When I first joined Toastmasters I was faced with a challenge; I had to introduce (Icebreaker) myself to my club members in 4 to 6 minutes. I had to cram 4 decades of my life into a short speech!
This project (each speech is a project) aims to provide an individual, an opportunity to introduce himself or herself to the members of the club. This speech is meant to provide an insight and understanding of the not so obvious aspects of the new member to the club.
The speaker has the flexibility to focus on any aspect: occupation, ambitions or how he or she got over a particular crisis etc. At the end of a well thought through short speech, invariably the members of the audience feel they know the speaker better.
A professional profile serves a similar purpose. It is an absolute must for a professional as well as a business owner. This serves as a marketing tool which is meant to showcase the abilities, experience and skills of the individual to the world and can attract potential business. It can open up doors to many opportunities.
Below are 6 tips that can help you to write a professional profile
Keep it simple, stupid
Use simple, powerful, and descriptive language and avoid jargon.
A lengthy, pompous profile does not mean anything if it does not get your prospective clients/employer interested. Be succinct.
Focus on the skills that you have developed over the years, that are relevant to the job you are applying.
It is helps in your job search if your skills and work history are what recruiters are looking for.
02
Awards & Recognitions
If you have exceptional achievements—for instance significantly increasing sales in your previous position—include those.
Quantifiable achievements are what convinces prospective employers how you can contribute to their company if they hire you.
Remember to mention the awards and recognition you’ve received. Usually, an award is an acknowledgement to your accomplishments.
03
Certifications & Memberships
Do you have a membership of the Press club or are a member of an industry body? A specialization or a skill? If so, mention it. Also, mention the certifications you have acquired. Needless to say that your qualifications are to be written.
04
Career Path
Detail the business experience you have gained over the years. What did you do before you reached the current position? What were your accomplishments? Did you increase the revenue, reduce the overhead, build a new product line etc. for the company you worked for?
05
Personal accomplishments
Are there personal achievements that may not be connected to your corporate role; but adds a dimension to your character? Have you been an active member of the local charity? These attributes are to be highlighted in your profile. These are aspects that add strength to your profile.
06
Update periodically
In today’s fast-paced life, your skills keep evolving, update your profile accordingly. Take a look at your profile at least once every six months to tweak it to make it current.
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You can also think about the following questions and add it to the profile to keep it fresh:
- How long have you worked in an industry and does it make you a subject matter expert?
- What impressive clients have you worked with and will they endorse you?
- What are your values — why do you do what you do?
A well-written profile is a great marketing tool; use it to let people know who you are and what you can do.