How important is presentation?

Photo Credit: Werner Kaffl

How did you react to my photo?  Was it intriguing? Is it too scary?  Am I looking into your soul? More importantly did it help pull you in to read this article?

What light does this photo immediate place on your impression of me?

You see whether we like it or not people will paint a picture about how they feel about you.  In extreme cases that can be the difference between getting an interview, winning a new customer or whether a potential life partner decides to make contact.  It also dictates what sort of people you will attract.

I think most people understand how important it is to present themselves in the best possible light.  Yet when you troll through Facebook or LinkedIn and our very own JobCafe you will find the majority of photos representing people are of a poor quality.  Many of the LinkedIn profiles I visit are incomplete yet these same people will be the first to complain that “I get no leads from LinkedIn” or “Nobody has ever reached out to me as a result of my JobCafe profile”.

As a person who works primarily in the talent management sector I can tell you now Recruiters, Coaches switched on HR people are using these tools to find or checkout your profile.  Customers are checking you out before you call.

There are so many fish in the on-line sea these days so much so it becomes automatic to skip those who just “could not be bothered” or “I used the camera on my PC, was always going to replace it” .

The reality for all of us is the landscape of finding people is changing dramatically and if you want to take advantage of this technology the time to take it most seriously is right now.

Anyway … so here are my tips on how to look great online

1.  Use a professional photographer to create your online photos
2. Make sure you look as professional as you need for the industry or purpose your profile is for. The right photographer will help you here.
3. Back this up with the way you look when you meet people in real life.
4. Do the research on people who have a similar career path or business as yourself. How are they presenting themselves?  Set your bar with the people who present themselves the best.
5. Checkout this wiki site that gives some great tips http://www.wikihow.com/Present-Yourself-in-the-Best-Possible-Way
6. Ask your better half – and listen to them.

Finally.  It feels great when you get that haircut or see yourself in that new suit?  You look great and feel great – this is the moment you ring your photographer.  Refresh your look on a regular basis and you are halfway there.