The reality of remote work is that some colleagues may never have the opportunity to meet in person. As well, in a world where your digital first impression may precede your physical first impression, it’s practical to have your public-facing profiles, platforms, and websites professional and up-to-date. That way, you’ll be a familiar face even from a distant place.

Start by doing an inventory of all your active online profiles. Use this as an opportunity to ensure you can log in to each, deactivate or cancel accounts you no longer need, and consider a password manager like LastPass so you can clear high-value headspace from password variations like capitalizations, numbers, and punctuations. 

Once that process is complete, set a time to get camera-ready from the neck up for a selfie, enlist a family member to snap you in portrait mode, or consider supporting a local photographer to elevate your professional image. Whichever route you choose, a clean look, good lighting, and an aesthetically pleasing background can help build confidence when you enter the (virtual) room. 

Here is a handy reference guide for professional profile image do’s and don’ts, in case you get confused:

DO:

• Go for a friendly, approachable look (smiling with or without teeth is OK)
• Wear a work-appropriate neckline and flattering color
• Ensure good lighting and an uncluttered background 

DON’T

• Use a photo that is outdated, poorly cropped, and/or pixelated
• Feature your pet or favorite cartoon character
• Shoot in dim lighting or with personal items in the background

Even though NYNJA may not be the only online platform you’ll ever need, it can greatly streamline your virtual presence, with 4 mission critical applications all in one place. Follow the steps above, then visit web.nynja.net/profile to upload – or update your profile image.