Professional bios are an important part of making a good first impression on potential employers, clients, or contacts. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about professional bios.
Our free-to-use resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.
What is a professional bio?
A professional bio is a brief description of who you are as a professional, including your accomplishments, goals, and skills. Bios can vary in length, but are typically around 4-7 sentences.
You can include professional bios on:
- LinkedIn profiles
- Personal websites
- Portfolios
- Social media profiles
- Resumes
Your professional bio provides others with an opportunity to get to know a little bit about who you are and what you do, and gives potential employers or clients a bit of insight into what you have to offer as an employee.
What to include in a bio
Your professional bio should include your:
- Name
- Place of work
- Job title
- Educational background
- Mission statement
- Professional accomplishments
- Professional goals
- Hobbies or interests
That may seem like a lot to squeeze into 4-7 sentences. The good news is, you can take or leave what you need depending on who your bio is geared towards.
For example, if you’re writing a resume and want to include a bio, keep it professional and leave out your hobbies and interests. If it’s for your social media profile, adding more personal flair will help you connect with your audience.
Pick and choose what is most relevant for your purposes, and what will leave the best impression.
How to write a good bio for work
Summing yourself up in a few short sentences can be a challenge. Here are a few tips to help you write a bio that champions your skills and qualifications:
1. Describe what you do
The first thing people want to know about you is what you do, so be sure to explain clearly by including your job title and a brief description of your work.
Here’s an example of an effective opening sentence to a professional bio:
Explain your current position
Christy is a wedding photographer with extensive experience shooting destination and theme weddings. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and French, and often coordinates with local studios to provide equipment and shooting locations.
For a more casual and friendly tone, you can write in the first person (I, my). For a more professional and objective tone, opt for the third person (he/his, she/her, they/their).
2. Highlight your professional achievements
When you’re trying to make a good first impression, highlighting your professional accomplishments can make a big difference, so don’t be shy. Quantify your achievements and put them in the spotlight.
Following from our first example, here’s a strong second sentence that includes some accomplishments:
Include an accomplishment
She has photographed weddings for prominent travel influencers such as Lauren Bullen and Jack Morris, gaining over 4 million views of her photographs on Instagram.
3. Add a personal touch
If you decide adding a personal touch to your bio is appropriate, it can give your audience a sense of your personality and something to relate to.
Here’s a sample that demonstrates how to close out your work bio with style:
Tell readers something about yourself
She loves the adventure of her work, the culture, and problem solving on the fly. Her favorite wedding location so far has been at the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica.
4. Tailor your bio according to your platform and goals
To make your professional bio impactful, it should be tailored to a specific audience. Don’t write just one professional bio and slap it on your resume, LinkedIn and Instagram. Each medium has a unique audience, and catering to each one individually will give you the best results.
Moreover, how you write your bio should shift according to your goals. For example, writing two versions of your LinkedIn bio for when you’re looking to make connections versus job hunting will help you get the response you’re looking for.
Here are some tips to help guide you in tailoring your professional bio:
-
Know your audience: Before you start writing your bio, consider who will be reading it and what they will most want to know about you.
Consider the platform: Each platform has its own set of practices and etiquette, so make sure that your bio is appropriate for the one you choose. - Prioritize relevant information: Put the most relevant information first. Readers should immediately understand what you do and why they should be interested.
- Include keywords: If you’re using your professional bio as part of a job search, incorporate relevant keywords related to your target role to improve your visibility.
- Highlight your unique qualities: To leave a lasting impression, emphasize what sets you apart, whether it’s a unique skill, a prestigious award, or a notable project.
- Share personal insights wisely: While a personal touch can humanize your bio, be selective about what details you include and keep the focus on your professional journey.
Professional bio examples
Now that you know how to put together a short bio, let’s look at some examples of both brief and longer professional bios.
Short professional bio examples
Here are some examples of short professional bios:
Recent nursing school graduate short bio example
Here’s an example of a professional bio for an aspiring pediatric nurse:
Recent nursing graduate short bio example (text version)
Denise recently graduated from the University of Michigan School of Nursing with honors (summa cum laude). They passed the NCLEX in 2022 and are currently obtaining their state nursing license to begin work as an RN.
Denise aims to pursue advanced training in Pediatrics to provide support and care for children when they need it most.
Outside of the hospital, Denise loves embarking on lakeside camping trips with their dog, Kerfuffle.
Denise’s bio is concise, but gives readers a good idea of their educational background and professional goals. It also shows that Denise is a compassionate person, and gives a little insight into their hobbies outside of work.
Elementary school teacher short bio example
Here is a professional bio for a teacher:
Elementary school teacher short bio example (text version)
Hi, I’m Darryl. I’m a 4th-grade teacher at Woodland Park Elementary School, where I’ve been learning about learning for the last 3 years. My lifelong desire to teach led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Education from Metropolitan State University, where I graduated in 2018.
I have experience teaching mathematics at the 2nd–5th grade level, and strive to make learning fun, engaging, and accessible to all of my students. I believe deeply in student-centered learning and am always looking for new and creative ways to present the curriculum.
My goal is to inspire the next generation to have confidence in their problem solving abilities.
Darryl’s bio lays out his key qualifications: his teaching experience, degree, and key teaching skills. He also mentions what motivates him in his teaching, which tells employers that he is dedicated and driven.
Long professional bio example
If you’re a seasoned professional, you’ll likely have more career highlights to show off. In that case, you can opt for a long professional bio and include 3-5 short paragraphs summarizing your achievements.
Here are a couple examples:
Writer bio example
Here’s what a writer’s professional bio might look like:
Writer bio example (text version)
Tabitha Greeley is currently a staff writer at the New Yorker, and previously worked as an Editor at Tin House, reviewing poetry, short stories, and nonfiction pieces. She has authored 5 books, including the New York Times Bestseller Meet Us Where We Were.
She grew up in New Mexico, where she was heavily influenced by the thriving art scene, and decided to become a writer. In 2016 she graduated from the University of New Mexico with an MFA in creative writing.
Her work has appeared in literary publications such as Sky Island, Puerto Del Sol, Blue Mesa Review, A Room of Her Own, Tin House, American Short Fiction, and The Paris Review. She has given talks on her work at university campuses, writing workshops, and conferences across the country.
In this example, Tabitha tells readers about her writing background, where she derived inspiration and her most noteworthy accomplishments. Including the literary magazines she’s been published in leaves readers with a strong first impression.
Brand strategist bio example
Here’s an example of a brand strategist’s professional bio:
Brand strategist bio example (text version)
I’m a Brand Strategist based in Portland, Oregon. I work mostly with emerging sustainable brands looking to grow their identity and reach, something I am very passionate about.
I grew up immersed in nature, in the mountains and forests of the Pacific Northwest. I have always wanted to devote my life to preserving the natural world. I earned a degree in Environmental Science & Sustainability from the University of Portland, and through an internship at the Forestry Department discovered that I had a knack for, and enjoyed, marketing.
I love telling stories that engage and connect people, and inspire them to envision a positive future. I’m adept at helping brands figure out their core identity and mission, and helping them build effective strategies to identify and connect with their target market.
My background informs my unique approach to brand strategy and gives me clarity and insight into what it takes to be a responsible brand that’s committed to environmental justice in the modern age.
As a professional who makes a living crafting rich stories, Jamie includes his own in his bio, giving potential clients a good idea of the services he can provide. By telling his own story, he demonstrates his value as a brand strategist, and helps the reader connect with him.
Professional bio templates
Ready to make your own bio? Below are two templates you can fill in with your own information to create an eye-catching bio for work or your LinkedIn profile. The first one is a first-person short bio template:
First-person short bio template (copy-and-paste text)
I am a [Job Title] who is passionate about [job-related passion]. With a [Degree] from [University] and a background in [industry niche], I use my skills to [job purpose].
At [Current Company], I [job responsibility #1 and #2] in order to [company goal]. Prior to working with [Current Company], I was the [Job Title] at [Previous Company] for [X] years, where I [job responsibility #1 and #2]. I have been recognized for [professional achievement].
I aim to use my [job-specific skills] to bring about [goal].
If you want to make it a bit more formal, use the third-person. Here’s a template for a short professional bio using third-person:
Third-person short bio template (copy-and-paste text)
In the future, [Name] is looking forward to [professional goal].
What is a resume bio?
A resume bio is a great way to start your resume. It’s a brief 3-5 sentence introduction of yourself as a candidate that highlights all of your key qualifications, such as your:
- Education
- Relevant professional experience
- Industry-specific skills
- Related accomplishments
A resume bio should include less information than a standard professional bio used for a personal website or LinkedIn profile, and should leave out any personal details that aren’t directly related to the job you’re applying for (for instance, you don’t need to include hobbies and interests on your resume).
Another key difference to note is that while a professional bio is written for a broad audience, your resume bio is written for a particular employer, and should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for.
The best resume templates for 2024
One of the best ways to make your resume is by filling out one of our free resume templates. All our templates are designed by experts and free to download for Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
Resume bio examples
So, what is a good bio for a resume?
Here are a couple examples of good resume bios for you to follow:
Bio for resume example #1
Aspiring IT Support Specialist with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science adept at troubleshooting technical issues and handling customer complaints in a professional setting. During my undergraduate studies, I successfully led a team project that improved the efficiency of a campus IT system, resulting in a 30% reduction in response time for technical support requests. Proactive worker recognized by peers for my effective analytical and problem-solving skills. Looking to apply my understanding of help desk software and virus scanning software at your company. CCNA certified.
Bio for resume example #2
Certified administrator skilled in streamlining office operations and administering records. As a detail-oriented worker, I successfully reduced document retrieval time by 25% through efficient organization and streamlined record-keeping processes, a feat recognized by my peers. Looking to apply my expertise in Oracle PeopleSoft and data entry software at Revitalize.
If you need some help coming up with a resume bio, try using our free AI-powered resume summary generator.
Frequently asked questions about professional bios
Have more unanswered questions? Check out our answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about professional bios below:
How do you write a powerful bio?
Here’s how you write a powerful bio:
- Tailor the information so that it will resonate with your target audience.
- Create a compelling narrative – effective storytelling will capture a reader’s attention and make you more memorable.
- Quantify your achievements with numbers.
How long should a professional bio be?
A professional bio should be approximately 5–7 sentences long, depending on where you intend to use it. A bio for a resume should be concise at 3–5 sentences, while bios for other platforms can be longer.
However, keep in mind that readers are looking for a short overview and won’t be likely to read more than a few paragraphs. If you plan on writing a longer bio, consider breaking up the text to make it easier to skim with bulleted lists or bolded text.
What tense should a professional bio be written in?
A professional bio can be written in present tense, past tense, or a combination of the two. Because professional bios usually describe an individual’s career progression, it’s fine to give an overview of your past accomplishments and then switch into discussing your current role or objectives.
Click to rate this article
4.9 Average rating
