Do you want to land a job in your dream company? Or do you need something compelling for your about page on your own website? A great way to do that is by having a strong professional biography.
A professional bio tells the story of your professional life and highlights your accomplishments. It can be used to introduce yourself at networking events, or to accompany your resume when applying for jobs. In this blog post, we will give you 10 tips for writing a compelling professional biography!
Tip #1: Start with a strong opening sentence
The first sentence of your professional biography should be attention-grabbing. It should make the reader want to learn more about you. For example, you could start by telling a brief story about an accomplishment or an interesting fact about yourself.
Tip #2: Write in the third person or the first person — you choose
Your professional biography can be written in first or third person. For example, if you’re an entrepreneur and you need a bio for your website, use first person. It’s more personable. If you’re writing for a more professional purpose, feel free to refer to yourself by your full name and as he, she, or a pronoun you identify with. For example, “Jane Smith is a marketing professional….”
Tip #3: Keep it brief
Your professional biography should be no more than two paragraphs long. The goal is to give the reader a snapshot of who you are and what you have accomplished. Sometimes it’s fun if you add a section that includes 10 interesting things about yourself. This is more suitable to casual purposes — like as an addition to the About page on your own website.
Tip #4: Highlight your accomplishments
Make sure to highlight your accomplishments in your professional biography. Include any awards or recognition that you have received, as well as any notable projects that you have worked on. The key here is to only include things that are relevant to how you want to be known now. So don’t include anything that doesn’t align with your current personal brand.
Tip #5: Use descriptive words
Use powerful and descriptive language in your professional biography. Avoid using clichés or jargon, and make sure to proofread your work for grammar mistakes. Use keywords that are also aligned with your personal brand and how you want to be known or referred to by others. For example, if you’re an executive coach who works with senior IT leaders, use these exact keywords in your descriptive text.
Tip #6: Tailor it to your audience
Who will be reading your professional biography? Make sure to tailor the content to your audience. For example, if you are applying for a job in the financial industry, you will want to highlight your experience in that field.
Tip #7: Use keywords
If you are posting your professional biography online, make sure to include relevant keywords. This will help people find you when they are searching for someone with your skills and experience.
Tip #8: Keep it up-to-date
Your professional biography should be a living document that you regularly update. Make sure to add any new accomplishments or experiences as they happen. Make ti a habit to review our biography quarterly.
Tip #9: Get feedback
Ask a trusted friend or colleague to read your professional biography and give you feedback. They may be able to point out any areas that need improvement. And, they might also highlight things you may have missed or not emphasized.
Tip #10: Have someone else proofread it
Before you publish your professional biography, make sure to have someone else proofread it for grammar mistakes. Nothing looks worse than a document full of typos! Be sure to run this through a tool like Grammarly or ProWritingAid to ensure your writing is crisp and clear.
Professional biographies can be a great way to introduce yourself to others in your industry. They can also help you land new opportunities, such as jobs or business partnerships. When writing your biography, make sure to highlight your accomplishments and use powerful and descriptive language. Tailor the content to your audience and make sure to keep it up-to-date. Finally, ask a friend or colleague to proofread it for you. By following these tips, you can be sure to write a compelling professional biography that will not only help you achieve your goals, but will also be aligned with your personal brand.
