Surveys show that 92% of employers search for candidates on social media during their recruitment campaign, 93% of recruiters will use LinkedIn to discover talent and 89% of recruiters have hired through LinkedIn. What is the first thing they see when they search for you? Your profile picture, of course.

In our fast-paced world of wanting information and wanting it now, your picture can very quickly establish rapport with the person recruiting. Equally, a bad headshot or a controversial picture can stop your opportunity dead in its tracks.

Possibly the worst thing you can do is to have no profile picture at all. Social media today interviewed recruiters, and when asked what made them not click through on certain people, having no profile picture was one of the reasons cited. To have no profile picture is to say nothing about yourself, which is not what you want during your job search campaign.

Another common mistake is to take a snapshot that you like, such as the one of yourself and your partner at Jim's wedding, and crop it to show your head. It's still not a professional headshot and it doesn't fool anyone! Often the lighting in these photos are poor, and so you either don't look your best, or you think you look your best because it's so dark, no-one can see your wrinkles!! The outfit is often not the one you would choose for your headshot and there is no care shown to the brand and message you are trying to send.

I've often seen inappropriate pictures for the profile shot. Pictures out socialising, possibly holding a drink. Whilst there's nothing wrong with unwinding and having fun on the weekend, it's not the picture you want to paint with your potential employers. Especially, when your competition has a great headshot exuding confidence and professionalism.

I also recommend cleaning out your social media for your job searching campaign. Lock your social media down, so that people don't read things meant for close friends, and so they turn their focus to LinkedIn, where everything is work related and the message you want to send. It's a great idea to make your profile picture the same on each social media platform, so that people searching you can find you easily, and know that you are being transparent.

Another mistake is the DIY headshot. Everyone has a camera and everyone is a photographer, right? Not so.

A professional photographer will have the best equipment and will have lighting. They will know which focal length lens is the best one to use (no-one likes to look heavier than they are!). A professional photographer will know the rules and where to place the lights and how to pose you. Your photographer will also work with you to create a photoshoot that matches your brief, the message you are trying to convey. Some professions have positive and negative stereotypes, and we are considerate of this when we are photographing you. A counsellor needs to look approachable and empathetic, and a CEO needs to look confident and smart. We work with you, develop a brief to match the message you want to convey and we organise the lighting and shoot around that.

It is true that people form opinions within 7 seconds of meeting you. The same can be said of your picture. Your recruiter is comparing potential candidates, so give them reason to pick you out from the crowd of applicants to move forward with.