Will an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) reject my resume if it has a photo?

It very well might. Many ATS systems, particularly in the US, UK, and Canada, are not designed to parse images. A photo can confuse the software, causing it to misread your contact information or skills, or even reject the file. If you're applying to a large corporation online, a photo-free resume is the safest bet.

What is the best file format for my resume if it has a photo?

PDF. Always submit your resume as a PDF. If you send a Word document, the formatting can break completely when the recruiter opens it on their computer (which might not be Word). A PDF "locks" the photo and text in place, ensuring that what you see is exactly what the recruiter sees.

Where is the best place to put a photo on a resume?

The top-right or top-left corner is the standard location. It should be small (generally 1.5 x 1.5 or 2 x 2 inches) and placed within the header or personal information section. It should never be in the middle of your work experience or take up valuable space.

How to Insert a Photo in a Resume [PDF & Word]

Introduction:

A professional photo can make your resume more memorable and help you connect with a recruiter. This guide will show you exactly how to insert a photo in a resume using the most common tools: a PDF editor like SwifDoo PDF, Microsoft Word, and an online designer like Canva.

The Big Question: Should You Put a Photo on Your Resume?

Making the wrong choice can signal that you are unprofessional or unaware of local business culture. Therefore, let's first see if you need to add any photos. In short, using a photo depends heavily on your location and industry.

1. When to AVOID a Photo

Countries: This is the standard rule in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

These countries have strict anti-discrimination and equal opportunity employment laws. Companies actively discourage photos to avoid any hint of bias based on age, race, gender, or appearance.

In addition, many large companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to scan resumes. These systems are robots, not humans, and they are not designed to parse images. A photo can confuse the ATS, causing it to misread your resume, jumble your text, or reject the file entirely.

2. When to INCLUDE a Photo

Countries:

It is common and often expected in many countries across Europe (such as Germany and France), Asia (such as Japan and China), and South America. In these cultures, a photo is seen as a standard part of a professional introduction.

Industries:

A photo is standard for customer-facing or brand-focused roles, such as:

Acting, Modeling, and Broadcasting
Real Estate (in some markets)
Sales & Marketing (where you are the "face" of the brand)
High-level executives

3. The Golden Rule: When in Doubt, Leave It Out

If you are applying to a large, multinational corporation (especially one based in the U.S. or U.K.), the safest bet is to omit the photo.

Best Practices for Your Resume Photo

If you've decided to include an image in your resume, please ensure it is professional. This is not a place for a vacation picture or a selfie from your car.

✅ Headshot Only: The photo should be a professional headshot, clearly showing your head and shoulders.

✅ Neutral Background: Use a solid, neutral background (like a white, gray, or blue wall). Nothing distracting or cluttered.

✅ Dress the Part: Wear what you would wear to an interview for the job you want (e.g., a blazer, a collared shirt).

✅ Look Approachable: Smile genuinely! You want to appear professional, confident, and friendly.

✅ High-Quality Only: The image must be high-resolution. A blurry, poorly-lit, or pixelated photo is worse than no photo at all.

✅ Recent: The photo should be from the last 1-2 years.

Method 1. How to Insert a Photo in a PDF Resume Using SwifDoo PDF

Is your resume already finished and saved as a PDF? This is where a PDF editor like SwifDoo PDF comes in. With this tool, you can easily edit resumes in PDF. Whether you want to add photos, modify sentences, insert links, or do anything else, there is no problem at all.

Here is how to insert a photo in a resume with SwifDoo PDF:

Download, install, and launch SwifDoo PDF.

Free Download

100% Clean & Safe

Open your resume and click the "Edit" tab. Then, click the "Add Image" button.

Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Select the area where you want the photo.
Then, browse your computer to select the photo. SwifDoo PDF can also help you replace images in PDF: right-click the image and select Replace Image
After that, you can click and drag the photo to the perfect position.

Finally, click the Save button to save the changes to your PDF.

SwifDoo PDF is a perfect choice for making quick additions or replacements to a PDF resume. It can not only help you insert images into a PDF resume but also help you modify or add text, backgrounds, etc. Try it now!

Free Download

100% Clean & Safe

Method 2. How to Insert a Photo in a Resume in Microsoft Word

Many users use Microsoft Word to create a resume. It’s easy to add a photo to a Word document; however, adding an image may destroy your formatting. Here is how to do it right.

Steps to add a photo to a resume in Word:

Open your resume document in Microsoft Word.
Place your cursor in the general area where you want the photo (usually the header or top corner).
Go to the "Insert" tab on the main ribbon.
Click "Pictures" > "This Device..." and select your professional headshot.

The CRITICAL Step: Fixing the Formatting

The photo will insert and shove all your text around. Don't panic. Follow the steps below to make it perfect.

1. Click on the photo. A small "Layout Options" icon (an arc over lines) will appear next to it.

2. Click this icon. The default setting is "In Line with Text," which is why it's breaking your layout.

3. Change this setting. The best options are:

"Square" or "Tight": Text will wrap neatly around the photo. This is a good choice.
"In Front of Text": This lets you freely drag the photo anywhere without disturbing your text. You will have to adjust your text margins to make space for it manually.

4. Resize the photo by dragging the corners (never the sides, as it will distort the image). A good size is around 1.5 to 2 inches.

5. Drag the photo to the top-right or top-left corner of the page.

Pro-Tip: Use a Shape for a Perfect Circle

Go to Insert > Shapes and select the "Oval".
Hold the Shift key and drag to draw a perfect circle.
With the circle selected, go to the "Shape Format" tab.
Click "Shape Fill" > "Picture..." and select your headshot. It will automatically be cropped into a perfect, clean circle.
Click "Shape Outline" and select "No Outline" for a modern, borderless look.

Method 3. How to Add a Photo to a Resume in Canva

Canva is a free online graphic design tool that supports many formats, including Word and PDF. The advantage of using this tool is that you won't encounter any layout problems like those in Word.

Check to learn how to add a photo to a resume online using Canva:

Log in to your free Canva account.
On the homepage, search for "Resume" to find thousands of professional templates.
Choose a template you like. Many will have a photo placeholder (a circle or square with a landscape icon). Or, you can delete the existing photo.

On the left-hand menu, click "Uploads" and upload your professional headshot.
Once uploaded, drag your photo from the "Uploads" panel and hover it over the placeholder frame.
Canva will "snap" the photo into the frame, perfectly cropped and sized. You're done.

You can download it as a "PDF Print" for a high-quality, universally compatible file. More info: Save Canva as PDF.

Conclusion

That’s all about how to insert a photo in a resume. It’s easy to get the job done; you can choose SwifDoo PDF, Microsoft Word, or Canva according to your situation. However, always research the company's location and industry norms. When in doubt, a clean, professional, photo-free resume is the safest choice to get you past the first filter. Hope this guide is helpful!