5 Tips to Choose a Great LinkedIn Profile Photo

5 Tips to Choose a Great LinkedIn Profile Photo5 Tips to Choose a Great LinkedIn Profile Photo6Your LinkedIn profile is very often the first impression you make with a potential employer. Since most employers Google job candidates, and LinkedIns profiles are often at the top of the results, your profile is going to be seen. Thats why its so important to choose an appropriate, professional LinkedIn profile photo.Why is your photo so important? When a recruiter or hiring manager sees your picture, they begin to form an impression of you in their mind. Until they meet you in person (and if youre applying for work-from-home jobs, they might never see you in person), this is how theyll picture you. You want that image to be good, right?There are a few considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best LinkedIn profile photo. Lets go through each of them.5 Tips to Choose a Great LinkedIn Profile Photo1. Have a PictureFirst and foremost, have a picture Even if you, for whatever reason, a bsolutely dont want a photo of yourself, choose something. A flower, a landscape photo, a painting. Anything professional will do.There are a lot of scammers on LinkedIn, and the generic gray profile placeholder might make people confuse your account for a spam account. Or they might assume you dont use LinkedIn very much, which is elend a good message to put out there.2. Know LinkedIns Picture RequirementsYou can upload JPG, GIF, or PNG files.File size 4MB maximum.Your photo should be square.The ideal pixel size for your photo is between 200 x 200 to 500 x 500. If either width or height exceeds 4000 pixels, your photo will not upload.3. The Overall PictureThe picture you choose for LinkedIn should be a headshot, meaning that it shows you from the shoulders up. Full-body shots arent recommended because youll appear tiny, making it difficult for people to see you. 4. LightingChoose a LinkedIn profile photo that shows you in the best light, literally. There are so many profile pictur es that show peoples faces in shadows. Or the photo relies on overhead lighting that makes your forehead and eyebrows look like a cavemans, while your eyes peep out from dark circles. Lighting is really important, so make aya your face is well-lit and you arent hidden by shadows.5. CroppingYou should be centered, as best as possible, in the photo you choose. You can use a simple program like Microsoft Office Picture Manager, which is included on most PCs, to crop your photo and eliminate unnecessary space. If youre cropping other people out of the picture, be sure to remove all of them. Seeing someone elses arm in your picture looks a littleodd. And if you take a selfie, be sure to crop out the arm you extended to take the picture.Thats it- to choose a great LinkedIn profile photo, keep it simple, make it a headshot, and pay attention to the lighting and composition.Readers, how did you choose a LinkedIn profile photo? photos thinkstockphotos.com

3 signs youre on track to being a strong leader

3 signs youre on track to being a strong leader3 signs youre on track to being a strong leaderSelf-Assessment Quiz - TRUE or FALSEI understand that leadership begins with trust and having good character traits.Being a leader goes beyond being the first to raise my hand for something.Confidence and having a positive attitude are core values of a great leader.Okay, newbie, if you answered FALSE to any of the questions above, its time to get into the leadership game. What can you do? An excellent leader is one that can leid only lead a gruppe but, on a mora personal level, can also promote team collaboration, develop opportunities for otzu sichs to grow, and coherently communicates expectations. If you can focus on just these three qualities alone, you will become that emerging leader that employers are scrambling to get and keep.Here are three tangible ways up and coming leaders can ensure youre headed in the right direction. Lets break them down one by one1 Promotes team collaboration Getting people to work together for the greater good requires a bit of finesse. Can I suggest that you first up your listening skills? Use your ears and your eyes. Listen to what people are saying as well as whatsnotbeing said, and what is or isnotbeing done actively. (Remember toread body language, too.)Example I tend to be very verbal at work on conference calls, in meetings, etc. Whereas I have a male colleague with whom Ive worked with for 14 years who tends to be more reticent in these forums. We both experienced a manager who so egregiously offended our sense and sensibilities (actually she welches a repeat offender of everyone on her team) that without a conversation between us, he and I inadvertently switched roles. I became very quiet on her calls and in her presence. She wasnt worth my time to engage with. He got assertive and aggressive. People who had worked with us for years noticed the transition right away. Our boss, however, was clueless. Because she paid no attentio n to us as individuals, she couldnt see the shift in dynamics. But that shift got noticed by others, and lets just say she wasnt the boss of us for long, and ultimately left the company altogether. When teams dont feel a part of your collaboration they seek opportunities to detach from you. They wont freely collaborate. and anything that is forced, isnt going to garner best practices. Needless to say, this is NOT good. Pay attention people If brilliant Roxanne becomes quiet and seems to retreat during team meetings while Georgette tends to dominate discussions in these same meetings, use your awareness of this to coax ideas specifically from Roxanne. Make sure she is allowed to speak and express her entire thought. You may need to ask Georgette to hold on a minute and wait her turn before speaking. You can orchestrate this whether you are actually leading the meeting or not. Your awareness will facilitate and encourage communication that leads to team collaboration rather than colla pse. And if Roxanne and Georgette ever switch roles on you - recognize youve got a really big problem on your hands.2 Develops opportunities for others to growIf you operate from a place of integrity, youll be better equipped to recognize your direct reports and co-workers needs, strengths, and weaknesses. Why? Because youll have their qualities at the forefront of your motivation to succeed. A leader knows if one succeeds, all succeed. A leader knows successes (and failures) are shared. A confident leader NEVAH steals someone elses ideas and presents it as his own. But rather offers others the chance to shine along with him. Nor does a true leader abscond all responsibilities when things dont go according to plan. I see a LOT of the latter behavior in the workplace. Own the bad stuff too people, its the only way to right course going forward. No one likes to feel as if theyve been thrown under the proverbial bus.Example Youre on deadline for a huge presentation highlighting the gr owth of the company. It requires some pretty intricate number crunching. You could do it yourself and take all the glory, or you could ask for assistance from the summer intern Patricia- an econ major and numbers whiz who hasalreadydemonstrated that she is totally on fire with her skills (including being able to do a pivot table in Excel, dayumm Patricia) Patricia is looking for just this opportunity to be in front of the higher-ups. You can give her that shine and still shine yourself. This is such an easy win-win If the presentation bombs, you own that you overshot the forecasted numbers and leave Patricia out of it.3 Coherently communicates expectationsA leader has a plan that includes vision, focus, and discipline. A leader uses her passion and drive for success for this plan to help her communicate expectations from the team because shes so dang clear on what she wants. Like beauty, clarity is in the eye of the beholder. Just because your vision is clear to you, doesnt mean it s clear to your team. One of my favorite ministers, Reverend John Norwood, used to ask the congregation, Clear as mud or clear as water? You want to be sure what you are communicating is clear as water of course. The fastest way to do that? Ask your team or colleagues to repeat back to you, in their own words, what the expected deliverable or outcome is. And more importantly, what theaction stepsare for getting to that outcome. You might just be surprised at how far apart what youre communicating is to what others have interpreted. When in doubt seek clarity for Success.Cheryl Grace is the sassy aunt, best friend, and mentor youve always needed in your life. The successful jet-setting, global corporate executive founded the aspirational lifestyle brand Powerful Penny LLC. Her products, workshops and speeches probe, inspire and empower to ensure those who really want to can get to their next level of best. Her blogs on careers, prosperity, relationships, family, looking and living fa bulously, and living a five-star life can be found atwww.powerfulpenny.com.

The Top 10 travel destinations, according to Millennials

The Top 10 travel destinations, according to MillennialsThe Top 10 travel destinations, according to MillennialsNothing gives youFOMOmore than scrolling through envy-inducingtravel photos on Instagram. But the gram also has some positive potential when it comes to travel Its a great tool to help you plan yournext vacationand pick the perfect destination. AndEarth, a millennial-focused travel media platform, recently released their list of thetop 10 travel destinations for millennials.Over 100,000 ofearths millennial Instagram followers answered the following question If you could go anywhere on Earth, where would it be? In addition, the company tracked Instagram geotags of the 100 fruchtwein highly followed travel influencers, including Jack Morris (doyoutravel, 2.8M followers), Emilie Ristevski (helloemilie, 1.1M followers), and Sam Kolder (sam_kolder, 965K followers).Were excited to harness data from the fruchtwein influentialtravel creatorson Instagram and our engaged, wanderlust- minded audience, so we can unlock the next must-go global destinations, said Earth founderAndy McCunein ablog poston their site. Scroll on to see the results - and all the Insta-inspo youll need to book your nextepic vacay.1. Tulum, MexicoTulumhas it all - the beach, the jungle, Mayan ruins, trendy restaurants, andfabulousshopping. And its fast becoming one of the most populareco-tourism destinations, with people flocking there forwellness retreatsand spas like theMayan Clay Spa. Its also a go-to spot forbachelorette parties. So were totally not surprised that it landed at number one on this list. (Photo viaearth/alexstrohl)2. Amsterdam, NetherlandsAmsterdam has always been a must-see European destination for thecanals, the biking (its one of thebest cities to bike around), and thefamous (ahem) coffee shops. Its also quite afoodie destination Foodhallen, for starters, has more than 20 open-air restaurants. Amsterdam is our very favorite city in the world. Theres something very spe cial about the collision of design, arts, and so many different cuisines. Its a historical look back at the past, and a wonderful peek into the future, said Jessica and Garrett Gee (thebucketlistfamily, 1.2M followers), in Earths blog post. (Photo viaearth/framboisejam)3. The Islands of GreeceThis has been a dream destination for millennial women ever since we saw Alexis Bledel take her trip to the Greek Islands inThe Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Oh yeah, and also because of thosebeautiful seaside viewsand the healthy lifestyle andfresh foodthere. Its no wonder the Greek island of Ikaria is aBlue Zone, where many people live into their 90s. The Islands of Greece, made up of destinations like Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, and Zakynthos, are a must-visit, said McCune in the blog post. The crystal blue waters, world-class beaches, stunning architecture, and amazing food make the islands a perfect destination for any traveler. We have to say, we wholeheartedly agree. (Photo viaeart h/doyoutravel)4. Mexico City, MexicoThe largestcity in Mexicois becoming a hub for young travelers. It boasts an impressive museum and art scene, stunning architecture, bountiful shopping, and scrumptious food (hello,tacos). Mexico City is a bright, colorful city centered around culture and food. Condesa is my favorite neighborhood - full of amazing coffee, historical buildings, fresh smoothies, and locals running errands around town with their pets. The city feels natural and like youre falling into a routine right off the bat, said Sam Landreth (samlandreth, 106K followers), in the post. (Photo viaearth/samlandreth)5. The MaldivesLocated in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is redefining what abeach vacationlooks like. Thepopular honeymoon destinationhas crystal clear waters that offer out-of-this-world snorkeling. And itsfloating resortsare becoming its trademark. All in all, its a top travel spot for young people looking to bask in the sun and relax in luxury. Alexander Williamson (alexpreview, 214K followers) summed it up best Maldives is the kind of destination where you want to constantly pinch yourself just to be completely sure that a place like this really exists. (Photo viaearth/missangievilla)6. Algarve, PortugalPortugal is having a moment It had the most foreign travelers evervisit in 2017, and continues to make a name for itself as an up-and-coming European destination due to its diverse geography, from the urban center ofLisbontoits mountainsto its beaches like Algarve. While many travelers will be drawn to the vibrant colors of the capital,Lisbon- make way for the southern coast of Portugal. Red sandstone cliffs and turquoise ocean clash in a battle of beautiful colors, said Sam McAllister (sam.travel, 20.3K followers). Craggy sea caves dot seemingly endless golden beaches offering something for every font of intrepid traveler. (Photo viaearth/mvandersluis)7. Marrakech, MoroccoThe northwestern African countryhas been influenced byFrench, Arab, a nd of course, African cultures. Fromits sprawling desertto its cities, Morocco is famous for itsarchitecture, interior design, andbright, vivid colors. Between bargaining your way through Marrakechssouks, or markets, and feasting on delicious Moroccan cuisine, you definitely wont be bored anytime soon. (Photo viaearth/leoniehanne)8. Positano, ItalyThe colorfully stacked homes and theclear waters of the Tyrrhenian Seahave made Positano one of the most famous vacation spots in Italy. Located in the southwestern region of the country, its also close to several day trip spots youre going to want to hit, like Pompeii, Naples, and the island of Capri. Positano has been a classic destination since the 50s, but its now thesummerhot spot, said McCune. Its a cliffside village located in Italys Amalfi Coast, and the views are just so breathtaking. Translation Add this one to yourbucket listSTAT. (Photo viaearth/federicola)9. Cappadocia, TurkeyYou can combine a history lesson on the Ottoman Emp ire while experiencing a lush Turkishbreakfastin this central Turkish town. The town is also famous for its fairy chimneys, cone-shaped rock formations made up of soft stone. Cappadocia looks like its straight from a fairytale. It has these crazy rock formations that were sculpted by erosion. Its actually aUNESCO World Heritage Site. Over half of the worldshot air balloonstake off from this region, so the sky is always filled with hundreds of balloons floating over the landscape which makes for incredible photos, said McCune. That means you can be prepared to scorea lotof likes when you visit this Insta-worthy location. (Photo viaearth/alliemtaylor)10. Bali, IndonesiaBali offers every kind of terrain, from the forest to the beach. Not to mention that its famous for itsyoga retreatsandshark diving. Its also one of the top destinations forsolo women travelers. Bali is like no place I have ever been. It has the perfect concoction of world-class natural beauty, a ridiculous food scene, rich culture, amazing locals, and great climate, said Sasha Juliard (sashajuliard, 98K followers) in a press release. Enough said pack your bags. (Photo viaearth/gypsea_lust)This article welches originally posted on Brit + Co.