Why you need a professional profile (and how to write a good one!)
Debating whether you need to include a professional profile on your resume? I’m here to tell you that you definitely should. Even if it’s only a few lines, a professional profile can make all the difference.
Professional profiles used to be called ‘objective statements’, where you would write about what sort of job or company you were looking for. But these kinds of statements focused on why you wanted to work for a certain company, not why they should want you to work for them.
A professional profile is your opportunity to put your best foot forward. Here’s why I think they’re so important to include on your resume.
Professional profiles let you insert your voice into your resume
Resumes can be very bland documents, but a professional profile allows you to speak more like an actual person. Don’t be afraid to use slightly more casual language here (especially if you’re applying for a creative job).
The goal is to have whoever is reading your professional profile go “hey, I think I’d get along with this person”.
Most resumes feel soulless and without personality. Giving yourself a professional profile that sounds like you is a way of making your application stand out from the crowd.
You can position yourself as an expert in your field
I use professional profiles to establish my clients as experts in their field. Whether they’re a grad straight out of uni or a seasoned professional, I use this space to highlight their key experience, skills, and what they can bring to the role.
Even if you don’t feel like an expert, write as if you are one! You’ve got the skills.
A professional profile should focus on what you have done in previous roles that you can use to absolutely smash this job you’ve applied for.
When writing your professional profile, it’s important to remember that you’re not writing a bio. You’re writing a mini sales document.
They’re a great place to include keywords
With the whole hiring process moving online in the last decade or so, the advice to include keywords on your resume has become a catch cry for career coaches, resume writers and hiring managers.
But how do you actually include keywords?
Adding a few into your professional profile is an easy way to do it. Not only does it improve your ranking in Applicant Tracking Systems, it shows which ever human is reading it that you know you’re applying specifically to this company – you haven’t just sent out a generic resume to 100 open jobs.
How to write an effective professional profile
Okay, now for the juicy part – how to actually write a professional profile that does all that.
We’re going to keep it super simple. Three sentences.
First sentence: state who you are (your profession) + your experience + what you’re looking to do in your next role
A dedicated customer experience officer with over 10 years experience in healthcare seeking to become an integral processing officer within a forward-thinking team.
I’ve bolded words that you can edit based on the words used in the job description. Use the exact title of the job you’re applying for when you state what you are seeking t
Second sentence: You want to establish that you have a history of performing well at a certain aspect of the role you’re applying for, and include some of your key skills that are applicable to the role. You can also highlight what sort of a role you’re looking for
With a proven track record of delivering excellent client experiences, I am eager to utilise my interpersonal and organisational skills in a role that promotes direct client contact.
Bonus points if these bolded words are words within the job listing.
Third sentence:
Prioritising integrity in my work , I am seeking to become a supportive member of a team dedicated to building excellent client hubs.
Use the third sentence to highlight one of their values and their team goal. This way you show them that they’re exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Adding a professional profile to your resume shouldn’t take you too much time, but it should make the world of difference to your next job hunt.
If you want a more in depth guide to writing your resume, I suggest you check out my Resume Template and Writing Guide. It’s got pages of tips and tricks on how to nail each section of your resume – and more info on writing a longer professional profile.