Need advice on writing a good CV profile? So without further ado, start asking yourself two questions: who are you et what you are .
Article updated on Tuesday May 14, 2024.
What is a CV profile
A CV profile is a brief summary of a candidate's skills, experiences and objectives in relation to a specific job opening. On the other hand, a resume objective simply indicates the type of position the candidate is seeking. It therefore aims to arouse the reader's curiosity and encourage them to want to read the rest of the CV.
Format of a CV profile
The personal profile consists of a short paragraph which is placed at the top, just below the title of CV and contact details. It summarizes your professional experience, the objectives achieved and your skills. Think of your personal profile as a sort of tagline for your career. The personal profile of your CV should include:
- Between 50 and 200 words, for a total of 3-4 sentences
- Your position or function held, for example “Junior Programmer” or “Hospitality Manager with several years of experience”
- A punchy hook
- Your general skills and your technical skills
- Notable facts and statistics
- Your short/long term goals
- Professional guidance in line with the position for which you are applying.
Tips for writing a good CV profile: the format to use
Keep your profile writing concise. A CV profile should be between one and four (brief) sentences.
When describing the position in the advert, the hiring manager will surely have chosen each word carefully; he therefore tries to find clues as to the ideal candidate based on the tone used and the skills brought to the fore. One of the tips from recruitment professionals is to include in your CV not only keywords relevant to the position in general, but, more specifically, those used in the job ad..
Ultimately, you can write your CV profile on the one hand in the form of short paragraph or in the form of chip. You can also start with a descriptive sentence followed by four or five bullet points describing your most desirable qualifications (such as “customer service” or “marketing” or “technical skills”). Here's an example of what this combined approach looks like:
Example of profile for a CV
Compassionate and energetic operating room nurse with 8 years of experience serving rural communities.
- Nursing: Good knowledge of the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative stages of emergency and planned surgical procedures.
- Patient Relations: Excellent patient communication skills in English and Spanish, addressing patient and family concerns and providing patient education with clarity and sensitivity.
- Certifications: Current BLS, PALS and ACLS certifications.
- Key Strengths: Proven flexibility and reliability to work difficult shifts; available for scheduling overtime when warranted.
Some trap keywords to use sparingly
I also leave you a list of keywords which, certainly used a lot, but which I do not recommend because they can be negative:
Teamwork, I work under pressure, organized, good companion, I am a person, persistent, efficient, very perfectionist.
Focus on the job offer. In your profile, only put skills and qualifications related to the specific job you are applying for. A profile is especially useful if you have a work history unrelated to your current career goals. It allows you to highlight only your most relevant experience.
Focus on the future. A profile is used to show what you have to offer to an employer – what you will do for the company in the future. View the job listing to get an overview of what the company is looking for in an employee. In your profile, explain how you will meet the company's expectations.
What would the job description the ad refers to look like in 3-4 sentences? What would be the key words, the skills highlighted and the tone used?
While remaining true to who you are and your experiences, your personal profile should be as close as possible to the candidate description presented in the ad. This way, as soon as recruiters read your CV teaser, they will have the impression that you are exactly the person they are looking for and had in mind when they wrote the ad.
Write CV profile last
Indeed, to write a good CV profile I advise you to keep this section last and start directly with your professional experience. Once you have entered all relevant work experience, then identify keywords from those used to describe each job and the related skills needed.
You must take into account your professional background and the job description you aspire to when writing your personal profile. By approaching writing your description last, it becomes easier for you to find inspiration.
Who defines the professional profile of an employee
In the end, it is the recruiters who define the profile they will hire and it is they who decide if your profile meets their needs.
So focus on writing the professional profile that companies need.
