PHOTO 101
Take a better LinkedIn headshot
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If your New Year’s resolutions involve a career change, you’ll probably be fixing up your CV this month. And that means addressing a still-kinda-new development in the job hunt: the profile picture.
Your parents didn't have to worry about including a mug shot with their CVs, but in the age of selfies a profile pic is a must. “We think of it as a professional handshake,” says Blair Decembrele, a LinkedIn career expert. “It’s your professional photo of record.”
Since your prospective employer will almost certainly glance at your face before reading about your Objectives, you’ll want to get this right. Here, Decembrele offers a handful of tips for snapping the perfect pic.
Most important: have one
The worst mistake you can make is going photo-less, says Decembrele. An empty grey box in your LinkedIn profile not only looks weird, it’s bad for business: Professionals with a photo receive 21 times more profile views and 36 times more messages.
Simply put: employers want to see your smiling face. Speaking of which...
Hog the photo
Decembrele sees too many pics taken against distractingly cluttered backgrounds.“Some of the best profile photos I’ve seen were taken against a blank wall with an iPhone,” she says.
Your face should be centered and take up 90 per cent of the frame. Bonus: LinkedIn now offers six filters that can make your pictures look more lively or muted, depending on your line of work.
Use warm, natural lighting
Stand by a window and you should be fine. Avoid a flash if you can. Nobody wants to hire the candidate with the scary red zombie eyes.
4. Zoom in
It’s hard to see your face when it’s only a few pixels high, so make sure it takes up at least 90 percent of the frame. Don’t be afraid to get close to the camera!
Dress as you would for work
If you’re an attorney, wear a suit. If you’re a doctor, slip on your white coat. If you're in a creative field, you might be able to get away with a black tee. As a rule, you’ll be fine if you match your wardrobe to your ambition, advises Decembrele. So lay off the cat photos—unless, of course, you're a veterinarian.
6. Share your status
LinkedIn lets you alert employers and recruiters that you’re open to offers—you’ll find this option on your profile page. Here, you can also add an easy-to-spot #OpenToWork frame to your profile pic, which lets prospective employers see at a glance you’re ready for your next chapter.