Your CV (Curriculum Vitae) is one of the most valuable means of proving your skills and experience as well as qualifications in case you apply to some job. However, one of the questions that also emerges is whether to insert a photograph on the CV in the UAE. It is a frequently asked question among the job seekers and in a place where culture norms and expectations may differ. To determine whether you are supposed to use a photo in your CV during job searches in the UAE, we will undertake this exploration in this article.
Your Future in the U.E UAE Cultural Norms
All these factors can vary according to the industry, company, and position you wish to apply to, as well as the applicability of the rules to the UAE or any country of the world. As a general rule, UAE has a multicultural workforce, so cultural conventions regarding resumes may be shaped either by domestic or by global practice.
It is even rather usual to have a photo in some other fields which are more related to being at face value and to the hospitality sphere, modeling, and other positions which require a photo. Cv maker Dubai is since in most of these industries employees are normally required to be in front view where people can notice the appearance.
The Point of Photos as Benefits
Even though a photo is not recommended by professionals to include in their UAE CVs, there are a few circumstances under which it might be a good idea. Some of the reasons why you may be interested in putting in a picture are as follows:
Job Needs:
There are some jobs where…employers may be concerned with how you look such as the hospitality industry, or customer service, those are some of the jobs where an employer may ask to see how you look when making the decision. With this kind of case, the photo may give them a clue of how you look professionally and how you dress up.
Personal Branding:
A photo may be useful in a situation where you are applying to a job that requires personal branding, i.e. sales and marketing, or PR. It helps it to catch the eye of the employer and gives him an idea of what kind of a person you are.
Trust Building:
Some of the employers in the UAE might like seeing a photo because it brings a name to a face that they are reading on the CV. In the place where personal networking and contacts are more important, a picture will be able to build trust and make your application more sincere.
Drawbacks of Using a Photo
On the one hand, the addition of a photo to the CV is also unsolvable; on the other, there are certain disadvantages that prompt many to refuse to provide a photo in their CVs. The following are a few reasons as why you may wish to put your photo away:
Security of Skills and Experience:
This is the reason as to why skills, experience, and qualifications make up the most important section of your resume. Inclusion of a photo may at times mislead the reader on such crucial details. Your appearance matters little to your employed since most employers are interested in what you can offer in a job.
Unnecessary Bias:
There are instances when the presence of a photo might make the reviewer biased unconsciously. Employers may hold some beliefs about you on the basis of your looks and this may influence your possibility of being employed. This is more so in cases where the employer requires a preferred candidate to fill a certain image or profile.
International Standards:
The rules that most of the companies within UAE, especially foreign institutions adhere to are the same ones they practice in their respective countries where they hardly include photos in their curriculum vitae. These companies may find your CV less professional when you attach a photo to it since they would want to look at your qualification and experience.
Legal Implications:
The UAE does not particularly have laws prohibiting an inclusion of a photo and other countries do have the legislature in place cultures to prevent discrimination against a person based on appearance, race or age. There are employers who will avoid photos because they do not want to inadvertently practice committed acts of bias during the hiring process.
Customer Facing jobs:
In case you are looking to work at the customer front or in a retail job or a job hospitality department, a photo may be a requirement or may help. It is possible that employers will want to check how you look and that you are up to the image that they provide to the employees.
Job Ads Where a Photo is Required:
In the event that the advertisement has requested a photo then you must use it. When this happens you just need to make sure that you have followed the instructions so that you do not miss anything in your application.
Professional Roles in Local Companies:
When you are working in a local UAE-based company or organization, it is more probable to attach a snap or even a photo at the time you are applying to a particular role. Certain local organizations are welcomed to see the photo to have an impression of what the applicant used to be like professionally.
Seven Keys to Selecting the Right Photo to Put on Your CV
In case you choose to incorporate a photo in your CV, you must ensure that it is not just professional but it is also relevant to the job. The following are some tips to select the right photo:
Dress Professionally:
Try to dress up in the manner befitting the job that you are applying. An informal business casual attire can be most appropriate most of the time.
Find a Good Quality Image:
The image that you use should be in high resolution and should be well lit. It is not advisable to use selfies or informal pictures.
Simple Background:
You can use a plain and neutral background, which does not take away the attention of your face.
Smile and Look Friendly:
A friendly and approachable expression will make you approachable and appear more friendly and professional.
