Photo on your resume?

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 4, 2015

I appreciate your responses. But as a new grad we all pretty much have the same skills and certificates, maybe a photo will help your rÃ©sumÃ© stand out?

It would probably help only if "physical appearance" was one of the criteria for selection. For example ... if they just wanted nurses who were attractive ... or who were NOT attractive... or met certain cultural standards of dress, hairstyle, etc.

In many situations, such discrimination is illegal. That's why some employers remove anything like that from applications before they are sent to hiring managers. They don't want to be accused of any such biases by people who are not selected.

And would you really want to work for a place that picked its nurses based on superficial characteristics like that?

YanMinor · Mar 5, 2015

In many situations, such discrimination is illegal.

Actually, this isn't true. While it's absolutely illegal to discriminate based on race, gender, and other qualities, there is no law forbidding discrimination based on "attractiveness". Many companies legally discriminate based on looks (e.g. Hooter's, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc.)

That being said, it would reflect very poorly on a hospital to engage in such practice. And, if I was hired at a hospital based on my looks rather than my nursing merits, I would probably want to look for work elsewhere, anyways.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 7, 2015

Maybe for all the wrong reasons. You're not applying for America's Next Top Model, leave the picture off is my vote.

I appreciate your responses. But as a new grad we all pretty much have the same skills and certificates, maybe a photo will help your rÃ©sumÃ© stand out?

PapaBearRN, BSN · Mar 7, 2015

Thank you for all your feedback. The photo will remain off the rÃ©sumÃ©. I do have my ACLS, PALS, ECG and pharmacology, NIH stroke scale certifications and joined the ANA. Also am president of my class. Hopefully this is enough to make my rÃ©sumÃ© stand out from the rest.

RNNPICU, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2015

Thank you for all your feedback. The photo will remain off the rÃ©sumÃ©. I do have my ACLS, PALS, ECG and pharmacology, NIH stroke scale certifications and joined the ANA. Also am president of my class. Hopefully this is enough to make my rÃ©sumÃ© stand out from the rest.

To help it stand out even more, try and think of something you did to help promote change and what the outcome was. An outcome of a change is what will really stand out.

cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 15, 2015

Its a resume not an match.com or eHarmony profile. Leave the head shot off of your resume and if a position requires one then I would run in the other direction.

!Chris :specs:

SC_RNDude · Mar 16, 2015

I've thought about doing this myself. Not because I'm super-attractive, but because I believe I look like a friendly and pleasant.

I kinda laugh at the "looks don't matter" and "I wouldn't want to be chosen for my pretty face" responses. I'm sure thoses people did more then throw on a set of scrubs and put their hair in a pony tail when they went in for their interview. And, if it was for their dream job, probably bought a whole new outfit and would be perfectly happy if their pretty face put them ahead of the others.

That being said, I have so far decided against it. A little too different from the norm for my comfort. I may try a link to my linkedin profile when the time comes.

PapaBearRN, BSN · Mar 16, 2015

I've thought about doing this myself. Not because I'm super-attractive, but because I believe I look like a friendly and pleasant.
I kinda laugh at the "looks don't matter" and "I wouldn't want to be chosen for my pretty face" responses. I'm sure thoses people did more then throw on a set of scrubs and put their hair in a pony tail when they went in for their interview. And, if it was for their dream job, probably bought a whole new outfit and would be perfectly happy if their pretty face put them ahead of the others.
That being said, I have so far decided against it. A little too different from the norm for my comfort. I may try a link to my linkedin profile when the time comes.

This! I'm not the most attractive guy on the block but I have been told I have a pleasant smile that is warm and inviting to patients. Obviously this isn't the most important thing in nursing, assessing your patient and providing exceptional nursing care is. But considering 30% of reimbursement is based on patient satisfaction, a nice inviting smile couldn't hurt.

RunBabyRN · Mar 28, 2015

I wouldn't be surprised if some organizations don't just toss resumes with pictures.
That avoids the risk of potential discrimination against hiring someone due to race, age, physical appearance, being "too ethnic," etc.
im looking for a quality employee, not a date.

ALL OF THIS. This sets them up for discrimination. You could say that they didn't hire you because you're black or because you're white and they need a more ethnic mix or any number of things. Most hiring managers I've talked to have a hard time taking someone seriously if they put a picture on a resume. There are few careers outside of modeling and acting where this is appropriate, and nursing isn't one of them.

As a new grad, you have to focus on what makes you different from your fellow new grads. You posted a response with some good ideas. Additionally, what did you do before? Have you ever been a server? Worked in retail? What kind of skills would be relevant to help you in nursing? Did you have to prioritize? Multi-task? Problem-solve? Did you have the opportunity to implement change anywhere? What did you do? You don't have to have been a nurse to sell yourself to a nurse manager.

toERortonot · Apr 1, 2015

i see what's going on here...

PapaBearRN, BSN · Apr 1, 2015

i see what's going on here...

What's going on? Lol