5 Tips That Will Help You Build an Impressive Profile

Did you always want to study at a foreign university but didn’t know where to start? Well, let’s start simply with Profile Building. Having an impressive profile improves your chances of getting accepted at the university of your choice. Not only that, a strong profile is also connected with your holistic development and personal branding, and a future-proof career for sustained success.

The harsh reality is that many students are unaware of how to build their profiles. By the time they realize this, it is already too late, which is why we cooked up the right recipe for building a good profile for you. Read along to find out more.

What is Profile Building?

In a nutshell, “Profile Building” means systematically building your skills and credentials that can be showcased in your CV. Developing a profile is all about acquiring knowledge and experience through courses, volunteering, internships, doing extracurricular activities, and taking initiatives. It takes meticulous planning and strategy to build an impressive profile. People put years of effort into creating a strong, compelling profile or portfolio for themselves.

Start creating your profiles early if you want to apply to Ivy League or Tier I universities or work toward a white-collar position at an MNC. The majority of students only become aware of it after it has impacted their career path.

Why is Profile Building Important?

A carefully planned and structured profile is crucial for several reasons. These are listed below:

• It allows you to learn new skills while working on various projects, assignments, internships etc.
• An impressive profile can fetch you an acceptance letter from your dream university or college.
• Apart from learning new skills, you also learn a lot about your likes and dislikes and figure out your true passion.
• Having a good profile gives you confidence, so you can attract and pursue opportunities and even handle interviews better.
• A good profile at university or college level will attract various employers with job offers.

When Should You Begin Profile Building?

This is the most important question that candidates often ask me. There is no age limit to start building your profile especially when you want to study abroad. However, it is considered ideal to begin as early as the 8^th or 9^th grade. Starting early gives a student ample time to work on his or her abilities, skills, strengths and identify what they are really good at.

However, if you did not begin in your 9th grade, it is still not too late. You can still work on improving your skills through your 10^th, 11th, and 12^th grades. Nonetheless, you must note that if you are already in your 12^th, it is rather late for profile building for a bachelors degree program, but you can still try and give it your best shot.

5 Tips for Building an Impressive Profile

Start early and start following the below tips to make an excellent profile.

1. Plan Ahead and Set Your Goal

Building a Profile is like building a brand. You showcase your own personal brand through your CV, so make sure its an interesting and engaging read. As discussed above, you must start early. Start thinking and planning. Decide how you want your profile to appear like. Set clear goals for yourselves. Whether you are an athlete or a science enthusiast, your CV should clearly reflect your identity and brand.

It is going to take a lot of time to determine your passion, so you should continuously try to explore new things. Make a list of activities you enjoy doing, skills that you want to earn, skills that come naturally to you, sports you like to play, any hidden talent you might have and use all of these to your advantage. Ask for help from your parents or teachers if required.

If you are a parent with the desire to send your kids to a reputed good university abroad it is better to plan early. Work with your child, help them identify their interests, capabilities, skills, strengths and weaknesses. Encourage your child to participate in various sports and extra curricular activities. This is how they explore their talents and identify them.

2. Engage in a Project

Projects are an extremely important part of Profile Building. Being part of an academic, social, or research project from your schooldays shows your curiosity, sincerity, and drive. Think of a topic that interests you. Create a project based on your interests. There are several options to consider, based on the outcome you want to achieve, the impact you want to create, the kind of research you want to conduct, or the experience you want to gain.

If you are not able to come up with something on your own, ask for expert help. You can talk to your teachers or browse the internet. These days, there are many projects that are completely online and also experts who mentor students with their projects.

Note: Students who conducted research are 26% more likely to get accepted to an Ivy League university’s EA/ED (Early Action/Early Decision) program.

3. Don’t Avoid Extracurriculars

Extracurricular activities are often ignored and neglected. Students put in a lot of effort and achieve excellent grades in their exams but they don’t give the required weightage to their extracurriculars. And this is a big mistake if you are trying to build your profile, especially for education in foreign universities or some of the modern-day progressive Indian universities.

In present times, kids from an early age are making names for themselves in every field and making new records. Try to pick up one activity at a time and focus and explore your interest in that. You should try choosing activities from different fields such as sports, music, arts & crafts, theatre, learning new skills, doing internships, part-time jobs, or entrepreneurship etc. Trust me when I say this: extracurriculars are as important as your academics and textbooks.

It is a proven fact that students having a growth mindset tend to participate more in extracurricular activities and are better at time management, planning, teamwork, communication, and many other skills.

4. Involve in Community Services

The purpose of community service or volunteering is to give something back to society which allows us to grow as an individual. It not only makes your profile outstanding but also helps you on a personal level. You learn to be social, understand the issues people are facing, and become a better and more compassionate person. Volunteering also helps you in identifying the cause(s) that you resonate with and would like to contribute to.

As a student, volunteer for a local NGO or try to be part of a club or a society that serves our community. If your school does not have such resources, it gives you an opportunity to take an initiative and start such club or society in your school with some friends. It will also help you gain a leadership experience, which adds a great value to your profile.

Your cause could be as simple as creating awareness about a disease or other social issues. You can join hands with some NGOs and run a cleaning drive in your neighborhood. You can help old people with simple chores. These simple tasks or initiatives can bring big changes in the lives of many.

5. Contact a Career Counselor

Career counsellors are charismatic wizards who can help make the whole process easy. Although, in the end, you are the one who has to decide and choose your own path, but a career counsellor will guide you in the right direction.

Most students struggle to understand their own likes and dislikes, let alone find passion. This is where a career counsellor can help you figure things out. If you have any doubts, it is wise to book a session with career counsellors such as EnrichMyCareer.

They have helped hundreds of students with their profiles and many other career-related issues. Some of their candidates are now studying abroad at their dream universities.

Want to know more about career counsellors? Read this: “Success Made Simple: How Does a Career Coach Help?“

Conclusion

So here we wrap it up. Remember, a good profile and CV can take you places. It shapes your personal brand and is your walking advertisement. Building a profile is a long-term job. Just keep going one day at a time and soon you will have the qualities and credentials that good universities are looking for in their students.

Never hesitate to work hard. Always plan ahead, set your goal, find your passion, and build a profile that reflects all the good things about you. Good Luck!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1.    Do I need to engage in social work to be eligible to study at foreign universities, at UG or PG level?

Social services are not a requirement per se, but they do add a plus point. It improves your chances of acceptance into your favorite university. So, why not have it in your profile or CV?

2.    Do I need to build my profile for a good job?

Profile building is important for almost everyone. Whether you are a student seeking admission to a good university or a fresher looking for a job, having a good profile keeps you one step ahead of other ordinary students and candidates.

3.    What is SOP in a profile?  

SOP, or statement of purpose, brings out your identity and individuality. Your SOP reflects who you are as a person and what your career aspirations and motivations are. It is also known as a letter of intent and is addressed to university admissions committees to describe your interests, goals, career path, achievements, and your reasons for applying to the chosen course and university. So, make sure your SOP is impressive and true to your heart.