PROFILE PURPOSE & VALUE
Volunteer Profiles are an essential tool to connect clients and SCORE volunteers. Our Profiles tell a story about you as a volunteer and SCORE as an organization and connects us all as the largest network of volunteers serving entrepreneurs and the small business community in the nation.
Every volunteer has unique and valuable skills and experiences whether you are a Mentor, a Subject Matter Expert, a Workshop Presenter, or a Volunteer. A strong and complete profile helps to better serve our clients in many ways:
- Client Intake Coordinators can more easily match clients with the right Mentor.
- You get the most out of your SCORE experience by sharing your expertise and using the expertise of others.
- Mentors can more easily find resources and save time from having to research subjects that are outside of their expertise and comfort zone.
- SCORE Mentors can better serve all clients by bringing a wider breadth of skills and expertise to their local communities.
You matter and your experience matters. Please use the following Guidelines for Completing and Optimizing Your Profile to create or update your volunteer profile in Engage.
Thank you for your commitment to serving our clients and for all that you do for at SCORE!
Appreciatively,
CEO, SCORE
GUIDELINES FOR COMPLETING AND OPTIMIZING YOUR PROFILE
Volunteer Profiles are foundational to SCORE. All volunteers need a good profile to match up how they can and will engage with the SCORE mission. In this virtual world with members spanning the entire nation, our profiles are our first connection to each other, to clients and to SCORE.
This document focuses on open text fields in the profile, where you can highlight your expertise and experience.
Your Profile Summary is the highlight of your Profile. Example profile summaries for each volunteer classification are included in this document. An emphasis here is on Mentors because matching us with clients’ needs is a primary objective. Good matches make for satisfied mentors and clients.
Use the following guidelines to create your Volunteer Profile Summary to tell clients and volunteers how you can best help them achieve their goals.
Subject Matter Expertise
This is the form field directly under the Profile Summary – How Can You Help SCORE Clients where you have told us about you.
This is an extremely important field because you can use keywords and phrases to precisely describe your business experience and expertise in the areas that you are expert in. Separate each one with commas.
When creating your profile in Engage (our internal system, not Google), including relevant keywords is crucial for enabling effective searches by CICs and mentors. Refer to the list of example keywords provided in this linked document for ideas on what to include. However, if you have unique expertise not covered by those examples, feel free to add new, appropriate keywords.
This "Subject Matter Expert" field is searchable only within Engage, not on the public web. By utilizing relevant keywords in this field, CICs and mentors can find and match you with suitable client opportunities more easily.
To search this field, use the "Subject Matter Expert" filter located at the bottom of the left-hand column filters on the Engage search results page. This filter is designated by a magnifying glass icon, allowing you to either search this field exclusively or in combination with other filters.
Other key elements of your Volunteer Profile include your Profile Picture, Areas of Expertise, Industry Experience, Languages spoken, Contact Information, Mentoring Preferences, Mentor Direct Settings and Availability. You'll need to complete all fields. See the form for optional answers.
Use the following Guidelines for Completing and Optimizing Your Profile or see Examples of Profile Summaries.
Step-by Step Profile Summary Preparation
Step #1:
Describe how you can help SCORE Clients or a fellow volunteer. It is recommended to begin your Profile Summary with the phrase “I can help you…” Example:
“I can help you evaluate your business ideas, identify strategic and tactical plans to develop them, and provide you with the guidance and resources to help you start and grow your business.”
Step #2:
Describe your relevant skills, experiences, and areas where you have deeper expertise. Include subject matter expertise such as those found at this linked document to identify areas where you have extended experience. Rather than listing them separately, weave these details into your biographical narrative.
Example:
“Throughout my extensive career in the retail and wholesale industries, I have accumulated broad expertise in strategic and tactical planning, product development, assortment planning, project management, and team building. My product knowledge encompasses apparel and accessories, footwear, jewelry, watches, and greeting cards.
I have supported organizations of varying sizes and business models, including large national chains, small brick-and-mortar stores, and omnichannel businesses. My experience spans guiding companies through rapid growth expansions, startups, turnarounds, multichannel revenue streams, and acquisition integrations. I have held senior-level positions overseeing merchandising, marketing, planning and allocation, service delivery, store operations, and visual merchandising for major retail chains and small privately-owned companies."
Step #3:
Provide information about the accomplishments and interests contributing to your SCORE volunteer work. Let the reader know more about you and why you want to help them. Example:
“I enjoy utilizing my business acumen as a coach and mentor to help small business owners and entrepreneurs realize their dreams. I bring a high energy level, commitment, responsiveness, and the ability to provide relevant observations to help you grow your business.”
Your Subject Matter Expertise:
Any keyword entered in this field will be searchable for other volunteers when looking for an expert in Engage and will also be displayed to the CIC when assigning client requests. This information is not searchable to clients on SCORE.org. This approach allows Client Intake Coordinators and other volunteers to easily identify your relevant skills and match you with clients seeking assistance in those areas.
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strategic planning, product development product line, dresses, ready to wear, accessories, shoes, jewelry, fine watches, greeting cards, assortment planning, UPC's, inventory management, product validation, business model canvas, lean start up |
General Volunteer Profile Guidance:
If you want more details, use the Engage profile step-by-step instructions or view the video tutorial to guide you through completing and updating your profile in Engage. General guidance follows in these bullet points:
- Whether a Mentor, SME, Workshop Presenter or Volunteer, your Profile Summary should illustrate how you can engage with SCORE, help a client or how you might help a Mentor serve a client.
- Use Keywords within your industry and areas of expertise that a client or volunteer will likely search for. See this list of example Keywords. Keywords and phrases are essential to find you in the Engage search.
- The text in this profile field is searchable for online profiles and is internally searchable for all volunteers.
- If using a format that includes bullet points, prepare your Profile Summary in Word and copy and paste it into your Profile. It will display in your profile as formatted.
- It helps to add a short summary at the bottom of your profile that speaks to your work experience. This adds credibility and helps with client matching. Note that the work experience you add on the profile input page is for internal use only and may be more detailed.
- Only Volunteers with the classification of Mentor will appear on SCORE’s website. All others are visible only internally in Engage.
- Business and organization names may be used to convey credible experience and expertise. Do NOT promote any business, product, service, or organization.
- Do NOT include any contact information or URL’s. (You can add your personal social media links in the Social Media section of the profile. Do not include any business URLs.)
- Do NOT copy and paste your resume into your Profile Summary.
Areas of Expertise and Industry Experience – from the dropdown lists
- When selecting your Areas of Expertise and Industry Experience, select only the areas where you are well-versed and can provide thorough advice and information. Your Areas of Expertise and Industry Experience should correspond to your Profile Summary.
Work Experience and Education
- Include relevant certifications, specialized training, coursework and formal education.
- Relevant parts of your resume may be pasted into the Work Experience section of your profile. This is only visible internally and adds important information to your profile.
Examples of Profile Summaries
Example #1 – Mentor:
A profile picture.
Describes how a volunteer can help SCORE Clients.
I can help you with the financial challenges of your business, including understanding financial statements, cash flow management, accounting and budgeting issues and preparing for loan applications or potential investors.
Describes relevant skills and experiences.
During my career, I held high-level management positions in financial reporting and control, tax compliance and planning and financial analysis and capital budgeting. I always enjoyed partnering with business unit managers in acquisitions and divestitures, contract negotiations and product costing. Educating fellow executives on financial statements and cash flow was an important part of my position. This work experience encompassed a Big 8 Accounting Firm, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and American Greetings Corporation.
Describes experience, accomplishments, interests, and/or personal traits that contribute to one’s work as a SCORE volunteer.
As a SCORE mentor since 2002, I have helped many clients develop financial projections, improve accounting records, understand on tax and business filing requirements, and to analyze product profit margins. I look forward to working with you on any or all of these challenges
Example #2 – Mentor:
Your profile picture.
Describes how a volunteer can help SCORE Clients.
I can help you start, run, and grow your business. I am an experienced entrepreneur, owning and running two small businesses for over two decades. Current businesses are consulting and ecommerce. Prior to this I have over two decades of experience with large and small companies. I have mentored and taught hundreds of clients during the past decade with SCORE across a wide range of business types. I would like to help you to achieve your goals by making good business decisions.
Describes relevant skills and experiences.
Mentoring topics include:
- Starting and managing a business
- Business operations improvement
- Business feasibility analysis
- Fundamentals of website design
- Business planning and strategic planning
- Evaluation of invention ideas for possible patent protection
- Product development
- Consulting practice - starting and improving
Describes experience, accomplishments, interests, and/or personal traits that contribute to one’s work as a SCORE volunteer.
My experience includes:
1997-Present: Founder and President of an international training and consulting firm specializing in innovation and profit improvement. Clients have ranged from individual entrepreneurs to billion dollar companies in almost every business segment. 1996-Present: Co-founder and Vice President of an Internet based publisher of self-development materials. Seven Years: Executive Vice President and COO for a $20 million advanced materials company. Full operating responsibilities. Fourteen Years: Nine different positions up to Director level of a large specialty materials company. Positions included: sales, marketing, operations, plant management, R & D, division level management of international operations, and sales. Two Years: Co-owner of a highly successful figure salon franchise unit that was built from scratch. Four Years: Engineer to Assistant Superintendent for a very large metals and materials producer. Published author. Patented inventor. Consulting. Freelancing.
Example #3 – Subject Matter Expert:
Your profile picture.
Describes how a volunteer can help SCORE Clients.
I can help guide small and medium-sized businesses with their website design and internet marketing, including social media. As a small business owner since 2007 of a web design and internet marketing company I can help you in these areas:
Describes relevant skills and experiences.
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- Develop your internet marketing strategy
- Provide recommendations on how to build a website that will rank well on Google search results lists, get leads, convert more website visitors into paying customers, and sell using eCommerce.
- How to use social media to promote your business and gain more customers.
- How to use paid internet advertisements, like Google Ad Words or Facebook Ads Manager, to expand your advertising reach.
- How to use email marketing and text message marketing to reach out to or retain customers.
- Help you monitor, analyze, and improve the performance of your internet marketing strategy.
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Describes experience, accomplishments, interests, and/or personal traits that contribute to one’s work as a SCORE volunteer.
I am happy to share my experience and knowledge to help you succeed. I look forward to talking with you.
Work Experience
Small business co-owner, 2007 & Present Business focus: Website Design & Internet Marketing.
University Instructor: Information Technology Tools, Website Design, 2007 & 2009.
Global Telecom Provider roles include Manager, Project Manager, Technical Support Data Communications, Operating Systems, Application Developer Support, and Website Design.
Example #4 – Workshop Presenter and/or Volunteer:
Your profile picture.
Describes how a volunteer can help SCORE Clients.
As a skilled Workshop Presenter and a Volunteer on SCORE’s Finance Committee, I can help provide guidance to you and your clients on business plan development, product development, market research, and financial management.
Describes relevant skills and experiences.
I have worked in technology startups around the world and have a strong understanding of product and technology development.
Through my work in economic development and education in Latin America, I had the opportunity to help business owners not only solve their problems but learn also to learn how to problem solve regardless of their background.
In addition to my work with SCORE I am also an economics researcher and educator, focusing on financial decision-making and small businesses.
Describes experience, accomplishments, interests, and/or personal traits that contribute to one’s work as a SCORE volunteer.
The son of small business owners, it is a great privilege of mine to give back to my community in this way.
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