A system and method for temporal-based professional similarity are provided. In example embodiments, a request to identify, from among a plurality of member profiles of a social network service, a profile that is similar to a source profile, is received. Profile data of the source profile and a candidate profile are accessed from the social network service. Profile features are extracted from the profile data. The profile features include source features extracted from the profile data of the source profile and candidate features extracted from the profile data of the candidate profile. Respective profile features correspond to temporal data included in the profile data. Data structures are generated by structuring the profile features according to the temporal data. The data structures include a source data structure generated using the source features and a candidate data structure generated using the candidate features. A profile similarity score is determined by comparing the candidate data structure with the source data structure. The profile similarity score indicates the similarity between the candidate profile and the source profile.