5 Tips for picking the right LinkedIn profile picture

1) Appear approachable. It's always smart to go with a professional headshot, but this doesn't mean it has to be bland. Show some spark, so anyone viewing your photos sees someone professional, but also someone with whom they'd want to work.

2) Remember, this is about YOU! Make sure you are front and center, and the focus of the photo. Be wary of distracting backgrounds. Close-ups really are your best bet. 3) If your professional headshot is old enough to buy a drink in a bar, it's time for a new one. You may look fantastic in that old mug, but you don't want a connection or a recruiter expecting someone entirely different, should you ever meet face to face.

4) Look the part. You know the old chestnut: dress for the job you want, not the one you have. This applies to pictures on a professional networking site as well. And since the appearance of health is so important, you may also want to schedule a haircut or a spa treatment ahead of the shoot. 5) No selfies allowed. One, the stigma of the selfie is such that it's not an acceptable method of photography for any professional endeavor. Two, self-taken shots tend to be of lower quality, since your ability to control for light, etc., is limited. And three, it's lazy. Hand someone else the camera.