DO YOU REALLY NEED GERMAN CV PHOTOS? 🤔
Should you add a photo to your German CV? When applying for jobs in Germany, adding a photo to your CV used to be and is still somewhat unfortunately, pretty commonplace.
However, just because something is widely practiced doesn’t mean that it’s necessary and what’s more, it doesn’t mean that it’s right.
Let’s talk about why about this harmful and outdated practice needs to be forgotten about ASAP.
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BAD AND CONFLICTING ADVICE ABOUT GERMAN CV PHOTOS
To be completely honest, there’s a lot of of bad and conflicting advice out there about whether you should include a professional photo on your German CV.
Let me help you evaluate the pros and cons of German CV photos to arrive at a informed decision.
Some People Will Tell You That German CV Photos Are a Must
Many people will tell you that adding a photo to your CV is totally necessary when seeking work in Germany. Some HR professionals even boldly proclaim that they will even reject your CV if it doesn’t have a photo. They defend this unethical practice by saying the lack of a photo arouses suspicion and makes you appear as an untrustworthy candidate. I even had one HR person tell me that they think people who don’t take the time to follow German job application standards and include a photo are simply “lazy” and for that reason, he’d never hire them.
Even worse, some of these hiring managers and recruiters actually believe a photo demonstrates your competence and aptitude for a job. They say do much can be told about a person by staring at an image of them. Not your experience, skills, education, but how you look.
Let that sink in for a moment. Wow, what incredible insight! I never knew that just by looking at a picture, I could immediately tell how good someone is at their job.
This mentality and way of thinking are so bonkers that I can’t even find appropriate words to express myself. Anything coming to mind involves me screaming in anger and releasing a long stream of curse words.
For a country that desperately needs immigrants to fill hundreds of thousands of highly skilled positions in the labor market, this is one area where German HR professionals urgently need to change their way of thinking.
Immigrants are the most discriminated against during the hiring process. It’s well-documented that foreign professionals make much less money than German employees, for example.
As a result, foreigners are going to be less inclined to add a photo to their CV. Never mind introverts or other people who are just not comfortable with images of themselves.
So, let’s send a public service announcement to all German HR professionals out there:
⭐ There is no reason for an HR person to be suspicious of a candidate who does not want to be judged by their appearance.
⭐ Candidates are not lazy and are quite obviously justified in not wanting to place their photo on a CV.
⭐ You cannot determine a person’s capabilities or attitude from looks alone.
Instead dear HR people, take a look at a person’s job application and dig into their education, certifications, professional experience, career evolution, and more. See how they present themselves in their cover letter and be curious about their motivations for working for you.
Stop making judgements based on people’s photos or lack of photos. Stop trying to rationalize discrimination by saying it’s part of the “German culture.”
Thank you for coming to our TED Talk! 😅
Will Omitting a German CV Photo Prevent Me From Securing Work?
I hate writing these words, I do. 😠
Because many HR professionals still harbor some of those outrageous beliefs we outlined above, in some cases, not adding a photo could cost you the opportunity of getting an interview. Even though it’s actually against the law in Germany to discriminate against people during the hiring process based on their photo and whether or not one is present on their CV, the old beliefs still pervade.
So what should you do? Look at the company’s website and get a feel for its overall culture and vibe. If the company appears more traditional, a photo on your CV may, unfortunately be necessary. If the company feels more modern and cool, definitely go ahead and submit a CV without a photo.
Generally speaking, the job seekers I coach and talk to in The Berlin Life community say that they are still able to secure jobs in Germany – even without a CV photo. I’ve personally never had a photo on my German CV either and so far, it hasn’t impacted my ability to find work. Through a compelling cover letter and CV, you should be able to convince employers to get in touch based on your skills, education, and experience instead of your external appearance.
In another lovely development, it’s also not uncommon these days for some German companies to ask candidates to submit job applications without a photo.
The bottom line is that it’s not necessary to add a photo to your CV when applying for jobs in Germany.
Since German CV Photos Are So Normal, Does it Make Sense *NOT* to Include One?
There aren’t too many LinkedIn profiles where you don’t see a photo. If you Google someone, it’s not unlikely that you’ll find pictures. If a potential employer really wants to know what you look like, they’ll find you somewhere. But just because your photo is in so many places, doesn’t mean you have to include it on your CV. You’ll still be able to find work without a photo.
As already mentioned above, it’s still fairly common to add photos to your German CV and it’s totally acceptable for you to do so if you’re comfortable. It’s naturally up to you to decide, so long as you’re aware of why adding a photo could impact potentially impact your ability to find a job.
More on that below. 🔽
Why Shouldn’t I Add A Photo To My German CV?
The obvous answer is discrimination and bias. The biggest reason not to include a photo on your German CV is that you may get hired based solely on your appearance. Even worse, you may NOT get hired because of how you look.
Whether people want to admit it or not, humans are filled with conscious and unconscious bias and may discriminate against you based solely on your photo. Discrimination can come across in many forms, including gender, ethnicity, age, and even how “good” you look.
It’s fairly well established that racism, ageism, and more profoundly influence a person’s ability to find a job, get raises, and/or equal pay. But do you know that people are so affected by other forms of bias, that studies show that people who are perceived as attractive are more likely to get hired? Ahem, “pretty priviledge.” Other studies highlight taller people earn more money than shorter people.
It’s mind-blowing when you think about it. No matter how much anyone tells you that your profile will speak for itself, there couldn’t be anything further from the truth.
Over the years, as a hiring manager or part of a hiring team, I’ve been witness to conversations where people have said things like this:
When seeing someone who looks “old”:
⭐ “That person looks ancient. They’ll never fit into our company culture. Most people here are in their 20’s.”
⭐ “I don’t want to hire a person with too much experience. They’re too expensive and are stuck in their ways.”
When seeing someone’s skin color:
⭐ “We have too many people from that country. I don’t want more here as they’ll become too influential.”
⭐ “Those kinds of people are so hardworking and reliable. We really should hire them.”
When seeing someone’s gender:
⭐ “Is it really a good idea to hire a woman into an all-male team?”
⭐ “She recently married. I’m worried that she’ll take time off to have children.”
When seeing a “look” on someone’s face:
⭐ “That person looks really arrogant in their photo. Forget about them.”
⭐ “He looks creepy in his photo. He makes me feel uncomfortable.”
These examples are unfortunately all real. Not everyone will be as blatantly obvious as people were during the conversations mentioned above, but people will still find excuses not to hire people after a quick glance at a person’s photo.
Even though it’s completely against the law to not hire people based on their appearance, it’s difficult to prove otherwise. Discrimination is normalized and in some German workplaces, even rewarded behavior. 🤢
Won’t I Be Judged Anyway When They See Me During An Interview?
Of course, discrimination can still occur when they see you in person for the first time, but at least you got the interview based on your skills, knowledge, and experience and not on how you look.
Are Photos Necessary For Some Professions?
Most definitely. If you work as an actor, make-up artist, TV journalist, model, etc. – including photos is absolutely required. For most other job types though, it’s usually not necessary.
What Kind Of Photo Should I Use For My German CV?
If you decide to feature a photo on your CV, follow these guidelines:
⭐ A portrait (headshot) is usually the best. Full-body shots aren’t ever, ever needed.
⭐ Smile and look as confident as possible. Look straight at the camera.
⭐ Keep your photo professional-looking. Avoid duck-faced selfies and dress in a nice outfit. This doesn’t mean you need to wear a suit, but make an effort to look presentable, whatever that means to you. 😊
⭐ A smallish photo works. Something that you add to the top of your CV, along with your contact information. Large photos that take up an entire page can come across as a bit much and even worse, take up valuable real estate on your CV.
⭐ If you have the budget, get your photo taken by a professional photographer. You can get one done fairly cheaply at almost any studio in Germany for almost the same price as a passport photo, and they’ll even do touch-ups. But honestly, phone cameras are so good these days; a shot done in portrait mode will give you a decent photo without anyone noticing the difference.
Do I really need to splurge on a professional photoshoot?
When you read articles telling you to go all out and spend hundreds of euros on a photographer, don’t feel pressured to do so. Remember what I’ve written here, especially if you’re out of work and don’t have the money for such a luxury. Photos done at home with your mobile phone are absolutely fine and totally acceptable.
Your Takeaways For German CV Photos
Ultimately, it’s up to you whether or not you want to add a photo. However, these should be your big takeaways:
⭐ Photos aren’t usually necessary for German CVs and are completely optional. Some German companies will even request that you not add photos to your CV. Hint – these are the companies you REALLY want to work for!
⭐ Not adding a photo to your CV isn’t going to stop you from getting a job.
⭐ At the same time, adding photos to CVs in Germany is still kind of, sort of common practice. If you’re comfortable, having a photo on your CV is cool.
⭐ Photos done by a professional photographer are not necessary.
Knowing this, don’t forget that German CV photos could cause people to discriminate against you and not contact you for job opportunities.
FAQ
Do I really need to include German CV photos on my application as a foreigner?
No, you don’t. While it’s still common in Germany to add a photo, it’s not legally required. I believe that your abilities can’t be judged by your looks, so skip the photo if you feel uncomfortable, as your skills matter more.
Why do some companies still expect German CV photos?
Some German companies stick to outdated traditions, thinking photos help them assess a candidate. But logic says, a photo doesn’t prove competence – it often invites bias. That’s why I recommend focusing on your experience and motivation instead.
Can not including German CV photos hurt my chances of getting interviews?
Honestly, it’s possible in more traditional companies, but modern employers often appreciate a photo-free CV. They see your skills and qualifications first, which is what really counts. If in doubt, check the company culture before applying.
Why do you advise against adding German CV photos?
I stand by my view that a photo can never show your true skills or potential. Too often, photos invite unconscious bias based on gender, ethnicity, age, or looks. I want you to get hired for your talent, not your appearance.
How can I avoid discrimination if I do choose to add German CV photos?
If you decide to include a photo, keep it professional and neutral. But remember: your future employer should care about your achievements and motivation, not your smile. That’s why I think a no-photo CV is often the better choice.
What if I’m applying in creative industries?
That’s the exception. Roles like acting or modeling do need photos. But for most professional jobs in Germany, a photo is optional and might even work against you.
Should I pay for a professional photo if I choose to include one?
Don’t stress about expensive photoshoots. A clear, well-lit headshot taken with your phone works just fine. Remember: what matters is your expertise and experience.
What’s the bottom line on German CV photos?
It’s your choice, but I strongly believe that your skills can’t be judged by your looks. Focus on crafting a great CV that shows your abilities. That’s what truly gets you hired in Germany.
We hope this guide on German CV photos helps you with your job search in Germany.
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Cheryl Howard, Founder @ The Berlin Life
Hi, I’m Cheryl. My mission is to help you move to Berlin and find work.
A Canadian in Berlin for 10+ years, I have the unique experience of moving to Berlin – not once, but twice. During my time in Berlin, I’ve had five different visas and worked as both a freelancer and a permanent employee for numerous Berlin companies. I even managed to find a new job during the pandemic and again in 2023, during Germany’s recession and massive layoffs in tech.
My day job has involved work as a hiring manager, overseeing the recruitment of countless people, as well as a team coach helping teams and individuals work better and find happiness in their careers. Through my side projects, I’ve also shared my personal experiences by publishing a series of helpful blog posts, creating a thriving community of job seekers, and hosting events to help people find work in Berlin. In 2021, I decided to put my coaching and recruiting talents to use by creating The Berlin Life, bringing my existing content and community together in one spot.
The combination of my personal and professional experience means I know exactly what it takes to move to Berlin and find work.