In today’s job market, it’s not enough to just have the right skills and experience. You also need to have a strong personal brand that sets you apart from the competition. And one of the best ways to build a strong personal brand is to use headshots and personal branding.

Think about it. When you hear the word “branding,” what comes to mind? Maybe it’s a certain color scheme or typeface. Maybe it’s a logo or tagline. But whatever it is, it’s likely that you have a positive association with that brand. And that’s exactly what you want potential employers to feel when they see your headshot and personal branding.

When used correctly, headshots and personal branding can make you look approachable, professional, and confident. They can also help show potential employers that you’re serious about your career and that you mean business. So if you’re looking for ways to land your dream job, read on for some tips on how to use headshots and personal branding to your advantage.

Use High-Quality Headshots

When it comes to headshots, quality matters. A poorly lit, out-of-focus photo is not going to do you any favors. Nor is a selfie taken in your bathroom mirror. If you want potential employers to take you seriously, invest in high-quality headshots that show you in the best possible light—literally and figuratively.

A good headshot should be well-lit, in focus, and taken by a professional photographer. While you don’t necessarily need to be wearing a suit or dress in your headshot, you should be wearing clothes that are appropriate for your particular business or the image you are trying to portray. The bottom line is that your headshot should look like the kind of photo someone would use for their business card or LinkedIn profile—in other words, it should look like a professional photo of YOU.

Choose Your Colors Carefully

When it comes to personal branding, colors are important. The colors you use in your headshot and on your resume should be consistent with the colors used by the company you want to work for. For example, if you’re applying for a job at a law firm, you might use navy blue and white in your headshot and on your resume because those are the colors typically associated with law firms. Or if you’re applying for a job in the tech industry, using green and blue in your headshot and resume might be a good idea because those are colors often associated with tech companies. Here is a great article that discusses the importance of color theory, and will help you make good color choices: choosing a brand palette

The point is that the colors you use in your headshot and resume should match the colors used by the company you want to work for because doing so will send subliminal cues that signal that you’re a good fit for that particular company.

Create Consistency Across Platforms

Another important aspect of personal branding is consistency—namely, making sure that your headshot, resume, cover letter, and online profiles all have a consistent look and feel. This means using the same colors, fonts, design elements (such as borders), etc., across all of your platforms. Doing so will create a cohesive brand identity that potential employers will remember—and more importantly, will make them feel confident about hiring you because they know they’re getting someone who is reliable and detail-oriented.

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Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online and across social platforms can make all the difference.

Personal branding is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market—and one of the best ways to create a strong personal brand is through headshots and personal branding photos/videos/etc.. When done correctly, these can help make you look approachable yet professional; confident yet serious; excited about your career yet reliable; detail-oriented yet easygoing—all qualities that potential employers are looking for! So if you want ways to land your dream job this year—or even just snag an interview at your ideal company—follow these tips on how best utilize headshots and personal branding photos/videos/etc.. in order stand out from the competition!