The right photo in your application

• Definition, Explanation
• Tips, Checklist

Generally, an application for a job is to be considered complete even if there is not a photo of the applicant in it. That is, a photo is not obligatory and many companies do not demand it explicitly, since AGG (equal treatment act) was enacted on Aug. 18 2006. Companies fear claims of rejected applicants. But still, there is the unspoken norm that has established in Germany decades ago unlike in other countries: which is, whether in an online application or on paper, there is hardly any application without the good old application photo. Mostly it is printed (or glued) on the upper right half of the CV, or on a cover sheet of the documents. In online applications, also on applicants’ homepages, people more and more tend to post several photos or even a little application movie clip about themselves.

Colour or greyscale, landscape or upright format, passport-sized or half a page big sized – the size, format and colour are left to the creativity of the applicant, different than for a passport photo which is standardized. The only requirement is that the applicant’s face is well visible.

To conclude from that that the application photo played a minor role in the ensemble of application documents and that it was not very decisive for the selection of candidates would be fatal and still is often done. Research showed that the opposite is true: The application photo transports a surprising number of personality facts about the applicant onto the very desk of the personnel manager: Choices of format, background or surrounding, clothing, posture, facial expression, skin characteristics, haircut, state of the teeth, sometimes the hands, are sources of information lending themselves to a personality analysis by the proficient personnel manager.

• Use only high quality pictures made by a professional. Avoid self-made stuff, including photo booth products, unless you have the necessary premium camera equipment and the corresponding photographer’s knowledge. Even a 10 million pixels digital compact-cam is far from the quality of premium multi-lens cameras. The differences are magnificent, and become visible at the latest when several photos are seen next to one another like they are in the application process. Remember: The application photo, as a part of the application, is part of the first working test that you do for the company. A sloppily made application photo indicates an applicant of the same sort. This is an easy to avoid knock-out factor
• Take your time to choose the right photographer. Do talk to several ones. View sample photos and sort out the prices. A good photographer will take his time for you. Prices range from 15 to 100 Euros. Have them take different photos of you, with different backgrounds, from different angles, with different facial expressions. Then pick the best
• If you apply online, choose a number of pixels that is not too low. Often, receivers print the application on paper and what was brilliant on the screen sometimes turns into a bad impression then. So better print it yourself before you send it and take a critical look at the result
• Adapt the style of your photo to the job you are applying for. For example, someone who applies for a job as an accountant will not improve his chances with a full page photo of him shining in an open aloha shirt. For a professional future in the business of holiday-representatives, though, that can be a good form of self-presentation. Generally, the more you deviate from the most frequent 6cm x 4cm size and the conventional clothing, the more you will seem out of the ordinary, which is not necessarily negative. One should consider what is best for the single case. In general, men will wear a decent suit and tie. For women, there is already a little more freedom of fashion. Basic rule: do not dress too sparsely and be rather careful with the use of jewellery and make-up
• To glue a photo to the paper, write your full name on the back and use special glue pads available in special stores and in most stationary shops. That way, it will be easy to solve to use it again
• Do not apply with a long shot picture. Use the portrait format
• Needless to say, the picture should show you as you are when you apply. So do not use ten-year-old shots. In case of an interview, this would have negative consequences. They might come to the conclusion that you are of the sort that likes fudging
• Wear different clothes in the job interview than you did on the photo
• It does not have to be the classic colour photo. Black-and-white photos are getting more popular and are widely accepted. Also they ease the choice of colours, thus eliminating a source of errors
• Make sure you have a neutral background and there is a good contrast between the face and the clothes
• Talk to your photographer about where else than in the application you want to use the photo. Because even with a high price that you have paid for the photos, the copyright is still the photographer’s. So if you want to use them for other purposes, like a website, you should really have that agreed
• Once more, because it is so important: Do not treat the photo lightly. This is your unrepeatable chance of first gaining sympathy which cannot be overestimated. Even if you do not find your appearance attractive. A good photographer, with the knowledge and technique, is able to make good photos of any person. Also, taste of beauty is subjective, but a sympathetic smile is just as nice and wins almost always!