professional If you have a LinkedIn profile, then you’re likely using it to find a job. When it comes to advancing your career, you’ll need to make sure your profile picture is up to snuff. Here’s some advice from LinkNow Media to help you make sure your photo says, “hire me!”

Put a face to your name

Creating a LinkedIn profile is only half of it, and the only thing worse than a bad picture is not having a picture at all. People want to put a face to a name—it humanizes your profile and makes you approachable, increasing your chance of landing a job.

Keep it professional

Unlike your Facebook profile where you can express yourself any way you please, the point of your LinkedIn profile is to show that you are hireable. You might think that a photo of you at party shows that you are fun and outgoing, but all it’s doing is preventing someone from taking you seriously.

Save pets for Facebook

Unless you are looking for a job in the pet industry, you shouldn’t post a photo with your cat or dog. At the end of the day, you’re selling yourself—not the relationship you have with your pet, no matter how cute he or she may be.

Go with a headshot

Avoid going with a full-body shot because people will have a hard time seeing your face. Instead, choose a headshot. However, if the only one you have is from your high school yearbook, then it’s time for an update.

Save selfies for Instagram

These days, experience with social media is a hiring must for nearly every position out there. However, if you have a selfie as your LinkedIn display photo, you are showing a basic misunderstanding of how different social media platforms are used.

Make sure it’s clear

If someone needs to squint to see your picture, they are already forming opinions about you. They may be thinking, will this person put in the extra effort? Does this person know how adjust images or use the sharpening tool in Photoshop?

Final Thoughts

These days, employers will be looking at your social media profiles, whether you like it or not, so it pays to clean up your online persona. While your Facebook and Twitter accounts allow the opportunity to show off your fun side, there’s nothing stopping an employer from checking out those profiles too, so you should consider applying the same advice there. What do you think about LinkedIn profile pictures? At LinkNow Media, we would love to hear what you’re looking for when it comes to new hires. Let us know in the comments section below.