By Justin Thompson
In past posts, we've offered up best practices for using social media
in your job search. That's because more and more recruiters and hiring
managers are utilizing social networks to learn about and even contact potential candidates.
While most know how to lock down their profiles through privacy
settings on sites like Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn is a little
different. The point there being that the information you're putting on
the site is critical and relevant to your job search; therefore, your
picture should also be professional and relevant to your job search.
Even with your career transparency on LinkedIn, for all three sites (or
however many you may be using), your profile picture is the one constant
that's nearly always visible.
"Your image is conveyed through your photograph, and it's part of the
first impression you make on others," says Barbara Pachter, a business communications and etiquette expert who's authored numerous books
on the topic of social media professionalism. "You want to post a
photograph that is professionally appropriate. You want to look like a
credible, approachable person, not like you just came from the beach."
The beach would be a treat, honestly. Some of the photos I see? For
shame, people, for shame I say. So let's go through some examples of
what you should and shouldn't be doing in your profile picture.
1. Use a head shot. This means that it should be head and shoulders, highlighting your face. It should not be some weird photo from a party.
2. Your photo should be flattering. Who wouldn't want
to be portrayed in the best light? However, this doesn't mean you should
use butter on the lens to give that soft glamour-shot style effect.
3. Your face is the focus, not the background.
Again, this is a headshot. That means you posing near the Great Wall is
probably not the best choice for a main picture. Is it cool?
Absolutely. Professional? Not unless you're an ancient bricklayer. Keep
your face in focus too – there's nothing worse than a blurry photo.
Well...
4. Be fully-clothed. The amount of people I've seen without clothes or who post images of others sans clothing
is appalling. Remember, your profile is seen by everyone, so clean up
your act and keep the more risqué photos for "Missed Connections."
5. Don't make any funny faces.
Pachter says, "If you are frowning or scowling, why would someone want
to hire or work with you?" This is equally true for those who try to use
more suggestive pictures. What kind of work would an employer assume
you're interested in? So while this ties in with No. 4, I still see
photos of people with clothes on who are making weird goofy faces. A
smile will work nicely, thank you.
6. Keep your photo current. Make sure your photo
actually looks like you. Stop using a photo that you love from 5+ years
ago. Again, not only is this off-putting, but if people meet you and
realize you're being deceptive, why would they trust you as an employee?
7. Find a photographer.
Whether you pay or find a friend or student to take your photo, it'll
be better than your mirrored self-portrait with your phone or a webcam
shot. Trust me, the effort in having a professional shot will be worth
the trouble in setting it up.
The moral of the story is this: If your account is locked down, put up
any drunken/Halloween/inappropriate photos you want in your "Shameful
Moments" gallery. But keep your profile image respectable, even if you
are not using it as part of your job search. Google and other search
engines will pull in your profile images when recruiters or managers
search your social profiles (especially Google+).
Please note all the photos above are of me, even though I so wanted to
put certain people on blast for their awful photos. You know who you
are.
Tell me about the worst profile picture you have ever seen
or if you've ever judged candidates based on their profile pictures in
social media!