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First impressions now happen here

First impressions now happen here

Social feeds are the new résumés

Alex Costa
August 11, 2025

The profile effect

In 2025 your first impression isn’t going to be made with a handshake.

It’s going to be done digitally with your profile.

Before you even meet someone, they’ve already scrolled through your photos, read your captions, and decided if you’re worth their time.

Whether it’s dating, networking, or landing a dream job, your online presence is now your modern-day calling card.

And just like your résumé, it needs to be polished, intentional, and 100% you.

This week I’m giving you everything you need to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward online.

This week:

📸 Why IG is your new résumé

🖋️ How to write captions that show who you are

👔 The style test: what your outfits say before you speak

💡 Quick audit checklist to level up your profile

🛒 My shopping cart

🚨 All things MONEY

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YOUR PROFILE
IS YOUR PORTFOLIO

Social media isn’t just “for fun” anymore.

Think of your Instagram as your own personal showroom and start attracting the opportunities (and people) you actually want.

Curating your visual pitch

Every post is a piece of your personal brand. Whether you meant them to or not, your photos, style, and captions all tell a story.

The question is: are you telling the story you want people to hear?

In practice, that means being intentional with what you post and what you don’t with two house cleaning tips...

Archive old content that doesn’t reflect who you are now.
Pin three posts to the top of your feed that show your best work, style, or personality - focus on the kind of content you’d want someone new to see first.

If a stranger can’t scroll your last nine posts and instantly get a sense of your vibe, it’s time for a refresh.

Style speaks before you do

Clothes are instant context. A sharp fit signals confidence and personality.

Sloppy style will make people question your standards before they even get to know you, or even worse just flat out ignore you.

If you’re using IG as a professional or personal calling card, start thinking in “signature looks.”

It doesn’t have to mean suits every day.

It could be a rotation of 3–4 go-to outfit combinations that fit your personality and look polished in photos.

Avoid wearing clothes that blend into the background in every shot:

Texture
Layering
Color contrast

All help you stand out in a sea of endless scrolling.

Captions are your conversation

Think of your captions as your elevator pitch. Short, witty, thoughtful - honestly whatever is your style, they should just sound like you. Avoid overused quotes and filler text. Real > recycled.

A good rule: if someone could copy-paste your caption onto any other post and it would still “fit,” it’s not specific enough.

Tell a quick story behind the photo, share a micro-tip, or let people in on a moment they wouldn’t see otherwise.

And always write captions as if you’re talking to one person, not a crowd. It makes readers feel like you’re speaking directly to them, which keeps them coming back.