

The Do's and Don'ts of a Bomb LinkedIn Photo
LinkedIn is the world's largest professional social network with more than 400 million users and more recruiters have been using LinkedIn as a way to scout talent for job positions. Contrary to some people's beliefs, many recruiters say that your LinkedIn profile picture is just as important as the skills that you list on your actual profile.
At my last internship, I was helping the HR Director find candidates for open and opening positions throughout the company. During my search, I couldn't help but to notice how some candidates had perfect skills mentioned on their profiles but the profile photos were a bit questionable. Yes, one shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but when you're searching for a candidate for a job position and their profile picture is them sitting at a bar or a photo of their pet, you can't help but to judge.
If you already have a LinkedIn profile, you're well on your way to having recruiters scoping you out for a job. Here are the Do's and Don'ts of LinkedIn profile pictures so recruiters aren't distracted from your qualifications due to the lack of strong, professional picture.
Do
Take a headshot on your own or have a friend take one for you if you don't have the time or money to pay a professional. If you are taking a headshot of yourself make sure you're positioning your hand in such a way that it isn't obvious that you've taken it yourself or use a tripod.
Don't
Use a selfie that you would post to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or send to your boyfriend. It's unprofessional and should not be on LinkedIn.
Do
Smile and look inviting. You don't have to look cheesy but having a resting bitch face is NOT ideal. You also need to make sure you're displaying good posture for this can come off a little awkward if you aren't.
Don't
“Do it for the gram" or do any duck lips, kissy faces, dramatic head tilts etc. There's a time and place for everything and your LinkedIn profile picture is not one of them.
Do
Find an appropriate background for your photo. If you take an outside headshot, be mindful of what is in the background (trees, flowers, brick walls and other not so busy backgrounds work just fine). If you decide to take a photo inside, make sure it is in front of a blank wall (preferably a neutral colored wall) or some type of backdrop. Even just a white/neutral color poster board that you've hung on your wall specifically for your headshot will serve as a good background.
You can show a little personality with your attire. Just remember to keep it classy!
Do
Apply makeup to make you look refreshed. Some foundation + powder (preferably with a matte finish), a subtle blush, a natural lip color and a coating of mascara should suffice.
Don't
Beat your face to the GAWDS unless you are a makeup artist or it aligns with your career goals. Recruiters aren't here for the extras.
Do
Be mindful of the attire you wear (mainly your top since it's a headshot). A button down of course is always safe but depending on the field that you're in or aspiring to be in (creatives, stylists etc.) clothing that exudes your personality is acceptable.
it's okay to use props as long as they're not distracting.
Don't
Wear anything in your LinkedIn photo that you wouldn't feel comfortable wearing in front of your future employer. That includes but is not limited to, low cut tops, hoodies/sweatshirts/, baseball caps etc.
Do
Take photos in natural lighting to get a better quality image. If you're not taking your headshot outside, make sure to take your photo in front of a window when there is plenty natural coming in the room.
Don't
Take photos under house lights, lamps etc. The lighting came come off with a yellowish tint, which is not appealing in a professional headshot.
Related Article: DO THESE 4 THINGS ON LINKEDIN & YOU WILL HAVE RECRUITERS SLIDING IN YOUR DMS
Do
Edit your photos a bit to make them the best quality possible. Even if you take your images with a higher quality camera, you may need to make some minor adjustments like improving the contrast or appropriate cropping.
You can never go wrong with a simple headshot against a plain background.
Don't
Add an Instagram X-ProII filter (or any other social media appropriate filter for that matter) to your photo.
A picture is worth a thousand words, so make sure your LinkedIn photo is screaming “hire me because I am the BOMB!"
Check out the gallery below for some of our favorite LinkedIn headshots and share with us how you'll be utilizing these tips to boost the chances of recruiters sliding into your DM's!
Get more career tips and tricks by visiting our xo Business section!
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Oprah Winfrey On Never Experiencing Imposter Syndrome: 'I Had To Look It Up'
If you’ve ever wondered what type of mindset it takes to reach icon status like Oprah Winfrey, it’s probably best to start by knowing which one she’s managed to avoid over her long-standing career.
And let’s just say imposter syndrome didn’t make the cut.
While promoting her new book, Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier, with her co-author Arthur C. Brooks, Oprah shared in an interview with People that when it comes to imposter syndrome, it’s one emotion she hasn’t experienced.
"I don't have any of that imposter feelings that so many people have," she says. "I didn't even understand it, I had to look it up."
According to the acclaimed talk-show host and media mogul, she attributes this to her early life experiences, specifically the impact of her father's influence as a child. "I remember as a young girl being a strong orator in the national competition for speaking and winning the local championships, then the state championships. And then placing, I think it was No. 3 or something, in the nationals," Winfrey shares.
"And I remember after every contest, the families whose kids were just in the contest were going to celebrate and their families were all excited. My father's thing was, 'Get your coat.'"
She continues, "I learned, in all these years, every exciting thing that would happen to me it was always, that's good, get your coat. Get your coat. I don't know if that was ingrained in my personality or I just learned that nobody's going to be excited about it, so you might as well just get your coat and go. I don't have high highs and I don't have low lows. Which is a good thing, because no matter what I'm going through, I know I'm going to come out of it and be okay."
Impostor syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon, is a psychological perspective of persistent self-doubt and the feeling of being a fraud despite evidence of one's competence, skills, or accomplishments. People experiencing imposter syndrome often believe that their success is due to luck or external factors rather than their own abilities and fear that others will eventually discover that they are not as capable or knowledgeable as they appear to be.
With over 40 years of accolades and history-making impact, it’s clear that Winfrey doesn’t shy away from the fact that her success is due to her hard work and diligence, with everything in her life being that of what she earned — which she finds deep value in: “the ability to live in the space of true appreciation for a life, not just well lived, but well-earned."
From coming from the lineage of an enslaved great-grandfather who earned 80 acres of land in exchange for labor, to becoming the first Black woman billionaire in the world without the foundation of generational wealth, Winfrey beams proudly at her ability to shift her and her family’s legacy for the better.
"I didn't have a grandfather, a great-grandfather who could give me land. But now...I am able to have my own and to know that I work for it. And it wasn't a husband that did it. It wasn't a brother or an uncle, or whatever did it, but I did it," Winfrey says.
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