Writing a short bio about yourself for work
How to Write an Online Bio
Which three words would you use to explain your personality to a stranger?
If you could only think of “human with face,” or “professional needs job,” you’ve come to the right place. Learning how to write a bio is not easy; defining yourself in a few words even less so. But never fear—you can do it! Taking a few minutes to think about what you’re about isn’t just a great writing exercise, it’s a clarifying moment of personal development. Here are a few ways you can get started on your professional, website, LinkedIn, or short bio.
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How to write a short bio
When most people think of online bios, they probably can readily name a few common short bio examples first. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest all have space for a short description of who you are and what you do. And you should make the most of the lines you’re afforded here. Keep your social media bios short, sweet, and only filled with the most important things a stranger should know about you, such as:
- Your name
- Your current role
- Your ultimate goal
- Your biggest achievement
How to write a professional bio
Professional sites like LinkedIn, AngelList, or a speaker bio on an event site all have space for a bio or summary section. For each of these, you’ll probably want to write a mid-length description of both your current role, professional aspirations, and biggest achievements. Professional bios allow you to go into a bit more detail than short social media bios, especially on LinkedIn. It’s generally a good idea to include:
- Your name
- Your current role or professional tagline
- Your company or personal brand
- Your goals and aspirations
- Your most impressive and relevant achievements
- One quirky fact about you (if it’s appropriate to the
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
- Short bio examples
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
- Simple short bio example yourself funny
We know you hate talking about yourself. But a short bio is essential for any freelancer. Here's how to write one that will land you jobs.
In today's fast-paced, social media-driven world, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. Whether you're trying to land a new job or get noticed by a potential employer, one way to make sure you're remembered is to have a short professional bio on hand.
Why? Because in just a few sentences, you can give a potential employer or client a snapshot of who you are and what you do. And if you're carefully thoughtful about what you include, your professional bio can also be an effective marketing tool, helping you to attract new clients and business opportunities.
So if you're looking for a way to make sure you're always remembered, consider crafting a short professional bio. It just might be the secret weapon you've been missing.
What is a short bio?
A short professional bio is a brief introduction to your work history, skills, and qualifications. Think of it as an elevator pitch for your career. Unlike a resume – which is a dry recitation of facts – or a personal biography about your personal life, a short professional bio is an opportunity to show off your personality and give potential employers a sense of what you're like to work with.
So don't be afraid to be creative, and don't be afraid to let your voice shine through – you can even think of it as a personal professional bio. After all, this is your chance to make a great first impression.
Where do you use a short bio?
A short bio can be used anywhere you need to present your professional accomplishments succinctly. That could be your professional webpage, LinkedIn summary, a resume, a presentation, your personal website, or a submission for a conference. You’ll probably have to tweak it slightly for each purpose, but having a standard short bio worked out is super helpful when you’re ready to do that.