Your social media profile photos are creating a first impression whether you like it or not, and they can help or hinder you getting your next job.
Last week radioinfo shared tips on what not to do when taking a profile pic.
It was advice passed on to us from Karen Merry at Merry Images.
This week Karen is back to tell us how to make our profile pic stand out.
Use these tips to either join or update your photo on radioinfo’s feature Faces for Radio, a networking platform where you can display your details and even showcase your CV and Demo.
We all know what it is like to have a terrible drivers licence photo or a passport so bad that it made you look too sick to travel.
You need a shot that’s a bit different to the mug shot, one that, if you are looking for a job will impress prospective clients, recruiters or employers.
1. Use a recent photo
No, you shouldn’t use that shot from high school twenty years ago when you were much thinner! It’s important to make sure your shot is current or at least taken in the last 12 months. Embrace the current version of you.
2. Use a solid background with no distractions
If you want engagement with your audience, then it’s a good idea to reduce distrac=ons in the shot. You want them to look at YOU, not the river in the background which gets them thinking of the great picnic they once had there. Keeping the shot focused on your eyes and your expression is paramount to reducing
3. Show yourself in a professional light
Some professionals find using a background image useful for engaging for their target market (e.g., your building, if you’re an architect). Be careful not to show too many distrac=ons and make sure you are the star of the image and that you look professional.
When you have other people in your social media profile images with you, it can be very confusing. Your audience will wonder which one is you and the connecton will be diluted. Make sure that you are the only person in the shot.
5. Wear what makes you feel confident.
Wearing clothing you know you look great in is a great confidence booster. This will in turn generate great expressions and greater connection.
6. Wear clothing that is appropriate for your profession.
If you are a fitness instructor, it would be inappropriate to wear a business suit. You need to connect with your audience authentically. You don’t want to confuse and dilute the connection. You know that feeling you get when you see someone who you think you know, but they are in the wrong place? It’s much harder to remember where you know them from isn’t it? Don’t be that person that is hard to place.
7. Be intentional with your message.
Create an image that will resonate with people as being authentic. Those images with models with vacant eyes that we see so often in magazines don’t really connect. They may look cool, but if you were to see one as a profile shot you probably wouldn’t hire them. Everyone has a different message to tell the world. Make sure yours reflects you as an individual.
Our Faces for Radio section is here.
Use it to post your bio, pics and demo so that your profile is enhanced. Many employers trawl the Faces for Radio pages looking for new employees, so, even if you are not actively looking for work, it could still be worth your while to have an entry in Faces. It’s free, but you need to create an account to enter your details.
And if you’re looking for a new job, check here.