Profile attributes
Profile attributes let you collect and store additional information on employee profiles in Aboard. You can use them for details that are specific to your organization, such as T-shirt size, dietary preferences, employee category, languages, certifications, or other internal data points.
Profile attributes can be managed by admins and, if enabled, shown to employees on their personal details page as well.
What are profile attributes?
A profile attribute is a custom field that appears on an employee’s profile. Each attribute has a name and a field type, and some field types can include predefined options.
For example:
Name: T-shirt size
Type: Single select
Options: XS, S, M, L, XLName: Languages spoken
Type: Multi select
Options: English, Swedish, German, FrenchName: Has company car
Type: Yes/No
Create a profile attribute
To create a new profile attribute:
Go to Settings.
Open Profile attributes.
Select Create profile attribute.
Enter a Name for the attribute.
Choose a Field type.
Decide whether the attribute should be:
Visible to employee
Editable by employee
Select Create.
The attribute will now be available on employee profiles.
Visibility and edit permissions
When creating or editing a profile attribute, you can control how employees interact with it.
Visible to employee
Enable Visible to employee if the attribute should be shown on the employee’s personal details page.
If this is turned off, the attribute is only visible to admins.
Editable by employee
Enable Editable by employee if employees should be allowed to update the value themselves.
Note: An attribute must be visible to the employee before it can be editable by the employee.
Profile attribute types
When creating a profile attribute, you choose what type of information the attribute should store. The field type controls how the value is entered, selected, and displayed on the employee profile.
Single select
Use Single select when the employee or admin should choose one value from a predefined list.
Example use cases:
T-shirt size
Office location preference
Employment category
Dietary preference
After creating a single select attribute, add the available options.
Example:
Full-time
Part-time
Consultant
Multi select
Use Multi select when more than one option can apply.
Example use cases:
Languages spoken
Skills
Certifications
Available work locations
After creating a multi select attribute, add the available options.
Example:
English
Swedish
German
French
Employees or admins can then select multiple values.
Text
Use Text when the value should be entered as free text.
Example use cases:
Internal notes
Personal preferences
Emergency instructions
Linked system reference
This field is best suited for short custom information that does not need predefined options.
Number
Use Number when the value should be numeric.
Example use cases:
Locker number
Cost center
Years of experience
Date
Use Date when the value should be a specific date.
Example use cases:
Equipment return date
Internal milestone date
Yes/No
Use Yes/No when the answer should be a simple value.
Example use cases:
Has signed policy
Has company car
Needs parking access
Requires work permit follow-up
Add options to select attributes
Options are used for Single select and Multi select attributes.
To add options:
Go to Settings.
Open Profile attributes.
Find the relevant attribute.
Select Add option.
Enter the option name.
Save the option.
You can add multiple options to the same attribute.
Edit a profile attribute
To edit an existing profile attribute:
Go to Settings.
Open Profile attributes.
Find the attribute you want to update.
Open the actions menu.
Select Edit.
Make your changes.
Save.
You can update the name, visibility, and employee edit permissions.
Delete a profile attribute
To delete a profile attribute:
Go to Settings.
Open Profile attributes.
Find the attribute you want to remove.
Open the actions menu.
Select Delete.
Confirm the deletion.
Deleting a profile attribute also deletes its options.
Reorder profile attributes
Profile attributes can be reordered from the Profile attributes settings page. Drag and drop the attributes into the order you want them to appear.
Where profile attributes appear
Profile attributes can appear in different places depending on their settings:
On employee profiles for admins
On the employee’s personal details page, if Visible to employee is enabled
As editable fields for employees, if Editable by employee is enabled
In profile completion flows when relevant visible/editable attributes are required
Best practices
Use Single select when only one answer should be possible.
Use Multi select when several answers may apply.
Use Yes/No instead of text for simple true/false questions.
Keep attribute names short and clear.
Avoid storing sensitive personal information unless your organization has a clear process for handling it.
Review visibility settings before making attributes available to employees.