When you apply for a job, meet someone at an event or get introduced to a new contact, there is a good chance they will look you up online. Your professional profile on a networking platform or a personal portfolio site is often that first impression.
A strong profile does not need to be flashy. It needs to be clear, accurate and easy to understand. In this guide we walk through each part of a typical professional profile and how to make it work for you.
Start with the basics
Photo
Use a recent, clear photo where your face is easy to see. It does not need to be taken by a professional photographer. Good natural light, a simple background and a friendly expression are enough. Dress the way you would for a typical day in your field.
Headline
Your headline is one of the most visible parts of your profile. Many people simply use their job title, but you can do more with it.
A useful formula is: role or skill, plus focus, plus value.
- "Marketing coordinator helping small businesses grow through clear, consistent content."
- "Recent accounting graduate interested in audit and financial analysis."
- "Registered nurse moving into healthcare training and education."
If you are looking for work, you can include what you are looking for, as long as you are comfortable with current colleagues seeing it.
Location and contact
Add your city or region so recruiters searching for local candidates can find you. Check your privacy settings and only share contact details you are comfortable making public.
Write a clear summary
The summary or about section is your chance to tell your professional story in your own words. Keep it in the first person and use plain language.
A simple structure:
- What you do now and what you enjoy about it.
- Your key strengths or skills, with a short example.
- What you are working toward or interested in next.
Aim for a few short paragraphs. Avoid long lists of buzzwords like "passionate, results-driven, dynamic team player". Show these qualities through examples instead.
Fill in your experience
For each role, include your job title, the organisation, the dates and two to four bullet points.
As with a resume, focus on what you achieved rather than just listing duties. Start bullets with action verbs and include real, accurate results where you can. Your online profile can be slightly more conversational than your resume, but it should tell the same story. Recruiters may compare the two, so make sure dates and titles match.
Do not forget other relevant experience:
- Volunteering.
- Freelance or project work.
- Internships and placements.
- Significant personal projects.
Add skills and education
Most platforms let you list skills. Choose the ones that are most relevant to the roles you want, and put the most important ones first. These help people searching for specific skills find you.
Include your education, certifications and relevant courses. If you have completed online training, add it, especially if it supports a career change.
Show your work
If your field allows it, showcase examples of your work. This could include:
- A portfolio of designs, writing or code.
- Presentations or reports you are allowed to share.
- Articles or posts you have written.
- Links to projects or websites you worked on.
Always check that you have permission to share work done for an employer or client.
Ask for recommendations
Recommendations from managers, colleagues, teachers or clients add credibility. The best time to ask is soon after you have worked together on something successful.
Make it easy for them by suggesting what they could mention, such as a project you collaborated on or a skill you demonstrated. Offer to write one for them in return.
Stay active
A profile that has not been updated in years can suggest you are not engaged. You do not need to post every day, but small, regular actions help:
- Update your experience when your role changes.
- Share an occasional post about something you have learned or worked on.
- Leave thoughtful comments on posts in your field.
- Congratulate contacts on their achievements.
Check your privacy settings
Review who can see your profile, your activity and your connections. If you are job hunting while employed, look for settings that let you signal interest to recruiters more discreetly.
A quick profile checklist
- Clear, recent photo.
- Headline that explains what you do and what you offer.
- Plain language summary with examples.
- Experience with achievements, not just titles.
- Relevant skills listed in order of importance.
- At least one or two recommendations.
- Dates and titles that match your resume.
Your next step
Open your profile and rewrite your headline using the role, focus and value formula. Then update your summary so it describes what you do now, one key strength and what you are working toward. Those two changes alone can make a noticeable difference to how you come across.