While living in the age of digital technology during the midst of a global pandemic, networking through social media platforms has become the new frontier. That’s why it’s critically important to make a good first impression using our online presence.
Of the many social platforms to perfect, your LinkedIn profile is arguably one of the most important as this is where almost all employers, employees, and business contacts can be found online. Proper management of your LinkedIn account can play a huge role in making a good first impression with your ideal employer. If done correctly, your profile will help to reveal who you are as both a person and professional, giving insight into your unique skills and experiences in the “real world.”
But, the information you include in your online profile isn’t the only factor that can influence your first impression. Your LinkedIn profile picture also plays a pivotal role in your ability to make a good first impression with other professionals in your field. Regardless of whether your account is public or private, your profile picture is one of the first things people can see from your page, so it’s essential to present yourself in the best way possible.
To learn how to make a good first impression using your LinkedIn profile picture, follow these tips!
1. Wash & Style Your Hair
It should go without saying but grooming yourself is necessary for capturing the perfect image for your LinkedIn profile picture. Your hair can help to indicate self-assurance, intelligence, and how you take care of yourself in general. Everything from the cleanliness of your hair, the way in which you part it, and how you style it can all impact how your ideal employer perceives you.
In fact, science-baked research relating to a theory known as the Hair Part Theory shows that parting your hair to the left side can help you to appear more logical to others, while parting your hair to the right side tends to be perceived as reliable, empathetic or feminine. So, be mindful of this as you get ready to take your picture and upload it to your LinkedIn account! Aside from how you choose to part your hair, you’ll also want to make sure it’s styled in a way that is both neat and away from your face.
2. Prep & Prime Your Skin
Male or female, your skin can reveal a lot about you and how you take care of yourself, which is why it’s important to prioritize skincare prior to capturing your picture for your LinkedIn Profile. For best practice, be sure to stay consistent with your skincare routine in the weeks/days leading up to your professional headshot as this will help to ensure your skin looks radiant in the photo.
Unfortunately, common skincare concerns like acne are negatively perceived by society, so if you struggle with bumps and blemishes, now is the time to incorporate an acne treatment cream into your daily regime. Capturing a fresh face in your photo can be a game changer to your professional journey as it generally indicates a sign of good health, making it easier for you to draw in potential networking prospects and create a good first impression.
3. Dress Appropriately & Professionally
Unlike our other informal social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook, LinkedIn is specifically designed for networking professionals, meaning the swimsuit and party pics are a big no-no. You want your profile picture to give insight into who you are in the business world, so make sure that you’re presenting yourself in that manner. Starting with the clothes you wear within your photo.
Depending on what type of role you’re looking to fulfill, the type of clothes you should wear may vary. For instance, if you’re looking to pursue a role in marketing, you wouldn’t want to wear scrubs or a construction hat, right? That being said, remember to dress in a way that also accurately reflects your field. If you’re not quite sure what that looks like, don’t worry. A nice neutral-colored button-up, stylish tie, or slick blazer generally indicate signs of professionalism no matter what type of job you’re going for.
Other Basic Photography Tips to Follow:
Once you’ve completed the following steps above, you’re officially photo ready. And while this may seem like it’s smooth sailing from here on, that’s not necessarily the case. Before you begin your LinkedIn profile photoshoot, be sure to review the basic photography tips listed below:
- Take a Headshot: Especially since your profile picture is non-clickable, it’s vital that you take a headshot of yourself so employers can put a face to your name and gather their own impression of you. In turn, this will help to improve engagement on your LinkedIn profile and increase the chances of receiving a LinkedIn message from other users.
- Keep the Background Neutral: Your LinkedIn photo is all about you, so the last thing you need is a busy background to take away from potential networking prospects. To ensure you’re the main focus of your profile picture, stick to backgrounds that are neutral and bland.
- Take the Photo Straight On: To accurately capture yourself for your profile image, remember to take a photo straight on. Having the headshot taken at eye level will better help you to exude confidence and a professional demeanor in your picture.
You only get one chance to make a good first impression, so make it count! For additional tips and services for creating the optimal online professional networking account, check out our LinkedIn management services at https://www.getsetresumes.com/services.
This post first appeared on the getsetResumes.com Blog
