In this chapter, you will learn…
– The difference between a résumé and a personal profile
## Introduction
Your personal biography is the first impression you make on an employer. It’s the first thing they see when they look at your application, and it can make or break your chances of getting an interview.
This chapter will teach you how to write a personal biography that will make you stand out from the crowd. You’ll learn how to organize your information in an effective way, and you’ll find out how to make the most of your skills, experience, and accomplishments. You will also learn about the difference between résumés and personal profiles, and how you can use both in your job search. Finally, you’ll discover some of the most common mistakes people make when writing their personal biographies, and what you can do to avoid making these mistakes yourself. By the end of this chapter you will have a clear idea of what you need to include in your personal biography and how to present it in a way that will get you the job you want!
## The Importance of a Personal Profile
A personal profile is different from a résumé. A résumé is a summary of your work history. A personal profile, on the other hand, is an overview of who you are as a person. It includes information about your background, education, skills, and experience. It also gives you the opportunity to talk about your interests, hobbies, and personality traits. This is the part of your application that employers will spend the most time reading, so it’s important to make it as interesting and engaging as possible. You can use your personal profile as a way to sell yourself to an employer, and to explain why you’re the best candidate for the job.
1. Your personal profile can be as long or as short as you want it to be. There’s no right or wrong length, but keep in mind that the more information you include, the longer it will take you to write. If you’re applying for a job that requires a lot of writing, it’s a good idea to keep your profile to a page or two. However, if you’re looking for a position that doesn’t require much writing, you might want to include more information to make yourself stand out. The length of your profile will also depend on the type of job you’re trying to get. For example, an entry-level position might require a shorter profile than a more senior position.
2. The first thing you should do when writing your profile is to decide whether you want to write about yourself or your work experience. There are pros and cons to both approaches, so you’ll need to decide which one is best for you. If your goal is to get a job in your current field, then it makes sense to focus on your skills and accomplishments in that area. If, however, you’re hoping to move into a different field, it might be a better idea to focus more on your interests and hobbies.
If you decide to include information about both yourself and your work, make sure that you focus on the skills and experience you have that are relevant to the job for which you are applying. This will make it easier for an employer to see the connection between you and the job, and will help you to stand out in the crowd of other applicants who are trying to do the same thing. You don’t want to be the only one in the room who doesn’t have experience in the field for which the job is being advertised.
3. If you decide that you’re going to include both your work and personal experience in your profile, then the next thing to think about is how you want that information to be presented. Do you want a chronological or a functional approach? A chronological approach is one in which the information is presented in the order in which it occurred. A functional approach is the opposite. In this case, you would start with the most recent information and work your way back in time. Which approach you use will depend on how much time you have to write your profile and how much space you have in which to present your information. You may want to use a combination of both chronological and functional approaches, depending on what you think will be most effective for your situation. For more information on these two approaches, see the section “Organizing Your Personal Profile” on page.
4. Once you’ve decided which approach to use, the next step is to figure out what information you should include. The most common mistake people make in their personal profiles is to include too much information. This can be a problem if you don’t have enough space to include all of the information that you want. The best way to avoid this problem is to be honest with yourself about what you really have to say. If there’s something that you feel is important to include, then include it. If it’s not important, then don’t waste your time writing about it. The same goes for your hobbies and interests. If they’re important to you, then they should be included. If not, then you shouldn’t include them at all. Remember, you only have one chance to make a first impression, and the last thing you want is to come across as someone who is trying to impress an employer with a long list of things that he or she doesn’t care about. If this is the case, then maybe it’s time to rethink your career goals and figure out a new way to get what you want out of life.
## The Pros and Cons of Chronological and Functional Personal Profiles
Chronological and functional personal profiles are two different ways of presenting information about yourself. Chronological profiles start with your most recent experience and work backwards in time, while a functional profile starts with the least recent and works forward.
Pros of a chronological profile:
It’s easier to write because you can start at the beginning of your career and work through to the present. This makes it easier to keep track of what you’ve done in the past and what you’re planning to do in the future. It’s also a good way to show that you have a long-term career plan, which is a good thing to include in a personal profile because it shows that you are serious about your job search and are willing to invest the time and effort necessary to get the job that you really want. It can also make you seem like a more mature and responsible person, which can make you more attractive to potential employers.