Networking or job hunting on LinkedIn? You only get one chance to make a positive first impression. Don’t let a lackluster profile picture prevent you from making the right connections.

Get noticed for the right reasons -- give your profile picture a refresh with these 5 simple tips!

Dress to Impress

Pictures of you in shorts and a t-shirt at your friend’s barbeque don’t belong on your profile.

The rule of thumb? Dress for the position you want. Blazers, dress shirts, and blouses are always strong options. Feel free to show off your personality with understated pops of color (think chunky jewelry or a fun tie).

Choose a Simple Background

According to LinkedIn, your face should take up 60% of the frame.

Don’t overcomplicate your picture with a distracting background. The focus should be on you, not what you’re standing in front of. Choose a simple background like a plain wall, bricks, or an outdoor setting. If you’re in a pinch, you can make a DIY backdrop with fabric or poster board. 

 

Lighting

Great lighting is the key to a killer picture! Always take your pictures during the day so that you can take advantage of natural light. Shooting near a window or doorway with an indirect light source can help create beautiful soft images.

If you’re shooting outside, avoid direct sunlight. It’s way too harsh and you’ll end up squinting in every frame. Find an area with open shade (next to trees or a building) for the perfectly balanced lighting. 

 

Avoid Crazy Filters

Save Nashville and Toaster for Instagram. When it comes to profile pictures, clarity is what counts. Feel free to adjust the brightness and saturation to help punch up the color... just don’t go overboard!

Smile

It may seem silly, but smiling always makes a difference in pictures. Look directly into the camera and smile warmly and genuinely. Your potential connections will get the sense that you’re friendly and approachable!

One last note…

Your picture is all about you! Don’t be too serious. Have fun and show off your personality… just do it in a professional way!

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Professional Creative Services in Greensboro and Winston Salem

Whether you’re a recent grad or a seasoned professional, Hue & Tone Creative can help you stand out from the competition. From personal branding to business and resume design, Hue & Tone Creative is here to create a custom look for YOU.

Like a strong resume, a well written cover letter, and strong recommendations, a well cultivated LinkedIn page can help you land your dream job. But snagging a recruiter's attention with your profile can take a bit of elbow grease -- you'll have to get your profile up to date and stay active. Do that, and LinkedIn may just be the secret weapon your job search needs.

So, let's start turning some heads...

Put your best face forward

Having a professional photo makes your page 14 times more likely to pop up in search results. Fortunately, most people have the common sense to avoid unprofessional selfies and dog face filters. If you really want to step up your profile picture game, we recommend taking a simple headshot against a neutral background.

Keep your profile picture recent: If you’re rocking a Jennifer Anniston hairstyle from Friend’s, it’s time for a new picture. 

Not all industries have the same dress code, so be sure to choose an outfit that reflects the position you’re looking for. Searching for a position as a lawyer or a CPA? Wear a suit! Designers, programmers, and creative job seekers can typically keep it casual.

Not sure about the dress code? Dressier is always better. 

Create an attention grabbing headline

Most recruiters are going to scroll past a boring headline.

Sell yourself and entice people into visiting your page by using creative and descriptive headlines. Simply listing “Freelance Designer” doesn’t tell people what you do or why they should connect with you.

• Before you create your headline ask yourself a few questions:
• What do you do?
• What is your specialty?
• Why should a recruiter hire you?
• What do you bring to the table?
• Do you have any certifications or professional accomplishments?

After considering what you bring to the table, incorporate it into your headline. “Innovative Digital Freelance Artist  |  Specializes in Comprehensive Logo Design and Personalized Branding” is much more descriptive and packs more of a punch than “Freelance Designer."

Quality over Quantity

Before you start looking for new leads and connections, try building up your contacts with friends and coworkers. 

Like most people on LinkedIn, you’ve probably received a random request from someone halfway across the world. Some people are under the impression that a huge LinkedIn network equals networking success.

The reality is, a few genuine and meaningful connections are better than a list of hundreds of random strangers you’ll never meet (or probably even talk to). Don’t worry about the amount of contacts you have. Instead, focus on making genuine connections with past coworkers, managers, and recruiters.

Show Interest

Have a dream company? Follow them! This will keep you up to date on any big news, business successes, and job openings. Having a bank of knowledge about your top companies keeps you in the loop and prepared for interview questions when they arise.

Show off your Skills

Endorsements are an excellent way to be recognized for your strengths. Much like on a resume, list your most relevant and important skills towards the top.

If you’re starting out in a new industry or have recently changed career paths, make sure to keep your skills and endorsements updated regularly. Don’t be afraid to delete old skills that are no longer necessary to the jobs you’re applying for.

For those curious about what skills employers are looking for, take a look at the Top LinkedIn Skills of 2016. 

Customize your URL

Make it easier for employers to find you. LinkedIn automatically assigns a series of numbers to each member’s URL when they sign up.

You can easily edit your existing URL in your Public Profile settings. Just be sure to keep it simple. Linkedin.com/yourname is as complicated as you need to get. This little change can also make it easier for you to add your LinkedIn profile URL to your resume. 

Use LinkedIn Pulse

For more detailed tips on how to use LinkedIn Pulse, be sure to check out this guide from HubSpot. 

In 2014, LinkedIn introduced Pulse and gave its members a way to share custom content instantly.

Posting on LinkedIn Pulse allows other members and recruiters to discover you organically. It gives you a platform to show off your skills, get exposure, and share your perspective on a variety of professional topics.

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Hue & Tone Creative: Your job search partner

Are you a recent graduate, in the middle of a career switch, or just looking for a more fulfilling position? Hue & Tone is here to help you achieve your career goals. From resume design to revamping your LinkedIn, Hue & Tone can help you get noticed and make a lasting impression. Contact us today to learn more about our personal marketing services.

Does the thought of drafting or updating your resume give you an instant headache and fill you with anxiety? Fear not! We’re breaking down the top do’s and don’ts to save you a little stress and help your resume stand out!

DO list relevant experience: Employers typically scan resumes quickly, so make sure to list your most relevant and recent experience at the top. Provide a few brief sentences on where you worked, what you did, and how long you were employed.

The more relevant a position is to what you're applying for the more detail you should include.

DON'T include everything: It’s great if you have a lot of experience, however your part-time barista job isn’t relevant if you’re applying to a position in advertising. Keep it basic and list what’s most important. 

If you need to include regular work experience to pad your resume, keep your description of the positions brief OR just list the positions with no description. Any employer can imagine what you did during your tenure at Burger King -- there's no need to try to tell them or make it sound more impressive then it was. 

DO list your skills: Including your skills helps set you apart from other candidates. Depending on the position you’re applying for, here are some basic skill sets to consider including:

• Communication: public speaking, persuasion, negotiation
• Interpersonal: responsible, works well with others, positive attitude
• Management: leadership, team building, delegation
• Planning: forecasting, problem solving, analyzing
• Organization: goal setting, budgeting, punctuality

DON'T be too text heavy: Keep your content clean and easy to read. Employers typically scan for the important stuff, don’t give them giant paragraphs to sift through. You'll have time to elaborate on your experience and skills in the cover letter -- and, hopefully, in the interview. 

Make your resume stand out by writing a customized cover letter for the position. Check out some helpful tips on how to craft the perfect cover letter here.

DO create a separate list of references: Although you don’t want to include your references in the résumé itself, you want to make sure that you have a list readily available. 

DON'T have multiple pages: Your potential employer’s time is valuable, don’t waste it with a novel of a resume. Everyone tries to tell us why their the exception to this rule, but unless you have over 10-20 years of applicable experience, one page is all you need! And, even if you have over 20+ years of experience chances are that you should still stick to one page! 

DO include transferable skills: Transferable skills are the skills you’ve collected throughout your work history. Some skills include: multitasking, planning, delegating, and being a team player. They also include hard skills like using software (be specific), public speaking, and writing. If you’re applying for a job that might be a great fit even though you're underqualified, listing transferable skills can help a potential employer see your potential.  

Include some awesome action words like: renegotiated, integrated, drove, and accelerated. LinkedIn created a great list of potential words to use here.   

DON'T forget about typo’s!: Nothing will ruin an amazing resume faster than typos. This might seem like a no-brainer, but spellcheck saves lives (and jobs)!

DO quantify your accomplishments: “Increased sales by 100%” sounds a lot more impressive than “Increased sales”. Be specific and show what you bring to the table!

DON'T include an objective statement: Expert opinions vary on this subject, but the majority rule that objective statements are outdated.

DO list internships: If you have limited work history, listing relevant internships can help show that you have experience.

So, there you have it. Get working on the content of your resume, because next week we'll be covering how to design it! You’ll have an awesome resume in no time!

Have any questions? Ask us know in the comments ↓

Hi everyone! Kelly Roberts here -- aka Intern Kelly -- I am a recent graduate of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and am currently looking for my first "real" job. Through my internship at Hue & Tone I am learning tips and tricks for becoming a more competitive job applicant. Over the next few weeks I'll be updating you on my progress through the blog, so feel free to follow along! 

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Now that you have your resume perfected and your personal brand established, it’s time to begin the job search! One of the most important things to remember is to be patient – there are so many steps between finding an appealing job and actually getting an offer.

·      Start with job sites like Indeed, Monster, Glassdoor and Simply Hired. These job engines are a great place to start your search – you can search by title and location to start to get a feel for what’s available in your area.

·      Branch out from job search sites. Know who the big players are in your industry or area? Head to their websites and check out the job openings there. Some companies don’t utilize tools like Indeed, or they may offer more information about a position on their own websites – don’t risk missing out on an opportunity!

·      Don’t confine yourself to just searching on the Internet. Ask friends and family to keep an ear out for you – you never know who they know that might be hiring. Plus, using a family connection may help you get an interview.

“TIP: Keep a log/running list of businesses and positions that you are applying for so that if a recruiter calls you out of the blue, you can refer to your list to see which job they are referring to. Keep in mind that phone interviews can happen at any time and are usually the first step in the interview process—be prepared! ”

·      Keep your applications narrow. It is VERY easy to get carried away when applying for jobs, especially when sites like Indeed allow you to apply with a preloaded resume.  Don’t waste your time applying for jobs that are far outside of your range of experience or aren’t in a feasible location.

·      Use Glassdoor to get an idea of expected salary. Once you’ve found a few positions you’re interested in, use Glassdoor to get an idea of the typical salary for that position. You don’t want to waste your time applying for a job that is paying dramatically below market rate. Some applications even ask you for expected salary – if you’re required to give an answer, use Glassdoor to guide you.

·      Be realistic. As a recent graduate you’re most likely going to only qualify for entry-level positions. It might not be as glamorous as you imagined or pay what you want, but it’s the first step in your career and should be treated as a learning experience. If you’ve been searching for months, don’t miss out on a good opportunity because you’re holding out for the perfect job.

And remember -- whatever you do, don't get discouraged! 

Hi everyone! Kelly Roberts here -- aka Intern Kelly -- I am a recent graduate of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and am currently looking for my first "real" job. Through my internship at Hue & Tone I am learning tips and tricks for becoming a more competitive job applicant. Over the next few weeks I'll be updating you on my progress through the blog, so feel free to follow along! 

1.   Reflect on who you are and what you have to offer.
This calls for self-reflection time. This can be very challenging, because there can be many different things that make you, you. It is important to establish the things that you enjoy, and are good at. Not just professionally, but personally as well. What are your best skills? Honesty is key, stay true to yourself – and when in doubt, ask those around you what stands out to them.  

2.   Build a personal website.
Build a site filled with blog entries, a record of your professional endeavors, and work samples. I cannot express the importance of this enough! Especially in the creative industry, it is important to have a portfolio of your work – and an Internet portfolio is the way to go. This gives potential employers the opportunity to get a feel for who you are before bringing you in for a face-to-face interview. It is one thing to tell potential employers about your successful work, but it is another to actually show them.

3.    Clean up your social media accounts.
Make sure you’re projecting a professional persona online. By changing your privacy settings on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook you can control who can view your posts, pictures, and thoughts. You want to make sure that the way you are presenting yourself on social media is a good reflection of you as a professional. Most importantly, don’t forget to keep your experience up to date on your LinkedIn.

4.   Understand the expectations of your industry.
Each professional industry has its own rules, which your personal brand should follow. Do plenty of research to find out who the major players in your industry are, how much color you should use on your resume, and what kind of salary you should expect. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a favorite professor as you explore your field – they’re there to help. As you build your brand, broadcast a physical appearance that balances your personal style and the expectations associated with the industry or career you plan to pursue.

5.   Use social media to market your new online brand.
Once you have established your brand, you own the right to flaunt it! Use social media to your advantage – post Facebook statuses and tweets letting your followers know that you are in the job market. Brag about your specialties and abilities, and pay the extra money to update your LinkedIn profile! 

6.   Network in-person.
Technology is awesome for making and keeping connections; however, it does not replace face-to-face time. Facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language are just a few of the things that make a huge difference in a conversation. Relationships typically grow stronger when you interact with someone in-person, it’s often easier to relate to them and it shows you're invested in getting to know them as well.

Stay tuned for next week's blog post on how to make your resume stand out from the crowd. Have a question in the meantime? Email me at kerober2@gmail.com.