Add a Headshot To Your Personal Brand Toolbox

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T-shirts, flip flops and tank tops are great—for the beach and lounging around your house. Generation Y may be taking over the workforce, but the apparel of the new generation is not. If you want someone to take you seriously, immediately let them know you mean business—put a photo in front of them that does just that.

As you know, the job market is highly competitive. Set your site, your portfolio, or even your resume apart from the rest and give it a personal and professional feel. Integrate a headshot.

This does not mean take a MySpace-esque photo of yourself in the bathroom mirror. The background, the lighting, and the pose all send a message, and you want that message to be professional.

You’re probably thinking, “I am on a college budget. There is no way I can afford the hundreds of dollars needed to get what I am looking for.” But with all the new advancements in photo gear, your roommate might be a sufficient photographer to start the transformation from student to top level CEO. Start simple: ask your friends if they know of anyone who does photography. Many college-age photographers are skilled but are still looking to build their portfolio and may be willing to exchange the photos for your time. A few minutes in front of the camera will reveal the inexpensive opportunity that exists to increase your professional appeal. Potential employers will be able to put a face to the person they are reading about and that could make all the difference when they are thinking back over all their applicants.

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  • http://www.harveypalmer.com.au/ourblog Luke Harvey-Palmer

    Too true..here in Australia, the headshot has always been controversial – seen as a very American thing to do! People are stating to understand though that people buy people, and that an image is important! Only to be avoided if you have a rough head!

  • http://Brand-Yourself.com Pete Kistler

    Luke,

    Good to hear from you – I’m a fan of your blog. (For our readers, Luke’s blog, “Chief Brand Officer,” is here: http://www.harveypalmer.com.au/ourblog).

    There are many reasons to include a headshot in your personal branding efforts. Here are two that come immediately to mind:

    1. Without a headshot, you’re only branding your name – which THOUSANDS of other people share! This is especially true if you have a common name. How can you expect to stand out if there’s no immediate way to recognize you from the rest of the pack?

    2. Visual learners make up 65% of the population. That means words alone may not make enough of an impact to leave a lasting, memorable impression. And that’s what brand-building is all about.

    Thanks for the comment and keep em coming,
    - Pete Kistler
    CEO, Brand-Yourself.com

  • http://blog.brand-yourself.com/2009/how-to-brand-yourself/ How to Brand Yourself | Brand-Yourself.com Blog

    [...] You have to go through the process of filling in your entire profile – including your bio and a professional headshot. There is nothing worse than coming to someone’s profile that is not cohesively put together or [...]