If you want an impressive LinkedIn profile that looks professional and polished and has recruiters reaching out to you about their jobs, you need a LinkedIn Background Photo.
Background Photos on LinkedIn are called a few things… LinkedIn Banner Image, LinkedIn Wallpaper, or sometimes “that picture that goes behind your LinkedIn Profile Picture”.
What is a LinkedIn Background Photo?
Regardless, it’s that wide rectangle picture at the very top of your page that most people forget about and aren’t using to their benefit.
As an example, here is mine:
LinkedIn Background Photo LinkedIn Banner Image
It is the rectangle image that has my name, title/services, and those squiggly accent designs. I like to keep mine simple.
It’s a way to distinguish yourself and show a little creativity or color to your profile! You can absolutely have fun with it and don’t have to be as minimalistic as I am.
LinkedIn Background Photo Size
If you’re trying to find a picture yourself, you’re going to need to know the background photo size specifically for LinkedIn Profiles. For personal profiles, the photo size is 1584 by 396 pixels.
If you try to upload a picture that doesn’t have the right dimensions, it will throw off the entire image. You might have a great picture but end up only showing a tiny bit of it.
I have a quick and easy tip to get it just right…. use Canva!
Boy do I love Canva.
You can make pretty much anything you want from it. I made the logo for my website, you can make resumes, social media posts, documents…. anything really.
The best part is it’s free to use. Go check it out – it will change your life.
All of the LinkedIn background photos that I have in this article were created with Canva. All you need to do is start typing in “LinkedIn Banner” and select what pops up. It will then give you different templates you can choose from or you can create and download your own.
All for free.
Why is a LinkedIn Banner Image important?
Just like your profile picture, it’s important to always add something that is professional and shows a glimpse into who you are.
This is to make you seem more like a real person instead of an online resume.
When a recruiter goes to LinkedIn to find job seekers, they will look for keywords and then come up with a big long list of people that fit what they are looking for.
What most job seekers don’t understand is that if you have a profile and background photo on your LinkedIn profile, you are 14x more likely to be looked at by a recruiter than those who don’t.
14 times more likely! That’s huge.
This is because the recruiter sees you as a real person and the chances of you being an active LinkedIn user with a complete profile for them to look at skyrockets. No recruiter wants to waste time going to accounts that don’t have updated information.
What kind of image to use as your LinkedIn Background Photo
I have 114 different options below of LinkedIn banner images that I created on Canva. Each one is good for a specific industry/field where some can be more general.
I’ll separate them all so you know what is appropriate for you.
Before doing that, I want to talk about the benefit of creating your own LinkedIn Background Photo that includes your name and role/services.
When a recruiter (or potential customer) pulls up a list of job seekers that match what they are looking for, they mostly see that’s person’s name and headline, LinkedIn profile picture, and background photo.
If someone is moving down the list pretty fast, the words popping out on a colorful or unique background photo will catch their attention much faster than a small, black and white headline.
You want to stand out! Not blend in.
You can choose general or abstract LinkedIn backgrounds or you can tailor them to you and your interests. Just make sure they are professional.
NEED HELP? If you need assistance creating a custom LinkedIn background Photo/Banner Image for your background, I do offer services through this link.
Personalized LinkedIn Background Photos
To personalize a banner image at first, I’d suggest just using the free templates on Canva. They have some really nice ones where all you have to do is add your own text to the premade spots and you have a beautiful and customer background photo for LinkedIn.
Here are some examples of a couple of options. Keep in mind you can’t save this for your own LinkedIn background photo. You’re going to need to go to Canva and customize it. I just want to show you what I’m talking about:
These will personalized images will draw attention to your skills and services right away. They stick out and show personality and will make a huge image on the number of views from a recruiter or customers that you get.
LinkedIn Background Photos for Healthcare
Below are a few examples of some Linkedin banner images for healthcare. If you create your own, you can really create something unique by using images that correspond with your actual work.
If you’re a doctor, put the stethoscope or some other tool that people associate with your job.
If you’re in research, social work, nursing, etc. You can really tailor it to showcase you and your skills.
LinkedIn Banner Images for Real Estate and Architecture
These real estate architecture LinkedIn background image examples that I created are probably my favorite.
I’m have nothing to do with real estate or beautiful architecture but pictures in this category are always so pretty!
My suggestion, again, would be to tailor your picture based on which area you identify with. If you are a real estate agent, put more normal houses or for-sale signs.
If you’re in architecture, you can use images of beautiful architecture around the world or even a picture of something you designed yourself. Even a blueprint works well!
General and Abstract LinkedIn Backgrounds
If you’re using Canva, any picture you want can become a background photo for LinkedIn.
These general images and abstract LinkedIn backgrounds can really be adjusted based on your personality. If you’re like me, you’re drawn to the more muted colors and calming designs.
However, if you have a really great bubbly and outgoing personality or have a fun, lively job… I would absolutely go for a more colorful linkedin background.
You don’t want the website to completely erase what makes you unique. You want to stand out – if a little color (or a lot of colors) helps you do that in a professional way, then go for it!
Here are the abstract LinkedIn background examples that I love:
LinkedIn Background Photos for Business
One of the career areas that I identify with is the business sector. I’ve worked for a few larger organizations and love the professional look of a LinkedIn banner image.
This could really be a blank slate. A lot of people use pictures of a workspace or office building. I think it’s great to put an aspirational workplace in your picture to brand yourself in a way that would fit with where you want to go.
Whatever you choose, business images are usually more muted with lots of black, white, and grey colors. But a pop of color by including a primary color is always fun as well.
If you want to brand yourself with the company that you are currently working for, go ahead and some of their branded images or logo to your banner image as well! If you work for a larger organization, all you’d have to do is look on the company website or even at other employees’ LinkedIn pages to see if they have what you are looking for.
LinkedIn Banner Image – Cityscapes
Cityscapes are always a good option for a LinkedIn background photo. They are cool and abstract but bring in a certain element that can be almost motivation if you want to work in a big city.
You can even take this opportunity to showcase the city you live in if you love where you live! Add the cityscape of your city or some streets and architecture of places near you.
Just keep in mind, keep it professional. Don’t put a favorite sports stadium or something like that. The recruiter or customer may have different likes and dislikes than you. You don’t want to turn anyone away before you even get to talk with them.
LinkedIn Background Photo for Food and Beverage
Food and Beverage banner images can showcase something you love, like coffee. They can also show off your place of work or something you create as a side hustle.
Are you making cakes for your neighborhood? Own a burger food truck? Coordinate your background photo with what you do!
LinkedIn Banner Image for Finance
There are so many options for finance LinkedIn background images. Canva has tons of free pictures in this area that you can make your own.
As I’ve said consistently, you’re going to want to tailor your image to the sector that you’re in.
If you are in banking or on Wallstreet – show it off! If you run debt-free classes for your community – tailor the image to how you want to be seen.
Personal branding is a really important thing to learn if you want to succeed on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn Background Photo for Human Resources
I work in Human Resources right now as a recruiter. A lot of HR professionals choose to put their company images on their page so when they reach out to job seekers it’s clear who they are.
If you are in another area of HR, you can get creative. It’s the “people department” after all… add some people! You can even change it up to bring awareness to an event or seminar you are hosting.
NEED HELP? If you need assistance creating a custom LinkedIn background Photo/Banner Image for your background, I do offer services through this link.
LinkedIn Banner Images for Tech
These LinkedIn banner image examples for technology are a fun way to bring some awareness of what you do.
If you’re a coder, ad some code! If you’re a network engineer, make that the focus.
As mentioned earlier, the idea is to stand out from the group. There can be a lot of people in the technology field on LinkedIn. A simple search by a recruiter could turn up millions. Having a professional, branded and slightly colorful background image will draw the recruiter to your profile.
LinkedIn Background Image for Sports and Entertainment
The sports and entertainment LinkedIn banner image examples below are more general images for those who like or work in this area.
In the cityscapes section, I mentioned not to use an image of your favorite sports team or stadium.
If you work in the field though, it might be a different story.
If you work for a sports team or program, absolutely showcase that in your LinkedIn wallpaper image.
As mentioned in the business section, logos or company images work well for the sports and entertainment areas as well. Branding goes hand in hand with these industries.
LinkedIn Banner Images for Legal
Are you in the legal world? After so much hard work and education to get where you are, don’t be afraid to showcase it.
Symbols of the legal field can work really well on a LinkedIn banner image. The gavel is an easy one. You can even do courthouses or different kinds of books etc. depending on what your job is.
Just try to tailor the image to who you work with and what you do.
If you provide services on the side or in your own firm – I would definitely use this prime real estate on LinkedIn to advertise that. Do you want to bring awareness to a cause that you work on? Showcase it!
LinkedIn Background Photo for Retail
The background photos for retail below or definitely more generic but can still be a fun pop of color or uniqueness for your banner image.
This field is also one in which branding is super important. If you want to showcase the brand you work with or even your own brand, your LinkedIn background photo is a great place to do that.
Most larger retailers will have images on their website or predefined that you can use if you’re stuck.
If you’re creative, you also have a good opportunity to create something and show off your design skills.
LinkedIn Background Photo for Media
LinkedIn banner images for media can be very specific. There are a lot of different forms of media and you’re going to want to use an image that coordinates with what you do.
If you want to keep it more general, some of the banner image examples below relate to connecting others together or show tidbits of about what you do.
LinkedIn Banner Photo Examples for Education and Childcare
Background photos for the education sector are going to vary greatly depending on what level you are educating.
For young children, you can add more fun and colorful images to advertise your business or brand yourself as a go-to person in that field.
For school-age children, you can be really creative! My sister is a 2nd-grade teacher and the amount of creativity and effort that goes into designing and setting up her room every year (not to mention the countless hours she spends putting together amazing worksheets and projects for her kids)should not be discounted! If you have good photography skills, take a picture of part of your classroom!
For higher education, I would suggest staying more serious and professional with your background image. You are going to want to project an image that relates to the organization and area you work with.
If I were looking for a Business School professor for an IVY league school, I probably would be a little thrown by a picture of kids’ artwork.
LinkedIn Background Photo for Construction
LinkedIn wallpaper photos for construction are similar to the architecture section. These images can be really cool and a fun way to add some unique beauty to your profile page.
If you are working on a particularly big project, show off!
These general construction images below are a professional and fun way to tell the story of what you do.
LinkedIn Background Photo for Transportation
Transportation background photos should be geared towards the type of transportation that you work in.
If you work in trucking, don’t add a picture of a ship or an airplane.
There are a million really cool and interesting transportation images that you could create banner images with. Try to pick something unique but not overwhelming.
LinkedIn Banner Image for Beauty and Wellness
The LinkedIn background photo examples for Beauty below are more general health and wellness examples.
If you have your own skincare, makeup, or wellness brand – I would 100% add it to your image. You want to show off all your hard work. People searching for you or someone with your skills will be able to see the brand before they even open your profile.
If you’re in wellness or a similar field, try to keep it muted and calming. Remember how you want your customers/clients to feel and try to convey that in an image.
LinkedIn Background Photo for Photography
Photography background images can be all over the map. You can keep them simple and show off equipment so others will know what you do right away.
Or, you can take this opportunity to showcase your skills by putting some of your own artwork as your wallpaper image!
As mentioned before, just keep it professional!
LinkedIn Banner Photo for Government
With the government sector, you can either use generic images of government buildings as your banner image, or you can put your specialized division in the title.
This is an area that needs to be ultra-professional. I would steer clear of a lot of colorful and abstract images.
Summary
Regardless of which banner image you choose to use, just try to focus on two things.
- Give others a chance to understand who you are and what makes you unique
- Showcase your field, skills or even where you want to be
Your LinkedIn profile is, after all, about you! Make sure your background photo has a purpose and serves you well. Take advantage of this free digital real estate and set yourself apart from the crowd.
NEED HELP? If you need assistance creating a custom LinkedIn background Photo/Banner Image for your background, I do offer services through this link.