My Top 10 Tips: The honest approach to creating a good impression
1. Be fair and honest. Your profile should, above all, be a true representation of your successes. Never lie or exaggerate your achievements, nor your role in them – this will be found out and will damage your reputation irreparably.
2. Take pride in what you have achieved. Speak positively about your achievements without bragging or self-deprecation.
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Hide Ad3. Be transparent on any negatives. Don't sugar-coat the negatives – explain them and let the reader decide. Negatives will always be brought out, probably by your competitors – so get there first and put your side of the story across.
4. Keep it brief and structure it well. Use just enough description to get by. Your reader does not want to read a novel – simply the facts.
5. Be specific. People relate to examples if they are specific.
6. Present a 3D image of yourself. Don't simply focus on the dry facts. Your reader wants to know what makes you different from everyone else. If you're a mountaineer – say so. If you have a passion for motor sport, teaching children with a disability or taking part in community programmes, don't hide it. There will be people who see these as key differentiators and place business with you because of them.
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Hide Ad7. Don't preach. You may hold strong views on many subjects. You're not going to convert the world through a profile so don't use it as an opinion forum.
8. Don't use your profile as an advertisement for your company. Your profile is a representation of you. If you wish to link that to the company then that's fine – but don't try to use your profile to put the latest sales pitch for the company's products on.
9. Demonstrate integrity. Overall, your profile should be dignified, fair and able to stand up to scrutiny. These attributes will reflect upon you.
10. Choose a good photo. Make sure the picture you choose represents the reputation you want to get across. If you want to be portrayed as a serious business person, don't choose a holiday snap from your last summer break.