Over 40% of recruiters say they judge potential employees by their headshots before they actually meet them.
So what’s your professional headshot saying about you? If you’re using an outdated, blurry photo, they may assume you aren’t tech-savvy or up with the current trends. If you use a selfie, you may be giving the idea of unprofessionalism and inexperience.
A great business headshot can make your career if you use it wisely. Follow these steps to get ahead by leveraging your headshot.
Take the Right Photos
The perfect headshot isn’t easy to come by. This isn’t going to be a selfie you take on your own or a blurry photo a friend snapped at a gathering. Instead, you need a professional photo taken by an expert photographer.
Many photographers allow you to choose multiple outfits and locations for your headshot session. We recommend taking full advantage of this opportunity.
You’ll want at least one business headshot of you in your professional clothing with a clean background. These are the more professional business headshots.
But you’ll also want more casual photos that express your personality and tell a story. If you’re a writer, take photos in a coffee shop with your laptop. If you’re an artist, include a few of your pieces in the background and get creative with your clothing choices.
Add It to Your Social Media Sites
70% of employers admit to using social media as a way to screen potential new hires. If your future boss looks at your social media right now, what would they see? Odds are you have a selfie or a casual photo as your profile picture, and that doesn’t exactly scream “hire me.”
So before you apply for a job or send out your resume, update all your social media accounts with your new photos.
Use your traditional business headshots for your LinkedIn profile and other professional sites. Then, use your casual headshots for non-professional sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Create a Professional Website
If you’re actively job searching, you’ll also want a professional website where you can showcase your work, resume, and your new photos.
Use your traditional business headshot on either your resume or work example pages. The content on these pages concentrates on your work history and expertise. Your professional photos should back up your qualifications.
Then, you can use your storytelling business photos throughout the rest of the website. These are great for your home or “about me” pages, as they give your website personalization and tell the reader about you as a person.
Get Ahead With Your Business Headshot
A business headshot is an extremely important part of the job search process.
Remember to take advantage of a professional photographer and get both casual and traditional photos taken. Then, use the photos on both your social media accounts and your websites, as employers will be looking at both.
To learn more about leveraging your online presence to secure a job, visit the Social Media section of this site.