# Setup Your Profile (https://terac.com/docs/experts/how-to/setup-profile)

Complete the onboarding process to build your expert profile and unlock opportunities.

After you sign in for the first time, a short onboarding flow builds your expert profile. The progress bar at the top reads **Phone → Sources → Profile → Interview**. Only the phone step is required: once your phone is verified, onboarding counts as complete and you can apply to opportunities.

## Step 1: Verify Your Phone Number [#step-1-verify-your-phone-number]

Verifying your phone confirms you are a real person and helps prevent duplicate accounts.

Enter your number, then send us a text to prove it is yours:

* **On a computer**, scan the QR code with your phone and send the pre-filled text message. There is no code to type: we detect the message as soon as it arrives.
* **On a phone**, tap **Open Messages** and send the pre-filled text.

If that does not work for you, choose **Verify with a code instead**. We text you a 6-digit code to enter. You can ask for a new code every 60 seconds, even if you change numbers, and for up to 5 codes a day, sent to at most two different numbers. If you reach a limit, choose **Verify through Messages instead**, or email [support@terac.com](mailto:support@terac.com) if you can't use Messages.

> Virtual numbers such as Google Voice, and landlines, cannot be used. If you
> see a message that we are not available in your country yet, Terac does not
> support phone numbers from that country at the moment.

## Step 2: Connect LinkedIn or Add Your Resume [#step-2-connect-linkedin-or-add-your-resume]

The next screen asks **Anything else we should read?** Terac pre-fills your experience, education, and certifications from what you give it here:

* **Connect LinkedIn**, if you did not sign in with it.
* **Upload your resume**: a PDF of up to 10 MB.

Both are optional. Choose **I'll do that later** to skip, or **Continue** when you are done. You can upload a resume later from your profile.

## Step 3: Review Your Profile [#step-3-review-your-profile]

If you connected LinkedIn or uploaded a resume, Terac builds your profile in the background. This usually takes 15 to 30 seconds. If you gave it neither, you can **Connect LinkedIn** now or choose **I'll fill it in manually**.

Then you step through four short parts, using **Next** and **Back**:

### About You [#about-you]

Your full name, headline, and a short summary. Edit anything that looks off.

### Experience [#experience]

Your work history. Each entry has a role, company, company website, start and end dates, city, country, and an optional description. Add any roles that are missing.

### Education [#education]

Each entry has a school, degree, start and end dates, and an optional major and GPA.

### Rate [#rate]

Your preferred hourly rate: the rate you would like to work at. You can change it any time in your settings.

Click **All set** to save your profile.

> You can skip this step, but completed profiles are much more likely to be
> approved for opportunities, so it is worth finishing.

## Step 4: The Onboarding Interview [#step-4-the-onboarding-interview]

Next comes a short voice conversation with Sophia, our AI interviewer, about your background and the kind of work you want. It takes about 10 minutes and helps us match you with the right opportunities. You will need a working camera and microphone. See [AI Interviews](https://terac.com/docs/experts/working/interviews) for what to expect.

The interview is optional. Choose **Skip for now** and you can take it later from Home.

## After Onboarding [#after-onboarding]

Your dashboard's **Home** page lists what is left to do, such as uploading a resume, finishing your profile, taking the interview, and verifying your identity.

### Verify Your Identity [#verify-your-identity]

Identity verification is not part of onboarding, but you need it before you can cash out, and opportunity pages list it as a required step. Do it early from **Profile → Identity & Security** by clicking **Start Verification**. See [Verification and Connected Accounts](https://terac.com/docs/experts/how-to/attestations).

### Availability [#availability]

Go to **Profile → Availability** at [terac.com/me/settings/availability](https://terac.com/me/settings/availability) to connect your Google Calendar, so we can see when you are free, and to save a booking link such as Calendly if you use one.

## What's Next? [#whats-next]

Once your profile is set up, you're ready to [apply to opportunities](https://terac.com/docs/experts/how-to/apply).