Employment biography
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Which three words would you use to describe yourself? Most of us have been asked this question and many of us have fumbled through it awkwardly.
Coming up with a personal description can be daunting. But there are times when it’s essential - whether we’re updating our LinkedIn profiles, blogging for Medium or creating a business website of our own.
In this post, we’ll go over how to write a bio, step by step. To help guide you, we’ve also included a handy template, along with some professional bio examples for your inspiration. With these resources, you’ll find that writing a bio, as part of learning how to make a website from scratch, is much easier than you might think.
Before you learn how to write a bio, you should have a clear understanding of what it is and why you need it.
In the world of literature, a personal biography can span the length of an entire novel, like Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom or Malala Yousafzai’s I Am Malala. In the online world, however, a bio is a short paragraph in which you introduce yourself. Typically, some of the best business websites place bios on a designated About Us page in their website, as well as on their social media pages and other networking platforms.
What to include in a short bio
Depending on your audience and goals, your bio can highlight your personal interests, your professional achievements or a mix of both. Here are some of the elements a bio might include:
Job title or workplace
University degree and other qualifications
Hometown or city of residence
Personal or professional goals
Mission statement and values
Skills and expertise
Interests and hobbies
The goal of writing a bio is to provide people with a snapshot of who you are. This is important for a variety of reasons, whether it’s drawing people toward your personal website or promoting your blog, attracting clients and
How to Write a Short Professional Bio
Creating a compelling professional bio is an essential task for anyone looking to make a strong impression in their career. In this article, we will guide you through the process of writing a concise and effective text that captures your professional essence, showcases your expertise, and makes a memorable impact.
We'll provide practical tips and examples to help you compose a professional biography that not only resonates with your audience but also reflects your personal brand.
What is a Professional Bio
Here's how it might look in a resume:
A short personal bio is a concise summary that introduces you.
It's typically a brief paragraph or a few sentences long and is used in various professional contexts such as social media profiles, company websites, conference speaker introductions, networking events, and job applications.
The purpose of a professional biography is to give a snapshot of who you are professionally, encouraging further interest in your work.
A well-crafted short work bio is a versatile tool that can enhance your career presence and open up new opportunities. Below we will show you how to format it, which key elements should a bio contain, and what tone to use.
What Format to Choose
The voice and tone should match the context in which the bio will be used and the audience it is intended for. Here are key considerations and tips.
Context
- Platform.Where will the bio be used? A professional bio for LinkedIn might be more professional and formal compared to a biography for a company’s "About Us" page or a social media profile.
- Audience.Who is your target audience? Consider the expectations and preferences of your readers, whether they are potential employers, clients, colleagues, or industry peers.
First Person vs. Third Person
- First Person (I, Me, My). Use this option for a more personal and direct approach in a professional bio, often suitable for websites.
- Thi
As a marketer, my professional bio is the best way to, well, market myself.
From generalist to content strategist and agency to enterprise, my role has changed a lot over the last (almost) eight years. And my professional bio has to keep up. Even though I can admit I don’t always feel like rewriting it.
But we all know we have to keep our professional bios refreshed to give people an accurate snapshot of who we are, why they should work with us, and why they should care about what we have to say.
For that reason alone (and because it’s my actual job), I’ll show you how to write a bio and share some of my favorite professional bio examples from years of reworking my own.
Table of Contents
What is a professional bio?
A professional bio or biography is a quick rundown of your background and experience. Your bio should include details about your professional expertise, skills, and achievements, but it’s also an opportunity to show off your personality and personal interests.
They can live just about anywhere — your personal or company website, speaker or contributor pages, LinkedIn profile, or other social media channels.
Purpose of Professional Bios
“Writing a professional bio is more than just listing academic degrees or job titles — it's a strategic narrative about your professional journey,” says Rosario Maccarrone, Director & Head of Student Services at OPIT. It’s almost like an executive summary of your career.
When I look at my own professional bio, I want it to answer four simple questions:
- Who is she?
- What has she done?
- What does she do?
- What can she do?
I want someone to read it and think: “Wow, that was a great summary. I’d love to know more.”
Your professional bio is your opportunity to briefly introduce yourself (or your brand) and tell clients, customers, employers, and colleagues what you’re good at.
It’s not a laundry list of everything you’ve ever accomplished — you have a resume for that. The keyword here is snapshot. You
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