When to Include a Photo on Your CV

  1. Aviation/Cabin Crew: Yes, always required.
  2. Broadcasting/Media Presenters: Yes, looks matter here.
  3. Customer-facing Hospitality: Often requested.
  4. Corporate/Banking/Tech: NO. Leave it out.

Every week, I receive CVs with massive, unsmiling passport photographs stamped right at the top. Half the time, the picture looks like a mugshot. The other half, it’s a heavily filtered Instagram selfie.

Why Pictures Are a Bad Idea

For 90% of corporate jobs in Nigeria (banking, tech, FMCG, engineering), putting your picture on your CV is a terrible idea for two reasons:

  1. It wastes space. That corner could be used for a strong professional summary.
  2. It introduces bias. Consciously or unconsciously, humans judge faces. You might get rejected just because the recruiter doesn’t like your vibe. Don’t give them a reason to judge you before they read your skills.

The Exceptions

If you are applying to be an air hostess, a TV presenter, or a high-end receptionist, the employer is selling an aesthetic. They will ask for a photo.

But if you are applying to be an accountant at KPMG, nobody cares what your face looks like. They care about your ICAN certification. Remove the picture.