I Tested the #opentowork Banner. The Results Were Shocking.
A perception test on the #opentowork banner. Competence, likability, and influence all dropped. A 2-point hit isn't cosmetic. It's catastrophic.
I tested the #opentowork banner on my profile photo. The results were shocking. Rethink your profile photo after this.
People always ask me "Do I add an #opentowork banner or not?"
It's a hot topic of debate.
One recruiter even said: "I don't care if you have the banner on."
So, I decided to run a test of my photos with the #opentowork banner - and without - to what the data says.
The tests were performed to judge photos based on Competence, Likability, and Influence.
Here's what happened:
Competence: ⬇️ .5 pts Likeability: ⬇️ .8 pts Influence: ⬇️ 2.0 pts
Same exact photo. Same person. The only difference?
The banner.
A 2-point hit is not cosmetic. It is catastrophic.
It is a full downgrade in perceived authority. Influence is the perception most tied to leadership and hireability.
This is called unconscious bias.
You might think your photo doesn't influence perception (or you might think that it shouldn't)...
Both my experiment (and the research) say otherwise.
It's unfair, I know.
But it's a fact, and when we embrace the truth, we can take action to change it.
According to a Princeton study, we form 1st impressions in 1/10 sec based solely on someone's face.
Those snap judgments decide whether we see someone as competent, likable, and trustworthy.
Your photo is the first thing people see on LinkedIn; it decides whether someone looks at the rest of your profile. It sets the tone for how everything else is viewed.
A quick thank you to Lori Sloan for the visual! She's an Executive AI Strategist, artist and content genius. Give her a follow!
✅ Want to know what your photo is saying about you (without saying a word)?
Perception Anchor™ names the pattern. If you want to see exactly where your gap is, start at TheoryOfHireability.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the #opentowork banner hurt how recruiters perceive you?
In a direct A/B test using the same photo of the same person, the version with the #opentowork banner scored lower on Competence by 0.5 points, Likability by 0.8 points, and Influence by 2.0 points. A 2-point hit on Influence is not cosmetic, it is catastrophic. Influence is the perception most tied to leadership and hireability.
Why does a profile photo matter so much to hireability?
First impressions form in 1/10 of a second based solely on someone's face, according to a Princeton study. Those snap judgments decide whether we see someone as competent, likable, and trustworthy. Your photo is the first thing people see on LinkedIn. It decides whether they look at the rest of your profile and it sets the tone for how everything else is viewed.
Is the #opentowork perception hit fair?
No, it is unconscious bias, and it is unfair. But it is a fact. When you embrace the truth, you can take action to change it. The banner triggers a full downgrade in perceived authority even though nothing about the actual person has changed, so removing it removes an unnecessary drag on how the market reads you.
What framework names this pattern?
Perception Anchor names the pattern. It describes how a single visual signal on your profile can anchor how recruiters and hiring managers judge your competence, likability, and influence before they read a single word of your experience.
