How to Write a Professional Networking Profile
With more and more businesses, professionals and employers going online to connect and communicate, your presence on the Web is often a first impression for new contacts. Social networks, such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, put your contact information and biography front-and-center, so writing a professional networking profile is essential if looking to land good prospects. Your profile needs to get the attention of potential employers, partners or clients while remaining genuine.
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Instructions
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Write three sentences describing what you do, what benefit it has to others and what motivates you to do it. You may indicate how much experience you have, but the key is to sound natural. Your goal in writing a summary is to give someone a positive idea of why they should want to get to know you. Limit the number of qualities you highlight to three.
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Describe your current job in a sentence or two and be clear about your specific talents or contributions. Touch on the type of business and mention if you are a business owner or freelancer. Give a general impression of being active, upbeat and in demand. For example,"I provide progressive project management and relationship building services to the media industry. My freelance business has been connecting fantastic businesses worldwide for 7 years."
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Ask colleagues or former employers for testimonials or recommendations to include in your profile. The testimonial can be brief, but must illustrate a positive quality or achievement of yours that inspired their recommendation.
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Include a photo of yourself at work or in a related environment, or use a professional portrait. Avoid overly personal photos or photos that look like they were taken in a bar with a cell phone.The photo should embody your personality.
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Include links to other profiles or websites, such as your online resume or business card. Use discretion when considering personal sites for your professional profile. While potential employers won't openly judge you based on your personal life or interests, if they see something they don't like, it will unavoidably influence their impression of you.
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List your work history, but only include jobs which are relevant to your current field or career objectives. If a Web site allows for more information to be input, describe your role, goals and accomplishments in a brief statement using the first person. For example: "As team leader, I managed a group of 8 sharp individuals. My goal was to enhance productivity through the use of innovative tools and methods, and I was able to increase customer satisfaction by 149% over two years."
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List relevant education. If a Web site allows for a description, state your main areas of study, extracurricular activities and achievements. For example, "I majored in biology and wildlife conservation, graduating with a bachelor's degree in science and served as president of the Students for Green Energy Council." Follow with a bulleted list of certifications, seminars or courses you completed to augment your skills.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your contact information current and accurate.
Don't be afraid to inject personal qualities or positive words into writing about yourself. While it seems self-indulgent at first, keep in mind that the purpose of your profile is to attract new business contacts.
Remember that the name and email address you use to create profiles on non-professional Web sites can be connected with your professional profiles. Don't use the same contact information on any site you would not want linked to you by colleagues, clients or employers.
References
Resources
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