Headshots for graduates

You need a professional photo for applications, you do not have a professional wardrobe, and you certainly do not have a studio budget. This is the realistic route.

Do you actually need one?

It depends where you are applying. In much of Asia and continental Europe, a photograph on the CV is conventional and its absence is noticed. In the UK, the US and Canada, photographs are usually omitted from the CV itself to avoid bias — but your LinkedIn profile still needs one, and recruiters check it.

So the practical answer for nearly everyone: yes, you need one good photo. Whether it goes on the CV depends on the market.

What to wear when you do not own a suit

You do not need to buy one. What reads as professional in a headshot is mostly visible from the chest up:

• A plain shirt or blouse in white, light blue, or another quiet colour
• A simple knit or a blazer over a plain top
• Solid colours rather than busy patterns, which distract at thumbnail size
• Nothing with visible branding or slogans

If you are using an AI headshot tool, the clothing is generated — so what you wear in the photos you upload does not matter much. What matters is that your face is clear and well lit.

Taking usable source photos on a phone

1. Stand facing a window in daylight, with the light on your face rather than behind you.
2. Ask someone to take them from about a metre away at eye level — arm's-length selfies distort facial proportions.
3. Take around eight, varying the angle slightly and alternating between a small smile and a neutral expression.
4. Keep your face large in the frame, roughly head and shoulders.
5. Skip beauty filters entirely. They remove exactly the detail that makes the result look like you.

One photo, used everywhere

Use the same headshot across your LinkedIn profile, CV where appropriate, university careers portal, and any application forms. Consistency helps people remember you across a long recruitment process, and it costs nothing.

What to avoid

• Graduation photos in cap and gown for corporate applications — save those for family
• Cropped photos from nights out, however good you look in them
• Anything more than two or three years old
• Heavily edited images that no longer resemble you at interview

Common questions

Should a graduate CV include a photo?

It depends on the market. In much of Asia and continental Europe a CV photo is conventional. In the UK, US and Canada it is usually omitted to reduce bias, though your LinkedIn profile photo is still expected and checked.

What should I wear for a graduate headshot if I do not own a suit?

A plain shirt or blouse in a quiet colour, or a simple knit or blazer over a plain top. Only your chest up is visible, so solid colours without branding are enough. If using an AI tool the clothing is generated, so your uploaded photos only need a clear, well-lit face.

How do I take good photos for an AI headshot on my phone?

Face a window in daylight, have someone photograph you from about a metre away at eye level, take around eight shots at slightly different angles with varied expressions, keep your face large in the frame, and turn off all beauty filters.