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Top 3 Reasons to Have a Visible LinkedIn Profile Picture

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Do you always get a response whenever you send a direct message, comment on a post, or send connection requests on LinkedIn? 

If the answer is no, there could be several reasons for this. But the most common reason for being ghosted on LinkedIn is when you don’t have a visible profile picture.

Many LinkedIn users think their credentials, experience, and portfolio should be enough to land them their dream job. Well, that should be the case in an ideal world. But on the internet, you need more than your academic qualifications to grab a recruiter’s attention.

As you depend on your qualification to do the magic, others also rely on theirs. You need something extra to give you a little leverage above other candidates. A good profile picture can make your LinkedIn stand out. 

During interviews, first impressions are crucial. Your profile picture says a lot about your personality and professional presence. If you’re looking for a job on LinkedIn, your profile picture is the most crucial first impression you can make.

In this article, we’ll look at some reasons to have a visible LinkedIn profile picture.

1. Essential for Creating a Good First Impression

LinkedIn accounts with professional profile pictures are more likely to get more engagement than those without profile pictures. Statistics have shown that LinkedIn accounts with profile pictures get 21 times more views and 9 times more connection requests. (Source: LinkedIn official) 

Therefore, when job searching or trying to build your network, use a good professional profile picture to make a lasting first impression. As the popular saying goes, “a picture is worth more than a thousand words.” A picture can make all the difference without you speaking a single word. 

In addition, the LinkedIn algorithm pushes profiles with a visible profile picture in front of the right people. This helps to improve your chances of getting a response to direct messages and connection requests.

2. It Makes You More Approachable

Your LinkedIn profile is a general representation of your personal brand. It is what shapes how recruiters or prospects perceive you. But your profile isn’t complete without a visible profile picture. 

It makes you appear real, trustworthy, and approachable. Profile picture help put a face to your name and makes you connect with your audience easily. So, if you feel you’re being ghosted on LinkedIn, adding a profile picture can make you appear more approachable.

3. It Helps Avoid Self Sabotage

Though the profile picture might be a minuscule aspect of your LinkedIn profile, not including it can cause significant damage. Recruiters or prospects might give you the cold shoulder if they can’t put a face to your name.

Think about it and put yourself in the position of a recruiter. Let’s say you come across the profiles of two job seekers, one with a profile picture and the other without any. Who would you consider a potential employee?

How will you know who you’re connecting with if there’s no image of the person? Even a CV is not complete without a picture of the candidate.

Adding a profile picture to your LinkedIn profile helps to promote familiarization. It is essential when people you don’t know are viewing your profile. Profile picture lets you grab the attention of recruiters and prospects immediately.

If you want to avoid being ghosted or the cold shoulder treatment, the best practice is to add a profile picture to your LinkedIn account.

Tips for Adding a Good LinkedIn Profile Picture

Ordinarily, taking a good LinkedIn profile shouldn’t be an issue. But you can’t make a lasting impression without the right photo. A low-quality picture can impact your first impression negatively.

It is better not to have a profile picture than to add a poor-quality photo. Why? 

Because hiring managers might look past a missing photo on your profile to see your credentials, but a poor-quality picture can hurt your reputation from the get-go.

The following tips will help you choose the right photo for your LinkedIn profile.

1. Dress like a professional

What’s the dress code like in your profession? Your profile picture should show the dress code obtainable at your workplace. If you’re a uniform person, take a picture with your uniform. And if you’re in the corporate world, a suit and tie wouldn’t be a bad idea. 

Wearing the right clothes says a lot about your professional image. It tells recruiters how you’ll present yourself while on the job.

2. Look into the camera and smile

Apart from your dressing, nothing sends a better first impression than a warm and gentle smile. When taking your profile photo, look directly into the camera with a smile. This way, you’re letting your true personality shine through. 

3. Hire a professional photographer

Part of the things you can do to get a good-quality headshot for your LinkedIn profile is to hire a professional photographer. Don’t say that because you have a smartphone with a camera, there’s no need to get professional help.

You need a professional headshot to take your online presence on LinkedIn to the next level. 

Putting a face to a name is important on all social media platforms. It is even more necessary on a platform like LinkedIn, where you’re building your personal brand. 

The quality of your profile picture says a lot about your personality to prospects or recruiters. Your profile picture may be the difference between being ghosted and grabbing recruiters’ attention. 

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Author

Shalom is an experienced freelancer and author who writes about her experiences and offers practical advice on the Busy Earner blog.

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435 Comments

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    Anonymous

    I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.

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