Task 1A - Professional Profile

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Rewriting my current CV as a profile....

I wasn't too sure what the difference between a CV and a profile was when I first approached this task. I looked through almost everyone else's blogs to see their interpretations and have to give thanks to Charlotte for helping me understand it best. Charlotte was generous enough to upload her performance and 'normal' CVs to her blog as well as typing out her professional profile and the main thing I noticed was the paragraphs of writing on her profile compared to the list-like appearance of her performance CV. Looking at my own CV I can see that it is firstly out of date, and also basically just a list of my training, qualifications, performances and work experience. It is factual and informative but there is nothing 'human' about it; nothing to really sell myself or give potential employers a feel for my personality. Being the black and white, fact-loving person I am, I also then googled definitions for both curriculum vitae and profile. I found that the online definition for CV uses the word "account" whereas profile uses "description". Good to know I am on the right track! So here goes with a first draft of a still informative but more descriptive professional profile...


Name: Natalie Smith

Education:
12 GCSE's - Grades A*-B
3 A Levels - Biology, Chemistry and Psychology
AS Level - Maths
Level 3 Extended Project

Vocational Training:
Level 4 Diplomas in Dance Education in Tap Dance and Modern Theatre
Level 3 Diplomas in Dance Instruction in National Dance and Imperial Classical Ballet

Work:
Cover Supervisor based in the Creative Arts department (secondary school 11-16 yrs)
Dance Teacher - ballet, tap, modern theatre, jazz, national (age 3+)
Physiotherapy/teaching Assistant with students with learning difficulties and disabilities (age 16-25)
Store colleague in a large pet shop
Waitress/barmaid/kitchen hand

Skills/responsibilities
Delivering physiotherapy programmes
Personal care
Administering routine medication
Cash handling
Key holding
Customer service
Food preparation

I am a versatile and motivated individual who thrives off of helping others. My passion for music and dance drives me to do my best for my dance students; nurturing their talents and providing a well-rounded dance education. In an industry as competitive and fast-moving as the performing arts, I commit myself to continuing my own learning and professional development. I do this by regularly attending ISTD dance teachers' courses and currently by studying for my BA (hons) in Professional Practice in Arts. This enables me to reflect on my own practice and ensures I deliver the most up to date, relevant and enjoyable dance education so that my students can succeed in their own futures.

I plan to revisit this and develop it further. Immediately I am questioning the order in which I have put everything. Should the bottom paragraph go at the beginning to draw the reader in and make them want to find out more? Is it best where it is now so that my profile closes with the more personal touch? Is that paragraph then the reader's lasting memory of me? I'd love to hear other people's thoughts.


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