How to Create a Personal Profile

In many cases, applying for a job is no easy task. As hiring managers become more and more saturated looking through piles of resumes for each open position, it can be difficult for even the most qualified candidates to stand out. One way to break free from the pack is to include a personal profile at the top of a resume. This profile serves as a short synopsis of a candidate's qualifications and skills and can serve as a sort of teaser, enticing managers to read the rest of a resume that would otherwise blend in with the pile.

• 1

  Determine the skills most applicable to the open position. A personal profile should be short and concise, so highlight the most important traits and attributes contained within the resume.

• 2

  Outline any personal goals and ambitions involved with moving to the opening position. For example, if most of a candidate's experience is in a different field, focus on describing the reason for wishing to switch careers. Highlight the traits developed during previous stops that will convince the employer of the ability to make the switch.

• 3

  Begin crafting the personal profile, including the information outlined above. Write in short, concise statements that are hard hitting and convincing. For example, instead of writing, "I have 15 years of experience as a writer and am confident of my ability to work on deadline," try, "Deadline-oriented writer with 15 years of experience."

• 4

  Focus on using strong adjectives that sell certain abilities. Instead of using terms like "I feel" and "I believe," use more concrete terms like "proven" or "accomplished." Make the reader believe that the abilities are fact instead of opinion.

• 5

  Be specific. Don't over-generalize or simplify and use examples that illustrate proficiency and skill. For instance, instead of writing "effective leader," within the profile, try something along the lines of "led groups of up to 200 employees in accomplishing a variety of tasks."

• 6

  Stay short. Don't over-extend or try to cram too much information into the personal profile. Keep it short, concise and easily digestible to allow for maximum impact on the reader.