Humans are limited in their information processing abilities and will often rely on the first piece of information they receive.
-Daniel Kahneman
It simply means we believe in what we see. In the modern business atmosphere where everyone is chasing a job with academic achievements and certifications, they are unaware that their appearance can hold more weight than their degrees.
As a result, it matters that your profile looks paired up with the profession or the culture of the company. As it creates an immediate perception of an individual.
A positive first look, a good body language can open the path to new career positions so it is a good idea to invest in creating a professional profile graphic.
In this article, you will get to learn about how can you improve your web profile image so that you can leave a unique impression on the investigator’s mind.
The Psychology Behind Professional Imagery
Research shows that it took only 7 seconds to form an impression on the human mind.
This can create judgment regarding a person like trustworthiness, likability, and proficiency and this plays a vital role in the context of business.
Facial information is processed before consciously observing the face which means people are influenced by your profile picture before reading about your credentials, it is said by an organizational psychologist, Dr. Sarah Chen.
Beyond Just Looking Professional
Your profile is not only a glimpse of your honesty, truthfulness, or competence but also spotlighting your skills, experiences, and morals. It also describes how other feels about you and what you stand for within your company or network.
It features actively expressing your story and promoting yourself as an authority through various platforms, both online and offline, and by following some ideas make your profile out of the world:
- Industry alignment (creative vs. corporate)
- Personal brand values
- Approachability and authenticity
- Cultural fit
The ROI of Quality Profile Images
As you know looks matter! Good-quality images grab the attention of social media and websites. If you are aiming for professional pictures then invest in a good camera or ask for clicking pictures by a professional photographer can save your profile from being rejected.
Do You Know?
“Social media posts with images receive significantly higher engagement than text-only posts, with some statistics reporting a 650% increase ”— Adobe Spark
Investing in professional photography can generate a positive perspective in the eyes of the viewers.
According to the LinkedIn reports profiles with professional photos receive 14 times more views and are 36% more likely to receive messages than those without.
It means even if you have a good degree but don’t have a professional profile photo you can be rejected without any doubt.
The DIY Approach vs. Professional Services
Suppose your pocket amount doesn’t align with the professional services. No need to worry about it, here are some DIY approaches that you check out and make your profile look professional while paying a handsome amount.
- Wear the clothes that suits you
- Make sure the lighting is proper
- Your home wall can help you with this preferred light background
- Clean the camera and set the high-resolution
- You can use the stand to still the camera
- After taking a picture edit it according to the format size of the platforms.
For this, you can use your smartphone and download a profile picture maker that can edit pictures with high resolutions.
Maintaining Authenticity
According to psychology, people like the person who is real. Having an authentic and realistic headshot can increase the chances of opportunity in the long run.
A real profile picture shows your present appearance and indicates your authentic personality, without unneeded filters or modifications.
Smart dressing, maintaining good hygiene, and carrying yourself well can print an impressive impression.
Keeping Current
Along with time, you grow and make yourself valuable, but if it is not reflected in your profile this can impact your upcoming future opportunities.
In some industries that grow swiftly like IT, healthcare, and data science you need to change your profile every year not only to open the career door but also to make an opinion about your values and services.
Final Thoughts
In this world where everyone can draw an opinion of a person by their appearance without knowing about them. So, it becomes important to keep up your profile picture with yourself. It reflects your current self as well as enables greater access to new possibilities.
Your display pictures create an image in the viewer’s mind, and most companies select and reject an individual on their visual appeal. Ensure that you craft a good profile by using the knowledge and experience of others as it helps you to build up a powerful identity.