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What picture is appropriate to set as your background on LinkedIn?

While updating my LinkedIn and looking at other people's profiles today, I want to know what background picture is appropriate and unique for my profile. I saw people putting a backdrop of their schools and cities. However, are those the only acceptable pictures? #career-counseling #linkedin #social-media #career

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Christopher’s Answer

As others say, a "professional" appearance is best practice for LinkedIn, or any resume site. Ideally, this is a professional head shot or portrait (like a senior portrait for a high school yearbook). The primary difference, however, is you should present an everyday version of yourself professionally dressed. You should imagine that a client is coming to your office for the first time for an important meeting. From your photograph, will they recognize you easily? Many people over glamorize their head shots and this is, in my view, a mistake.

Christopher recommends the following next steps:

Get a good head shot made.
Make sure to update this about every 2 or 3 years until the age of 25-27, or so, sometimes out to 30. After that, every 5-10 years is fine unless you have changed appearance significantly (huge hairstyle differences, weight gain/loss, etc).
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Alwyn’s Answer

My only recommendation is that it be professional in context, of great quality (clarity, density, brightness and focus - no pixelated images) and that it give a sense to the visitor of your aspirations and present/future goals. Selecting an image that is not too busy will also not detract from your profile photo - a must have if you hope to make professional connections that further your career. Good luck.
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Kim’s Answer

Esther,

This is a good question! A lot depends on what you are trying to convey. You want the image to appear professional. However, if you are a rock musician, you don't want to look like an accountant! (nor do you want to look like you rehearse in a garage!) Just keep it in good taste. If you need to get a second opinion, ask someone who will be brutally honest. Also, keep in mind that not all of us who are on LinkedIn are looking for jobs. Some of us use it as a means to keep in touch with other professionals, and therefore take a little liberty with our photos. ~Kim~
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Heather’s Answer

Choose something that represents you - a landscape of the city you love, a close up of your keyboard, the top of your laptop. It should not distract from your profile picture but should compliment it.

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Karina’s Answer

Hi,

To set as your background on LinkedIn, you could use a picture:

1) Of the city that you wish to work in or see yourself working in (in the future)
2) Related to the industry in which you aspire to work or see yourself working in (in the future)

Hope this helps!
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Sarah’s Answer

Choose a picture that is professional and eye catching and one that means something to you.
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Yasemin’s Answer

Hi Esther! Honestly for anything professional like applications or job profiles you should opt for a professional picture. A headshot with a business jacket or blazer would be good and with ample lighting. I would pick a backdrop to be against a wall that won't overshadow the profile picture too much; a solid color would help and most of the time you see a solid white wall or a professional photo taken at a photographer with a backdrop. Remember that the person who is seeing you is seeing you for the first time ever and first impressions matter! While let's say an individual who travels a lot and has strong cultural connections may have leverage in their interview for the position they are seeking, it may not be in the best interest to put up a picture of a travel photo for a professional website.

I hope this helps!
Best of luck!
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Paul’s Answer

Hi Esther,

A professional picture of yourself, and yourself alone, would be perfectly fine for a LinkedIn profile picture. Make sure to have a clean background such as white or any light pastel colors, and decent lighting that shows all of your face. Make sure to wear professional work clothes while taking the picture as well. Hopefully, you get a keeper!

Sincerely,

Paul
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Ning’s Answer

A professional photo that represents who you are, one that depicts your personality. Lighting and clarity is important. Do not cloud the photo with any objects or busy backgrounds. Keep it simple and use one that depicts your personality and most importantly smile!
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mananpreet’s Answer

you can set picture of nature.

mananpreet recommends the following next steps:

you can find pictures on google.
you can download picture.
you can set as background picture.
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Jojo’s Answer

Hello there! A general guideline that seems applicable is to make sure that a backdrop (not your headshot image) is relevant, simple, and clear. Try to avoid things that are very busy or completely unrelated to what your career focus may be.

As for your headshot image, make sure it shows your face with proper lighting, professional tone, and simple background.
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Lola’s Answer

LinkedIn is a professional social media platform or in another words it is your real time resume. Definitely, post a photo of yourself, not a photo of your pets, nature or any random pictures. I would highly encourage the photo to be a portrait/headshot of you, where people can see who you are. When you personalize your LinkedIn profile with a photo of yourself, the recruiters will highly likely will be interested in reviewing your profile and reaching out to you with any potential opportunities that they have. I hope this helps and Good Luck!
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