How to Write a Personal Profile Outline (Plus, 12 Examples) (2024)

Co-authored byA.J. Aldanaand Caroline Heiderscheit

Last Updated: March 6, 2023Fact Checked

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1. Personal profiles are short blurbs declaring your career wins and goals. In short, this is the introduction of your resume. This brief description offers a snapshot of your career (or education), including where you hope your path will take you—it’s also commonly called a personal statement or professional profile. ^[1]

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1. Profiles come first on your resume and are written in the first person. When you write in the first person, you can also leave the "I" implied (so, "Marketing professional" instead of "I'm a marketing professional"). Limit yourself to ~2-4 sentences; or, alternatively, write a shorter paragraph (~1-2 sentences), then include concrete achievements in bullet form instead.

   • Choose between professional, descriptive header options, like "Summary of Qualifications," "Career Profile," and "Career Highlights," so readers know that you're covering your professional profile.
   • Font type is important, too. Match your font to the rest of your resume, and choose something professional (like Times New Roman).

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1. 1

   Outline your recent work or studies. First, help situate your reader and give them a clear picture of where you are in your career. If you’re a recent grad or current student, mention your degree (or eventual degree). If you’re employed, explain your current position. If you’re unemployed, it’s best practice to describe your most recent position.^[2]

   • Pro tip: use strong, descriptive language when describing yourself. Words like “nice” and “smart” won’t be as effective as “loyal,” “proactive,” or “ambitious.”
   • “Literature enthusiast and recent graduate of University of Chicago…”
   • “Energetic, innovative marketing specialist with 12 years of experience…”
   • “Most recently, a skilled Camera Operator and dedicated teammate…”
2. 2

   Describe your talents, abilities, and competencies. When writing your personal profile, it’s important to sell yourself. Can it feel a little weird to outline your strengths and skills? Sure! But you’re responsible for letting the company know exactly why you’re qualified to join their team, so it’s a must. Brainstorm the professional qualities you’ve developed in work or school, and choose ones relevant to the position.^[3]

   • Pro tip: Keep your personal profile short and sweet. Your entire blurb will be just a few lines (max 6), so keep your personal description to just a few words.^[4]
   • “...skilled at working under pressure and hitting competitive deadlines.”
   • “...comfortable dealing with complex, interpersonal issues while managing 30+ students at once.”
   • “...knows how to create polished, unique work that consistently impresses clients from all industries."
3. 3

   Include your passions and career goals. Explain where you want your career to take you. When you’re applying for a job, you’re (hopefully) onto the next step in your professional path—so potential employers will want to know what you’re hoping to achieve with them. This is a great place to showcase your passion, ambition, and familiarity with the role you’re applying for. Brainstorm your ideal career path or goals, then weave them into your profile.^[5]

   • Pro tip: Tailor your profile to the job’s ad. Look for responsibilities and qualifications on the page, then nod to them here. If they’re looking for “energetic” professionals, explain that you’re excited to get work.^[6]
   • "Looking for an opportunity to develop my skills in Human Resources while supporting a hard-working, passionate team of professionals.”
   • “Seeking an online publication where I can jump into the editorial deep-end—I’m excited to contribute engaging pieces and work alongside talented writers.”
   • “Eager to apply my organizational and problem-solving skills in a role as an Executive Assistant, all while learning from a successful titan in business.”
4. 4

   Mention concrete achievements, like degrees, awards, and certifications. Somewhere in your statement, be sure to back up your claims with specific, tangible details. If you’ve completed relevant training, won awards, mastered technical programs, finished internships, or hit certain impressive numbers in your career, mention them here. Basically, the goal is to provide clear evidence that supports what you've already said about yourself.^[7]

   • Pro tip: Tie your accomplishments to numbers if you can. A sales goal, a number of issues published, or even a number of guests served—these can help your statement shine.
   • “Experience writing code in C, C++, JAVA, JAVASCRIPT, PHP, RUBY, Objective C, and Python.”
   • “In 3 years as a Customer Service Representative, I’ve won the Top Support Staff Award 5 times and received a 95% helpfulness rating from customers.”
   • “I’ve managed a kitchen staff of 30+ service professionals and directed luxury dining for 300+ guests at once.”
5. 5

   Tie all of the pieces together. Now, you're ready to write your profile! You can take liberties with the way you order these crucial pieces, but in general, you’ll want to start with your current endeavor or title and finish up with your concrete accomplishments. Here are two example structures for your personal profile to get you started:^[8]

   • I’m a [2-3 relevant adjectives to describe you] [your career or student title] who is skilled in [your talents and abilities]. I’m looking forward to [your career objective] after achieving [your concrete accomplishments].
   • A [your career or student title] searching for an opportunity to [your career objective]. I’m [2-3 adjectives to describe you] and [your talents and abilities].
     • [2-5 bullets with concrete achievements]

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1. Keep things short, use concrete numbers, and choose strong language. When writing your personal profile, it pays to stand out. We've identified a few key tips that can seriously help your chances; apply them, and you'll be more likely to capture the attention of your potential future employer.

   • Use strong, descriptive language when describing yourself. Basic words like “nice” and “smart” won’t be as effective as “loyal,” “proactive,” or “ambitious.”
   • Keep your personal profile short and sweet. Your entire blurb will be just a few lines (max 6), so be choosy about your language. Make sure every word is working hard!
   • Tailor your profile to the job’s ad. Look for responsibilities and qualifications on the page, then nod to them here. If they’re looking for “energetic” professionals, explain that you’re excited to get work.^[9]
   • Tie your accomplishments to numbers. A sales goal, a number of issues published, or even a number of guests served—when noting your concrete achievements, numbers can help your statement shine.

   See Also

   How to describe skills in your CV

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1. 1

   Entry-level I’m a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi with degrees in Creative Writing and Journalism. Over 4 years of projects, seminars, and research, I’ve become a skilled writer and effective teammate. My achievements include a 3.5 GPA average, a mastery of the French language, and a successful internship with The San Francisco Chronicle. I’m thrilled to bring my passion and enthusiasm to an exciting monthly paper.

2. 2

   Sales Enthusiastic, creative, proactive Sales Manager with 10 years experience. Seeking an exciting opportunity to excel in back-end sales in luxury markets.

   • Boosted sales by 15% over 6 months
   • 89% conversion rate from the top of the funnel
   • Reeled in 50k of new business in 3 quarters
3. 3

   Hospitality Hard-working, detail-oriented people person with 5 years experience in resort management looking to make a name for myself in luxury hospitality. Successfully onboarded and managed teams of 50+ staffers, all while curating 5-star experiences for high-end clientele. Excited to bring fine-dining, recreation, and administration management experience to a new team.

4. 4

   Finance I’m an experienced, agile financial professional skilled in handling high-stakes accounts. I’m seeking an opportunity to develop my skills alongside accomplished specialists in a challenging environment.

   • Cut business costs by 5% over 2 years
   • Managed annual budget of 300k
   • Delivered a 1.8% ROI on projects managed this year
5. 5

   Customer Service I’m an enthusiastic, independent Customer Service Rep with a talent for solving complex problems. With 5 awards under my belt—including “Rep of the Year”—and an 80% helpfulness rating, I’m looking forward to bringing my skills and passion to a brand new organization where I can continue to improve my craft.

6. 6

   Computer Science A passionate, clever, and technically skilled computer engineer seeking an opportunity to build something great with an experienced team.

   • Tested networks and sandboxes with 100% accuracy
   • Mastered JavaScript, Python, R, HTML, CSS, and C++
   • Managed SQL Server 2008, MS Access, and MySQL
   • Competent with Eclipse, NetBeans, Emacs, and Rational Rose
7. 7

   Executive Assistance Organized, empathetic Executive Assistant with 3 years of experience anticipating needs and supporting fast-paced schedules. Accomplishments include managing multiple c-suit calendars, organizing events with 100+ attendees, and receiving a glowing recommendation from my boss. Looking to join a successful, exciting new firm.

8. 8

   Marketing I’m a marketing powerhouse, equipped with 20 years of industry experience. I’m ready to take my talents to a fast-paced, innovative firm.

   • Increased open rate for online campaigns by 30%
   • Managed campaigns with annual budgets over 500k
   • Boosted YOY unique visitors by 300%
9. 9

   Writing Energetic, dedicated writer looking to make waves in the world of lifestyle writing. Skilled at covering a variety of topics in an engaging way—beauty, fashion, travel, astrology, and more. Responsible for bringing in 5k site views per month and earned the company “Lifestyle Writer of the Year" award.

10. 10

    Teaching I’m a passionate, devoted educator with 15 years experience, looking for an opportunity to grow at an elementary school promoting social-emotional learning.

    • Certified in CBEST and CSET (Mathematics)
    • Increased grade average of standardized tests by 13%
11. 11

    Human Resources Caring and organized human resources professional with 4 years of experience supporting 100+ employees. Lead the talent acquisition process for 20+ new hires, all while reducing company turnover rates by 10%. Seeking an exciting role in HR management in a startup environment.

12. 12

    Graphic Design I’m an experienced Graphic Designer with a keen eye for aesthetics. Looking for an opportunity to create engaging work for online formats.

    • Skilled in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
    • Designed graphics for new campaign, reaching 40k viewers
    • Created designs for social campaigns, winning 2k points of engagement

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