How To Write A Short Bio [With Examples]

Writing about yourself can be hard. Doing it in a short professional bio? Even harder!

At first, you might think writing a short paragraph about yourself is easier than a 4-paragraph cover letter. But when you actually sit down to write a short bio, you realize how difficult it is to fit your entire work experience into a few sentences.

Luckily, though, there's a formula you can use to make things easier!

In this article, we'll walk you through:

1What Is A Short Professional Bio?
2What NOT To Do When Writing Your Short Bio
3How To Write A Short Bio About Yourself
4The Anatomy Of A Short Bio
5Short Professional Bio Examples

Let’s dive in!

What Is A Short Professional Bio?

A short bio is a concise summary describing you and your most relevant professional experiences. You can use it on social media profiles, job application boards, and sometimes even in an introductory email.

Typically, a mini-biography has around 2-4 sentences. This means you will want to highlight the most important information from your background.

The question is: how do you make your mini bio pop if you only have a few lines to work with?

Before we dig into that question, let’s start with…

What NOT To Do When Writing Your Short Bio

When writing a mini bio, it’s easy to fall into a very similar structure where you basically recite a mini-version of your resume. Our first call might be wrapping up something like:

“My name is Jane and I am a Social Media Manager with over 10 years of experience. I am looking for opportunities to exercise my creativity and grow professionally”.

While highlighting this information is definitely valid, you still want to add some personality to your bio. Personality drives impact, and impact is what makes you stand out from the crowd!

Before we begin, here are a few things you should try avoiding when writing your bio:

❌ Don’t Begin With “My Name Is…”

Unless your name isn’t shown anywhere else in the document, message, or platform where you are displaying your short bio, there is no need to start it with “My name is”. Not only because it will be shown somewhere else (e.g. e-mail signature, sign-off, profile header, etc.), but it’s also taking up unnecessary character space.

❌ Don’t Be Vague

Writing that you are a “Social Media Manager with 10 years of experience” doesn't say much about you. After all, that could be anyone! If you want your short bio to pop, then you’ll want to take it a step further.

How To Write A Short Bio About Yourself (With Examples)

Ok, so how should you write your short bio?

Think about it this way: writing a mini biography is like responding to “tell me about yourself”. Of course, you’ll want to cover your professional background. But you can also leverage other aspects of your personality to make your short bio more appealing.

To do so, there’s a simple, step-by-step you can follow to craft your mini biography from scratch.

The first thing you want to do is:

#1 Choose Between First Person And Third Person

This choice will depend a lot on how you want your tone of voice to look – which will also depend on the audience you are targeting.

Let’s elaborate on this.

For example, if you are applying for a finance role at a traditional company, you might consider using the third person to create a more formal tone.

Now, if you’re applying for, say, a marketing role in a startup, you might consider using the first-person approach for a more casual approach.

#2 Highlight Your Professional Skills & Achievements

Next, you want to highlight skills and achievements that make your professional trajectory unique. The trick here is using information that will stand out and grab the reader's attention.

You can use:

Measurable metrics (check out this article with five examples of resume metrics you can leverage in your short bio, too!)
Awards and certifications
Brands you’ve worked with
Relevant contributions you’ve made for other companies
& more!

Remember, anyone can be a “Social Media Manager with 10+ years of experience”. But how many can say they are a “Social Media Manager for brands with 6-figure follower base”?

#3 Close With A Personal Background

Lastly, you can close your short bio with something about your personal background. Why? Because this gives readers a better sense of who you are, instead of simply what you are able to do.

Think about it: if it were the other way around and you were the hiring manager for the position you are applying for, wouldn’t you like to have an idea of who you will be interacting with day in, and day out?

When considering a person for a specific role, you don’t just want to know what they are capable of; you want to know who they are, and if they make a good fit for the company culture.

Now, the trick here is to use something personal but tied to your professional goals.

For example, let’s say you are targeting a Software Engineer role at Apple. You could try things like:

An anecdote of your background that relates to the brand (for example: “iPhone early adopter since ‘07” – this shows you are curious about new technology)
Something you are known for among friends and family (for example: “The tech guy in the family” – this shows you are reliable in helping peers solve problems)
A hobby that complements your professional skills (for example: “Weekend Code Warrior” – this shows your passion for programming extends beyond the workplace)

These examples help paint a more comprehensive picture of who you are, not just what you can do.

The Anatomy Of A Short Bio

By following this formula, your short professional bio might look something like this:

Short Professional Bio Examples

Now that we’ve cracked the formula for writing a mini bio, here are a few examples to get you inspired!

Example #1: Simple Short Bio With Casual Tone

“I’m a digital artist turned Graphic Designer, currently making waves at Urban Gear, where I've increased social media engagement by 30% through creative design strategies. I specialize in designing visually captivating campaigns that boost online visibility and customer interaction. Outside of work, you'll find me showcasing my designs at local art shows or hiking with my rescue dog, Pixel.”

Example #2: Short Professional Bio With Formal Tone

“John Smith is a Financial Analyst with over 15 years of experience in the banking industry, specializing in risk management and strategic investment. At JPMorgan Chase, he has been instrumental in developing risk assessment models that have reduced financial discrepancies by 40%. John holds an MBA from Wharton School of Business and is a Certified Financial Planner. His insights on economic trends are frequently published in industry journals.”

Example #3: Personal Short Bio

“I’m a lifelong bookworm and an amateur chef who loves experimenting with new vegetarian recipes. Professionally, I blend my love for storytelling and cuisine by managing a thriving culinary blog that connects food enthusiasts around the globe. My weekends are often spent exploring local farmers' markets or volunteering at the community food bank.”

Example #4: Fun Short Bio

“Just your average espresso-fueled, sneaker-wearing software developer who codes by day and turns into a tabletop game wizard by night. I’m all about making apps that add a dash of fun to your daily routines. Got an app idea that involves cats or pizza? Let’s talk!”

Example #5: Short Bio For A New Job

“As the latest addition to the marketing team at Trendy Tech Co., I bring a fresh take on digital marketing with a blend of modern SEO strategies and content creation. Previously at Inova, I helped double our web traffic in under a year. I’m excited to leverage my skills in digital analytics and creative campaigns to contribute to Trendy Tech’s growth. Ready to hit the ground running!”

Example #6: Short Bio For Students

“A third-year Biology major at the University of Washington, I’m deeply committed to sustainable agricultural practices and am currently researching bio-friendly pesticides. As the president of the Eco Club, I lead initiatives that promote green living among the student body. I’m also a peer tutor in Chemistry, always eager to help fellow students understand complex concepts. Post-graduation, I aim to work in environmental conservation to further my impact on preserving natural resources.”

Next Step: Ramp Up Your Resume Writing With AI

Now that you’ve finished writing your short professional bio, how about you ramp up your resume writing with AI? ResyBuild.io is a free AI resume builder that helps you easily build and customize your resume in no time.

Choose from 8 proven templates and easily create, edit, and customize your resume. ResyBuild's AI assistant also helps you craft personalized, job-winning bullets in a single click. Simply add your experience, hit “Optimize”, and watch the magic happen.

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