The art of getting hired - Curriculum Vitae & the importance of your PICTURE

I had a chat with my current employer. She is in the middle of massive job interviewing and going through a "online pile" of CVs.

When I asked how's it going, she answered that there are only few good applicants and the rest is rubbish. I asked why and she started showing me people's pics they have attached to their CVs.

So, we all know already that picture attached to your CV is important. Sure, it is. But I would never have guessed that it was THAT important. And I never would have guessed that people still do attach their holiday pics to their official CV. (FAIL!)

If you don't have a decant photo of yourself, it's better not to add anything. For example, there was a picture of one lady with her baby and Eiffel tower in the background. The most likely message the employer receives   is that you will be calling her in the future saying that your kid is sick and you can not come to work. No matter what kind of experience you do have. If there is someone with same level of experience and skills, then the other one gets rather picked.

More no-no's:
a) funny pics - taken at some party, where you might have somewhat serious impression, yet there is predictable unseriousness cancelling that out because of the background and date and time to be seen on the photo.
b) Know where you apply to. When you apply to a service position and you have experience, then you should know that the appearance is important. Not too much make up, clean-cut facial hairstyle :) or nice moustache or beard. Nothing in between is ok, apparently. And you should know it.
c) No photo is better than rubbish. It allows the employer to concentrate to your experience and skills instead.

Hearing comments: Scary!, Looks like a serial killer!, Cute!, Too fat!; He needs to loose all the piercing, cut the beard and hair!...etc
Makes you wonder, uh.

So yeah. There is, no doubt, a fair share of interpenetration to it, a amount of subjectivity, and for you applying this is just luck. The person hiring, if he/she doesn't like how you look, it might be shallow, but would you want to work in a place like that?

Facts.
* Also, my employer told me that one girl sent in a pic, where she was looking like a barbie girl giving the most intensive-fake smile, almost saying "I love youuuuuu".... she said that she scheduled a job interview with her because she wanted to find out what she was like. She got hired. And she's a lovely person.
* One dude got hired just because of his moustache. He had awesome moustache. :) He too - amazing person with GREAT sense of humour and the best team worker.

And sometimes you just need to ask for what you want and not take no as an answer. 

Do you remember the episode of How I met your mother where Robyn was searching for a job and Barney volunteered to help her with her video CV? I'm guessing that this is the future of CV. Plenty companies already do this, but right this moment the traditional CV is still nr one. Would a video CV give you better chance to succeed, have your dream carreer and give you an advantage in competition at the job market?

Tricky.