7 Tips for Picking the Right LinkedIn Photo

(Originally published on LinkedIn)

Your photo on LinkedIn is the first thing that people see when they view your page. It is important to make a good first impression! Here are 7 tips for picking the right LinkedIn photo:

1.    Keep It Simple!

Try to avoid busy backgrounds. Your photo should be a professional photo of YOU. The best LinkedIn profile pictures keep it simple. It is often best to stand in front of a solid or light-colored background. You want to make sure that hiring managers are not distracted by your photo and can focus on your amazing experience!

2.    Smile!

Make sure to bring along your best accessory when taking your new LinkedIn photo - your smile! Your future employer likely wants to hire somebody with a positive personality and nothing represents that like a big smile, so show off those pearly whites to make a strong first impression!

3.    Make Sure Your Photo is Current

Make sure you are using a photo that is current and looks like you, so interviewers are not surprised when they meet you in person. You want to give candidates an accurate idea of what you look like if they met you tomorrow.

4.    Use a high-resolution image for the best results

LinkedIn suggests using a profile picture that is 400 x 400 pixels. You want to try to avoid any small, low-resolution files so your photo isn’t blurry once you upload it.

5.    Make Sure You Are The Only Person In Your Photo

Your favorite photograph of yourself might be while on vacation in Hawaii with your family. That is a great profile picture for Facebook, but it is not effective when appealing to a more professional crowd on LinkedIn. Make sure you are in a professional setting and alone in the picture. LinkedIn is highlighting YOUR experience, so it is important to leave candidates with no doubt on whose profile they are looking at. 

6.    Dress For The Job

When choosing an appropriate LinkedIn photo, make sure you are dressing as you would for an interview. Although it may not seem like it, this is the first impression that you are making. Solid colors are often best as they are not distracting.

7.    Pick a Headshot

Your LinkedIn picture appears as a small thumbnail on your profile so it is important that your viewers can actually see you. The best profile photos are of your head, neck, and top of your shoulders. If you end up choosing a full-body photograph, viewers will not be able to recognize you.