LinkedIn best practices

10 Tips for Picking the Right LinkedIn Profile Picture

Your contour picture is a cardinal element of your LinkedIn presence. Our research shows that only having a moving picture makes your profile 14 times more than likely to be viewed by others.

As a recruiter, that means this little circular epitome is your starting time hazard to brand a practiced impression on candidates — and it's a central element of your recruiter make.

If you already accept a recent headshot taken past a professional photographer or accept the opportunity to get one, this is often a good bet. A photographer can ensure that the lighting is flattering and that you're putting your all-time foot (or rather, face) forward. This typically costs between $200 and $400.

Notwithstanding, if you lot don't have the upkeep, the camera on your smartphone will likewise do the play a trick on. Here are 10 tips to help yous pick a strong photo and make a peachy impression.

1. Option a photograph that looks like y'all

It might sound obvious, simply your photograph should give candidates a clear idea of what you'd expect like if they met you lot tomorrow.

You've probably met someone whose social profile photo looks null like how they wait now — maybe it'south a photo that was taken 10 years ago, before they started wearing glasses, or before they dyed their hair. It tin can exist startling to meet them in person if you lot've but got that picture to go past, and it might even brand you question their credibility.

Make certain your LinkedIn profile movie is up to engagement (within the past few years) and reflects how you look on a daily ground — your hair, glasses, makeup, and and then on. If yous do alter your appearance drastically, consider taking a fresh pic to keep candidates in the loop. The first time they see y'all in person might be when they come in to interview, so giving them the power to apace identify you can improve their experience and help put them at ease.

2. Apply a high-resolution image

The ideal size for your LinkedIn profile picture is 400 ten 400 pixels. Larger file sizes are also fine (although 8MB is the max), but try to avoid small, low-resolution images.

If the picture looks a bit blurry when you upload it, y'all may want to opt for a dissimilar one. This may as well happen if y'all try to take a flick of a picture (like taking a motion-picture show of the photo on your ID badge) so information technology'due south all-time to take a fresh one instead.

3. Make certain your face takes upwardly at least 60% of the frame

Using a flick of yourself continuing atop a distant mountain peak works well for some social media platforms, but information technology's not ideal when you desire candidates to know what you look like.

Instead, aim to accept your face filling about lx% of the space. Crop the motion-picture show from the top of your shoulders to just in a higher place your head so that your confront fills the frame.

4. Be the but person in the picture

Information technology's great to show candidates that you're collaborative and love your team. Simply if y'all use a grouping photo as your profile film, they may be unsure which person is you.

To leave candidates with no doubt about what yous look similar, choose a solo photo for your profile pic. Cropping a group photo isn't the best solution, since you might see a random mitt or shoulder popping into the frame. If you do want to include a team picture on your profile, you could utilize this for your banner picture show instead.

5. Get someone else to take the moving-picture show for yous

While information technology's fine to use a photograph taken with a cellphone, it's probably best to steer articulate of a selfie. Ask a friend or coworker to have it for you — it but takes a minute and it tin can make a big difference.

For one matter, the front (selfie) camera on most phones produces a lower-quality prototype than the rear camera. Depending on your phone settings, it may as well produce a mirror image, which can crusade whatever words or logos to appear backwards.

Plus, by getting someone else to take the picture for you, you'll probably notice that your pose is more natural and comfortable. They might also aid to direct you a bit, similar telling yous to tilt your head slightly or constrict your pilus backside your ears.

half dozen. Choose the right expression

Your contour motion picture is an opportunity to convey your personal brand. So if yous consider your make a little more serious, it's okay to look serious in your picture. But generally speaking, grinning tin can help put candidates at ease and make you look more outgoing.

One study of 800 profile pictures establish that people view you as more likable, competent, and influential if you smile in your pic. And smiles that testify teeth were rated twice as likable every bit closed-mouth smiles.

Consider practicing in front of a mirror first to see which expression yous like best. You don't want to look uncomfortable, and so do what feels natural to you.

7. Avoid distracting backgrounds

Where you take your flick matters. You don't want anything to distract from your face, so a simple groundwork tin assist ensure that you're the focal bespeak.

That'south not to say y'all have to be continuing in a white, empty space. Taking the flick outside in nature or against a painted wall tin can go along things simple without being slow. If you lot want to showcase cool details of where yous piece of work, though, that might exist improve for your banner epitome.

8. Wear what you lot'd wear to work

Every workplace has a different vibe when information technology comes to the dress code, and your profile picture can help candidates get a feel for that vibe right abroad. You don't want to be over or underdressed.

If you clothing jeans and a push-downwardly most days, it's okay to habiliment that outfit in your pic — likewise if you habiliment a suit.  And if you piece of work from dwelling house well-nigh days, try wearing apparel that lucifer the dressiness of the company as a whole, just to help candidates guess what might be expected of them.

Some other thing to annotation is that solid colors tend to practise best on camera. Color blocking your outfit using bold tones can help make your film really pop.

9. Take the photograph in soft, natural light

Lighting tin completely change the look and feel of your photo. Standing beneath harsh fluorescent lighting can modify the tint of your pictures and create shadows on your face, while using a photographic camera flash may brand your skin look shiny. Natural calorie-free usually produces the best upshot, only direct sunlight tin can make pictures await blown out.

Try taking your picture outside on an overcast day, in a slightly shady area (anywhere that's out of straight sunlight), or when the dominicus is setting to help to soften the light. Y'all tin can besides stand inside using the lite from a nearby window to illuminate your face and give your skin a natural-looking glow. Avoid standing with your back to the window, equally this will get in harder to see your face.

x. Utilize filters wisely

LinkedIn now offers six filters that you tin can use to your contour picture show, each of which will give your photograph a slightly dissimilar expect and feel. Call back carefully about what kind of mood you want to convey, and don't exist afraid to play effectually to run across which filter looks all-time. The Spotlight and Classic filters, for case, tin make your image look more polished and sharp.

If you don't desire to apply a filter, you lot can still adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation, and vignette of the photo directly on LinkedIn — so yous don't need to learn Photoshop to make a few subtle tweaks.

What having a great contour motion picture ways for you

To increase your response and referral rates, invest in your profile movie. Information technology's your start chance to communicate that you are friendly, likable, and trustworthy — attributes that are crucial to getting prospects to appoint with you lot.

Think of it as your commencement step to edifice your personal brand on LinkedIn and making yourself stand out from other recruiters. Now that'southward worth investing in.

Just you don't demand to end there. For more tips on how to smoothen up your contour and build your personal brand on LinkedIn, download our free ebook: vi Steps to Building Your Recruiter Brand on LinkedIn.

Learn how you tin find and hire the correct talent using LinkedIn Talent Solutions. Request a free product demo.

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