First impressions count: tips on taking a professional photo for job applications

To leave a lasting impression on potential employers, making a great first impression is key. This starts with your job application or LinkedIn profile, where a professional photo can significantly influence how you're perceived. After all, you're giving them a literal picture of who you are, and a headshot can even have a greater impact than your cover letter or professional experience.

But what do you need to think about when it comes to an application photo? As a provider of tailored photo products, ifolor got in touch with recruiters and career advisors to get their advice on what the perfect application photo should look like. Expectations differ depending on the industry, and certain images can even harm your chances of getting the job! In this blog post, we’ve put together their tips and tricks to help you create the perfect, professional-looking application photo.

Although many companies in the UK don’t ask for application photos due to anti-discrimination guidelines, a picture on your CV can still help to make a good impression on hiring managers. According to Melissa Haymerle, the Global Director of Strategic Clients at Michael Page Zürich, in much of continental Europe, it's still standard practice to include a photo on your CV. This is because a headshot gives hiring teams a glimpse into the applicant's personality. Melissa says it’s important that your headshot displays a certain authenticity, however, the photo shouldn’t look too posed or set up.

Ultimately, a photo on your CV or LinkedIn profile is usually the first visual impression that potential employers will get of you. Matteo Giordano, an application coach and founder of perfectjob.ch, confirmed this. The job application expert said that a good professional photo can capture the attention of hiring teams, and it shows who the applicant is beyond what’s on the resume: “The photo is always the first thing they look at, and this can make a good (or bad) first impression that affects how they view your whole profile.” A good professional photo can contribute to you being perceived as competent, reliable and approachable.

Even though many companies don't ask for a photo in their job adverts, it doesn't do any harm to include one, especially if you're applying for jobs abroad. In German-speaking countries, for example, photos on applications are still favoured, according to Matteo Giordano. A photo on your CV catches the eye of hiring managers and makes your application more engaging. Candidates who seem personable are more likely to get the job than other candidates with the same level of qualifications for the role.

Stephen Greet, the CEO and co-founder of BeamJobs, helps people create winning CVs and cover letters. He said a professional photo on your application can make all the difference, and it can be important for networking, too. For example, some of his clients have been recognised immediately by potential employers at conferences and industry events because they had an up-to-date LinkedIn photo. They were able to strike up conversations straight away and turn a virtual connection into a real-life one.

We’ve put together tips from the experts to help you achieve the perfect photo for LinkedIn and job applications, including insights on what to wear and how to choose a background.

1. Neutral background

Choose a light, neutral background for your photo so that all the attention is on you. Recruiters recommend avoiding a busy background because it distracts from the person in the picture rather than allowing the focus to be on them.

This also applies to props like sunglasses, headphones or flashy jewellery. It may be perfectly fine to post fun pictures in your new accessories on social media, but a professional photo has a different look. You’ll want to avoid having friends, family and pets in your photo, too.

2. Looking smart

What should you wear in a professional photo? A smart appearance shows potential employers that you know what’s appropriate in the world of work. This is especially important for customer-facing job roles or in industries with strict dress codes. Here, you can get ahead in the application process by presenting a smart, polished appearance.

From his recruitment experience in many countries, Lucas Botzen, the CEO of Rivermate, said that the wrong outfit and a scruffy appearance are some of the biggest mistakes you can make during your job search: “A slick, professional photo shows recruiters that the applicant is someone who takes their career seriously and will be able to represent the company well.” In summary, a good headshot shows companies that you’re up to the task.

3. Posture and facial expression

A natural pose and neutral facial expression make the best impression on potential employers. You can exude confidence, approachability and professionalism with your posture, showing that you possess the qualities a company is looking for. A relaxed posture shows that you feel comfortable in your own skin and are happy to work in a professional environment.

Experts recommend the following tips for adopting a professional posture:

• Look at the camera: Look directly at the camera and turn slightly to show off your best side. This will help your facial features seem open and engaging.

• Choose a positive facial expression: A slight smile can show that you’re friendly and personable. When you're having your photo taken, just think about something nice!

• Pay attention to good posture: Sit or stand up straight and relax your shoulders. An upright posture shows that you're engaged, confident and professional.

• Create eye contact: Look directly into the camera so that the photo creates eye contact with the person looking at it. This helps you appear self-assured and trustworthy.

• Choose the right chin angle: Keep your chin level or slightly tucked down so that you look approachable and avoid any unwanted shadows.

• Tilt your head slightly: A slight tilt of the head to the side looks friendly and open. But don’t tilt your head too much - make sure the pose still looks natural.

According to Matteo Giordano, different industries have very different expectations when it comes to professional photos. For example, recruiters in finance and other more traditional industries will expect to see a formal, sensible photo. In creative industries, on the other hand, you can usually get away with more unique or quirky photos. The IT industry is somewhere in between, where photos can be more casual as long as the candidate looks well put together.

• For men, it’s usually standard to wear a suit and tie. You should also be clean-shaven or have a well-kept beard
• Women should be well dressed in a blazer or a smart dress and can wear subtle make-up
• Tip: Dress conservatively for your photo and go for a more serious, neutral expression.

These industries prefer conventional images with a neutral background and smart clothing, as this look fits in with their work culture.

• In professional photos for roles in the tech industry, men can wear business casual. A nice shirt without a tie is usually fine.
• Women should opt for a smart yet comfy outfit.
• Tip: Your photo should look good, but it can be a bit less formal than it would be for a more traditional industry.

According to Stephen Greet, tech companies tend to be more relaxed and favour pictures that communicate openness and approachability. However, the photos should still remain in the realm of a professional image.

• Men can wear chic casual wear to show a bit more personality.
• For women, stylish yet professional clothing is best - and you can have a bit more freedom when it comes to accessories and make-up.
• Tip: Show a bit of your creative side, but be sure to keep your portrait professional.

Because originality and creativity are sought-after attributes in creative industries, career advisors recommend impactful or artistic pictures that show the applicant’s style and personality.

Coach Matteo Giordano advises people to base their photos on the ones on the company website of their ideal employer - and to wear different outfits for different industries during the photo shoot.

Recruiters have seen it all when it comes to headshots. These examples show just how important it is to use professional photos:

1. Party animal

One candidate stuck out to Lucas Botzen thanks to an unusual headshot indicating the applicant liked to party. The candidate submitted a CV with a photo of himself with “no shirt and a cocktail in hand” at a beach party. The photo failed to make the serious, professional impression needed for the job vacancy.

2. Spontaneous selfie

One of Lucas Botzen’s applicants used a selfie for his LinkedIn profile picture, where he was pulling a face and making a peace sign. In his eyes, a photo like that is completely unsuitable for job hunting and professional networking. He said pictures like this could give the impression that you don’t understand workplace etiquette - or deliberately ignore it. This puts you at a disadvantage because potential employers may no longer take your qualifications and experience seriously.

3. Four-legged friend

Of course, we love our pets - but should they really be in our photos on job applications? One of Stephen Greet's clients used a photo of her snuggling her dog. It was a very sweet photo, but totally unsuitable for a job application - after all, they weren't applying for a position caring for animals! The photo devalued the candidate’s excellent CV and impressive experience.

Even if you have a very close relationship with your dog or cat, your pets shouldn't be featured in a job application photo. Highlight your qualifications and experience with a sensible application and include an impactful, well-lit photo.

Recruiters all agree that selfies or photos that look old or out-of-date aren’t appropriate for a job application. When it comes to funny or quirky photos for creative industries, Matteo Giordano recommends using your intuition to make sure the photos “support the applicant’s eligibility for the role and don't come across as silly.”

Take advice from professionals and choose high-quality pictures for your job application. With an amiable smile, create the impression that you're competent and look forward to mastering the challenges of your new job with ease.