Profile & Overview By: Saed R. Habib

Saed R. HabibEducation: BA in I.T - Multimedia & Web development Current job:Full Time Freelancer at Upwork Previous positions: 1. Information Systems Help Desk Assistant at

UNRWA in Gaza2. Web developer intern at World Health

Organization HQ in Geneva3. Project Manager at Solskjerming-as in

Norway4. Freelancers’ Mentor at Mercy Corps in Gaza5. SMM & team leader at Elance

Find me at: saedhabib.com

Overview

• How to create an outstanding profile• What to write in your overview

section• Examples of great profiles/overviews• Tips & Tricks• Discussion

How to create an outstanding profile• Link your accounts– Linkedin, Twitter, Github, StackOverFlow,

Behance• Add a professional photo– Be professional and friendly

• Add a title and an overview– Be simple, Be specific, Use keywords–  E.g: If for instance, you are a Graphic

Designer you can quote specialized areas such as logo designer, visual brand designer, or go for general areas such as web designer, web developer etc. 

How to create an outstanding profile• Select your key skills– Be unique, don’t be the I do everything guy!

• Add your education & employment history– Add the courses/subjects you’ve had that’s

related to your work/career

• Build your portfolio– Add the best of what you have ( not

necessarily the most recent )– IF you don’t have any previous work, start

now, and create some!

What to write in your overview section• Impress your client in the first line

– Express the unique skills that you possess that will be of value to your clients in a professional and concise manner. Focus on your niche-specific skills.

• Quick tip: Start with the most important information first because only the first two or three sentences of your overview are visible in search results and other Upwork pages. At the end of your overview you can include soft skills related to your area of expertise such as reliable, good communication skills, fast learner, attention to details etc.

What to write in your overview section• When creating your overview, have

these things in mind: – Type of work you want to do and

the industry you want to work in– Years of experience you hold– Your proficiency with systems and

industry-relevant software.– Accomplishments you’re proud of.– Languages you speak and are

proficient working in

What to write in your overview section• Always remember to highlight how your

skills and accomplishments can help the client reach their business goals. After all, you have to prove your value to them.

• Finally, proofread your overview to ensure that there are no spelling or grammar mistakes because nothing will make a client drop you fast like poor grammar.

Examples of great profiles/overviews

•Let’s check out some great profiles/overviews

Tips & Tricks• It’s important that your hourly rate matches

with your proposed rate in your cover letter• If you want to make decent amount of

money, you should firstly have a decent profile picture

• Once you receive a feedback/review, make sure to add it to your overview

• Update your profile every now and then

Tips & Tricks

• If you were a website designer your tagline should read something like:– “Website design that gets you more

customers”A client will read that and think, “I really do want more customers, let me look at this guy’s proposal!”Make sure your headline speaks to your client’s needs, not your ego.

Tips & Tricks• Find out the ways the best people in your

field describe their work and use it to describe yourself.– Sometimes people ask me, “But isn’t my overview

supposed to describe myself?”Yes, and no.Clients don’t care about you… They care about how you can help them.Your skills are meaningless unless you can describe how they can help your client make more money or achieve their goals.

• Again, your masters degree doesn’t make your face look any better.

Tips & Tricks

• Use the CTA ( Call-To-Action ) phrases – Shoot me a message, check out my portfolio

..etc

• Break your sentences up and make them about your client– Your client wants to learn why what you can

do will help them achieve THEIR goals. Make sure you are doing this in almost every sentence.

Discussion

• Freelancing platform Vs Outside• Payment methods • Answering your questions