Photos for resumes and profiles.

A photo tells a story better than a thousand words so people should be really careful about choosing an image when looking for work. Basically if you wouldn’t do it, take it, wear it, or not wear it to an interview don’t include it in your photo.

Here are some common mistakes people make when choosing photos for resumes, profiles, and ISO work posts on social media. I’ve also included the solutions.

1. If you are applying for a job that is physical, like 88 Days of farm work in Australia, don’t post a photo like this. Yes you may look fabulous, but a farmer is going to way more impressed with a photo of you doing farm work or at least making it look like you could handle 8 hours of hard work in the hot sun.
2. Conversely, if you are going for a glamorous position, add a classy photo and save that farming one for another day.
3. Don’t post a photo with other people in it. If you do, scribble them out of the shot.
4. Don’t post a photo with a pet in it. Finding accommodation in resort towns is hard enough. Employers seeing a dog in a photo will assume you’re going to have  even more problems finding a place to live. Employers will choose the person with the photo without the pet.
5. Don’t include an image of you “On the beers” on ISO work posts. Employers want workers not piss heads. If in doubt post something a little more conservative.
6. Consider tidying up your social media feeds. I know a cook who couldn’t find a job, despite a chronic shortage of kitchen staff. It probably had something to do with his Facebook profile photo being an image of 20 naked women in a boat. That image gave off very very strong sex pest vibes. If your last 20 IG or Facebook images are of you partying, employers notice these things.
7. If you are going for a job in Japan, hide the tattoos. They are frowned upon in the Land of the Rising Sun.

My final piece of advice is to put yourselves in the employer’s shoes, and be very critical of the image you’ve included.

Ask, “would you hire you?” If the answer isn’t “definitely yes”, change the photo on your profile, resume, or job wanted ad.