The question of whether a company's logo can be used in the application is doubly interesting. On one hand, the question can refer to the logo of the company to which one is currently applying. On the other hand, logos of companies where one is currently or was previously employed could also be meant.

In this article, I will illuminate both possibilities, mention the advantages and disadvantages of using logos in applications, and provide recommendations.

Inserting the company's logo in the application where one is applying

One advantage of using company logos in applications could be: When you insert the logo of the company to which you are currently applying, it can demonstrate to the desired employer that you have already identified with the company at this early stage. Additionally, it sometimes pleases the managing director when you use the logo because it shows them that you have engaged more deeply with the company.

Another advantage is that by using the logo of the managing director's company in your application, it is made clear that your application is not a mass application where only the addressee has been swapped out. Someone has put a bit more thought into it here.

A disadvantage of using the logo of the desired employer is that the logo is protected by copyright. As an applicant, you do not have the right to use it. This can come across as cheeky and inappropriate. Furthermore, it could give the impression that the applicant is not very precise about complying with laws and may also not be entirely correct or honest in other respects. It also implies an affiliation with a company that does not yet exist. Such a logo as a badge must be earned.

Here you can see some application letters and resume templates that we have prepared. The application designs are modern and professional. They all have one thing in common: none of them have a logo as a placeholder. There's a reason for that.

Using logos of former companies in the application or resume

What about using logos in the application of former companies or the current company where one works?

If they are logos of well-known large companies, there can visually be a branding effect on the applicant. Additionally, large companies often have different branches in separate entities. All small companies belong to the big company or the corporate group, only the small company where one was legally employed might not be known by name. In this case, the logo of the corporate group can support one's own status.

These could be advantages of using logos of well-known companies in applications.

However, the disadvantages also outweigh here: On one hand, the legal use is also unclear. On the other hand, a letter of recommendation is the better choice if I want to use a company's logo. Upon leaving the company, I can request a letter of recommendation and then receive a document with the correct letterhead, where the logo is also used.

Another disadvantage is that by using multiple logos in the application, I distract from my competencies and increase the attention for other companies. That is not intended.

Using multiple logos in the application does not make the application more creative or vibrant, but rather cluttered. Many applicants cannot even manage to use icons in the same style for phone, email, address, etc. Filled icons are combined with outline icons. Here is an example from a real application we received, illustrating what I mean by the mix of icon styles. At the top is a fully filled icon, while at the bottom are two outline icons with different stroke weights.

The layout and design of the application were otherwise very good. The applicant was competent and had done most things right in their application, except for the mix of icon styles. Therefore, I wonder, how would the application layout look if less graphically competent people start mixing logos in color?

A real-life example of an application with our logo

It's been a few years since we received an application with our own logo included. Here is a screenshot - personal data has been anonymized:

I remember vividly what immediately caught my eye.

• The applicant had copied and pasted our logo from our website at the time. It was only the word mark as the logo.
• The applicant also used our corporate color as an accent color.

This real application clearly illustrates what can go wrong when someone uses a company logo. Our word mark was originally placed as a PNG on the website. The applicant copied this and inserted it into his document. This is why the logo looks quite pixelated, which harms the quality. So, if a logo is not available as a vector file and is embedded larger, the visual quality suffers. The applicant also did not accurately use our corporate color. The line at the top is slightly different in color from the other lines placed in our color.

Dealing skillfully with logos in applications is demanding. And even if you achieve a convincing result, you still do not know how your recipient will judge the use of logos in applications.

My recommendation

No, don't do it. The likelihood of a positive perception by the recipient is significantly lower than the risk of the logo's use being disapproved.

If you want to make a positive impact with your application, choose a modern application design as a basis and make sure to avoid typical mistakes in your application. Here we have a few modern application designs for you that will help you stand out positively from the pale job applications:

Alternative suggestion for more identification in applications and resumes

If you want to make it easier for the managing director to see a familiar document, create the application in the company's corporate design ... just without the logo. This means: Use the company colors and fonts that the company uses. The decision-maker will immediately notice that you have made an effort in this respect and will appreciate it, provided you have done it correctly. Good luck with your application!