How To Write a Bio About Yourself (With Tips and Example)

Updated December 13, 2022

Many professional platforms require a personal bio. Bios are a great way to summarize your professional abilities for a potential employer or colleague. Understanding how to write a bio about yourself can help you optimize your networking profile and attract employers. In this article, we discuss what a bio is, explore how to write a bio, highlight tips to help you write an effective one, and provide an interesting example.

Why is knowing how to write a bio about yourself important?

Knowing how to write a bio about yourself is important because it can give employers better insight into your qualifications as a candidate. A bio is a summary description of yourself, your professional and academic background, your accomplishments, and what you aim to achieve. It's a personalized description of your professional profile and a great way to let others know what value you offer. A well-written bio can be an effective networking tool to connect with employers and other professionals. Since your bio may be the first thing others see about you, it's crucial that it's well-written.

How to write a bio about yourself

Follow these steps to craft a great bio about yourself:

1. Give an introduction of yourself

The first thing to do in a bio is to introduce yourself. It's appropriate to mention your name and title if you work in a field where it is applicable. Next, describe what you do in an interesting way. Describe the impact of your work or business rather than give details of your job description. This is also a great place to talk about your skills or any professional qualifications you have.

2. Include some of your achievements

Some personal bios are lengthy and require more content. For these, you can talk about some of your accomplishments. Select the three most relevant or impressive achievements and briefly talk about them. It helps to highlight the work that merited the award and why it means a lot to you. You can also mention previous work experience or projects as accomplishments. This is great when you worked with a prestigious company or worked on an impressive project.

3. Add some personal details

While this isn't always necessary, especially for short bios, adding some personal information can make your bio more relatable. This is a great opportunity to show off your personality and what makes you unique. It can also be a great way to express your interests and attract like-minded colleagues. This is helpful if your hobby is a side job since you can network for that too. Beyond your hobbies, you can talk about your family, your favourite sports team, or even your favourite meal.

4. Add your contact information

Another important aspect of writing a bio is including your contact information. This helps direct people toward your preferred mode of communication and makes it easier for others to contact you. You can include your contact information as a call to action to encourage customers to reach out to you. Consider including your social media handles, email, or phone number. If the bio is for a website, you can include a hyperlink to your contact page.

5. Write in the third person

When you write in the third person, you are using your name when referring to yourself. Third-person is typically the standard for formal bios, though this varies. Using the third person also makes your bio more web-friendly. It's easier for search engine optimization (SEO) algorithms to recognize that the bio is about you, making it more likely to appear if someone searches your name.

6. Edit your bio

The last step is to ensure you edit thoroughly. Check that your bio is at the optimal word count. Social media accounts typically require only 10 to 30 words. Professional platforms may take longer summaries, up to 100 words. Personal bios on websites are much longer and can range from 500 to 2,500 words. Also, ensure there are no grammatical or typographical errors. This shows that you're a thorough and organized person.

7. Update your bio regularly

You need to update your bio regularly. This allows you to include new achievements and ensures your audience is up to date. You can do this at least once a year or when a new and impressive achievement occurs.

Tips for writing an outstanding bio about yourself

Here are some tips to help your bio stand out and attract your reader's attention:

Be clear and concise

Using simple and concise language can ensure that more people read your bio. Readers are more likely to go through shorter bios, so only include necessary details. Keeping your target word count in mind before you write can help you think of more precise ways to express yourself. When you're using a joke or metaphor, use relatable ones that are easy to understand. Use correct grammar and follow the applicable ethics in your industry.

Be human

When you write a bio, try to make it personal and relatable. For example, rather than listing a series of qualifications and achievements, you can adopt a story-telling approach. This helps demonstrate your personality to readers and also makes it easier for them to connect with you. Use anecdotes of personal experiences or mention interesting details about yourself to make it sound more personal. This can also endear you to your readers and aid your networking.

Consider your target audience

Considering your target market helps you create a unique bio. You need to know who you're addressing and what's likely to keep them engaged. Studying your audience's nature and needs can help you prepare a bio to which they can relate. This makes it easier to sell your services as the solution they need, which leads to increased business. Simply taking time to study your audience can differentiate your bio from others.

Use humour

Another great tip is to use humour where possible. While certain formal situations don't permit humour, this can be a great tool for social media bios and other semi-formal settings. In addition, humour is a great way to show personality and make yourself likeable to your readers. Ensure your joke is appropriate and relatable to get the best results.

Add links to your work

Adding links to your work is a great way to showcase your qualifications and achievements. Since your bio has already gotten the attention of the reader, it's an opportunity to show them more about your work and lend to your credibility. You can link your work by hyperlinking your website, social media pages, or online portfolio. It's helpful to include only your most relevant work to make it easier for readers to go through it.

Optimize for SEO

SEO plays a huge role in the reach of your website and bio. Optimizing your bio for SEO can ensure that your bio reaches more people. You can make use of software to help you track your SEO rankings and build an online presence. Writing in the third person helps associate the bio strongly with you, which is good for SEO rankings.

Example

Here's an example of a professional bio:

Sarah Payne is a CFA-certified investment manager whose goal is to find the most profitable investment options for her clients. She guides her customers through the intimidating world of finance and leads them to a comfortable retirement and lots of profit. She has a degree in economics from the University of Ridgewood and a Master's in Business from the prestigious Bosmars University, where she was also the student body treasurer.

Sarah views her clients as family and treats their interests as her own. This philosophy has informed her work ethic, leading to her winning the Investment Manager of the Year award two times in a row. Sarah has all the necessary licences to offer insightful financial advice in over seven provinces. In addition to selling you financial freedom, Sarah is authorized to sell mutual funds and life insurance. Not one to take her credibility lightly, Sarah is also certified by the IFSE Institute and the Institute of Canadian Bankers.

When Sarah is not saving wallets and account balances, she loves to go bowling or sing karaoke with her friends. Sarah is devotedly loved by two adorable golden retrievers named Sally and Sullivan. You can follow this link to find out more about Sarah's amazing work with individuals and businesses alike.

Connect with Sarah via email: sarahpayneofficial@email.com