This is one of the professional AI headshots I made using Headshot Kiwi. All I had to do was upload 13 selfies, and the program did the rest. Looking at it, I cannot stop noticing that, even though the headshot is an accurate representation of myself, it's also a massive improvement on my old CV picture. I'm impressed—but will job recruiters feel the same?
Well, I can think of at least 5 reasons why AI headshots can boost your job applications, help you connect with more like-minded professionals, and help you land that dream job you've been chasing for so long. Let's dive right in!
1: You Get a Professional Headshot… Without the Hassle
When I created my LinkedIn profile, I made a crass mistake. Since I didn't have a professional headshot available, I decided to ignore the profile picture and go for a LinkedIn page composed of nothing but text. I honestly believed that recruiters would value my work history and skills more than the way I look. Nowadays, I'm convinced of the opposite…
For better or worse, science tells us that visuals have a strong impact on recruiters, fundamentally influencing their decisions and their immediate opinion of a candidate. This notion is backed by a LinkedIn study that determined that profiles with a photo "receive up to 21 times more profile views and up to 36 times more messages".
The only problem? Creating a professional photo fitting for a great LinkedIn profile takes time and money. In addition, posing for a photoshoot can be incredibly awkward if you're not the photogenic type (I sure know I'm not!). This, as you've probably guessed, is where AI technology steps in.
With Headshot Kiwi, you can generate up to 250 professional AI headshots in roughly one hour, without ever leaving the house, and at a fraction of the cost of a professional photoshoot.
2: It Makes You Stand Out
In the era of big data, recruiters are swamped with thousands of job applications every month. As a result, they don't have the time to carefully evaluate each candidate. At the end of the day, they're forced to trust their guts and submit to their immediate, first impression. But what determines the value of a first impression?
Science tells us that visuals are processed by the brain 60,000 times faster than text. This means that, in order for your job application to stand out from the competition, it needs to have a significant visual impact. This makes sense. Consider the following image, for example:
Even though 100% of readers recognize this painting, I'm sure not everybody knows it was painted by Sandro Botticelli. Fewer know it's called "The Birth of Venus", and only a fraction is aware that it was painted between 1498 and 1540. That's because, for our brains, visual materials stick faster than boring old facts.
So, in short, an AI headshot can enhance your job applications by making them much more memorable. Recruiters may forget all about your college degree and work history, but they will surely remember your professional headshot.
3: AI Headshots Can Be Industry-Specific
Part of the secret of landing your dream job is looking the part. The headshot of a professional actor, for example, must necessarily be different from the headshot of an aspiring tech mogul. Luckily, AI headshot generators like Headshot Kiwi can produce results tailored to different industries.
These are but four of the many available styles:
I opted for "software developer" because, as a copywriter, I'm looking for a more casual look. By selecting 24 additional styles, I carefully personalized my AI headshot to fit the parameters of my industry. In the end, I don't just look professional—I look like a professional copywriter!
By producing industry-specific AI headshots, you can persuade recruiters that you're the right person for the job.
4: AI Provides Consistency Across Platforms
Headshot Kiwi can generate as many as 250 professional headshots in under one hour. That means that you have tons of professional-looking pictures to try out. Most importantly, you also have enough media to use across platforms… Without losing consistency.
Before signing up for Headshot Kiwi, I used the same old picture of myself on LinkedIn, Upwork, Slack, and any other channel I can think of. Now, I have hundreds of high-quality headshots in the bag that can be used, without repetition, on each of these platforms.
AI pictures are more cohesive than normal pictures because they're optimized according to standards that don't change from picture to picture. This is why every AI headshot made with Headshot Kiwi has the same level of quality, the same look, and the same feel.
The Bottom Line
Science tells us that headshots are more important than many people assume, especially when it comes to the job market. As the need to make an instant impression on recruiters becomes more and more essential, do you really want to ignore AI and risk falling behind the competition?
Create your professional AI headshot with Headshot Kiwi, add it to your social media profiles and job applications, and see the difference for yourself!
