Tuesday, February 16, 2016

6 Keys to Picking the Perfect LinkedIn Profile Picture


By now you don't need me to tell you that first impressions are everything. And never has there been a truer statement than when it comes to LinkedIn profiles. You might have the most impressive resume but before they read the first word of your profile, prospective employers and clients visiting your page are going to see your picture.

And since a bad first impression could cost you a job or a valuable contact/networking opportunity, your profile picture is arguably one of the most important elements of your profile.

To make sure you're putting your best foot (or shall I say, face) out there, your picture should convey your competence, likability, and influence.

In a recent study by PhotoFeeler profile photos and their impressions were studied to determine what elements created the ideal profile photo for social media sites and blog profiles. The study was based on over 60,000 ratings of perceived competence, likability, and influence.


6 Tips for Picking the Perfect LinkedIn Picture

1. Your Picture Should Be of You

This isn't Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn is a network for professionals not cartoons and cats. Your profile picture should be of your face, and nothing else. 

2. Ditch the Sunglasses, Wear Some Eyeglasses

You may think that you look cool in a pair of designer sunglasses, but everyone else is thinking the opposite. The study showed a decrease in likability for all profile photos of people wearing sunglasses. However, people wearing eyeglasses were seen as more competent (smarter!) and likable. Now I'm not saying to go out and get some fake glasses, you should still be honest about your true self.

3. Smile So Big Your Eyes Squinch

To me, this one seemed weird but the data proves it's true. Wide and open eyes are psychologically perceived as someone that is in a state of fear and squinched eyes are perceived as someone that portrays comfort and confidence, which are traits desired in the workplace.

4. Showcase Your Winning Grin

The open mouthed smile had the largest impact on likability than any other feature that was rated. It also had a positive impact on both competence and influence. In contrast, the closed mouth smile had half of the impact on likability and did not have any positive effect on competence and influence.

5. Dress to Impress

Those who wore a blazer (and tie, if applicable), there was a significant positive impact on perceived competence and influence. The more conservative looks outperformed trendy or unusual colors.

6. Turn on the Lights

People prefer well lit photos. Dark photos had a significant negative impact on likability. When you take your photo make sure the lighting is good. Better yet, natural lighting will give you the best results.



Follow these steps and, statistically, your profile should see more hits as you are seen as a competent, likable, and influential professional. For more tips on your profile picture, see what the people at LinkedIn think.

Monday, February 15, 2016

The 10 Best Apps for Young Professionals

It’s no secret that I am a bit nerdy and obsessed with being organized and on top of things. I'm also obsessed with staying up to speed on the latest and greatest technologies. And since my phone is one thing I simply can’t live without, I'm always searching for great apps to make my work and personal life more efficient.

Now I've done the dirty work for you and tried out a bunch of apps to put together a list of the top 12 mobile apps for young professionals. Take a peek below—you’ll wonder how you ever functioned without these lifesavers.



For the Office
30/30: (iOS) When you’re pulled in a 100 different directions at work, it can be hard to focus. 30/30 helps manage your work cycles by setting timers for tasks. When a timer is running, you can focus on getting one task done without distractions.

Doodle: (iOS; Android) When scheduling a meeting with many people from different workplaces, finding a time that works for everyone can be next to impossible. Doodle lets meeting participants submit their daily schedules and then comes up with feasible meeting times for everyone.

Trello: (iOS; Android) This is project management made easy! Trello is great for collaborating with a team—especially when brainstorming ideas, allocating tasks, and monitoring checklists.

LastPass: (iOS; Android) Nothing drives me crazier than having passwords that expire every 60 days (and can't repeat for 5 years). If you're like me then that means you probably also have a million tricky passwords to remember. With LastPass you can store all your passwords in one single and secure place.

For Home
Our Home: (iOS; Android) When everyone in your house has a packed schedule it is hard to get everyone into a room. Our Home is a private social network for families and roommate situations that allows everyone to organize and assign tasks and chores as well as create and share grocery lists. Members of your household can choose which things they want to accomplish and check them off as their completed. No more post-its all over the house saying "more toilet paper" or "the sink is leaking" with Our Home.

Mint: (iOS; Android) This app helps you keep an eye on your hard-earned money. Monitor multiple bank accounts and investments all in one place. You can use it to set spending limits for categories and it will even alert you when you're coming close or you went over. Plus, the app helps you pay bills on time and budget for big expenses.

Venmo: (iOS; Android) A must-have app for instantly sending money to other people. You can use it to pay coworkers for your half of lunch or for quickly pitching in on that group birthday gift for a friend.

Just for Fun
Refinery29 This AM: (iOS) Created by Refiner29, a media company catering to a young female demographic,Refinery29 This AM delivers a round-up of curated news stories to readers, meant to be viewed first thing in the morning. Stories are presented on eight different cards in the app, and focus on topics including world events, celebrity news, politics and fashion.

Daily Burn: (iOS, Android) As much as I love using work and being too busy as an excuse to skip the gym, I know I really need to find more time for exercising. But with Daily Burn I have no excuse! Daily Burn redefines fitness with online workout videos, nutrition and coaching. In addition to the library of workouts and courses, there is a daily class that airs every morning that covers something different every day. All the workout sessions are streaming so you can get them at home and on the go!

theSkimm: This one isn't exactly an app (yet) but it is still worth noting. theSkimm is a daily e-mail newsletter that gives you everything you need to start your day. They know you don't have time to visit multiple publications in search for all the important news so they do the reading for you and break down the latest news and information with fresh editorial content.

Do you have any apps you'd add to this list? Tell me in the comments!

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