Just humor me for a moment and answer these questions. Would you show up to a job interview dressed for a night out on the town? Would you feel comfortable if your potential boss caught you snapping selfies in the lobby prior to your interview? Would you show up to a job interview with a group of friends; or dressed to go to the beach? Hopefully your answer to all of these is “no.” So if you wouldn’t like to be in any one of these situations, why are they being portrayed in your LinkedIn photos?
There is absolutely no case where your LinkedIn picture should be anything other than business appropriate. Let me clarify that this doesn’t mean you need to go spend money to have a professional photo taken. Those can definitely be good to have, but having a friend snap a photo of you in office attire in front of a blank wall will work all the same. The idea is to have a photo which portrays you in a professional light and nothing more. Your skills and qualifications are what employers are searching for through LinkedIn, and your photo simply serves to put a face to a name. Think about it. If you found a candidate who had all of the skills, but provided a picture easily recognized as a picture taken prior to a night of partying, it probably would not give you the best first impression, and could possibly even deter you from contacting them. A generic, business style headshot will probably not enhance your chance of getting the job too much, but a photo of you clearly engaging in non-work related activities could have an adverse effect, driving potential employers away from you.
LinkedIn is not Facebook, or Twitter, or Instagram. It is not your personal social media page. This is a site for you to connect with other professionals in your industry to make a name for yourself, and portraying the correct image is essential. Take the time, put on a blazer, and have someone take a picture of you with a high quality camera phone. It is a simple way to take your profile to the next level.