The purpose of your resume Profile is to 'showcase' why you are the candidate of choice! It's the one essential component of your resume that has the highest probability of actually being read! The intent is to motivate the reader by highlighting who you are, and, what you bring to the table to make the company more successful. The reader is seeking compelling and relevant expertise, attributes, skills and achievements - visually displayed with clarity and a sense of purpose.

The Profile is your 'promise of value', and, what differentiates you from other candidates. It's your platform to confidently and passionately market yourself and summarize your intrinsic values to a new company. If structured appropriately, the resume Profile should convince the hiring manager why he or she should take a closer look at your resume in-lieu of the traditional 10-15 second glance.

A Profile vs. a Job Objective

A Profile is not a Job Objective (which actually is archaic and serves no purpose in a resume). The intent of the Job Objective was to highlight the type of company and position that you were seeking. It was a synopsis of 'what the company can do for me'! A Job Objective has no place on a resume. Wasting your time by commencing your resume with - 'why you want a job', is pointless and will not inspire the hiring manager to look any further. Once past a cover letter, a well crafted, inspiring Profile is your best chance of peaking interest and having a hiring manager proceed further.

A resume Profile is an introductory paragraph, or compilation of 4-5 sentences or statements, which are highly relevant to the position you are applying for. Its primary purpose is to convincingly communicate to a hiring manager - 'These are the skills, strengths, attributes, and accomplishments that I have to offer you'. A typical statement might include - 'An accomplished and award-winning Executive Chef, offering innovative culinary cuisine, and, a commitment to excellence and patron loyalty'. Another statement related to skills might be - 'Innate ability to quickly establish rapport and build trust with individuals on all levels'. Each statement should intuitively emphasize your value to the organization. Don't forget to include several keywords from the job description and website to reinforce compatibility with the position requirements and corporate culture.

Profile Positioning

Typically, a Profile should be positioned near the top of the resume, below the Contact information and your 'branding'. Your branding reflects your career role or closely mirror the actual job description. Examples of your branding may be - 'Sales Manager', 'Public Accountant', 'Registered Nurse', 'Electrical Engineer', etc. If changing careers, your branding should be consistent with the job description. Remember, your skills are highly 'portable' and will have applicability in many new roles and market sectors.

In Summary...

Unleash your full potential with an impressive and inspiring resume Profile. Distilling 4-5 key statements about your skills, attributes, expertise, and awards should not be an insurmountable task. Your Profile is the critical mass of your resume. Bear in mind, your Profile will not be consistent on every resume, but vary slightly predicated on the job description and corporate expectations. The Profile is a strong and highly visible marketing message that has a profound and memorable impact with the reader or hiring manager, even if the remainder of the resume remains a faint image!

Lenny Keitel runs Hudson Valley Resumes, a premier resume writing service with a penchant for crafting impressive resumes that inspire and motivate the hiring manager through its inspirational content, clarity, and visual appeal. We differentiate our clients with a unique "signature" or brand, positioning them a 'cut-above' other candidates.

Lenny is a former Director of Professional Services with Fujitsu. Innovation, creative writing skills, and a competitive spirit underscore Lenny's tireless passion to help job seekers enhance their competitiveness and become top-quality candidates in today's challenging global economy. He has a B.S. Degree from the City University of NY (CCNY). Lenny is a featured guest columnist for the Hudson Valley Business Journal and has also appeared as an expert guest on the 'Quinlan Care Talk' show aired on Harlem Talk Radio.

Hudson Valley Resumes www.hudsonvalleyresumes