How to include in a short professional bio

Your short bio is often your first impression on a potential employer , client or contact, so it is important that your blurb be accurate, informative and memorable. It’s a good idea to include:

• Your name
• Your current position
• Your company name or personal brand, 
• statement
• Your hometown
• Your educational background
• Your personal and professional goals
• A relevant professional achievement, milestone or accomplishment
• Your hobbies
•  and personal interests
• Your skills, and areas of expertise
• Your LinkedIn profile, social media accounts, or other contact information

Short bios are brief by definition so it is important to determine which of these topics is most important to make the best impression on your target audience.

How to write a short bio

Writing a short bio can be a deceptively challenging task. Here is a step-by-step guide you can follow to help you write a successful short bio:

1. Choose a voice

The first step in writing a short bio is deciding on a voice. For our purposes, choosing a voice involves deciding whether you are writing in the first or third person. Writing in the first person means using the words “I” and “me”, and writing in the third person means using your name.For instance, if you are writing a slightly informal bio for your Twitter profile, first-person would probably be the best fit. However, if you are adding a bio to your company page and all your coworkers used third-person in their paragraphs, you should certainly follow suit. Your voice should accurately represent who you are as a person, so you might also adjust your voice to be more professional, witty, friendly or reserved, depending on your personality.

2. State your name and job title

In the first sentence of your short bio, you will need to give your name and your current job title. For example, your bio might begin with “Sarah Hayes is the Senior Marketing Director for Blooming Street Creative. ” If you are in the process of finding a job or internship in your industry, you can list your most recent title or your college major. This might look something like “My name is John Grayson and I am a recent college graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Web Design and Development.“

3. State your philosophy

After introducing yourself, you may want to relate your personal or professional mission statement. This should answer the question, “Why do you do what you do?” Your personal philosophy may involve serving others, providing for your family or making the most of your opportunities. Your professional philosophy, could relate to expanding your expertise, contributing to society or learning new skills. Your philosophy should give your reader an accurate idea of what matters the most to you.Even if your reader is not familiar with your industry’s awards, they will likely respond well to positive keywords like “innovation.” You most likely will not have room to list all past accomplishments, so it is important to choose which ones to highlight. Focus on awards or recognitions that relate to a variety of professional skills or that speak to your proficiency and competence.