Don’t Let Race And Age Bias Discourage Your LinkedIn Profile Photo Upload

The goal on LinkedIn competitive employment market is to get noticed above the rest. Some applicants are anxious they won’t get a second interview because they are older or of a different race.

Candidates who omit information about themselves, such as a photo or their years of experience, may be trying to circumvent discrimination.

“Candidates have legitimate concerns about how their profile photo or assumed age can be interpreted,” said marketing guru Jacob Brown. Some people, out of bias concerns or because they don’t have a professional headshot, don’t use images for their profiles, which is something I’ve heard. Each has merit.

 

 

Employment Discrimination

Presumptions about age and ethnicity are frequently made after quickly scanning a LinkedIn profile. This intuitive notion is bolstered by recent statistics on prejudice in the workplace, which raise legitimate concerns for some job seekers.

It appears that age discrimination is at its greatest level since 2003, according to recent data. According to AARP, almost 78% of workers over the age of 55 have witnessed or experienced age discrimination on the job.

Alarming insights into prejudice against Black women’s hair were uncovered by Dove research: “Black women are 1.5x more likely to be sent home from work because of their hair.” “80% more likely to change their natural hair to fit social norms or expectations at work” is how often Black women report altering their appearance to avoid prejudice. Even in profile pictures, it’s common practise to make cosmetic changes to one’s hair.

Despite recent efforts to increase diversity in the business world, this is a challenging time, especially for those at the very top. In 2022, there were a record number of women CEOs (44), and four Black CEOs (4%), at the top of Fortune 500 firms. Nearly 80% of workers outside of the C-suite say they want to work for firms that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Those who opt out of including a photo and possible dates run the risk of being lost in the shuffle and ultimately not getting an interview. There certainly is bias, and if you don’t provide a photo, you’ve already eliminated yourself from consideration.

Astounding consequences await those who neglect to post a photo of themselves when applying for jobs online. LinkedIn members who upload a photo get “21x more profile views and up to 36x more messages,” as stated on the company’s official blog. Without a photo and some fundamental information, incomplete profiles are very impossible to find by recruiters and hiring managers.

In order to increase their visibility in search results, members frequently upload stock photos of landscapes, animals, and words. If a user’s profile picture does not adhere to LinkedIn’s Profile Guidelines, LinkedIn has the right to remove it.

If a member’s profile picture is deleted three times in a row, the user will no longer be able to post a new picture.
How to Get That Next Job

 

1. Embrace Your True Self

If you’re unable to re-upload your profile picture, you might choose to start again on LinkedIn. If you change your mind, you can simply upload a new photo. Spending a lot on a profile picture is not necessary. A moderately close-up shot is ideal, with nothing distracting in the backdrop. If you’re debating whether or not to include your graduation year on your resume, know that a fast read through your job history will yield an easy calculation.

Although keeping your unique selling points under wraps may help you get your foot in the door, you’ll eventually have to face to face with potential employers via video or in-person interviews. This competitive employment environment has prompted some people to embrace their unique qualities.

Brown remarked, “I have seen many people recently taking a position and leaning into their authenticity.” People are letting their hair grow out, putting on bolder lipstick, and showing off their tattoos and piercings more openly.

Secondly, Build Your Contacts

There are several channels than LinkedIn to get a new job. “Eighty percent of people land new roles through their network, and as much as 70 percent of new roles are not offered online,” according to a study. There is strength in numbers, especially when you share your need with your network. Make a request to be kept in mind and encourage folks to join you on video calls. These two steps, in addition to your application, could help you land your next job.

The astonishing findings of an experiment involving 20 million people were emphasised in a recent article published in The Harvard Business Review. In their research, they discovered that “moderately weak ties — and not strong connections — are the most effective in finding a new employment.” Find ways to connect with people through mutual acquaintances.

Keep in mind that there is a two-way street during the interview process. You are conducting this interview to assess the candidate’s fit with the company and their potential for advancement. No matter how qualified you are, a job offer from a company with discriminatory hiring practises is not going to be a good fit. Including a photo and a summary of your accomplishments on your LinkedIn profile can help you weed out the organisations that aren’t worth your time.