For job seekers

One credible headshot. Every professional touchpoint.

Choose, review, and deliver a professional portrait that looks like you, fits the role you actually want, and remains clear everywhere recruiters encounter it.

01 · Role fit

Match the portrait to the work—not a generic executive fantasy

Target directionRecommended expressionAvoid
Management & consultingCalm, confident, restrained formalityLuxury-office fiction or inflated executive cues
Technology & productModern, natural, approachableForced suits or an overly staged studio look
Creative & designDistinctive but face-firstBackgrounds or styling that overpower identity
Sales & customer successOpen, credible, light natural smileAn overly severe or heavily retouched expression
Academic, medical & legalAccurate, professional, low-distractionInvented uniforms, credentials, titles, or workplaces
Early careerClean, natural, appropriate to real experienceArtificial seniority or executive positioning

02 · Source brief

Prepare references that represent you now

  1. 01Use 8–12 recent photos that clearly look like you, with front and slight-angle views, even light, and both neutral and natural smiling expressions.
  2. 02Exclude screenshots, group crops, beauty filters, sunglasses, hats, extreme wide-angle selfies, old photos, and files you do not have permission to use.
  3. 03Write down the target role, industry, seniority, geography, and desired level of formality before selecting a look.

03 · Identity review

Credibility comes before polish

Reject a candidate that looks impressive but no longer looks like you.

  1. 1You are immediately recognizable against recent source photos.
  2. 2Face shape, eyes, teeth, hairline, age cues, skin marks, glasses, and other distinctive features remain accurate.
  3. 3Skin retains natural texture and the portrait does not look filtered or plastic.
  4. 4Clothing, grooming, background, and seniority cues match your real experience and target role.
  5. 5Hair, eyewear, earrings, hands, collars, and clothing edges contain no generation artifacts.
  6. 6The face remains natural and clear in a circular crop and at mobile-thumbnail size.
  7. 7A person who knows you confirms that the final candidate looks like you.

04 · Delivery matrix

Export every channel from one approved master

DestinationSuggested outputCompositionFilename
LinkedIn profile800 × 800 JPGSquare master with circular-crop safetyname-linkedin.jpg
Job platform profile800 × 800 JPGCentered, neutral, face clear at small sizename-job-profile.jpg
Resume or CV600 × 800 JPGPortrait head-and-shoulders; only where appropriatename-resume.jpg
Personal website1200 × 1200 JPG/WebPAllow more shoulder or environmental contextname-website.jpg
Email signature256 × 256 JPG/PNGReadable at very small sizename-email.jpg
Speaker or author bio1600 × 2000 JPGHigh-resolution portrait with layout roomname-bio.jpg
Application systemUse the stated requirementsPrioritize aspect ratio, pixels, and KB limitname-application-company.jpg
Archive masterHighest approved PNGDo not repeatedly compress; export from this filename-headshot-master.png

Resume-photo norms differ by country and industry. Check the application instructions before including a photo, and verify every platform’s current pixel and file-size limits.

Final check

Would a recruiter meet the same person?

Choose the image that is recognizable, role-appropriate, technically clean, and honest about your real experience.

Professional Headshot Playbook for Job Seekers | MotuArt