Short biography are concise, bio paragraphs that professionals use to introduce themselves. You can often find short bios on social media profiles, personal websites and company team directories. Short bios are typically used to provide a summary of an individual’s accomplishments, an overview of their career history and a description of their professional goals.
Your short bio is often the first (and perhaps only) thing a potential employer, client or contact will read before deciding to contact you, so it is important that your bio be accurate, informative and memorable. Short bios can contain information relating to a variety of topics, including:
- Your current job title
- Your hometown
- Your alma mater
- Your mission statement
- Your personal and professional goals
- Your hobbies
- Your skills and areas of expertise
Short bios are, by definition, brief so it is important to determine which of these topics is most important to make the best impression on your readers.
Writing a short bio can be a deceptively challenging task. Here are some steps you can follow help you write a successful short bio:
- Choose a voice.
- State your job title.
- State your philosophy.
- Share your accomplishments.
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”, while 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 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 is the Senior Marketing Director for Blooming Street Creative”. If you are in the process of finding a job, you can list your most recent title or your college major. This might look something like “My name is John 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.
4. Share your accomplishments
Writing a short bio is similar to writing a resume in that you will want to highlight your professional accomplishments. However, you will need to describe them in a way that any reader can understand. Instead of describing yourself as a “Carthage award-winning graphic artist,” you might write that you are a “multi-talented graphic artist who won the 2019 Carthage Award for artistic excellence and innovation.” Even if your reader is not familiar with your specific 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.
Tips for writing a short bio
Here are some tips for how to write a successful short bio:
Be concise
Most short bios are between four and eight sentences long, so you will only have room to discuss a limited amount of personal information. To help you determine which facts are the most relevant, you will need to consider your audience and your primary purpose. If you looking for a new job in the medical field, you will want to list your degrees, credentials and professional skills. If you are a freelancer advertising your services, you might include your years of experience, a description of your style and why you chose to pursue your particular area of expertise.
Be human
One of the most important roles that a short bio plays is humanizing you in the minds of your readers. A well-written short bio will give your reader an accurate impression of who you are, both professionally and personally. Including specific details like descriptions of your family, your hobbies or other passions can help your readers relate to you and understand your motivations.
Be authentic
It is important for your short bio to be an accurate representation of who you are. When writing your bio, be sure to describe your accomplishments honestly, without exaggerating. It is a good idea to highlight your professional strengths but you also want to be able to live up to your promises. Authenticity and sincerity is the best option when writing a short bio.
