A Complete Guide on How To Write a Professional Profile

Updated 12 April 2023

Writing a professional profile for your resume or CV is an essential element to include for your target reader. With it, you can clearly describe and amplify the capabilities and experiences you have that make you a proper candidate for a particular job role or position. Consider including a professional profile with your CV or resume so that a potential employer looking at the document can immediately find useful information about you and decide if you have the expertise to fulfil the role successfully. In this article, we explain how to write a professional profile and why it's beneficial.

What is a professional profile and why is it beneficial?

A professional profile, sometimes referred to as a resume profile, is a section of a resume that introduces you to the reader and describes your most important skills, capabilities and qualifications. There's a range of benefits to including a professional profile in your resume. For example, you can use your professional profile to elaborate on the work experience that aligns with the needs of the employer. Companies commonly use resume scanning technology and may not have a lot of time to read through all the resumes that they receive.

Your professional profile is a beneficial tool that demonstrates to the employer that you're valuable and can fulfil the role properly. It's also useful to have a professional profile because it allows you to highlight your most important capabilities and areas of expertise that an employer needs from a candidate. If you're a musician, then your professional profile might detail information about the type of music you create, what instruments you can play and any professional experience you have.

How to write a professional profile in 4 steps

Follow these four simple steps on how to write a professional profile for your resume or CV:

1. Keep the profile brief and specific

The completed professional profile generally only requires four to five succinct sentences at most. This is because an employer may not have a lot of time, and this allows them to quickly assess if they want to further review your submission. You can also write a profile in bullet list form or in a brief paragraph. You might mention your previous job title and years of experience, including any professional talents and strengths useful to this new position.

2. Add the most relevant skills and capabilities

If you're applying for a job that requires specific capabilities, try to only include the most relevant professional experience and skills that you possess. This is particularly useful if your talents and job experience don't explicitly align with your current career endeavours and goals because it allows you to identify what information to include and avoid in the professional profile. It also helps you to illustrate the expertise you possess that the company or recruiter wants.

3. Include notable achievements related to the field

You may have attained some achievements in the course of your career. For example, you may have improved your company's sales margins or boosted customer retention. You can then add them to your professional profile as well. Measurable achievements help employers to assess how you might contribute to the company if they hire you.

4. Consider the placement of the professional profile on the resume

Think about where you might put the professional profile within your resume. Generally, it's most beneficial to place it at the very top of the resume, above your job and educational experience. This is important because resume reviewers usually scan a resume top-down, so they're more likely to see the professional profile if it appears first.

Tips to help you write a professional profile

Follow these tips to help you make a proper professional profile for your resume or CV:

Include measurable outcomes and results: Try to add measurable results that demonstrate your work performance and ability to complete assignments in a timely manner. As an example, you might explain how you were able to increase the profit margins of your previous company by 35% in comparison to that of other similar companies.
Be mindful of your word choice: It's very important that you're particular about the words you choose to include in your professional profile. Try to use wording that's simplistic and easy for everyone to understand, and avoid using language that's metaphorical, vague or figurative.
Show your authentic self: Being truthful about yourself in your profile can make it easier for readers to connect with you. If there are certain words or descriptors that don't seem to fit you, then consider using other words that clearly connect with your professional capabilities, values, skills and talents.

Professional profile examples

The purpose of your professional profile is to show how your skills and work experience may meet the requirements of the job. The skills you include can be specific to your desired position. The following list shows examples of professional profiles for a variety of industries:

IT professional profiles

The information technology industry includes positions like web developers, software engineers, technology consultants and cybersecurity technicians. Skills that are required in the IT industry may include application development, communications, networks such as IP setup and cloud systems administration.

Example: Results-driven professional with repeated success in guiding IT projects from start to finish, managing technical support operations and introducing new technologies to promote operational efficiency.

Medical professional profiles

Medical industry jobs can include physicians, nurses, CNAs and emergency medical technicians. Many jobs in the medical and healthcare industries require professionals to have strong communication and interpersonal skills, organisational skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure. Medical roles also require a high amount of empathy and compassion to care for patients.

Example: Registered nurse of 10 years with expertise in intensive care nursing. Organised and detail-oriented with high standards of performance and support of treatment plans and protocols. Compassionate and patient-focused caregiver.

Sales and marketing professional profiles

The sales and marketing industry includes roles such as sales and account managers, outside sales representatives, project managers and marketing directors. Skills in this field require communication and interpersonal skills, business skills, building and maintaining customer relationships and active listening.

Example: Sales and marketing manager with experience in leveraging consultative selling strategies that build relationships across all target markets. Deep knowledge of marketing campaign development and implementation of training programmes for new hires.

Construction professional profiles

Construction is a vast industry with many roles that can include construction site management, labourers, carpentry, road technicians and plumbers. Construction roles typically require physical labour, but there are many skills necessary for success in a construction career. Some required skills include math and language literacy, building and mechanical knowledge, and technology and critical thinking skills.

Example: Seasoned drywall technician with over six years of experience working in residential and commercial construction. Efficient and familiar with interpreting blueprints and technical specifications for successful drywall installation and repair.

Education professional profiles

Jobs in education may frequently include administrative positions like principals, assistant principals and office staff, instructional positions, paraprofessionals, teachers' aides and professors. Education employees require a variety of skills that can include management and organisational skills, leadership, curriculum planning and development, lesson implementation, interpersonal skills and relationship-building strategies within the community.

Example: Veteran teacher with 15 years of experience planning and implementing algebra curriculum for students with disabilities. Passionate and highly effective with success in instructional strategies to develop students' academic skills and raise test scores.

Engineering and design professional profiles

This industry can often overlap with construction and includes jobs like drafting and CAD operations, machinists, civil engineers, aerospace engineers and technical engineers. Technological skills are almost always required for engineering and design roles. Other requirements typically include spatial skills, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Example: Mechanical engineer with 10 years of experience in materials innovation, maintenance, production and design. Strong attention to detail with considerable leadership abilities.

Legal industry professional profiles

Attorneys and paralegals are the most common roles in law practice. Other industry roles may include arbitrators, legal analysts, case managers and jury consultants. Legal jobs require a sound knowledge of laws and complex language, interpersonal skills, organisational and administrative skills and active listening and logical reasoning skills.

Example: Innovative lawyer experienced in developing case strategies and writing persuasive briefs. Exceptional negotiator who is familiar with litigation and case management.

News and media professional profiles

This industry encompasses roles such as journalists, news anchors, directors, editors and camera operators. The desirable skills generally include public relations and speaking skills, audience engagement and the ability to deliver clear, effective messages.

Example: TV news copy editor with exceptional editing skills and attention to detail. Extensive experience leading a team of content editors and writers in providing current and engaging text to meet company standards.

The models shown are for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.