The right profile picture for LinkedIn
- Giedrius Naruševičius
Your profile picture is your calling card on LinkedIn – it's how people are introduced to you, and (visual beings that we are) it governs their impressions from the start. Data provided by LinkedIn shows that having a profile picture increases the account's visibility 14 times.
1. Use up to date picture
Make sure your LinkedIn profile picture is up to date and reflects clearly how you'd look if someone met you tomorrow. Times change – so do we. A profile picture no less than 2-3 years old will help you stay recognized once you meet your potential employer.
2. Position
We recommend using the image that shows your head, neck, and the top of your shoulders. All the parts mentioned above should take up at least 60% of the space. Choosing the picture taken far away from the top of a mountain won’t add more credibility and most likely will make a recruiter question what you actually look like.
3. High-quality
Avoid small, blurry, low-resolution pictures, and don't leave white or black borders if your photo has any. The ideal size for a profile picture is 400 x 400 pixels. Also, make sure the image is not cropped out of a bigger one where you are not the only person in it. Investing in a high-resolution profile picture, as a result, will pay off in higher engagement.
4. Professional
LinkedIn is an employment-oriented platform. Try to wear your usual everyday work attire and show your warm and friendly personality.
Looking professional doesn't necessarily mean your picture has to be taken by a professional photographer. Today, simple, tidy, and high-resolution selfies can be made using a proper phone camera and some natural lighting, and you're good to go!
5. Real
It would be best if you seemed approachable and recruiters should not feel detracted from reaching out to you. You can leave the impression of yourself as a genuine person by rethinking a few details.
Ensure that you are not wearing sunglasses (unless necessary). Consider whether filters are needed in your profile picture - they can give a different look from who you indeed are.
Also, don't use the company logo or photos of any goods or animals for your profile picture. It's a personal, not a company's or group's account – keep it simple and leave such items for the cover picture instead.