Group has been assisting companies to implement diverse recruiting programs for over 35 years. Start the conversation today to improve the world tomorrow.

Partner with a Recruiter

Modern Women Make Strides In The Workforce

/in , /by

It’s Women’s Rights month, and we have something to celebrate in the staffing industry! Over the past 15 years, modern women have made huge strides when it comes to establishing and growing their careers. In fact, according to a recent LinkedIn study, 23 different jobs have flipped to hiring majority women. This is a tremendous step in the right direction. But what has been driving this change? Here are three things that have significantly impacted the gender hiring landscape recently.

Modern Women Making Strides In The Workforce

Leading The Pack

With modern technology, barriers to entry to entrepreneurship and innovation are smaller than ever. So, as long as you have the drive and the inspiration, you can achieve anything. Just ask Spanx Founder, Sarah Blakely. “Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else. This has opened the doors for many females to gain traction and stand out amongst the crowd by merely doing great work.

Early Education

Since the diversity-lacking tech boom in Silicon Valley, many companies and educators have sought to inspire young girls to dream big. Organizations like “She Can STEM” focus on shining a spotlight on women in STEM careers, so girls can be inspired to have a future in the industry also.

Universities are inviting girls to campus to participate in STEM events put on by campus groups. Duke’s recent Capstone event included looking at flies under a microscope, creating 3-D animations, and learning first-aid skills.

Diversity Initiatives

Most companies have instilled some level of diversity hiring initiatives. Of course, everyone must abide by diversity hiring laws. Still, there are further steps that outstanding companies are taking to ensure they are making unbiased hiring decisions and hiring the best candidate possible. For example, Intel offers up to $4,000 in bonuses to employees that refer a woman.

Be part of the movement

Want to join the movement? Talk to a Johnson Service Group team member about how we can help you achieve your diversity hiring initiatives. You, too, can contribute to the growing statistic of gender equality at work!