LinkedIn vs. Handshake: Which Professional Platform is Right for You?

For professionals at all stages of their careers, platforms like LinkedIn and Handshake have become indispensable tools.While both serve as professional networking hubs, their core focus and target audiences differ significantly.

As headshot photographers, we work with individuals on both platforms, understanding the nuances of each and how your professional image plays a vital role in your success. Let’s delve into the key differences between LinkedIn and Handshake and how this impacts your headshot strategy.

LinkedIn: The Established Professional Network

LinkedIn (linkedin.com) has solidified its position as the world’s largest professional networking platform. Its primary focus is on building and maintaining connections with colleagues, industry leaders, and potential employers. While it certainly facilitates job hunting and recruitment, LinkedIn’s strength lies in its broader scope: 

• Networking: Connecting with individuals across various industries and career levels.
• Career Development: Sharing insights, engaging in industry discussions, and learning new skills
• Recruitment: Companies actively use LinkedIn to source talent at all levels.
• Personal Branding: Establishing yourself as an expert in your field through content sharing and engagement.
• Company Pages: Businesses use LinkedIn to build their brand, share company updates, and attract talent.

LinkedIn caters to a vast audience, from university students just starting their career journey to seasoned executives in senior leadership positions. This broad demographic means your professional headshot needs to resonate with a diverse range of viewers.

LinkedIn is a dynamic space for showcasing your achievements and building your personal brand. Through detailed profiles, endorsements, and recommendations, you can highlight your skills and experience to a wider audience. Sharing your own content, whether it’s articles, posts, or updates on your work, can position you as a knowledgeable and engaged professional. This consistent effort in building your online presence on LinkedIn can lead to unexpected opportunities, collaborations, and career advancements, making a compelling professional headshot an even more critical component of your overall strategy.

Handshake: The Launchpad for Early Careers

Handshake (joinhandshake.co.uk) takes a more targeted approach, focusing primarily on connecting university students and recent graduates with employers. Its core functions revolve around: 

• Job Search: Specifically tailored for internships, entry-level positions, and graduate programs.
• University Partnerships: Integrated with university career services, providing students with access to relevant opportunities.
• Employer Engagement: Companies actively recruit students and recent graduates through Handshake.
• Career Resources: Offering tools and resources to help students navigate the early stages of their careers.

Handshake’s audience is predominantly students and recent graduates, making it a crucial platform for those taking their first steps into the professional world. Your headshot on Handshake should reflect your potential and readiness to embark on your career.

Handshake’s strong ties with university career services provide students with access to valuable resources and support. This includes information on career fairs, employer information sessions, and advice on resume writing and interview skills. By creating a comprehensive profile, complete with a professional headshot, students can fully leverage these university connections and present themselves effectively to potential employers actively recruiting within their institution’s network.

The Importance of a Professional Headshot on Both Platforms

Regardless of the platform, a professional headshot is paramount. It’s often the first visual cue that potential connections or employers have of you. A high-quality, approachable, and professional headshot builds trust, conveys competence, and helps you stand out from the crowd. As we discuss in our article on how to add a headshot to LinkedIn, a clear and well-lit photo significantly increases profile views and engagement. This principle applies equally to Handshake. While the need for a professional headshot is universal, our approach at Headshot Company often varies depending on the platform and the individual’s career stage.

LinkedIn Headshots: Reflecting Your Career Trajectory

LinkedIn’s diverse user base necessitates a nuanced approach to headshot photography:

• For Senior Professionals and CEOs: When photographing individuals in senior positions, we often consider the company branding. The background, attire, and overall feel of the image might be aligned with the company’s visual identity. This reinforces their position within the organisation and conveys experience and authority. Our LinkedIn headshot photography service is specifically designed to capture this level of professionalism and brand alignment.
• For Mid-Career Professionals: The focus here is often on conveying approachability and expertise within their specific industry. The headshot should reflect their current career level and aspirations for future growth.
• For Entry-Level Professionals and Recent Graduates: While a professional look is essential, the headshot can be slightly more open and less tied to a specific company. The goal is to project confidence, enthusiasm, and readiness for the professional world. This is where a more “carte blanche” approach comes into play, ensuring the image is versatile and appealing to a broad range of potential employers.

Handshake Headshots: Projecting Potential and Approachability

Given Handshake’s focus on students and recent graduates, the headshot approach is often more universally applicable:

• Focus on Approachability and Confidence: The headshot should convey a sense of approachability and eagerness to learn. A friendly and confident expression is key.
• Versatility is Key: As individuals on Handshake are often exploring various career paths, a more neutral background and attire are generally recommended. This ensures the headshot is suitable for a wide range of potential employers.
• Student Employability Headshots: We frequently work with universities and colleges to provide student employability headshots, as highlighted on our student headshots page. These sessions are specifically designed to equip students with professional headshots that make a strong first impression on platforms like Handshake. We understand the importance of capturing their potential and helping them stand out in a competitive job market. 

Our Expertise at Headshot Company

At Headshot Company, we pride ourselves on our ability to capture professional headshots for individuals at every stage of their career journey. Whether we’re photographing a CEO of a multinational corporation or a university student about to embark on their first internship, our approach is always tailored to the individual’s needs and the platforms they are using.

For students we meet during our university headshot days, we focus on creating images that are both professional and approachable, perfect for their Handshake profiles and initial LinkedIn presence. As these individuals progress in their careers and potentially move towards senior roles, their headshot needs evolve. We then work with them to create images that reflect their experience and align with their professional brand on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn and Handshake are both valuable platforms for professional development, but they cater to different stages of your career. LinkedIn is your established professional network, ideal for connecting with peers and showcasing your experience, while Handshake is the go-to platform for students and recent graduates seeking entry-level opportunities.

Regardless of which platform you’re using, a professional headshot is a crucial investment in your personal brand. Understanding the nuances of each platform and tailoring your headshot accordingly can significantly enhance your online presence and help you achieve your career goals. At Headshot Company, we are dedicated to providing high-quality headshots that make a lasting positive impression, no matter where your professional journey takes you.