10 Golden Rules Of Writing A Professional Profile That Shines Bright

We all know how to write a smart profile or resume--many of us research on how to write one that stands out. There are endless ‘tips’ and ‘tricks’ on what to include in a profile so that it gets shortlisted. However, in so much information overload, many of us still end up repeating the pattern and writing our profiles in the same old way.

Here are 10 key tips, curated by our pool of experienced talent acquisition and recruitment specialists, that will make your profile stand out:

Keep it short and concise: Believe me, hiring managers or recruitment specialists hate it when they have to go through long profiles. They don’t want your autobiography; they need to know what skills you have to offer to the organisation. Unless asked otherwise, do follow the golden rule of a ‘one-page profile’. Human resource teams will ask for a detailed one as needed. So keep it crisply worded, and to the point.

Avoid listing ‘Objectives’: If you are one of those people, who just copy-paste a fashionable ‘career objective’ from the Internet, then know that you are one of millions who do that. Unless you are sure you have a career objective that you are passionate about and one that you feel is unique and a value add, please don’t just write one for the sake of it. A good profile should be accompanied by a short covering letter or introduction that should define what you want to do in your career. It should be self-explanatory in terms of your aspirations and career plan, while positioning you as someone who fits in the organization you are applying to.

Clearly articulate your skills: Your skills that set you apart from everyone else should be clearly mentioned, properly articulated and crisp. For instance, if you were a sales manager in your previous organisation, then mention skills related to that role only. People tend to confuse ‘sales’ and ‘marketing’ roles and mention the skills of both together. This will just make the recruiter move on to the next profile .

Mention key responsibility areas clearly: Your KRAs should be clear and to the point. For example, if you have been doing the same work in your past organizations, then mention the name of the companies separately and combine the KRAs in  bullet points. Remember to mention all responsibilities you have shouldered. All your employment details must be listed too--they are the key to your success. Remember, even the smallest job you’ve done in the past is a stepping stone in your career.

Highlight the special projects, tasks, or assignments completed: It’s always good to mention all the projects, tasks, assignments you have undertaken. If you are a fresher, even your college projects and volunteering experience should be on your profile. This shows that you are a proactive person with an ability to take on new challenges.

Add your social media profiles: One of the most important and effective screening techniques today is a social media profile. You can actually prove to your employer that you are proactive by providing the link to your profile. It also shows that you are up to date and have a strong network. A digital footprint shows your professional growth, and social behaviour.

Keep the visual simple:  The corporate world is a professional one--keep the radical fashion statements for the weekend socials. Unless you are a designer, please restrain your creative juices flowing onto your profile. Don’t make your profile look  complicated with colourful templates, GIFs, crazy fonts or designs. Keep it as simple and as readable as you can.

Avoid irrelevant information: Do not include any information which is of no use to the role you are applying for. Also, never try to add ‘sparkle’ to your profile with fake add-ons. It will bring your reputation down. Avoid word sign-offs such as: place, signature, etc. Please avoid adding a photo etc.; the employer will ask you for such info if required.

Use keywords: Use keywords and phrases which catch the employer/recruiter’s  attention. Such words include: key competencies, proficiencies, team building etc. But do not overload it with jargon; instead use facts and figures to prove your point.

Update your professional profile regularly:  One of the most important, yet most neglected, points is that people make their profile on career platforms but fail to update them regularly.  When contacted by an employer, they say: “Sorry, I was in that role last year.” What they don’t understand is that it has killed the chance of an employer contacting them again in the future. Therefore, it is very important to update your profile on every portal you have registered on a regular basis. The question here is, what is the right time-period to update your professional profile? According to experts, it is good to update it every three months.

Remember you are pitching your skills and hireability through your professional profile. The person screening it doesn’t know anything else about you. They will gauge everything about you through your professional profile. It is crucial to make a good first impression.

Be your own brand specialist. Well begun is half done!

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