Perception matters when it comes to making connections and looking for employment, and it can mean the difference between getting the job or not. With the rise of social media, it’s important your online image shows potential employers how professional you are. Every phone and has a camera now, but that doesn’t mean you should attach your newest selfie to your resume – no matter how good the filter is. To present yourself in a professional way, you need a professional headshot. While you may think using the self-timer on your old digital camera is good enough, a professional photographer can compose an image unmatched by any DIY efforts. Below are just a few reasons why you should stop taking your own headshots and leave it to the experts at Shrapnel Media.
First Impressions
Whether it’s a picture on your resume or an icon online, employers will make up their minds about you within seconds. According to the Harvard Study of Communications, visual elements make up 55% of a first impression, so it’s important you start off on the right foot. If your picture isn’t on the same level as your abilities, you run the risk of an employer dismissing you before they have the chance to understand what an asset you could be to their company. In addition, headshots not taken by a professional photographer could potentially look cheap, which would give off the impression you may not be taking your job search seriously.
Stand Out
Aside from family portraits and wedding photos, you might be hard-pressed to find someone who has had a professional picture taken. Anyone without a professional portrait is doing themselves a disservice because they are allowing themselves to fade into the background and become part of the plethora of people who are overlooked in the hiring process. Before creating a good first impression you need to grab the attention of employers, and a professional headshot will allow you to make an impact and stand out from the rest of the job-searching crowd.
Related: Why Company Branding is Important
Represent
Your headshot is not only a representation of you but also of any business you could come to be a part of. Businesses want to hire people they would be proud to be associated with, and it’s important an employee is in line with the standards set by the company’s image. Professionals know how to use their equipment and how to coach subjects to create an image that best serves its intended purpose. If you want employers to know you will easily be able to live up to their standards and represent their company, a well-taken headshot will communicate that.
While it is tempting to go the selfie route, if you’re serious about getting a job or moving up in the professional world you need to be equally serious about your image. Headshots will not only help you impress employers but also help you keep up a professional image once you are with a company. Having a headshot taken by a professional may seem inessential, but it can make a world of difference when it comes to looking for a job.
Looking for a professional photographer to do your office headshot? Call Shrapnel Media to schedule your session.