What Recruiters Want in a Headshot
HEADSHOTS AND RECRUITERS
If the objective of getting new headshots is for the purpose of looking for a new job, there are important things to consider. Whether you are being considered by third-party recruiting firms, consulting firms, or internal corporate recruiters and HR folks, they are still human beings and your photo does matter - it’s just the plain truth and we have to just accept it. So, while they will be looking at your experience, education and similar factors, first impressions count, and even more so online.
For the 3rd party or external recruiter, whose job it is to send qualified candidates to their clients (i.e. the hiring companies), they need to feel confident that the person they submit looks the part. Many times, recruiters, after only a phone interview, will submit candidates site unseen (even if they agreed to personally interview each candidate before doing so - fact!). So, this leaves the recruiter somewhat vulnerable. Mess with recruiters in a way that affects their livelihood at your own risk!
Since you have plans to look for a new job, there are important factors to consider. I personally work with many professional recruiters and I know what they are looking for in a profile photo - different industries need different looks. Recruiters need to feel confident about your look before they will submit you to their hiring clients. And, internal corporate recruiters, while not often discussed, make many of their decisions for an initial interview based on your profile photo. It’s the unspoken truth that, again, we just need to accept!
Interestingly, in a study involving thirty recruiters tracked over a ten-week period, nearly a fifth of their time (19%) viewing LinkedIn profiles was actually spent looking at the profile photo! It was further revealed that the photo gets more attention than more vital career information. The takeaway is to make sure your LinkedIn photo is appropriate and professional.
Don’t mess with the recruiters and don’t risk your chances of snagging that interview.
For a more in-depth look at what it takes to prepare for the perfect headshot, request my free eBook ‘Guide to the Perfect Headshot’.