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What to Wear In Your LinkedIn Photo

With over 313 million registered users and over 100 million of those in the U.S., LinkedIn is the preeminent social network for professionals. LinkedIn offers professionals the chance to interact with one another and job-seekers the opportunity to connect with potential employers. And given that your profile is the first thing a potential employer will see when they visit your page, it's vital that your professional attire is suitable.

There are various theories on best practices for your LinkedIn picture, but one fact remains constant: you should have one. LinkedIn career expert Nicole Williams notes that not having a photo is one of the top mistakes you should never make on LinkedIn. According to Williams, you're seven times more likely to have your profile viewed if you have a picture.

However, the only thing worse than not having a picture is having the wrong picture. It's important to represent yourself at your professional best and publish a picture that exudes excitement and energy. Williams also highlights that an HSN Beauty Study found that 19% of recruiters only look at the profile picture when paging through LinkedIn.

What you wear in your profile picture depends on what job you're after and the image that you want to cultivate. For example, if you are looking for a job in a highly professional field, notably law or finance, a suit, tie, and a smile is appropriate.

If your field of choice is a little less buttoned-up such as a career in marketing or advertising, then you can get away with a more relaxed look. A loosened necktie or an oxford shirt with no tie will convey to recruiters that you would be a good fit for a more laid-back culture.

It's acceptable to source a photo from one of your other social networks, but if you don't have any that are appropriate, don't be lazy. The ten minutes it takes you to throw on a nice dress shirt and snap a clear picture are well worth it. It doesn't have to be studio quality - your laptop camera will do.

Follow these tips to ensure that you make a positive first impression, and good luck filling out the rest of your LinkedIn profile!