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Blogs & Vlogs

Blogs & Vlogs

LinkedIn Profile Photo….what makes a good one or a bad one?

I am literally going boss-eyed from looking at LinkedIn profiles, it feels like that’s all I’ve done for the last 3 days as I’m mapping out companies for a client of mine.  And I’ve just emailed the final short list of candidates, all 152 of them so I reckon I’ve looked at 500 profiles in the last 3 days.

And yes, I am looking at job titles, company names, location but the other things that stand out are photos!!! And wow, have I seen some corkers recently! I would never have some of them but mostly because I’m not very techy so anything that involves something other than just uploading a photo excludes me.

Here is what I have seen….in no particular order:

  • Fab photos that have really caught my eye

  • Professional Photos

  • Dreadful photos that have caught my eye for the wrong reason

  • Really unprofessional photos

  • Cartoon characters

  • Black and White photos

  • People holding an alcoholic drink (me included!)

  • People standing against a brick wall

  • People with their hand on their chin, looking thoughtful

  • Tattoos

  • Lots of red lipstick

  • People laughing

  • People looking really fricking miserable

  • No photo

  • Photos taken indoors

  • Photos taken outdoors

  • Sunglasses on

  • Hat on / Hats off

  • People chopped off

  • People included

  • Company logos in the background

  • People facing the camera

  • Side profiles

  • Natural looking photos where I don’t think the person realises a picture is being taken.

And whilst a photo on your LinkedIn profile doesn’t and shouldn’t define you, you should be mindful of what message it is sending out there. And I’m one to talk, my photo is black and white and I’m laughing, not looking at the camera. In reality that photo is taken on the eve of a very special birthday, on the top floor of the W Hotel in Barcelona, drinking a watermelon cocktail that was sooooo expensive and also made me feel pretty tipsy after just one glass. But I’m happy, relaxed, chatting away, enjoying what I’m doing which is pretty accurate to who I am. And it’s in black and white as my arty friend took it. But I LOVE that photo so will keep it until I age a bit more!

And the rest of this paragraph is purely my thoughts and I am fully aware that not everyone has the same opinion. Don’t cover your eyes up with sunglasses, people like to see eyes, as one of my favourite songs by James says, “when I look into your eyes, I swear I can see your soul”. Smile or at least don’t look miserable, unless you really are a miserable bugger. I wouldn’t go hugely corporate but then that’s not me and maybe that is you. But who wants to see you standing there with your hand on your chin with a company logo in the background? Is that reflective of you? DO NOT DO CARTOON CHARACTERS! LinkedIn is the professional Facebook, it isn’t Facebook. Don’t put a photo up at all rather than put a cartoon character of yourself. But again, just my opinion.

What is really important above everything is the content though. Make sure that your content is spot on, your profile is up to date, your job title is correct, your location is correct, and you have the right skills and endorsements. Otherwise nobody is going to find you, let alone look at your photo on it!

Email: jo@winhurstrecruitment.co.uk

Tel: 0115 975 6513

@winhurstrec

Jo Richardson