26 TIPS FOR A GREAT PROFESSIONAL LINKEDIN HEADSHOT

Your LinkedIn profile page is the foundation for your personal branding and your profile picture is a key element of your LinkedIn presence because it is your first chance to make a good impression. Just like when you go on a job interview, the first impression you give a recruiter matters the most, so the quality of your profile picture is incredibly important. And some people make major mistakes with their profile pictures.

We’ve put together a list of 26 useful tips that will help you take a professional LinkedIn profile picture that represents you as a strong prospective employee:

Do not use a dated photo no matter how young and attractive you look
Pick an up-to-date photo
Don’t take selfies
Don’t use images where you’ve cropped others out of the frame
Don’t use a logo in place of your face
Don’t use images with multiple people
When you pick your photo use a site like Photofeeler and find out what your pics are really saying about you
Take a headshot
To make a great first impression pay a professional to get a great photo
Your photo should have great quality, lighting, and high resolution
Have your makeup done by a professional
Don’t have a background that is so busy it detracts from the headshot
Choose a simple background or one that truly exudes your personal brand
Do not include objects, pets, or children
Look approachable
You can wear glasses to look more seriously
Your photo should convey your positive energy, confidence, enthusiasm, and professionalism
Make sure that your photo depicts you in a manner appropriate for your field
Choose the right expression
Smile – it’s the universal welcome symbol
Dress in a way that reflects who you are and is relevant for your target audience
Avoid wearing a strapless dress, top, or anything else too revealing
Face forward so you can look into the eyes of those checking you out
Your chest should be open with a slight lean towards that camera
Your shoulders should be relaxed
It is a good idea to use the same photo for all your professional and social networking profile pictures