You’ve signed up for Bench SME and are well on the way to securing projects with great clients for better pay. Before you can get started, you’ll need to complete at least 70% of your profile to become searchable. To get started, sign in to Bench SME and click the Profile tab at the top right.
Pro tip: Don’t forget to click the Save Changes button each time you edit your profile to ensure that you don’t lose any of your work.
The first step to a complete Bench SME profile is a clear and concise summary. As the front page of your profile, this section effectively acts as a first impression to potential clients, so make sure to put your best professional foot forward.
The Summary Profile Description allows you to write a brief introduction about yourself. Take around 100 to 200 words to outline your background, experience, and goals, including keywords like “project management” or “SAP”. Don’t be afraid to use line breaks to make things easier to read.
Also in the summary section, you’ll find areas to list Skills, indicate your ZIP Code and Distance Willing to Travel, and declare a $ Min. Hourly Rate. Remember that this hourly rate is simply a bare minimum; Bench SME will automatically match you with any projects paying at or above your listed rate.
The work history section shows your past employment in a simple, standardized format. Click the + sign in the right-hand corner to add a new entry. Begin with the Position Name and Company Name as well as the City and State in which you were employed. In the Position Description, briefly discuss your tasks and responsibilities, taking care to highlight specific quantifiable achievements whenever possible. Finally, list the Date From and Date To during which you were employed.
In the capabilities section, simply list the Languages, Frameworks, Tools, and Platforms in which you are proficient. The more capabilities you can show, the better, although make sure not to list anything you’re not completely comfortable working in. Need help brainstorming? Just ask us.
Now that you’ve told prospective clients about your experience and capabilities, it’s time to show them what you can do. Just as in the work history section, click the + sign to create a new listing. Give the entry a Project Name and write a brief Project Description talking about your role and any significant achievements. Finally, include an external Reference Link to the project if possible; this is optional, but highly recommended.
The education section of your Bench SME profile is a great place to list both academic degrees and additional certifications earned after your studies. Once again, click the + sign to make a new entry. List the Degree and School Name first, followed by a brief Description including, if applicable, your GPA, academic concentration, and any awards or recognition received. Finally, include the City, State, Date From, and Date To in which you attended.
Now that you’ve successfully completed your Bench SME profile, the last step to optimizing your experience is to let us know which types of projects and companies you’re most interested in. To do this, click on the Companies tab while logged in and begin searching for firms you like, such as AllState or Edelman. Select any company and click Make Favorite to flag it as one of your picks. Even if this company isn’t active on Bench SME, our algorithms will use your preferences to match you with projects for clients with similar characteristics.
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