Should you put a photo on your resume? A country-by-country answer
Expected in Kuala Lumpur and Manila, usually left off in Sydney and Auckland, optional in Singapore. Here's how to decide.
Few resume questions cause more confusion in our region than the photo. The honest answer is: it depends on the country, the employer and how you apply.
Quick guide
- Australia and New Zealand: usually leave it off. Anti-discrimination norms are strong and recruiters rarely expect one.
- Singapore: optional. Fair-employment guidelines discourage employers from asking for photos, so many multinationals don't expect one.
- Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam: common, especially with local employers.
Online application systems
When you upload to a company portal, a photo adds nothing and can confuse some parsers. Use a photo-free version for online applications.
If you include one
Use a recent, natural headshot: head and shoulders, plain background, professional clothing, good light. No selfies, sunglasses or heavy filters. It should look like you on interview day.
Chapterwise keeps a local version (with photo, where it's normal) and an ATS version (no photo) linked to the same facts, so you never have to choose.
General information, not legal or financial advice. Check official sources for current rules. Cover photo generated with Seedream 5.0.
