⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

What Your Profile Photo Is Telling Employers (Infographic) Yes, your resume is important, but as with any real-world encounter, it's the photo that makes that crucial first impression.

By Laura Entis

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Nirzar Pangarkar | StockSnap.io

With more than 90 percent of employers recruiting through social media, you can't afford to ignore how you present yourself visually on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook but most importantly, of course, LinkedIn.

You only get one chance to make a good first impression, and while your resume is important, it's your photo that gets noticed first. Recruiters spend an average of six seconds per LinkedIn profile, dedicating19 percent of that brief window to looking at the photograph, an ample amount of time to form an initial impression (researchers from Princeton Universityfound that it takes us a mere 1/10 of a second to judge someone else based on a photo).

So how can you wow a potential employer via a photograph? Firstly, don't obstruct the eyes. Sunglasses make wearers appear 10 percent less likeable, and if your hair covers your eyes in a photo, your perceived competence decreases by 15 percent, according to an infographic from career blog AvidCareerist. For more tips on how to increase your likeability, competence and influence via your social media photo, check out the infographic below.

Click to Enlarge+
What Your Profile Photo Is Telling Employers (Infographic)

Related: From Marco Polo to Mark Zuckerberg: The Evolution of the Entrepreneur (Infographic)

Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.

Money & Finance

4 Promising Industries Investors Should Be Watching in 2024

Wondering whether your industry is on the decline or set to expand? Read on for these predictions on the best sectors for growth in 2024.