Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Bio for Your Next Job – With 10+ Examples
A short professional bio for job-seekers has multiple uses. You can use it as a LinkedIn profile bio, 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.
If you are wondering how to write a bio for a new job, we have you covered. In this guide, we will explain how to write a personal biography that will market your strengths to employers, what to include in your own bio, plus personal bio examples for your inspiration.
Why Writing a Bio Matters for Job Seekers
A short professional bio tells your story and helps promote your personal brand. Whereas the resume summarizes your educational background, professional achievements, and skills, your biography connects them into a coherent story for the reader.
Here are the main benefits of writing a professional biography when you're looking for a new job:
- Share your values. Companies are not looking for a set of skills. They want to hire a person who shares their mission and values. By presenting your values and your human side to employers, you'll increase your chances of getting hired.
- Promote yourself across multiple platforms. You can use a short or a more detailed bio everywhere, from your resume headline to LinkedIn profile or personal website.
- Present your career history. Your bio is a great place to present your personal brand, current position, and professional goals. It spotlights your most prominent achievements and strengths to employers concisely, persuading them to hire you.
- Get noticed faster. A strong bio that uses a professional tone and spotlights your strengths proves the employer that you're the exact person they are looking for, thus increasing your chances of landing an interview.
Writing a bio for job-seekers might be confusing, so follow the advice below.
How to Write a Professional Bio in 6 Steps
Not sure how to write a bio about yourself for work? Follow our recommendations to write a standout professional biography.
1. Write your bio in the third person.
Many job-seekers can't decide between the first-person vs. third-person bio. Here's our top tip: if you writ a bio for work, always use 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).
Basically, there are two approaches to writing bios (first or 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. You may use the first person when writing a bio about your personal life for your kids and grandkids; but for a job, third-person bios are preferred.
2. Add your name and title
Every short personal bio for work starts with an introduction. Write your name, professional title, or a name of your company if you're self-employed. You may include how many years of experience you have or areas you specialize in - it will help the human resources specialist better understand your background.
Here are some examples of what you can write a professional bio in the first sentence:
- Customer-oriented Graphic Designer with 5+ years of experience in UX design and knowledge of latest tech trends.
- Dedicated Registered Nurse with 9+ years of experience in a variety of high-volume public health settings.
3. Present your career highlights
Next, present your biggest strengths and achievements in your career. You have only a couple of sentences to sell yourself, so choose wisely. If you accomplished something in your current professional role or gained external recognition, it's worth being mentioned on your bio.
Make sure that your accomplishments are easy to understand for someone who might not know your industry. Use simple langauge and avoid abbreviations. Here are some examples:
- Leveraged strategic planning and leadership skills to improve productivity by 45% for the state's biggest retailer.
- Received Salesperson of the Year award for two consecutive years for exceeding the saels targets.
- Obtained a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering with GPA 3.98.
4. Share your mission and philosophy
To make your short bio more personal, add a mission statement and your professional values. Employers would be excited to know your "why" and what drives your actions. Your approach to work, professional philosophy, and values 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.
5. Add a personal touch
Adding personal facts is not a must for writing a compelling bio. However, it can enhance your self-presentation and build a human connection between you and a reader. For example, if you volunteer or work in a local animal shelter, employers who share the same values will be more likely to contact you. To show your human side, you might also share hobbies, especially job-related ones - it helps you look a more well-rounded person.
Here's how to add personal details to create an engaging bio:
- Alicia enjoys creative writing and has published a book of short stories in 2021.
- In his free time, Jason works as a volunteer organizing fundraising initiatives for families with low income.
6. 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 that you know how to make your bio stand out, let's look at short bio examples for different purposes.
Example Structures for Different Bio Types
To write a professional bio for a new job, keep the target audience and position in mind. Customize it for the role to highlight that you are a perfect fit. Here is how to write different types of a short bio.
Short Bio for a New Job
This bio works as a short introduction for your new job, focusing on your professional strengths and highlighting personality and values.
Alisia is a Senior Marketing Manager with 8+ years of experience in agencies and eCommerce industry. She is adept in digital marketing with a track record of launching online campaigns that increased lead generation by 20% year-over-year and managing a marketing budget of $400K across multiple content channels. She also sees helping others as her mission, offering free courses in online marketing for women who want to change careers.
Professional Bio for Resume [3 Examples]
A personal bio, also known as resume summary, is the section where you quickly summarize your strengths for employers. It is usually about 3 sentences long and contains necessary keywords. Here are the 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.
- 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.
Professional Bio for LinkedIn & Social Media
LinkedIn: 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.
This professional bio example for LinkedIn profile optimization is written in the first person as recommended for LinkedIn. This well-crafted bio presents the candidate's strengths, achievements, and professional aspirations, as well as type of position they are looking for.
Short 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!
Each short bio for Instagram and X has a character count, so you should be concise. Pick the 2-3 most impressive facts about you and make them visible.
Follow these short professional bio examples when structuring your own biography. 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.
What to Include in a Professional Bio
For the best professional identity presentation, use these bio-writing tips from our experts:
Follow the traditional professional bio structure
Whether your bio is 100 or 1,000 words in length, its structure remains pretty much the same. Here's what to include in your short bio for work:
- 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.).
When applying for a job, 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.
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.
Watch the word count
The experts suggest that you aim for 500+ words when writing a bio for work or a professional website or an executive bio. For all other purposes, aim for 100-150 words for your own professional bio. If you're writing a self-description for social media, follow the character count on each particular platform. Use a professional bio template to get started.
Are you mastering professional blogging? Then, you'll find these hints for writing roundup post helpful.
Keep your audience in mind
When describing your professional accomplishments and career milestones, think about the intended audience. Obviously, a self-description for a general audience online will be different from a professional bio for an industry networking event. As a job-seeker, you want to make your bio easy to understand even for non-techynical recruiters. So, mention the most notable accomplishments and credentials such as awards, professional certifications, key skills, and strengths in plain language. Avoid abbreviations and jargon, and keep your tone professional.
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. 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. 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.
Consider adding personal details in a short professional bio
Consider throwing 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.
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.
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.
Hopefully, you've had the question "What to include in a professional bio" answered in this article. With the tips and recommendations below, you'll creaet a short bio that will help you get ahead in the competition for your target job.
Bio Writing Tips from Professional Resume Writers
A short professional bio for resume (or resume summary) is an introduction that summarizes your qualifications, achievements, and strengths for the employer. The bio is usually 2 to 5 sentences long. 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.
A bio for resume is written in third person. Ideally you should tweak the bio for each job posting to show how your professional background makes you an asset for the company.
If you struggle to compose a resume bio on your own or are having troubles with writing a resume in general, contact our professional bio writing service. At ResumePerk, we offer resume improvement services. Our writer can create your resume and bio from scratch adapting it to meet your target job requirements. We offer unlimited revisions, ongoing support of your writer, and exceptional writing quality, all at a very affordable fee. Contact us on chat and say "Write my resume" - we are open 24/7!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a short personal bio for my first job?
Start by mentioning your education, relevant skills, and personal qualities. This helps you introduce yourself to potential employers without overcomplicating your message.
What's the best way to craft a compelling professional bio when applying for a new role?
Focus on your current role, most relevant accomplishments, and career goals. Tailor your bio to show how your experience aligns with the position you’re applying for.
How to write a bio when changing careers?
Highlight transferable skills and explain your motivation for the career change. Address how your background makes you a strong candidate in the new industry.
What is the difference between a resume summary and a professional bio?
A resume summary is typically two or three sentences summarizing your skills and achievements. A professional bio is more detailed and used for LinkedIn, company websites, or personal branding.
How to write a bio with no professional experience?
Focus on your education, personal strengths, volunteer work, and motivation. Even if you lack work experience, you can still present a strong personal narrative.
How long should a bio be for a company website?
Keep it between 100-150 words. Mention your current role, major achievements, and a personal touch to make it relatable and professional.
Should I include personal interests or hobbies in my professional bio?
Yes, if they add personality or relate to your career. This helps humanize your profile, especially on platforms like LinkedIn or personal websites.
How often should I update my professional bio?
Review and update your bio at least every six months, or whenever you achieve significant career milestones like promotions or certifications.
Get Expert Resume Review for Free
Once you've created a short professional bio, it's time to make sure that your resume positions you well for the jobs you're aiming for. On our website, you can have your resume reviewed by an American or maker. Send us your resume, and receive a detailed report covering its strengths and weaknesses, as well as recommendations for improvement. Thus, you can create a bio with expert help free of charge, and stand out to employers.
Or, don't waste a minute or order resume services now to get your resume composed by an expert. Make the first step towards the dream career today!