With AI headshot generation services on the rise for résumés, websites and LinkedIn profiles, 76.5% of recruiters prefer AI headshots over real headshots, according to a survey by cloud communications company Ringover.

Despite 80% of recruiters believing they could accurately or very accurately identify AI headshots, they correctly spotted them only 39.5% of the time.

Headshots remain important to recruiters, with 66.7% saying they help to put a face to a name. Reasons cited include:

• To get a better feel for the character of the applicant, 57.5%
• To make the candidate more memorable, 39.7%
• To see if they would be a fit for the company, 30.3%

Furthermore, 50% of recruiters said they always review candidates’ LinkedIn or other social media profiles and another 33.3% said they do so if listed in the application.

However, an unprofessional headshot or LinkedIn profile picture can damage an application, as 67.5% of recruiters report being actively put off by bad pictures.

Top recruiter turn-offs included headshots being too stylized or posed, 40.9%; poor photo quality, 39.9%; too informal, 35.6%; and the use of filters or obvious editing, 32.7%.

Recruiters also displayed double standards, with 66% saying they would be put off by AI-generated headshots if not disclosed and 88% believe candidates should clearly state when using AI-generated images.

Despite this, 84% of recruiters said they would use or would consider using an AI headshot themselves and 88% felt it would be beneficial for their company.

Ringover surveyed 1,087 US-based recruiters about headshots in June 2024.