10+ Professional Bio Examples For Resume & How To Write Yours

Compose a professional bio that presents your best side

A short professional bio has multiple uses. You can add it to a LinkedIn summary, About the Author section of your blog or book, the About Us section of the corporate website, your online portfolio, or a job application. In any case, its goal is to quickly introduce your accomplishments and qualifications to the reader as well as throw light on your personality.

In today's guide, we'll show you:

• How to write an impressive short bio for any platform
• What your professional bios should absolutely contain, and
• An example of a good bio to illustrate professional life.

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What is a short professional bio?

Short professional bios have many uses - here a just a few examples:

• short professional bio for resume (also called resume summary)
• LinkedIn profile bio (your About section)
• Instagram/X bio
• About Us section of corporate or personal website
• Speaker's introduction
• Professional biography for job application.

Think about your bio as an elevator pitch. It should briefly outline your professional journey and get the reader interested quickly. The ideal reaction is "I want to learn more about this person". For that reason, it is okay to include some impressive achievements and unique strengths to show how you compare against others. It is also helpful to add a few personal details to make your short professional bio more human and appealing to people who experience the same situations in life.

Next, we will explain how to write each type of bio and give some professional bio examples for your inspiration.

Writing a short professional bio for resume

A short professional biography for resume (also known as resume summary) is the first paragraph in the document. It is usually 2 to 5 sentences long. A short introduction covers yours professional background, achievements, and personality. It should show why you'll be an asset for the company and entice the hiring manager into reading your resume from top to bottom.

If you're currently in the process of writing a bio, take the following steps:

1. Write your short professional bio in the third person.

There are two approaches to writing a professional bio: making it in the first and the third person. The first-person bios are for social media platforms mostly, for example, your Instagram or LinkedIn profile. These platforms are less formal, and encourage a friendly and open tone. Moreover, it makes your bio sound more genuine and personable.

Your short professional bio for resume should always be in the third person. Don't use personal pronouns and write as if you were describing someone else (for example, Ambitious Registered Nurse with 3+ years of experience and a proven track record in enhancing patient outcomes) .You may find some short professional bio examples in the first person, but they are less common.

2. Use the classic structure for a compelling professional bio

A short bio in your resume should include the following details:

• Your target job title (i.e. Marketing Specialist)
• Years of experience
• 2-3 areas where you excel
• 1-2 descriptive words (i.e. ambitious, meticulous, personable)
• 1-2 most significant accomplishments
• Relevant education and certifications (for recent grads)
• Soft skills (if requested in a job description)
• Important details (such as a prestigious certification, security clearance, driver's license, etc.).

Your professional bio should do two things: provide your career highlights to the recruiter and show how your past experience makes you an asset to them. Thus, when writing a resume bio, focus on qualifications that show your value for a particular role. For example, if the company is looking for a marketer to set up the marketing strategy for new products from scratch, focus on your experience in setting up a marketing department, developing the market entry strategy, and hiring/training subordinates.

3. Add relevant keywords

A professional short bio is not only to present your professional identity. By adding keywords, you can increase your chances of being shortlisted for an interview. All large companies use ATS software that scans resume for relevant words. By adding key words and phrases early in your bio section, you'll pass the screening and maximize your interview odds.

For example, if the job posting looks for a PR manager who will drive brand recognition by participating in speaking engagements and networking events, mention these exact phrases in your short professional bio.

Now, let's have a closer look at writing a good professional bio.

More tips on how to write a strong professional bio

1. Follow the traditional bio structure

Whether your bio is 100 or 1,000 words in length, its structure remains pretty much the same. You start with an introduction that presents you to the reader briefly and contains your name and job title. Then, you proceed to the body of the bio where you explain where you currently are in your career. This may include the key professional accomplishments, projects you work on, areas of research, or educational credentials. And finally, you end by describing your career goals, aspirations, and projects you'd like to work on.

2. Stick to the classic biography structure

Whether your bio is 100 or 1,000 words in length, its structure remains pretty much the same. You start with an introduction that presents you to the reader briefly and contains your name and job title. Then, you proceed to the body of the bio where you explain where you currently are in your career. This may include the key professional accomplishments, projects you work on, areas of research, or educational credentials. And finally, you end by describing your career goals, aspirations, and projects you'd like to work on.

The only thing that is different depending on the bio length is the level of detail you include. In a short bio for social media, you can only list 1-2 accomplishments briefly, whereas, in a longer bio, you may want to include figures and specify how you achieved great results and which qualities of a good employee helped you succeed. Reviewing short professional bio examples is a great starting point. You will find a wealth of professional bio online.

3. Watch the word count

The experts suggest that you aim for 500+ words when writing a bio for work or a professional website. This is good for SEO purposes when you publish that bio online. For a human reader, this length is sufficient to throw light on your course of career, accomplishments, interests, and approach to work. But again, everything depends on the platform and the purpose. If you are only allowed to write 2-3 sentences for About the Author section, you'll need to leave out the secondary details and concentrate on what matters most. Your own professional bio should be of sufficient length to highlight all relevant skills, personal interests, and professional brand.

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4. Show where you currently are in your career in terms of professional accomplishments

After you've introduced yourself, proceed to describe the current state of things in your career. This may include your job title, the employer's name, and the names of your most well-known clients if you're a freelancer or independent contractor. You also need to mention the most notable accomplishments and credentials such as awards, professional certifications, or an advanced degree. After that, you may want to list your career interests and share what kind of projects you're most passionate about. If you're currently unemployed, it's okay to list details from your most recent employment.

Why is this important? A person considering cooperating with you (i.e. recruiter, prospective employer, or client) needs to make sure that your background and strengths fit their requirements. A detailed career description will answer all questions they may have. Keep in mind your intended audience before choosing an appropriate bio template.

5. Share your professional philosophy and values

While your Twitter bio may not allow sufficient space for that, this element is absolutely essential for longer bios. When evaluating candidates, employers want to know more than the skills, achievements, and experience that you possess. Your approach to work, professional philosophy, and values which are defined in your daily work also determine what kind of employee you'll be once you're hired. For instance, if you prefer working individually in an aggressive and competitive environment, you'll need a company that has a similar philosophy.

6. Add links to your samples of work

A perfect closing for your bio (if the format allows for it) is a link to your online portfolio or samples of work. ‘Show, don't tell' is the best philosophy when it comes to showcasing what you're capable of professionally. This is particularly important for professionals whose nature of work allows for showing the specific results – designers, web writers, programmers, etc. If your work lies beyond these occupations, you can show off the results differently – for instance, by having a professional blog or describing case studies about your work with clients.

Publishing samples of your work in a bio online increases the chance that you'll be contacted. So, think of the ways to present your most impressive work to anyone who could be potentially interested.

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7. Don't list the accomplishments – tell a story

If you're new to writing professional bios, it's easy to fall into the trap of reiterating your job titles, accomplishments, and clients. However, keeping track of your jobs and achievements should be reserved for a resume. A bio should read like a holistic story that describes your career course and explains who you are professionally. Begin writing without using a certain professional bio template. Instead, focus on professional experience, write a few words about your skills, and review short bio template.

So, after you've identified what your key selling points are, find a way to connect them in a story that would engage the target audience and show your human side. For instance, you might want to tell how an occasional meeting with an old friend encouraged you to start your own company. You don't need to turn a professional bio into an entertaining article. But mentioning 1-2 facts that have determined your course of career or became a foundation for your accomplishments will liven up your bio and make it more appealing to the readers.

8. Consider adding personal details in a short professional bio

In addition to listing formal, career-related facts such as job titles, achievements, and career goals, you might want to throw light on what inspires you outside of work. Some professionals mention personal hobbies, interests, fun facts, or anything else that shows their human side. Some experts say that these details can serve as an ice-breaker between you and the audience or hiring person and help establish human contact.

In either way, whether you should include personal details or not depends on your goals and the audience. If you're filling out an online application on a corporate website, saying that you're a cat lover and baseball enthusiast won't probably help you stand out. On the flip side, sharing the same details in the About the Author section of your guest blog may encourage the readers to learn more about you.

9. Go beyond your professional bio

Your bio, whether it's a 100-word story for social media or a comprehensive executive biography, should be up to scratch. But don't neglect other career-related documents as well. Your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile should be flawless as well. More importantly, they need to be created in line with your bio, so that all career sources tell the same story about you.

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How to write a short bio for Instagram and X?

Want to create a brief and concise bio for a Twitter or Facebook page? Condensing years of experience into a couple of sentences is challenging but possible. Your bio should contain the information as follows:

• Your current job title or specialization (if you're a freelancer)
• Company name (if currently employed or if you worked for a big brand name)
• 1-2 key achievements (such as an award-winning sales rep)
• Your mission (if you're self-employed) or professional goals (if you're looking for employment or new projects)
• Personal hobbies, passions, and interests (optional).

Bios for social media are shorter and more personal than the ones for resume. Here are a few tips:

• Write your bio in the first person. This applies for any social media platform.
• Use emoji. For platforms like Instagram, you may use an emoji or two to sparkle up your short bio and make it more vivid. This applies for creative professionals, such as designers, marketers, and content creators.
• Add a call to action. If you are looking for new clients or cooperation, make it clear in your bio.
• Mind the character count. Social platforms have the character limit for your bio, so you need to present your strengths quickly.

How to write a professional bio for executives?

For some roles (mostly directors, executives, and management positions) you'll be asked to submit a professional biography as a part of the process. An executive bio is a document that outlines your professional story, presents your successes and milestones. Such bios are longer that the short bios we discussed above - they are one page long, or about 300 words.

Your bio is a third-person narrative that presents your career story to investors, clients, and potential employers. Include your key achievements with numbers, qualities that differentiate you, and a brief summary of your expertise. Structure it in 5-7 short paragraphs for better readability and include keywords. If you need help crafting a perfect professional bio, our experts can compose it for you, creating a persuasive story of success and helping you beat the competition.

Short professional bio examples

Here are some examples of different kinds of bios you can use as short professional bio templates to inspire your own:

Short professional bio examples for resume

• Motivated entry-level Software Developer with a passion for coding and a Master's Degree in Computer Science from MIT. Designed and developed a web application that increased user engagement by 15% during a class project. Proficient in debugging, version control, and eager to create reliable software solutions, contributing to the company's success.
• Proactive Senior Marketing Manager with 8+ years of experience in leading campaigns and building high-performing teams. Digital marketing pioneer with a track record in increasing lead generation by 20% year-over-year and managing a marketing budget of $400K across multiple content channels. Proven ability to drive brand awareness, increase sales by 10% through targeted campaigns and build strong customer engagement with data-driven strategies.
• Compassionate and caring Registered Nurse with 5+ years of experience in a busy cardiology department. Seasoned professional with a track record of increasing patient satisfaction by 25% through consistent and effective patient care and reduced medication errors by 5%. Proficient in patient assessment, medication administration, wound care, and electronic health record management. Collaborative team member, committed to delivering patient-centered care.
• Visionary Chief Executive Officer with 15+ years of experience leading high-growth start-ups to achieve outstanding results, building high-performing teams, and expanding market share. Achieved a 40% increase in revenue YOY over the past 3 years, making the company a market leader in Texas. Instrumental in developing and executing strategic plans, securing significant investment rounds, and empowering employees and to create long-term value.

All these third-person professional bio examples include a target job title, key professional skills that the target employer might be looking for, and a few sentences about achievements/awards. These bios don't read as a complete career history, but rather as focused highlights of what the candidate can bring to the table.

LinkedIn short bio example in the first person

• I am a creative, result-driven Web Developer with 5+ years of experience designing and building user interfaces, testing, and overseeing development teams. Currently, I work for XYZ company developing user-centered websites for nationwide retailers and real estate companies. My accomplishments include optimizing website performance resulting in a 15% increase in sales and creating dynamic sites that give businesses a competitive advantage. Currently, I am looking for a Team Leader role to leverage my leadership skills, and business acumen and drive teams in the development of cutting-edge web solutions.

Note that this example is written in the first person as recommended for LinkedIn bios. This summary also presents their strengths and accomplishments as well as explains what kind of position they are looking for. In addition, you might be curious about which employee qualities are the best.

Short professional bio examples for social media accounts

• Storyteller & brand voice expert. Write copy that increases conversion rate by 12%. DM for inquiries.
• CPA | Financial analyst | Saved companies an average of 5% in annual tax costs. Let's talk numbers!
• Certified PM | Delivered 10+ software development projects on time & within budget.
• Visionary CEO & Business Leader | Increased market share by 25% with high-performing teams.
• Fueling brand growth through data & creativity | Managed retail campaigns resulting in a 20% conversion increase. Follow for tips!

Looking for career advice on how to polish your Instagram or Facebook account before the job search? Read our guide on how to make your social media look professional.

We hope that we have answered your question "How do I write a short professional bio?" If you still have questions left or need help with your bio or other career documents, contact us on chat - we are open 24/7!

Get an expert resume review for free

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