Every job seeker needs a good professionally taken portrait to help them achieve their professional goals. In a competitive market, any extra advantage is valuable and a good, well done portrait is just such an advantage.
In business it often seems unfair that the employed have so many advantages over the unemployed and those temporarily out of the workforce for myriad reasons (career changers, corporate restructurings, leap of faith searching for dream job). Not only do the employed benefit from the corporate rates and buying power of their employers, they also get regularly updated professional photos of themselves that they can use across their increasingly networked online accounts. Working as an independent professional photographer in Montreal, I empathize with hard-working people who are looking to make a change in their life but who may be feeling a little overwhelmed by all the added costs of being outside of the security of a full-time job. Cell phones, internet access, computers, even new clothes all cost money that someone operating on a reduced income or tighter budget may not always have available. Usually the added cost of having a professionally done headshot is one of the items that people know they need to do, but have a hard time justifying when they are not working. This is both unfair and sadly, counterproductive as it is precisely during this period that projecting an image of confidence and optimism is most needed — and something a well lit and professionally taken photograph will do.
Whether it is for a new Linkedin profile, or to personalize an avatar when joining one of the thousands of online conversations taking place daily, a good photo helps communicate professionalism. As a headhunter, career counsellor or career placement service, helping your clients put their best foot forward is part of your job. Working throughout Montreal, I regularly visit corporate offices and set up small, onsite studios for taking corporate portraits, and this service is available to all clients of head hunters, career counsellors or career placement services as well. Making a career change takes time and effort and the process usually involves at least one if not a series of meetings with a professional recruiter who can offer guidance and tips. At your next client meeting, schedule a bit of extra time ahead of the meeting and bring in a professional photographer to help give your clients an edge. If booking for more than one client, take advantage of group rates and bulk discounts that are routinely provided to corporations bringing in a professional corporate photographer for their key executives and public facing agents.
Take a look at a few recent examples here of corporate portraits taken throughout Montreal head and satellite offices in 2012 and give your clients some real added value by helping them get an updated profile picture. Not only will it help them get the new job of their dreams, they will remember the extra attention you gave them as their head hunter, recruiter or career counsellor when they are ready to upgrade to their next, even better job.
