Profile Photo on Linkedin

[heni30]

Are Profile photos on Linkedin kind of discriminatory in a way? It's common knowledge that good looking people get more attention, more promotions, more perks, etc. It's seems like the internet, with it's early anonymity, was the great equalizer in terms of people being judged by their knowledge/character without physical appearance coming into the picture.

 

It's important on a site, say, like Match.com but what is the relevance of a photo in a professional context other than sales? Other than showing that someone went to a studio photographer and hence shows more personal initiative.

Edited April 8, 2014 by heni30

[Corey Beaulieu]

This is a weird post...

 

Names are not the most unique thing in the world and photos help especially when you know the person. They also help familiarize yourself with new people so introductions are more comfortable. Looks hardly play a role in Linked-In not to mention the level of photography could represent anything from ones own vanity to the person having taken a head-shot for the website.

 

It would appear that you are being judgmental towards others and have now become paranoid that others are judging you.

[heni30]

Not paranoid -just kinda seeing that I'm guilty of being judgmental and it doesn't seem right. And more in a context, if say, I was going to pick out some people to help on a big project remotely and that might come into the picture subconsciously.

[Corey Beaulieu]

I guess, but a good artist is hard to find. You are best off judging the work and not the person especially when outsourcing work that will have your name on it.

[CliveG]

Some of the best interior designers I've had the privilege to work with have been short fat bald middle aged men. In an industry supposedly for the exact opposite, sadly sometimes companies didn't have the guts to stand behind these individuals and felt they had to put a stereotypical female trendy designer between them and the client, because someone (them or the client) just couldn't get past the perception issue.

 

Can't judge the book by the cover, I don't think LinkedIn should encourage it. I actively avoided cv's with photo's myself and called interviews on merit.

 

But heck.... We're all good with photoshop, we could look like gods if we really want?

[heni30]

I nominate Scott (VelvetElvis) for having the best pic with nicnic a close second with his Kafka-seque grasshopper head.

 

Some of the best interior designers I've had the privilege to work with have been short fat bald middle aged men. In an industry supposedly for the exact opposite, sadly sometimes companies didn't have the guts to stand behind these individuals and felt they had to put a stereotypical female trendy designer between them and the client, because someone (them or the client) just couldn't get past the perception issue.

 

If you're a head hunter skimming through profiles; would you lean towards a Ryan Gosling type or a Danny Devito type, both having similar qualifications posted?

Edited April 10, 2014 by heni30

[Scott Dombrowski]

I nominate Scott (VelvetElvis) for having the best pic.

 

Darn, for a brief moment I thought you meant me.

[RyderSK]

I believe a photo helps with connecting on certain level for most people and help create more trusted and serious image and I find the anonymity of internet slightly annoying. I can say on my behalf, I do not really trust people with complete alter-ego on internet (no photo or even real name) as such anonymity encourages completely different behaviour from their true themselves. After all, we can see the amount of trolling, rude behaviour,etc. I actually almost find it pointless to discuss with such people.

Any time I am contacted by someone over email, for any purpose, I do check their LinkedIn first, who they are, what they do, what are their credentials. If I find the information insufficient, I tend to ignore the person. I do not have the luxury to meet all my clients in real-life, so I need to evaluate them on different measure and means.

On side note, I also don't take seriously people on professional boards who claim to have certain expertise, without them having direct link to their work and credentials somewhere on internet. Their opinions and advice can be very sound, but it's still undervalued by the disconnection to where they really stand.

My stance might seem judgemental but I find it natural and it helps me categorise people's merit faster and easier.

[Corey Beaulieu]

My stance might seem judgemental but I find it natural and it helps me categorise people's merit faster and easier.

 

Wanting a little proof of ability from the people you engage with is hardly judgmental. Just don't assume they are bad or stupid because they aren't attractive.

[RyderSK]

I am not evaluting their looks :- ) But it's important for me to see if it's someone to trust. If all I can find is name without any attachment to who they are and what they do it's very suspicious, privacy is understood, I am not looking at their private information, but professional one (that's why I go to LinkedIn and not their Facebook ). And photo helps on subconscious level as well.

[heni30]

I guess the reason I brought this up was that I had been communicating with a project architect over the phone about a possible job and I went to their office yesterday to meet with him. Over the phone he sounded intelligent, professional and articulate. When I met him he was gaunt and scraggly and very gawky and bizarre looking. It was striking. Nicest, smartest guy in the world but he would not make a good impression in a Profile Photo.

 

I guess that's just our social reality and the only way to solve it would be to require everyone, men and women, to wear burqas.

 

Initially, and I stress initially, looks will have an advantage.

Edited April 8, 2014 by heni30

[Ismael]

Interestingly, on this blog so far only Juraj and me have their age posted. I am 58 and very unlikely I'l start to post "selfies" of myself.

Is there discrimination in the work place and in hiring, I believe so (not everyone is nice like you all guys). Does a photo help in 'connecting'? It depends, which is why most times the

creator or owner of a product get substituted for a model.

 

As for Linkein, if you have a good network of professional people backing you up (specially good looking and young too...), you are in like Shrek! Some people swear by sun glasses too...

[Nic H]

i try to give away as little as possible online

i dont feel its good to share anything but work

real life is a different matter

 

had to close my linkedin a few year ago due to the it having that featire where people can see if you have looked at their profile. facebook is invasive and borderline illegal as well IMO

[Tommy L]

I am extremely handsome. I mean it, Im really, really sexy. There are few 3d people who could handle it if they met me in person. I rarely go out in public in case I get flash mobbed by real flashers. I try to play this down in my online persona in case it affects my credit rating. Most regular people think I only exist in adverts. My six-pack invented the term sickspk. Luckily my modesty matches my sexy-thang so I can get away with it.

If anyone wants to hire me, just dial 1-ate-hungry-sexy-sexy-sexy. grrrrrwwoooowwwwwww.

 

In case you didnt thunk it, I dont reckon your online photo in any way affects your hire-ability.

Edited April 10, 2014 by Tommy L

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

I am extremely handsome. I mean it, Im really, really sexy. There are few 3d people who could handle it if they met me in person. I rarely go out in public in case I get flash mobbed by real flashers. I try to play this down in my online persona in case it affects my credit rating. Most regular people think I only exist in adverts. My six-pack invented the term sickspk. Luckily my modesty matches my sexy-thang so I can get away with it.

If anyone wants to hire me, just dial 1-ate-hungry-sexy-sexy-sexy. grrrrrwwoooowwwwwww.

 

In case you didnt thunk it, I dont reckon your online photo in any way affects your hire-ability.

 

http://goo.gl/H9tYi

 

You will be hired on your personality and skill not your profile photo. The story that sex sells will likely always be true but personality, skill, and ability are the traits that are needed to excel in the viz industry.

Edited April 10, 2014 by Crazy Homeless Guy

[Nic H]

here is a recent pic of me

[RyderSK]

 

had to close my linkedin a few year ago due to the it having that featire where people can see if you have looked at their profile. facebook is invasive and borderline illegal as well IMO

 

I have to say this feature bothered me likewise, I found it extremely strange. It can be easily switched off though.

[DanGrover]

I have a photo of me lying on a sofa with my girlfriend's lovely dog lying on my lap. I figure that for every potential opportunity my ugly mug loses me, the dog gains me one, so it's a wash.

[Scott Schroeder]

So what you are saying is that on social networks, if I really want people to believe me when I tell them in my spare time I am a millionaire cowboy astronaut. Then I need a picture of myself to prove it? Seems valid enough.

 

[harryhirsch]

well...people want skills from someone but ''people hire people''...and people like attractive people...in some European countries u have to have a picture on ur CV...it doesnt seem fair but sooner or later you have to show urself (business meeting, job interview) plenty of studies show that HR director go for looks and the looks/pictures is worth 50% to even 70% of ur application

[heni30]

There was this article about plastic surgery in Silicon Valley and these young people who are totally paranoid about looking youthful and constantly getting touch-up procedures because of the

"young wunderkind" stereo-type. Head hunters are being hesitant about considering people past 35.

Edited April 11, 2014 by heni30

[Nic H]

in australia its a bit weird to put your date of birth and picture on a job application

[RyderSK]

in australia its a bit weird to put your date of birth and picture on a job application

 

Is it because of some anti-discrimination law ?

 

While picture is seldomly required, age is almost universally mandatory over here. At silent case, mostly to discriminate against 50+ category.

[anejo]

Even a quality photo couldn’t tell you about someone character. I once read that a person eyes (yes their 2 little eyes) could tell you a lot about their intellectual and personality qualities. This could explain why people wear sunglasses in their profiles.

 

I wouldn’t put a lot of stock into someone’s Linkedin profile, it’s a good starting point. But in some cases profiles can be a bit exaggerated. Its best to keep your expectations about someone balanced until you meet them.

 

This may sound old school, but after you exonerated your examination of someone Linkedin profile, its best to just use common sense, could be your best tool. If you have any doubts its best to just move on.

 

As far as age ago, I think once you’re in your 40’s, weather you have a superior Linkedin profile or not, you better have a good network of ex co-workers and ex bosses that liked you because those could be your best source for future employment. A good recruiter also helps.