Last week I was sending out my updated translator CV to some agencies. To prepare the updated version of my CV I used Marta Stelmaszak ebook called You need a CV that works. And while Marta provides exhaustive information on almost all aspects of CV writing, including tips on what sections to include, what language to use and how to make your CV stand out from the point of view of design, there was one thing I couldn’t make up my mind about after working through the ebook and that was whether to use a photo in my CV or not.

 

So I decided to ask my colleagues on Twitter to share their experience and since this question lead to an interesting discussion, I decided to sum it all up in this blog post.

 

The majority of the translators who took part in the conversation don’t use photos in their CVs. Since they are based both in the US and in different EU countries, I would say that this trend is gaining popularity.

@etereshchenkova Not in the US. I just comply because it seems like the norm. I do include a link to my website, though.

— Sijin Xian (@XianSijin) 18 января 2016

@etereshchenkova no, not in the UK. Although a simple name search would bring up profile photos in seconds.

— Monika Kenderessy (@yurwordsmyvoice) 18 января 2016

@etereshchenkova I don’t, I provide links to my website and online profiles. Plus, in France we don’t put photo on our CV anymore.

— Aurélie Perrin (@oreli_L10N) 18 января 2016

 

The main reason why translators prefer not to use photos in their CVs is because they are easy to find on their websites or online profiles.

@etereshchenkova I have never had. Same as @XianSijin they can visit my website.

— Enrico Antonio Mion (@ea_mion) 18 января 2016

@etereshchenkova I don’t include a photo in my resume. Nowadays, most translators have a website or LinkedIn profile. It’s just too much 🙂

— David PESSANHA (@B3yondW0rds) 18 января 2016

 

And the clients won’t even have to do the search, if you make an interactive CV in the PDF format and include all the necessary links, as Lydia suggests:

@etereshchenkova I don’t, my CV is interactive w/ links to about.me + linkedin (where there are photos) as I usually send via email as pdf.

— Lydia Nockels (@chicchoctrans) 18 января 2016

 

Another reason not to include a photo in your CV mentioned by several translators is that it helps to avoid discrimination:

@etereshchenkova it’s unusual in the UK to include a photo – and as mentioned, reduces possibility of discrimination.

— Natalie Soper (@BellinguaNat) 18 января 2016

 

Finally, opting not to include your photo in the CV you won’t be running the risk of violating any cultural norms.

@etereshchenkova I also think that it’s better not and they can find you online if needed. Plus different countries have different standards

— Giorgia Garavini (@GioGaravini) 18 января 2016

 

This is definitely a good thing, because these norms can be quite tricky to figure out in the first place:

@ea_mion @etereshchenkova Interesting! I guess I was under the wrong impression that European CVs were “all-inclusive.”

— Sijin Xian (@XianSijin) 18 января 2016

 

Besides they are subject to change under the influence of current trends in the society:

@etereshchenkova Seems so. I think it’s quite recent (at least in France) and the main point is to reduce discrimination based on photo

— Aurélie Perrin (@oreli_L10N) 18 января 2016

 

Those who prefer to include their photos into the CVs name being more personal as the main reason to do it:

@etereshchenkova I use a photo in my resume. It makes it more personalized, potential clients see a real person behind a digital document.

— Simon Akhrameev (@RusTranPro) 18 января 2016

@etereshchenkova I have always been using a photo in my CV. I think it helps clients get the feel of a real person behind all credentials…

— Dmytro Rachek (@DrRachek) 18 января 2016

@etereshchenkova exactly, I think for clients working with freelancers it’s more personal, they get to know you that little bit more..m

— Sam Nairn (@samnairn) 18 января 2016

 

It turns out, even some agency representatives from the UK share this point of view:

@etereshchenkova I do. Advised by a former translation project manager, who is now starting her own TA.

— Natalia Suta (@NS_translations) 19 января 2016

 

Another great reason to include a photo in your CV is that it helps to prevent identity theft:

@RusTranPro @etereshchenkova My CV has a pic to help combat identity theft, e.g. so people can contact me on Skype & see it’s really me.

— Oliver Lawrence (@OliverLawrence1) 18 января 2016

 

But what if you don’t want to include the photo so that you won’t come across as someone who doesn’t respect cultural norms, but still want to lay a foundation for a personal relationship with your potential customer? You can send a brochure instead of a CV, says Andrea Alvisi, who picked up this piece of advice from a workshop with Judy Jenner:

@etereshchenkova No, you wouldn’t normally in the UK anyway. You could however use marketing material instead of a CV (brochure) 🙂

— Andrea Alvisi (@TranslAAttitude) 18 января 2016

 

You can send a printed brochure or a digital one as an attachment. But keep in mind that this is something that works with direct clients.

 

So to sum it all up, including a photo in your CV is not a widely used practice among translators. The main reasons for this are:

 

• Availability of websites and online profiles where everyone who’s interested can see your photo
• Different standards in different countries that are not so easy to figure out and can change anytime
• Discrimination issues being one of the things that is paid close attention to at the moment

 

However, there are some obvious advantages of using a photo in your resume, too:

 

• A photo might help you build more personal relationships with your customer, showing a real person behind all the credentials, as Dmytro Rachek so beautifully put it.
• It helps to prevent identity theft
• Some agencies actually recommend doing it (although, it looks like they are in the minority, but still)

 

As for me, the updated version of my CV does include a photo. Since there is no one opinion on this issue even in the UK, I decided to give it a try (I will obviously prepare a CV without a photo when I apply to agencies who have definitely spoken against including a picture, though). I also share the opinion that it might help you build better, more personal relationships with your prospects. And since not many translators seem to do it, it’s a good way to get noticed.

 

I want to thank everyone who joined the conversation! It was so much fun and hopefully our discussion will help translators to decide whether or not to include their photos in the CVs. A huge thank you to everyone I already mentioned above and also to Alina Cincan, Maëlys De Santis and Judy Jenner for joining in!

 

If you want to learn more about building a CV you can check out the links below:

 

You need a CV that works by Marta Stelmaszak

 

How to write a job winning resume for a freelance translator by Simon Akhrameev

 

Employment Part 2 by Atlas Translations

 

What does the perfect translator CV look like? on the Adventures in Technical Translation blog

 

What about you? Are you for or against using a photo in the CV? Do you know any other useful resources for writing CVs I should mention? As always, I’m looking forward to your comments.

 

 

Photo courtesy of Kaboompics