Writing about yourself can be a great way to reflect on the stories of your life and share them with the world. But crafting an engaging personal biography from the many facets of your life can feel daunting.
In this guide, you’ll find tips for writing an effective, honest, and captivating personal biography.
Prepare Your Storytelling Framework.
Before you dive into writing your autobiography, be sure to establish a storytelling framework. To do this, brainstorm a timeline of significant life events so that you have a solid foundation to begin writing.
Take time to consider family dynamics, educational milestones, challenging experiences, major accomplishments, and any other relevant aspects of your life that left an impact on you.
Doing this groundwork can help ensure that you tell an organized and compelling story.
Start Writing with a Rough Outline.
Once you’ve established what topics to cover, create a rough outline that structures your narrative and ensures that key areas are properly addressed. An outline helps to ensure cohesion and a steady flow of information through the text.
Your outline does not need to be long and complex; just brainstorm some key points that can guide your written story.
Additionally, include any quotes or anecdotes from significant people in your life to give an even more unique insight into your journey.
Revisit Your History From Different Angles.
In addition to your core story, it’s important to revisit your life from different angles and show how it changed and evolved over time. This could involve talking about lessons you have learned, people who have inspired you, or moments that have shaped your current view of the world.
You might want to structure these stories chronologically in order to give readers an easy-to-follow timeline.
Alternatively, you can organize this material into related themes that provide a deeper exploration of meaningful events and periods in your life.
Use Writing Prompts to Guide You Through Challenges and Achievements.
Writing prompts can help you take a step-by-step approach to creating your professional biography. Start by acknowledging a challenge and then writing down specific accomplishments related to overcoming that obstacle.
You could also think back to difficult moments and the sources of strength that allowed you to persevere.
As you move through this process, make sure to adopt an open, reflective attitude and use it as an opportunity for self-reflection and personal growth.
Let Humour Fuel Your Autobiography's Voice and Tone.
While your autobiography should be entirely personal, don’t forget to bring humor into your story. Not only will it make the process of writing more enjoyable and engaging, but it can lighten up the mood and inject a sprinkle of creativity.
As you write, don’t be afraid to show off your wit by sharing self-deprecating jokes or telling funny stories that demonstrate how you overcome adversity.
Doing so will add an element of humor and charm to your piece while also reflecting a bit of your personality.
Example: I'm a professional procrastinator who loves to laugh and make others laugh. I'm a big fan of puns and bad jokes, and I'm always up for a good debate. I'm also a huge fan of animals, and I'm always looking for ways to help out my local animal shelter.
Use a Professional Headshot
Your “about me” page is an opportunity to make a great first impression and let viewers know who you are. A professional headshot can be the perfect way to do just that.
Look through these examples and you’ll see that many of them feature a professional headshot, highlighting their personality and making freelancers more approachable to people visiting their sites.
Introduce Yourself in the First Person
Start your “about me” section with a conversational tone and introduce yourself in the first person. Let people know who you are and what you do, but also give them a glimpse of your personality too.
For example, tell them some of your hobbies, activities you’re passionate about, or the books you like to read.
This can help give viewers an insight into who you are as a person, not just someone behind the words on the page.
Example: John Smith is a highly experienced professional with over 10 years of experience in the finance industry. He has a proven track record of success in developing and executing strategies that drive growth and profitability. He is an expert in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling. He is also well-versed in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets.
Include Your Professional Expertise
After introducing yourself and capturing the reader’s attention, explain your professional expertise. Describe your job title or specialization and how long you’ve been working in the field.
Talk about what interests you most professionally, so people know more about the types of projects or topics you like to focus on.
If applicable, you can also include any certifications or awards you’ve earned as a result of your work.
Some ideas include:
- Numbers. What have you earned for the companies you've worked at? What number of homeowners have you assisted in your career?
- Great personal traits. What is it that makes you so unique? Are you open and responsive, a great communicator, or a strong negotiator?
- Competitive advantages. What makes you different from other professionals? What is it about your leadership or sales expertise?
This can help showcase your leadership skills and underscore why it makes sense for someone to hire you for a project.
Showcase Your Accomplishments
Although you’ve likely already shared your accomplishments in other parts of your resume or portfolio, use the About Me section to highlight any big wins you’ve had in a way that stands out. Think about case studies, awards, and other career-defining milestones rather than every achievement listed on your timeline.
This is also an opportunity to humbly show off your achievements, so don’t feel shy about anything impressive you may have accomplished.
Example:
- Hi, I'm John Smith. I'm a software engineer with 10 years of experience in the tech industry. I specialize in developing web applications and have a passion for creating innovative solutions. In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar, reading, and spending time with my family.
- Hi, I'm Jane Doe. I'm a professional photographer and artist. I specialize in landscape and portrait photography and have been featured in several galleries. I'm also an avid traveler
Highlight Your Work Experiences
The About Me section is a great opportunity to showcase the work experiences that have shaped who you are today. Be sure to mention any relevant job titles and roles you’ve had that demonstrate your professional growth and development.
Also, include companies, institutions, or brands where you’ve worked in the past.
This detail gives context to your achievements and can be a key selling point for potential employers.
Stephen Glover AKA Steve-O
Yeah, dude! Steve-O’s professional biography tells you everything you need to know about him in less than 300 words.
It describes his past, present, and future endeavors while including humor and descriptive images.
Why we love it: Steve-O’s about me section is all fact and no fluff. If readers want to know every detail about his story, he invites them to read his New York Times best-selling book. He describes where to find his newest updates on YouTube and Podcast. He shares just enough personal details about his location and the things he enjoys when he is not working.
Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow’s professional biography is equipped with an interactive timeline that highlights his accomplishments. Tim’s bio page is great for skimming the page. It includes a short description providing some background info followed by a timeline that includes a major career accomplishment every 2 years or so.
The professional biography details a multi-talented, best-selling, multi-sport athlete to anyone researching him for the first time.
Why we love it: The professional biography is easy to navigate and highlights his passions: football, baseball, writing, and philanthropy. It provides some personal information about what he enjoys outside of work. The photos really make the page.
Megan Gilmore
Megan Gilmore, a best-selling author of cookbooks, often posts healthy recipes to her Instagram account to encourage followers to see that taste doesn't have to be sacrificed for health. Megan’s page highlights her ability to help her reader gain a better lifestyle through healthy foods.
The images are a good combination of playful, casual, and professional. This makes her more approachable on social media and other outlets.
Why we love it: Megan Gilmore has a CTA link in her Instagram bio which leads to ready-to-use, free recipes. You may be wondering, "Why would she do this? It discourages people from buying her book?" It couldn't be more wrong. She's gradually turning her leads into customers by giving her followers the opportunity to try her recipes. After trying a few of her Instagram dishes and loving them, I decided that I would buy her book. I knew I wanted more from her.
Jack Pellman
Jack Pellman is the founder of Dr. Leonardo, The All-In-One eHealth Platform for Healthcare Professionals. Jack’s professional bio highlights his track record of working with fortune 500 companies and eventually creating his own vision that gives physicians the ability to create a professional website.
Why we love it: Jack’s professional bio promotes his business and provides his background in successful business ventures. It also includes his personal satisfaction guarantee. The images are playful and include a glimpse into his personal life.
Kevin Pho
Founded by Kevin Pho MD in 2004, KevinMD.com has been the leading web platform for doctors, nurses, students, and patients to share their insights and tell their stories. Kevin is an experienced, board-certified intern medicine physician. He is also a national commentator and co-author of the book Establishing and Managing Your Online Reputation: A Guide for Physicians & Medical Practices. He is also a highly acclaimed keynote speaker.
Kevin’s professional bio includes various magazine covers and videos he was featured in. As well as professional and promotional images.
Why we love it: The professional bio is a healthy mixture of helpful resources and self-promotional content. It includes links to his other helpful resources so you can learn more about his individual achievements as well as his website.
No Experience? No Problem!
Learn How to Write a Professional Bio When you Have No Experience
Writing a professional bio can be a daunting task if you don't have any prior experience.
Fortunately, by following some simple steps and advice, you can write an impactful bio that speaks volumes about your professionalism and skills even if you lack work experience.
Know Your Audience.
Your professional bio should be tailored to your audience. Before you start writing, do some research about the type of people who will read your bio and what information they are looking for.
- Will there be potential employers in a specific field?
- Will it be a more general audience?
Knowing the people you're writing for will help you craft an effective bio that speaks directly to them.
Collect Information and Choose the Best Points to Include.
Once you know who you’re writing for, start gathering the information that makes up your professional narrative.
- Education
- Experience
- Awards
- Accomplishments
- and other professional highlights.
After collecting this information, decide which points are most important to your audience and focus on those in your bio.
This will allow you to maximize the impact of your bio while creating a succinct and clear narrative.
Incorporate Interests and Achievements/Accomplishments
When writing a professional bio, you’ll want to add some personality by incorporating interests or hobbies that will allow the reader to get to know you better.
Additionally, if you have any unique accomplishments that could be added in, such as awards or speaking engagements, they can also be included.
Including these elements of “achievement,” it gives potential readers an indication of your professionalism and skill set.
Example:
Long Bio
(Name) is a (job title), with experience managing global teams and (industry) campaigns. (His/Her/They/Them) background in brand strategy, visual design, and account management inform her mindful but competitive approach. (His/Her/They/Them) is fueled by (His/Her/They/Them) passion for understanding the nuances of cross-cultural (industry).
(His/Her/They/Them) considers (His/Her/They/Them) a ‘forever student,’ eager to both build on (His/Her/They/Them) academic foundations in (industry) and stay in tune with the latest (industry subset) strategies through continued coursework.
(Name's) hunger for knowledge and determination to turn information into action has contributed to her most recent success at (company), where (His/Her/They/Them) led international, award-winning campaigns for heavy-hitting brands, such as (companies you worked with).
Meanwhile, (His/Her/They/Them) vastly improved the productivity of her team by implementing strategic project management methods and ensuring a work-life balance for her department.
(name) believes mindfulness in the workplace is key to success - a tenet she lives out through her interests in (hobbies). (name) is currently working in a (current role) and is always interested in a challenge. Reach out to (name) to connect on (LinkedIn profile)!
Short Bio
(Current job and company), (location)
Medium Bio
(Name) is the (current job) (a fact about the company). (His/Her/They/Them) journey as a (profession) started years ago. After graduating from (School) with a (Degree/Field of study), (His/Her/They/Them) started (how you entered the industry or what you did after graduation)
(Name) believes developing new business relationships is the key to the success of (company). (His/Her/They/Them) currently lives in (City/state), and enjoys (hobbies).
Profile Picture and Contact Information
A professional bio should always include a picture and contact information; both of which can help with credibility and give the reader an idea of what you look like.
When choosing a profile picture, it is best to select one that provides a good first impression.
If you have any social networks, feel free to add those links as well, as this will provide an additional source for readers to contact you or get more information about your skills and services.
Create a Professional Bio That Sets You Apart
The goal of your online presence is to promote your business, display your portfolio of design work, or showcase your resume even if you are a college student. A professional bio allows your audience to get a glimpse at the person behind the content. You can also use it to help you grow professionally.
NewReputation helps individuals start out online through a professional reputation that highlights their expertise. Contact us today to learn how we can help you craft a professional profile that increases your brand and career opportunities.
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