Before your dream Workaway experience can begin, you need to create a stand out profile that will ensure your potential host says yes! If you haven’t already, we recommend that you read our Workaway guide which explains how to find your dream host and learn why you NEED to be part of this amazing community. Then, get your pen ready to take note of our tips in creating the best Workaway profile.
When creating a profile whether on Tinder or Facebook it serves a purpose – to impress people. Within a few short seconds they decide if you
- look like a murderer,
- have a good sense of humour and,
- share any similar interests.
However, your Workaway profile takes far more than sharing a few Memes and the odd pouting selfie to impress hosts. In order for the host of your dreams to say yes, follow our straight forward guide.
Hopefully, you’ve already joined – if not sign up here!
STEP ONE: INTRODUCE YOURSELF
Before you start auditioning actors to play you in your biopic, Workaway doesn’t need to know your life story. Note the word “introduce” i.e. a quick hello.
Hosts read through hundreds of profiles, so keep it simple but by all means stand out. It can be the hardest thing ever writing about yourself so answer these questions (honestly) and it should cover all bases for a solid introduction on your profile.
- Why you joined? To learn a new language/meet new people/see more of the world/try a new job/discover new cultures etc.
- What you can offer in return? Excellent cook/great with children/love animals/enjoy gardening/handy with a paintbrush etc.
- Where are you travelling to and when? A rough itinerary is important because hosts can also contact you from these countries.
- Have you volunteered previously? Worthwhile including previous work/study experience too. Be imaginative, what makes you stand out?
- What are you passionate about? Is it the outdoors that makes you tick? Animal rights? Or maybe like us, you just want to tell the world about haggis and you love nothing more than talking about traditions from home.
STEP TWO: CHOOSE A PROFILE PICTURE
You can have the gift of the gab and write the most interesting profile, but that’s no use if you upload a pouty selfie. There’s no denying the first, likely last and sometimes the only thing hosts look at will be your photo, so how do you nail it?
Here are a few Do’s & Don’t for choosing your Workaway profile picture.
- Do - Show your smile!! Save the pouting, the sultry come to bed eyes and Beyonce’ fierceness for Facebook.
- Do - Show your skills. Borrow your neighbour’s dog / hop on a bike/bake a cake – show you doing something practical or even just fun in your photo.
- Do - Double check the quality. Above 150Kb and below 2MB, in focus and in good lighting works best. Also check it’s not uploaded upside down etc.
- Don't - Upload a picture of you in a suit, looking all formal like a passport pic. You’re not applying for CEO, you’re applying to be you, but in their home.
- Don't - Upload photos of you necking Jaeger bombs if you’re applying to work with children, or wearing a fur coat if you claim to be an “animal lover” double check your images go with what you’ve written and what you’re applying to do. Save the Boys holiday to Maga pics for another day.
- Don't - Just upload photos of your travels. Sunsets and beaches are beautiful and all, but hosts just want to see you. Incorporate both and you’ve nailed it.
STEP THREE: INCLUDE YOUR TRAVEL DATES
Understandably, travel plans can change last minute, but include approximate dates in your profile when you set it up. For example, when hosts search for Workawayers for September, your profile is not going to pop up if you’re only available over Christmas.
You want to appear in search results but at the same time you don’t want to waste anyone’s time. No point in them offering you a Summer in Croatia, if you’re not leaving home until October.
As a tip, it may be best to also check flight prices etc before you say yes to a host. You may have a route idea, but until those flights are booked don’t make arrangements as it will waste your host’s time (and yours) which may affect your rating in future.
STEP FOUR: VERIFY YOURSELF VIA FACEBOOK
HOW TO MAKE A COUPLE PROFILE?
Although it is a slightly higher fee to join Workaway as a couple, it is actually cheaper than two solo memberships so if you are travelling with a friend it’s best to sign up together.
You will need to create a profile in the exact same steps mentioned above, but remember you are two people so share how you work well together, you want to reassure your host you’re not going to dump your travel buddy and leave them stranded.
Our top tips for a couple profile are:
- Mention if you’ve travelled as a couple before – it can be reassuring to your host that you’re BFFs, in it for the long run.
- Two heads are often better than one, for example – Lauren is the arty farty sort, Darren is a bit of a nerd. Lauren loves to cook, Darren loves to clean. It’s unlikely one person can tick every box but with two people you have more chance of offering something a host will want, so don’t list the same skills for both of you. You’re two unique people.
- Save the Honeymoon snaps for elsewhere – yes your host wants to know you get on well, but remember they are inviting you into their home so keep the smooching selfies offline.
Are you ready for a cultural exchange by working and staying in 170 countries around the world?
HOW DOES A HOST CHOOSE?
Although we can explain the Workaway profile tips that work for us, we thought it would be useful to interview our host in Hawaii to ask why he said yes. This little interview should help you understand from a host’s point of view what profiles they find great – and what they don’t find useful.
Don’t forget we also have a full Workaway review that shares our biggest tips including what to say when contacting a host for the first time as well as how to find your dream Workaway experience.
Hopefully this guide has gave you some helpful tips in setting up your profile and starting your Workaway journey. We would love to know in the comments how you get on or if you want to send us your profile for advice, feel free!
This is the first time I’m hearing about Workaway. Interesting concept and good advice on creating your profile…oh and I like your sense of humor as well! 🙂
Thanks so much! I cannot recommend it enough 🙂
Very useful posts! Having a good profile is very important and lot of people don’t realise this. Making an effort to have a good profile will pay off in the end! 🙂
For sure, if you find your dream host it’s the most important way to ensure they say yes!
I just binge read through your Workaway guide – so cool! Thanks for this awesome resource!
You’re welcome! It’s the BEST – so glad we discovered it before our trip and hope many more people discover it now too 🙂
This is great advice! Basically: pay attention to detail and think about what the host would want to see ?
How do you verify your profile with facebook, step by step? Weirdly this is not covered by their FAQ
Hi John, sorry for the delay responding, we contacted Workaway about this because we realised it was no longer an option. They responded and said it is because Facebook have recently changed their settings and are unsure if it’s a temporary thing or if removing the verification option will be permanent. Hope this helps 🙂
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Useful tips ! thanks for sharing !
Thank you for the post, really useful tips.