From Hotmail to Hotshot: Boost Your Professional Image with These Four Simple Tips
As the old saying goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” This is especially true in the professional world, where your image can make or break your career.
Sometimes, the little things make a big difference.
Tiny details can nudge a person in a position of power to become your friend and ally.
But, what are they?
Here are four easy ways to boost your professional image:
1. Switch from Yahoo or Hotmail to Google or another current email provider:
Your email address is often the first point of contact that potential employers or clients will have with you. If you’re still using an outdated email service like Yahoo or Hotmail, you may unintentionally signal that you’re out of touch with today’s technology.
If you don’t want to be seen as old and stale like those email providers, it’s time to switch to a more modern provider like Google.
When choosing an email address, make sure to use some iteration of your name — like yourname@gmail.com — this will make it easier for people to remember and find you.
2. Customize your LinkedIn URL and add a meaningful cover image:
LinkedIn is a crucial tool for building your professional network and showcasing your skills and experience: it’s a window display for the “shop of you.”
A straightforward way to boost your image on the platform is to customize your URL to include your name (e.g. linkedin.com/in/yourname). This will make it easier for people to find you and will give your profile a more professional look.
Additionally, adding a meaningful cover image can help to convey your personal brand and make your profile stand out. You have a few choices here. If you’re handy with Canva (or know someone who can help you), creating a custom banner with a few prompts that state your value will immediately impress visitors.
If you don’t have the time or skill to build a custom image, pop over to Unsplash or Pexels and download a free picture from their repository.
My first choice would be something related to your work (like a spreadsheet or graph if you’re an accountant).
My second choice would be an inspirational image, like a beach or mountains, or abstract art. Whatever you choose, make sure it reinforces your personal brand.
3. Get professional headshots and use them for all of your social media accounts:
Just like a book cover can make or break a novel’s success, your social media profile picture can be the deciding factor in whether someone clicks on your profile or not.
If you’re serious about building a professional image, it’s worth investing in some high-quality headshots that you can use across all of your social media accounts. This will help convey a consistent and professional image and make it easier for people to recognize you online.
4. Moderate yourself and avoid posting political or religious content:
Unless you’re a politician or a priest, there’s little to be gained by posting divisive content and a lot to be lost.
Sharing political and religious views on social media can be risky because it can lead to conflicts with friends, family, and colleagues with differing opinions. This can harm personal and professional relationships.
Secondly, expressing political views online can be permanent and may come back to haunt you. It can be used against you by potential employers or other organizations that might disagree with your views.
Several public figures, including celebrities, athletes, and politicians, have gotten in trouble for sharing political views on social media. For example, in 2021, actress Gina Carano was fired from the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” for sharing controversial political views on social media.
Your social media accounts are like a public stage — while it’s tempting to use them to express your innermost thoughts and feelings, it’s important to remember that a broad audience will see everything you say. Just like a performer needs to tailor their act to their audience, you must tailor your social media content to your professional image.
In today’s professional world, your image is everything.
Every detail matters when it comes to building a strong professional image. I recommend you:
· Switch to a modern email provider.
· Customize your LinkedIn URL and cover image.
· Invest in professional headshots.
· Avoid posting political or religious content on social media.
Following these four simple steps will help you create a consistent and professional image that will impress potential employers, clients, and colleagues.
