Did you know that when people look at a photo of you, they form an impression within one-tenth of a second? First impressions aren’t always made face-to-face, especially today when there are plenty of photos of you online. Where? On your social media of course.
Both current and potential employers, as well as, recruiters are checking your social media profiles more than ever before. They want to find out more about you and social media can often tell them a lot. While most of us now ensure that our privacy settings restrict what outsiders can see, the one thing that usually remains visible is your profile picture and also a cover photo.
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” – Will Rogers
Most people have heard this infamous saying and are aware of the importance of making a great first impression when meeting someone new. After all, it has been suggested that a person will form an assessment of you within 1/10 of a second – surprisingly fast!
However, what about before you even meet? Think about it, your social media accounts provide a window into your life and who you are. Despite those super security settings you applied to lock down your profile, there’s one thing that will always remain visible and says more about you than you may think: your profile picture.
More and more companies and recruiters are now using social media to hunt for the right candidates to fill their vacancies. Would you be happy for a prospective employer to view your current profile picture? Whether you’re currently on the hunt for a new job or not, you may miss out on a great opportunity if your picture doesn’t portray you in the best light.
If you are open to the possibility of new opportunities (which most of us are), the photos on your social media are very important. 90% of employers are now using social media to recruit, so you could be approached about an exciting opportunity at any time, but only if you look the part.
So what’s important when it comes to your social media photos?
LinkedIn – Your LinkedIn profile is hugely important given that it is a professional network and 94% of employers are using it as part of their recruitment process! Your photo needs to look professional. Recruiters spend an average time of 6 seconds looking at a LinkedIn profile and 19% of that time is spent looking at the profile picture.
Facebook and Twitter – These networks are predominantly used for personal social purposes, so there’s nothing wrong with a profile image of you and your friends. However, what you don’t want to put on show is you looking a little worse for wear at the end of a night out or anything else that may raise questions in an employer’s mind.
For more insights into how employers are using social media and what you can do to ensure that your profile photo sells you, take a look at the infographic below:
