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The Best Short Professional Bios (Examples + Templates)

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Summary. To write a short bio you should first make an initial introduction introducing yourself in the first or first person. Your short bio should include your brand, your accomplishments, and your values and goals. Your short bio should be one to three short paragraphs or four to eight sentences long.

Knowing how to write a concise, informative, and interesting biography about yourself can help throughout various parts of the professional process. You can use your bio to capture the attention of potential employers or clients and convince them to choose to employ or work with you.

In this article, you’ll learn more about what goes into a short bio and how to write one, and you’ll also get to see some short bio templates and examples to help you get an idea of what yours should look like.

Key Takeaways

A short bio serves to introduce you, your achievements, and what you offer professionally to potential employers or clients.

It’s important to keep your bio brief so that readers stay engaged and will remember your main points.

You may need to adjust your bio for different audiences, as your clients may want to know different information than a recruiter would.

Talk about your skills and accomplishments in your bio, but don’t exaggerate them.

How to Write a Short Bio

What Is a Short Bio?

How to write a short bio, what to include in a short professional bio, short bio examples, short bio templates, tips for writing a short bio, writing a short bio faq.

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A short bio serves as your introduction to the professional world. In terms of finding or expanding on your job, a bio will cover your:

Work history

Achievements

Any other relevant professional information

Think of it as a professional memoir that a hiring manager or consumer can read and understand quickly. It’s usually about one to three paragraphs depending on experience.

There’s an emphasis on being succinct when it comes to writing a professional bio. This is because a bio is supposed to be a preface to attract recruiter attention and incline them to reach out for more information. Many readers will get lost or bored with a lengthy bio.

Using a short bio can be helpful across very different industries, from marketing to accounting, from psychiatry to sales.

You’re probably familiar with providing short bios on social media websites and applications. While the information and skills you include in a professional bio may differ, the general formatting is similar.

There’s a lot of considerations to take into account when writing a short bio, and it can quickly become intimidating. Deciding what information is relevant and how to keep it near 140 characters is no small task.

If you’re having difficulty writing a short bio, follow the outline below to craft an introduction that engages your reader.

Make an initial introduction. You can’t jump right into everything you’ve done and what you want to do in the future before introducing yourself.

Your bio’s first sentence should begin with your full name in the third person or introduce yourself in the first person and continue to briefly outline your most notable skills and accomplishments. It’s a good place to state your current job and employer.

Go deeper with what motivates you. Once you’ve catchily illustrated who you are in your short bio, you can use the second sentence to describe your motivations for your work.

Stating what drives you to do the work you do is essential to employers and customers alike. Whether you work as a physician or fitness consultant , there’s a reason why this is your profession, and you should explain that in your short professional bio.

Describe your accomplishments. Your short bio is for detailing why you’re the ideal candidate to be trusted with handling an employer or consumer’s business. By describing your prior accomplishments, you let them know what you could offer as an employee and how you’ve succeeded in the past.

While you should avoid sounding braggy, the reader is looking for information about what your qualifications are , and your accomplishments generally measure these qualities.

Even though you could probably go on for ages about the details of your accomplishments, save that for an interview . In a short bio, only include the most impressive of your achievements to outline.

Accomplishments relevant to a short bio could include:

Impressive results on a project

Former promotions

Awards received in your field

Certifications received

Include contact information. The purpose of a short bio as either a business or a job seeker is to inspire the reader to reach out. Without contact information, this pursuit becomes futile. Make sure your short bio has some way to contact you at the end.

Relevant contact information may include:

Phone number

Professional networking profile

A short professional bio includes:

Your full name. You can choose to write your bio in the first person (I, me, my) or third person (he, she, they), but either way, you need to include your full name at some point. Branding doesn’t work so well without a brand name (i.e., you!)

Your brand. Of course, if you have an actual brand that you’re trying to market, you should include the brand name as well.

What you do. Summarize what you want the reader to know about what you do in one sentence — tricky, we know.

Your accomplishments. For a short bio, you can stick with just one major accomplishment from your professional life. Or, if you have a string of impressive achievements, try condensing all of them down to one sentence.

Your goals and values. Let the reader know what makes you tick — why do you do what you do and what do you hope to achieve with your work? People are compelled by a story more than anything else, so it’s important to get this part right.

Something personal (optional). If you have a quirky tidbit about yourself you’d like to include, go for it. Just make sure it doesn’t throw off te the tone of the rest of your bio.

Contact info (optional). If your bio is serving as a call-to-action to drum up business or get leads on job opportunities, it makes sense to include your contact information at the end of your bio. It’s not necessary if that information is available elsewhere on the page , though.

Entry-Level Job-Seeker Bio Example

Mitchell Morrison is an upcoming video producer and editor who believes in the art of visual organization. He is a recent graduate from the University of Washington and focused on post-production during his time studying there. He was introduced to the magical world of visual art production by watching his father work on editing commercials growing up and has been working towards his dream of becoming a video editor ever since. During his last year of college, Mitchell participated in a competitive internship with Digital Space Films. He was chosen out of 2,000 applicants based on his academic portfolio and personal statement essay. This internship was an incredible learning experience and resulted in three professional accreditations for music video editing. Mitchell currently lives in Seattle, Washington pursuing freelance opportunities and spending time with his Dog, Pikachu. To get into contact with Mitchell: MitchellMorrisonVideo.com/contact

Working Professional Website Bio Example

Lisa Kennedy is an experienced real estate professional. She knows how important a home is for long-term happiness and has invested her career in putting people in the house they’ve always dreamed of. Lisa was driven to pursue real estate from her passion for helping people during life-altering times, and a keen interest in high-end, luxury homes. She’s been working in the real estate industry for ten years and in that time has assisted over 3,500 people in finding homes. She was educated at the University of Los Angeles with a bachelor’s in business management. She’s worked for some of the most respectable Real Estate companies in Los Angeles and individually under her agency “Kennedy Homes.” Lisa has also been published in Real Estate Quarterly Magazine as the 2017 winner of the “Top Luxury Home Seller” award. Lisa loves the culture of Los Angeles and has been living there with her family of five since she graduated from college. She enjoys spending her free time exploring towns along the West Coast and swimming. If you’d like to get in touch with Lisa: Email: [email protected]

Professional Networking Profile Bio Example

Bianca Jones Marketing Manager Miami, FL The first step towards customer satisfaction is being reached by stellar product marketing, and that’s what I aim to provide. My professional experience as a product marketing manager has allowed me to assist many organizations in improving their sales margins and audience response to emerging products. I’ve brought dedication and positive results to the companies I’ve worked for because I am passionate about product perception, marketing, and business statistics. What drives a product to success interests and inspires me. I specialize in long-term growth strategies and audience outreach. In addition to eight years of experience in professional product marketing, I have also published two books on creating a career as a marketer called “What to Do After Your Bachelor’s” and “A Marketer’s How-To.” If you’re interested in learning more about how to market your business better, or just discuss more, feel free to contact me by email at [email protected].

Your first choice is whether you want your bio to be written in the third person or first person. These short bio templates show both options, and also include different ideas for what to include, and how. Feel free to pick and choose your favorite parts of each of the two.

[Full Name] is a [job title] who [believes/knows] in the power of [what you do]. [He/She/They] began their journey in [field] by [how you got started in the field], and now dreams of [what you hope to accomplish]. [His/Her/Their] biggest accomplishment to date has been [your biggest accomplishment]. [Full Name] lives in [where you live] and participates in [a hobby/interest]. To get in touch with [Full Name], call/email/message me on [how you’d like to be contacted].
I am a [job title] who helps [who you help] [what you help them do]. It’s my belief that [your unique perspective on the field]. In the past [# of years] years, I’ve [major accomplishment #1] through [how you accomplished it]. I have a passion for [your professional passion], but on the side, I also enjoy [personal passion]. Get in touch with me today at [contact info] — I look forward to talking with you about [what you want to talk to your readers about].

You have a firm grasp of the structure of a short bio and what to include. Now, you may need some tips for how to polish your short professional bio and make it stand out from the competition.

Be mindful of length. While you’re probably getting sick of hearing that your bio should be short, it’s good to keep in mind throughout the writing process. It’s easy to go off on a tangent while trying to include everything relevant or rationalize, making your bio too long.

Avoid this impulse. The point of a bio is that it’s limited. You want to intrigue the reader enough to inspire them to seek more information about you or your services.

Tailor your bio to your intended audience. Whether you’re using a short bio to attract a particular customer base or potential employer, tailoring it to fit their wants and needs is crucial. Consider your intended audience base and what they’re looking for in a candidate or service.

Be genuine. Your short bio should be an authentic representation of your traits, experience, and personality. People are repelled by what they interpret as stretching the truth. If you’re being received as disingenuous by the reader, they’ll probably move on.

Proofread. The only way to steer clear of errors in your short bio is by proofreading it. Imagine a hiring manager being completely interested in your bio.

They love what you have to say about yourself and find your prior experience enticing. That is, until they come across a mistake that clearly shows you didn’t do proofread or edit.

Include links to your portfolio, website, or networking profile. One way to circumvent the confining factor of keeping your bio short is by including links to more detailed sources.

This can be in the form of linking your portfolio or website to allow the reader to go deeper into your discussed skills if they please, without taking up more space in your bio.

Implement these links seamlessly into your bio by attaching them to anchor words that describe what clicking will lead them to.

Add some personality. You aren’t the only person who has an impressive list of accomplishments to put on a bio, so you’re going to need to find some additional ways to make an impression.

What should a short bio include?

A short bio should include your name, what you do, and your achievements. You should also include your company or product’s brand, if you have one, and your goals and motivations for doing what you do. This humanizes you and helps you stand out from the rest of the pack.

How long is a short bio?

A short bio is typically one to three paragraphs long. These should be short paragraphs though, as other experts say that between four and eight sentences is the ideal length for a short bio.

What makes a good bio?

A good bio is succinct and memorable. Readers don’t want to spend long reading about your professional and personal life, so go back and cut it down to the important parts multiple times after you draft it. You might be surprised at how little you actually need to include.

What should you avoid putting in a short bio?

You should avoid including anything negative or arrogate. It’s never a good idea to write anything negative about previous jobs or employers. Only include positive things in your professional short bio.

It’s important to include your achievements in a short bio, but there is a fine line between mentioning your achievements and bragging about them. Stick to the facts when talking about your accomplishments.

Fremont University – Building Your Professional Bio

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Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.

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27 of the Best Professional Bio Examples I've Ever Seen [+ Templates]

Lindsay Kolowich Cox

Published: December 20, 2023

80+ Professional Bio Templates & Examples

how to write a short biography for work

Create a compelling professional narrative for a proper, attention-grabbing introduction.

Thank you for downloading the offer.

As a writer, I have to let readers and potential clients know my expertise, my skills, and why they should work with me or be interested in what I say. So, a professional bio is a must in my industry.

Hands type at a laptop

Though I'm definitely familiar with professional bios, I can admit they can be challenging. What do I include? What do readers need to know?

As daunting as writing a professional bio can be, professional bios are crucial when applying for jobs, seeking new clients, or networking. A professional bio also gives the world a brief snapshot of you and your professional ideals.

If you‘re at a loss for how to write a professional bio that packs a punch, I’ve got you covered. In this journey, tools like HubSpot’s user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder can be instrumental in showcasing your professional bio online with ease and style.

I will walk you through how to write a professional bio that you can proudly publish, provide professional bio templates, and show you the best professional bio examples you can get inspiration from.

→ Download Now: 80 Professional Bio Examples [Free Templates]

What is a professional bio?

Professional bio templates, how to write a professional bio, best professional bio examples, how to write a short bio.

how to write a short biography for work

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A professional bio or biography is a short overview of your experience. Professional bios usually include details about education, employment, achievements, and relevant skills.

Purpose of Professional Bios

A bio tells an audience about who you are, what you've done, and what you can do. It can help potential employers, fans, or customers understand your personality and what you stand for.

Writing a bio without a clear starting point is challenging — believe me, I've tried. To ease the process, here are some templates I put together to get you started.

I‘ve found it’s best to keep your professional bio honest and to the point. Too long of a bio, and you risk losing your audience's attention. After all, audiences will only read a web page for less than a minute before clicking elsewhere.

And honesty is key because most consumers and clients won‘t invest in someone or something if it doesn’t seem trustworthy. In fact, 67% of consumers say they must trust a brand before investing in its products or services.

how to write a short biography for work

"Plus," she adds, "I'm always happy to talk about my cats at any given moment. You never know when a fellow cat mom could be reading."

Values and Work Approach

Your values can sometimes show your work ethic more effectively than your career path. It can also help you endear yourself to employers and colleagues who want to work with people with similar values.

So don‘t be shy: Share how you incorporate your values into your work. Whether it’s a commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, or ethical decision-making, explain what drives you and be enthusiastic about it.

Your Personality

Remember: Your bio should always include a taste of your personality! Your sense of humor, creativity, or collaborative nature could all give readers a sense of who you are. This helps readers connect with you on a more personal level.

Remember to tailor your bio for different platforms and audiences. Also, keep it concise and impactful while highlighting the most relevant information in each context.

First-Person Bio vs. Third-Person Bio

While first-person bios are common, third-person bios can be more effective in formal situations.

Your decision to write your professional bio in the first or third person depends on your desire to leave a more personable or assertive impression.

Both approaches work, provided you tailor them to your goals and audience. What’s important is to be clear and tell your story in a way that connects with your reader.

How to Write a First-Person Bio

Writing in the first person can be a great way to connect with your audience when building a personal brand. When you write a first-person bio, use "I" or "me" to make yourself relatable and approachable.

Here's one way I’d write a first-person bio:

"I'm a freelance writer specializing in small business content. I've worked with companies in a variety of industries like home care to fine leather goods."

Speaking in the first person here connects you with a client or brand based on your experience and opinions. Put another way, writing a first-person bio is like telling your story to your audience.

Here are a few tips to make your first-person bio great:

Don’t start every sentence with "I."

Showing instead of telling is a great approach.

Let’s say you’re a writer who wants to create a short professional bio. Instead of saying, "I love to write," you can say, "Writer. Bad but enthusiastic dancer."

This portrays your writing skill, shows your personality outside of writing as a dancer, and includes a little sense of humor, which is essential for a writer.

Remember, you know yourself better than anyone.

Adding a back story to your bio helps create context for the roles and successes you write about. Think of it like a case study about who you were, what you are now, and the process that got you to your current position.

Focus on valuable details.

Quick facts about you can showcase your identity and values. For example, if you're writing a bio for LinkedIn, think about how to tie your hobby into what you do.

Let's say Animal Crossing is your hobby. Does it align with your career aspirations? It can be a great addition to your bio if you want to pursue a video game career.

However, if your interests lie elsewhere, including a more relevant hobby is better.

How to Write a Third-Person Bio

Third-person bios sound more authoritative and objective. So, if you’re job searching in a formal industry, applying for grants, or trying to get published, you may want to stick to the third person.

For instance, when you write a third-person bio, you may start with:

"Jasmine Montgomery is a Senior Hiring Manager at L’Oreal based in New York. She recruits across several business units to connect with the brightest talent from around the globe."

By only using your name and pronouns to speak about yourself here, you are letting your title and skill set speak for themselves.

These bios create distance between the subject of the bio (you) and the reader through a third person. This person could be anyone, but they usually speak in a tone emphasizing their expertise.

This makes third-person bios feel aloof or overly formal sometimes.

Ideally, your third-person bio should sound friendly but polished, like a message from a close colleague at work. Here are a few tips on how to write a great third-person bio.

Write from the perspective of someone you know and trust.

It can be challenging to write about yourself, so try to see yourself from the perspective of your favorite person at work or a mentor you trust. This can help you write from a position of authority without feeling self-conscious.

Show the reader why they should trust your opinion.

A professional bio often reflects a specific industry or niche. With this in mind, your text should include relevant details that professionals in your industry know. Avoid jargon whenever you can.

Remember, you're telling a story.

If you want a third-person bio, but you're used to writing in first-person, it may help to write it the most comfortable way for you.

Your professional bio is an essential piece of writing, so edit it carefully. Edit your writing from both points of view and see which works best for your target audience.

Here's how to write a professional bio, step by step.

  • Create an 'About' page for your website or profile.
  • Begin writing your bio with your first and last name.
  • Mention any associated brand name you might use.
  • State your current position and what you do.
  • Include at least one professional accomplishment.
  • Describe your values and how they inform your career.
  • Briefly tell your readers who you are outside of work.
  • Use humor or a personal story to add flavor to your professional bio.

If you’re anything like me, you probably don't think about your professional bio until you’re asked to "send one over via email."

You have one afternoon to come up with it, so you scramble together a bio that ends up reading like this:

"Rodney Erickson is a content marketing professional at HubSpot, a CRM platform that helps companies attract visitors, convert leads, and close customers.

Previously, Rodney worked as a marketing manager for a tech software startup. He graduated with honors from Columbia University with a dual degree in Business Administration and Creative Writing."

To be fair, in certain contexts, your professional bio needs to be more formal, like Mr. Erickson's up there. But there are also cases where writing a personable and conversational bio is good.

Whether you choose the formal or casual route, use the following steps to create a perfect bio.

1. Create an 'About' page for your website or profile.

You need an online space to keep your professional bio. Here are a few to consider (some of these you might already have in place):

  • Facebook Business page .
  • Industry blog byline .
  • Instagram account .
  • Personal website .
  • LinkedIn profile .
  • Industry website .
  • Personal blog .

As you'll see in the professional bio examples below, the length and tone of your bio will differ depending on the platforms you use.

Instagram, for example, allows only 150 characters of bio space, whereas you can write as much as you want on your website or Facebook Business page.

2. Begin writing your bio with your first and last name.

If your readers remember nothing else about your bio, they should remember your name. Therefore, it's a good idea for your first and last name to be the first two words of your professional bio.

Even if your name is printed above this bio (hint: it should), this is a rare moment where it's okay to be redundant.

For example, if I were writing my bio, I might start it like this:

Lindsay Kolowich

Lindsay Kolowich is a Senior Marketing Manager at HubSpot.

3. Mention any associated brand name you might use.

Will your professional bio represent you or a business you work for? Ensure you mention the brand you associate with in your bio. If you're a freelancer, you may have a personal business name or pseudonym you advertise to your clients.

Here are a few examples:

  • Lindsay Kolowich Marketing.
  • SEO Lindsay.
  • Kolowich Consulting.
  • Content by Kolowich (what do you think ... too cheesy?).

Maybe you founded your own company and want its name to be separate from your real name. Keep it simple like this: "Lindsay Kolowich is the founder and CEO of Kolowich Consulting."

4. State your current position and what you do.

Whether you're the author of a novel or a mid-level specialist, use the following few lines of your bio to describe what you do in that position. Refrain from assuming your audience knows what your job title entails.

Make your primary responsibilities known so readers can know you and understand what you offer to your industry.

5. Include at least one professional accomplishment.

Just as a business touts its client successes through case studies, your professional bio should let your audience know what you've achieved.

What have you done for yourself — as well as for others — that makes you a valuable player in your industry?

6. Describe your values and how they inform your career.

Why do you do what you do? What might make your contribution to the market different from your colleagues? What are the values that make your business a worthwhile investment to others?

Create a professional bio that answers these questions.

7. Briefly tell your readers who you are outside of work.

Transition from describing your values in work to defining who you are outside of work. This may include:

  • Your family.
  • Your hometown.
  • Sports you play.
  • Hobbies and interests.
  • Favorite music and travel destinations.
  • Side hustles you're working on.

People like connecting with other people. The more transparent you are about who you are personally, the more likable you'll be to people reading about you.

8. Use humor or a personal story to add flavor to your professional bio.

End your professional bio on a good or, more specifically, a funny note. By leaving your audience with something quirky or unique, you can ensure they'll leave your website with a pleasant impression of you.

Following the steps above when writing your bio is important, but take your time with one section. People consume lots of information daily. So ensure your bio hooks 'em in the first line, and you won’t lose them.

(P.S. Want to boost your professional brand? Take one of HubSpot Academy's free certification courses . In just one weekend, you can add a line to your resume and bio that over 60,000 marketers covet.)

Why Good Bios Are Important for a Professional

You may think, "How many people read professional bios, anyway?"

The answer: A lot. Though there's no way to tell who is reading it, you want it catchy. Your professional bio will delight the right people coming across it on multiple platforms.

Professional bios can live on your LinkedIn profile , company website, guest posts, speaker profiles, Twitter bio , Instagram bio , and many other places.

And most importantly, it‘s the tool you can leverage most when you’re networking.

Bottom line? People will read your professional bio. Whether they remember it or it makes them care about you is a matter of how well you present yourself to your intended audience.

So, what does a top-notch professional bio look like? Let‘s review a few sample bios for professionals like you and me. Then, we’ll cover bio examples from some of the best people in the industry.

Short Sample Bios

Your bio doesn't have to be complicated. Here are five samples to glean inspiration from.

Example 1: Friendly Sample Bio

"Hey! My name is Ryan, and I'm a marketing specialist passionate about digital advertising. I have five years of experience managing various online campaigns and improving brand visibility for clients across multiple verticals. I love analyzing consumer behavior and leveraging data-driven strategies to maximize ROI. Outside work, I enjoy traveling, taking funny photos, and exploring new hiking trails."

Example 2: Mid-Career Sample Bio

"Jennifer Patel is a versatile graphic designer known for her creative approach and attention to detail. With a background in visual arts and eight years of experience, Jennifer has worked on diverse projects ranging from logo designs to website layouts. Her ability to understand and translate client needs into visually striking designs sets her apart. Jennifer finds inspiration in nature, music, and pop culture."

Example 3: Sales Sample Bio

"I'm a seasoned sales executive with a track record of exceeding targets and building strong client relationships. With a background in B2B sales, I've built a natural ability to understand customer needs and consistently exceed quota every month. I pride myself in my communication skills and strategic approaches, which have helped me thrive in highly competitive markets such as SaaS sales. Outside work, I enjoy playing basketball and volunteering at local charities."

Example 4: HR Sample Bio

"I am a dedicated human resources professional with a passion for fostering a positive workplace culture and facilitating employee development. With eight years of experience in talent acquisition and HR operations, I've played a key role in building high-performing teams. I'm known for my strong interpersonal skills and ability to create inclusive and supportive work environments. In my free time, I enjoy practicing yoga and exploring new culinary experiences."

Example 5: Software Engineer Sample Bio

"David Chang is a senior software engineer specializing in backend development. With a strong background in computer science and six years of experience, David has successfully built scalable and efficient solutions for complex technical challenges. He is well-versed in various programming languages and frameworks like C++, Java, and Ruby on Rails. In his spare time, David enjoys reading science fiction novels and playing the guitar."

Below, we've curated some of the best professional bio examples we've ever seen on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and the various places you might describe yourself.

Check 'em out and use them as inspiration when crafting your own.

  • Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Author
  • Chima Mmeje: SEO Content Writer
  • DJ Nexus: DJ
  • Lena Axelsson: Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Mark Levy: Branding Firm Founder
  • Audra Simpson: Political Anthropologist
  • Marie Mikhail: Professional Recruiter
  • Wonbo Woo: Executive Producer
  • Chris Burkard: Freelance Photographer
  • Lisa Quine: Creative Consultant
  • Nancy Twine: Hair Care Founder
  • Trinity Mouzon: Wellness Brand Founder
  • Alberto Perez: Co-Founder of Zumba Fitness
  • Ann Handley: Writer and Marketer

1. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie : Author

Bio platform: personal website.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie begins her professional bio with an invitation to her roots.

In a few paragraphs, she describes when and where she was born, her family, her education, her honorary degrees, and the depth of her work, which has been translated into 30 languages and several publications.

how to write a short biography for work

She can keep readers engaged by leading with a powerful hook that aligns with her target audience’s marketing needs.

how to write a short biography for work
  • There’s clarity about who Chima serves.
  • The hook is bold, catchy, and compels anyone to read further.
  • Including client results makes clients visualize what they can expect.

3. DJ Nexus : DJ

Bio platform: facebook.

This New England-based DJ has single-handedly captured the Likes of over 2,000 people in and beyond Boston, MA. And even if you don‘t listen to the type of music he produces, it’s hard not to read his compelling Facebook bio.

For instance, consider his tagline, under "About" — " Quiet during the day. QUITE LOUD at night! " DJ Nexus tells you when he works awesomely. I got goosebumps just imagining a dance club where he might play music.

how to write a short biography for work

how to write a short biography for work

how to write a short biography for work

The second is the "long version," which is even more interesting than the first. Why? It reads like a story — a compelling one, at that. In fact, it gets hilarious in some parts.

The second sentence of the bio reads: "He was frightened of public school, loved playing baseball and football, ran home to watch ape films on the 4:30 Movie, listened to The Jam and The Buzzcocks, and read magic trick books."

Here's another excerpt from the middle:

how to write a short biography for work

how to write a short biography for work

how to write a short biography for work

It's a well-put value proposition that sets her apart from the rest of the HR industry.

Marie concludes her bio with a smooth mix of professional skills, like her Spanish fluency, and personal interests, such as podcasting and Star Wars (she mentions the latter with just the right amount of humor).

  • Straight off the bat, Marie uses a story to share her experiences of how she began as a recruiter.
  • It provides a subtle pitch for readers to check out her podcast.
  • The bio exudes Maries approachable, fun, and playful personality.

8. Wonbo Woo : Executive Producer

Wonbo Woo is the executive producer of WIRED's video content and has several impressive credits to his name. What does this mean for his professional bio? He has to prioritize.

With this in mind, Wonbo opens his bio with the most eye-catching details first (if the image below is hard to read, click it to see the full copy ).

how to write a short biography for work

how to write a short biography for work

I wouldn‘t necessarily be inclined to follow Chris if his bio had simply read, "I post beautiful images." But images that inspire me to travel? Now that’s something I can get behind.

Last, he ends on a humble, sweet note: "He is happiest with his wife Breanne raising their two sons." So inject personal information into your bio — it makes you seem approachable.

  • It highlights Chris’s achievement without bragging.
  • The last sentence portrays Chris as a responsible man who loves his family.
  • The well-written bio speaks to nature lovers who like the outdoors, surfing, and more. This gives them reasons to follow Chris.

10. Lisa Quine : Creative Consultant

Bio platform: portfolio website.

Creative professionals who specialize in visual art may find it challenging to balance the writing of their bio and displaying of their portfolio. Not Lisa Quine. Lisa has an exceptional balance of her professional bio and creative work.

Throughout her bio, you'll notice the number of murals she's completed and a brief timeline of her career. This helps her paint the picture of who she is as a professional.

how to write a short biography for work

The rest of her bio similarly focuses on Twine's strengths as someone who’s able to take hair care "back to basics."

how to write a short biography for work

Mouzon effectively grips the reader's attention with this introduction and then dives into some of her impressive accomplishments — including a brand now sold at Urban Outfitters and Target.

The language used throughout Mouzon's bio is authentic, real, and honest.

For instance, in the second paragraph, she admits:

"While building a brand may have looked effortless from the outside, starting a business at age 23 with no resources or funding quickly forced me to realize that early-stage entrepreneurship was anything but transparent."

how to write a short biography for work

As an avid Zumba fan, I was excited to include this one. Perez styles his LinkedIn bio as a short story, starting with his background as a hard-working teen who held three jobs by age 14.

His bio tells the fun and fascinating origin story of Zumba, in which Perez, an aerobics teacher in Florida at the time, forgot his music for class and used a Latin music cassette tape instead ... "And it was an instant hit!"

His bio continues:

"Shortly after he was connected to Alberto Periman and Alberto Aghion, and Zumba was officially created ... What started as a dream now has 15 million people in more than 200,000 locations in 186 countries who take Zumba classes every week."

how to write a short biography for work

how to write a short biography for work

There's something in there for everyone.

  • The last section of the bio shows Ann’s warm personality — "Ann lives in Boston, where she is Mom to creatures two- and four-legged."
  • Written in the third person, this bio has lots of proof (like followers), which shows Ann is a terrific marketing leader.

If you're posting a bio on a social media account or sending a quick blurb to a client, you want to keep it short and sweet while showcasing your accomplishments.

To get started, use these best practices for writing your short professional bio:

  • Introduce yourself.
  • State what you do.
  • Add key skills or areas of expertise.
  • Include a personal mission statement
  • Celebrate your wins.
  • Provide your contact information.
  • Show them your personality.

1. Introduce yourself.

Your introduction is your first impression, so always begin by telling people who you are. You may start with a greeting like, "Hello, my name is" or "Hi! Let me first introduce myself …" when sending your bio as a message.

If you’re writing a bio for an online platform, stating your name at the beginning works as well.

Leading with your name — even as a question — is important for recognition and building relationships.

2. State what you do.

Give people an idea of what you do daily and where you work. Your job title is how the people put you into context and consider whether your profession relates to their industry.

So detail your most relevant work in your short bios, like CEO, professor, and author.

Take a cue from Angela Duckworth , who specifies what she does in her LinkedIn bio:

how to write a short biography for work

3. Add key skills or areas of expertise.

If you send a bio to a client or potential employer, highlight your most valuable skills. For instance, if your expertise is in social media marketing and content creation, like Ivanka Dekoning , list these skills.

how to write a short biography for work
  • A joke. "Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. At least that’s what I learned when I created…"
  • Mention a hobby. "I’ll be honest: for me, tennis is life — Go Nadal!"
  • A fun fact. "Every year, I watch 100 new films! I’m a cinephile and love every movie genre."
  • A few emojis related to your interests. "🎶🤖🎾🎬🎭"

Whichever way you choose to get personal, give people a glimpse into who you are as an individual.

When writing a short bio, it can be tempting to pack in as much relevant information about yourself as possible — but this isn’t the most effective approach.

Instead, focus on including the details that you and your audience care about most and leave out the fluff.

Let's dive into a few examples of short professional bios.

Short Professional Bio Examples

  • Tristen Taylor: Marketing Manager
  • Lianna Patch: Copywriter
  • Precious Oboidhe: Content Strategist and Writer
  • Rebecca Bollwitt: Writer
  • Megan Gilmore: Cookbook Author
  • Bea Dixon: Feminine Care Founder
  • Tammy Hembrow: Instagram Influencer
  • Dr. Cody: Chiropractor
  • Larry Kim: Founder
  • Dharmesh Shah: Founder and CTO
  • Lily Ugbaja: Content Strategist
  • Ian Anderson Gray: Marketer
  • Van Jones: Political Commentator, Author, and Lawyer

1. Tristen Taylor: Marketing Manager

Bio platform: blog byline.

Tristen Taylor is a Marketing Manager here at HubSpot. She's written content for HubSpot's Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service blogs; her blog author bio is one of my favorites.

What I love most about Tristen's bio is that it’s a great example of how to deliver information about yourself that is relevant to your work while also sharing fun details that audiences will find relatable.

Her bio reads:

"Building from her experience with GoCo.io and Southwest Airlines, Tristen's work has been recognized by Marketing Brew and BLACK@INBOUND. She lives in Washington, DC, attending anime conventions and painting in her free time."

how to write a short biography for work

how to write a short biography for work

Gilmore further includes a CTA link within her Instagram bio that leads followers to free, ready-to-use recipes. You might think, " Why would she do that since it discourages people from buying her book?"

But that couldn't be further from the truth.

By giving her followers the chance to try out her recipes, she's slowly turning leads into customers. After I tried a few of her Instagram recipes and loved them, I bought her book, knowing I'd like more of what she offered.

  • The bio is short and direct.
  • The CTA link includes an invitation for people to join her newsletter. Meaning, she can build her email list.

6. Bea Dixon : Feminine Care Founder

Bea Dixon, Founder and CEO of The Honey Pot Company, efficiently uses the space on her Instagram profile to highlight who she is as a well-rounded human — not just a businesswoman.

For instance, while she highlights her girl boss attitude with a tiara emoji, she equally calls attention to her fashion interests (Free People), her pets, Boss and Sadie, and her love for ramen noodles.

how to write a short biography for work

What more do you need to know?

Ian doesn't take his bio too seriously but uses every character to highlight everything about him.

He includes his skills as a marketer and podcast host, who he is outside work as a dad, and what he can help you do. His smiles also give the bio a sense of humor and realness.

how to write a short biography for work

Don't forget to share this post!

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Create a compelling professional narrative for your summary, bio, or introduction.

Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments — all on one easy-to-use platform

How to Write a Short Professional Bio (With Examples and Templates)

Emily Polner

3 key takeaways

  • What a short professional bio is and where to use one
  • How to write your professional bio (plus short professional bio examples and templates)
  • How to use the Teal  AI Resume Builder  to write a short, professional bio

Your professional bio is one of the most important things you'll write about yourself.

In a world where just about everyone is represented online in some capacity, your professional bio will often serve as your first introduction to your intended audience. It can help influence whether someone invites you to connect, interview you, or simply move on.

But how does your professional bio work in tandem with your resume to tell your unique story? And what are some short professional bio examples you can reference to craft your own—helping you strike the perfect balance between informative and engaging?

What is a short professional bio? 

A short professional bio is exactly what it sounds like — a short professional biography that introduces yourself and gives a brief overview of your career and accomplishment examples . A short professional bio gives future employees, colleagues, and anyone else you're networking with a more well-rounded picture of who you are.  

We recognize that “short” is a vague term and can mean many different things. But the good news is, unless you're dealing with a certain character or space limit, there is no magic length that your bio has to be. Most short bios tend to run anywhere from one to four paragraphs, but feel free to make yours whatever length you think would work best for you. 

Your short professional bio can be displayed many different places, including but not limited to: your website, LinkedIn profile, Twitter profile, in press features, and your resume. 

What should I include in a short professional bio? 

Before you sit down to write your bio, it might be helpful for you to think of it as not only a bio, but also an elevator pitch for your target audience. You want to produce a compelling professional bio. Your bio should answer the question: what would you want someone who doesn't know you at all to know about your career so far? 

Below are some thought-starters to set you up for success. 

As a working professional

Whether you've been working for six months or 15 years, consider including these in your bio: 

  • Where you're based
  • Where you're from
  • What university, trade school, or bootcamp you attended (if any)
  • Your current or former career titles
  • Your career goals
  • Relevant awards, accolades, or press features you've garnered
  • Your professional experience, skills, and area(s) of expertise
  • What you like to do in your spare time (personal interests, hobbies, side hustles, etc.) 

To make sure you're providing the most relevant skills to a potential employer, use Teal's Skills Database in the free  Skills Workbook  to identify your current skills and potential skills that you want to acquire. Once you've identified those, enter them into Teal's Skills Identifier.

As a student

Even if you're still in school, there's plenty of information you can include in your bio, like: 

  • What university, trade school, or bootcamp you're attending
  • Your area of study or intended major
  • Any clubs, teams, volunteering, or other extracurriculars you're a part of 
  • Any internships you've completed
  • Your career goals 
  • Your availability

‍As someone starting their career journey, make sure you know what interests you and what will make you excited to go to work each day. We have a tool, the  Interests Workbook , to help you map out the things you're excited about and apply those insights to your job search.

How to write a short professional bio

If you're ready to begin writing your professional bio, we commend you. We've listed a few things here that you might find helpful to consider, but again, there is no steadfast formula. You can feel free to follow or ignore these suggestions however you see fit. 

Choose your voice

You have the option to write your bio using either first or third person. When using first person, you will be utilizing the pronouns "I, me, and my". When using third person, you would refer to yourself using your name and preferred pronouns.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. However, as a general rule, using third person is typically considered more formal, while using first person is more casual.

First person example: "I am a bestselling author. My work has been published in XYZ publication."

Third person example: "Zane Smith is a bestselling author. His work has been published in XYZ publication."

If you want to have multiple versions of the same bio on hand, like a first person version and a third person version, our tools are designed to make this easy for you. Write as many versions of your bio as you need and rotate which one you use in which situation as your career evolves. 

Generate your professional bio with AI

You can also use our AI Resume Builder to generate multiple versions of your short professional bio. Your bio will be tailored based on the details and achievements you've included about your recent work experiences.

Try it yourself for free.

Choose your tone

Written words, like spoken speech, can embody many different moods and tones. Depending on the context and your  personal brand , you might decide your bio should sound more buttoned-up, or more relaxed, or even a little bit silly. 

These two sentences describe the same person but showcase very different tones and writing style: 

“A recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Sally is currently a consultant at XYZ Consulting based out of their New York office.” 

“A recent UPenn grad, Sally swore off econ after years of hard classes only to end up as a consultant at a major firm — but don't worry, she loves it.” 

Start with your name and your current or most recent role

This is not a hard and fast rule, but to get your bio started, it's usually easiest to start with your name and current professional title or role. 

Example:  “Zane Smith is currently the Demand Generation Manager at ABC Tech Company.” 

If you're transitioning between roles or switching industries , you can list your most recent role and use your first sentence to say what you're looking to become.

Example 1:  “Previously the Demand Generation Manager at ABC Tech Company, Zane Smith is actively pursuing new opportunities in marketing management.” 

Example 2 : “Previously the Demand Generation Manager at ABC Tech Company, Zane Smith is now an aspiring 2nd grade teacher.” 

Add any former titles and list relevant achievements

Once you've introduced yourself and your current title or aspirations, you can flow into your professional background, former job titles, and what you did previously. Together, the first two sentences of your bio could read something like this: 

“Zane Smith is currently the Demand Generation Manager at ABC Tech Company. Previously, he was a Marketing Specialist at FGH Tech Company where he grew paid traffic to their website by 500% year over year.” 

How can you ensure your bullet point achievements reflect your qualifications? In addition to using Teal's free Achievement Assistant tool within the AI Resume Builder , try leveraging ChatGPT for this part of the process. Just remember to copy and paste ChatGPT-generated resume achievements back into your AI Resume Builder.

Remember to personalize your bullet point achievements by proofreading and editing them, tweaking as needed using the Achievement Assistant tool.

Consider adding the “why” behind your story

Self-promotion can feel incredibly uncomfortable, but it's important to really make sure you don't undermine your own value. Your “why,” the  reason that you do what you do everyday , can be powerful and meaningful. Adding what gives you the spark to start each workday can set your own professional bio apart from others. 

Example:  “Claire was inspired to pursue a career in elder law after volunteering in a nursing home throughout high school and college.” 

Close with some personal details, if appropriate

Even though your bio will be used in a professional capacity, it's okay to list a few personal details. We're more than just our jobs, and adding a few personal facts can help illustrate who you are outside of the office. 

Example:  “When he's not working, Martin can be found tending to his spice garden and going on nature walks with his golden retriever.” 

Short professional bio do's and don'ts 

Even though there are no official rules for writing a bio, there are still some things you should try to strive for as well as steer clear of if you want to make the best possible impression. 

Be real:  Your bio is not the place to fudge the truth about who you are. Be honest about what you've done and where you're heading. Not telling the truth could bar you from achieving your goals and land you in hot water. 

Be concise:  We really hate to be the one to tell you this, but unfortunately, most people do not have the time or patience to read a five-paragraph essay about your life story. Sorry to break it to you! 

Try to keep things brief and avoid run-on sentences. We recommend running your bio through a  free clarity reader grammar-checking tool  to make sure your bio isn't too wordy or hard to understand. 

Be relatable:  No matter how lofty your accomplishments are, staying grounded may help you establish stronger connections with others. This is where adding personal details and highlighting your personal brand can serve you well. Whether that's with a  hobby, interest , or other role outside of work, being relatable can let others understand and get to know you better and determine if you would be a good fit for a company.  

Don't: 

Be arrogant:  It's both appropriate and expected for you to talk about your professional skills and accomplishments in your short bio. That being said, there's a fine line between talking about your achievements and sounding too braggy. These two examples talk about the same accomplishment but come across very differently: 

“An accomplished pianist, Ryan was selected out of nearly 7,000 applicants to perform at the annual New York State School Music Association festival last spring.” 

“An accomplished pianist, Ryan was the obvious choice to perform at the annual New York State School Music Association festival last spring (because he's the best).” 

Be spiteful:  This is especially relevant if you're revising your bio  after a lay-off  or termination. As tempting as it might be, avoid making any negative statements or accusations in your bio. Positivity and a good attitude will get you much further.

Short professional bio examples

Seeing real professional bios in the wild might help you craft your bio more so than a set of guidelines will. For that reason, we rounded up four real-life short bio examples on different platforms that you can draw further inspiration from. 

Personal website bio: Audree Kate Lopez

"AUDREE KATE LOPEZ IS A FASHION STYLIST, EDITOR, INDUSTRY EXPERT AND INFLUENCER BASED IN NEW YORK. Audree began her professional career in the fashion departments at Glamour, O, the Oprah Magazine, Editorialist and Redbook magazines. She launched Audree Kate Studios in 2017 and worked on freelance projects at Marc Jacobs, Alice + Olivia, J.Crew and Club Monaco, joined the styling team at Alice + Olivia and became a contributing fashion editor for StyleCaster.com. Over the past few years Audree has styled for various publications, celebrities and retail brands. In 2016, Audree founded a digital course and community for fashion students called Fashion Fundamentals and has hosted workshops and classes around the country, and wrote an ebook titled Fashion Fundamentals."

Why we picked it:  Audree's professional bio does a great job at telling and humbling her story. Taking her career from her dorm room all the way to major magazines is impressive and gives readers the right impression that she's ambitious and driven. It also gives a strong overview of all of the different yet relevant accomplishments she's checked off, ranging from styling, to editing, to creating her own course. 

A short professional bio example

LinkedIn bio: Christen Nino De Guzman 

"Latina creator. Speaker. Tech Mentor. Christen is the Founder of the newly launched app Clara, a community that empowers creators through transparency, brand reviews, and discoverability. An industry vet, Christen has almost a decade of experience working with top content creators at social networking companies such as Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. She is a motivational speaker and mentor in the tech space who is passionate about helping people break into the industry through career advice and actionable content."

Why we picked it:  Christen's professional bio is punchy, concise, and gives her credibility. The short few sentences at the very beginning are a creative and clever way to describe who she is right off the bat. She also mentions how many years of experience she has, which at this stage in her career, is a wise move and shows that she brings a high level of expertise to her pursuits. The decision to put her social media profiles makes sense and feels true to her, given her engaged following. 

A short professional bio example

Twitter bio: Dulma 

"Founder of Makelane, a private community for female DTC founders. 70K followers on TikTok where I analyze consumer brands"

Why we picked it:  Twitter only gives you 160 characters for your bio, truly keeping it a short bio, but Dulma does an excellent job maximizing what little space is given. Dulma's professional bio clearly and succinctly states her two main pursuits: being a founder of an online community and creating content for a large audience on TikTok. 

A short professional bio example

Company website bios: Teachable

"Meet our wonderful team We're a tight-knit group of curious creatures, always learning, and constantly seeking out new perspectives and ideas. Get to know our team—they're what makes Teachable, well, Teachable."

Why we picked it : Having a short professional bio on a company website can be beneficial for many reasons. Each of the four bios featured on Teachable's company site show individuality and make the company more relatable to customers or clients. It provides an opportunity for the individual to showcase their experience, skills, and achievements, which can help build trust and confidence in potential clients or customers. These bios, with full names and pictures, allow the reader to learn more about the individual's expertise and background and can encourage networking opportunities.

A short professional bio example

Short professional bio templates

If you prefer to plug and play or need a professional bio in a pinch, don't worry, we've still got you. Here are three short bio templates to get you started:

Short professional bio template for working professionals

[First name last name]  is  [currently/formerly]  a  [insert most recent job title]  at  [most recent company name] . A proud graduate of  [school or university] , they were inspired to pursue a career in  [field]  after  [explain what led to your decision to work in your industry] . Prior to working at [most recent job title], they were the  [previous title]  at  [previous company]  where they were responsible for  [insert professional accomplishments here] . In their free time, they can be found  [insert your favorite hobbies] . 

Short professional bio template for students

[First name last name]  is a current  [year]  at  [institution]  majoring in  [area(s) of study] . On campus,  [First name]  is actively involved in  [activity name] , for which they  [insert details about what you do for the activity you're involved in] . They most recently  [interned/worked]  at  [organization name] , where they had the opportunity to  [insert details about what you did on the job] . They intend to work in the  [insert field name or industry]  after graduation to follow their passion of  [insert what you are passionate about] . In their spare time, they can be found  [insert your favorite hobbies] . 

Short professional bio template for someone with a gap in employment

[First name last name] is a [position/job title] with [number] years of experience in [specific skills or industry] . Following [briefly mention the reason for the employment gap] , [he/she/they] took some time off to focus on [briefly mention what they did during the gap, e.g., personal development, family obligations, health reasons] . During this time, [he/she/they] also [briefly mention any relevant skills or achievements acquired during the gap] . [Name] is now eager to return to the workforce and is excited to bring [specific skills/accomplishments] to [his/her/their] next role. With a proven track record of [list specific achievements or skills] , [Name] is confident in [his/her/their] ability to contribute to [specific industry/profession] and make an impact in [his/her/their] next position.

If you decide to use any of these templates, we strongly recommend you tweak it ever-so-slightly. We don't mean diving into creative writing and rewriting it entirely; just add a little bit of personal flair once you've finished plugging your details in. Add some adjectives, remove anything that doesn't quite fit with your vibe or experiences, or append some more personal details as you see fit. Feel free to work off of any one of the bios from our resume examples to get feel for how different styles can be used across roles.

Remember, as cheesy as it sounds, there's only one you. Even if you use a template, your bio should still have a small sprinkle of personal flair, if possible. 

Create your professional bio with Teal

Crafting a professional bio that effectively showcases your unique skills and accomplishments can be a challenging task. It's important to keep in mind that your bio should be concise and focused on the most relevant details of your career. If you're struggling with what to include, consider starting with the basics and keeping it simple and factual.

Remember, your bio can evolve over time along with your career, so don't be afraid to make updates as you gain more experience and achieve new accomplishments. By taking these steps, you can create a friendly and professional bio that effectively represents your personal brand.

Ready to create a full set of professional bios to get to your next career goal faster? Sign up to start using the AI Resume Builder to generate professional your professional bios directly within the platform.

Once you have your professional bio, don't forget to use Teal's free AI Resume Builder  to update your resume with your skills, latest experience, and work achievements! The job of your resume is to get you in the door. Optimizing it will help you land interviews for the next opportunities that excite you.

Use the AI integration feature within Teal's AI Resume Builder to generate achievements. To get quality, metric-driven achievements, make sure to attach a job description to incorporate relevant keywords.

Frequenty Asked Questions

What is an example of a short professional bio.

An example of a short professional bio is: "Katie is a seasoned marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in digital advertising strategies. She has helped numerous brands achieve their online marketing goals, leading to increased visibility and 3x revenue YoY."

How do you write an impressive short bio?

To write an impressive short bio, focus on your most significant achievements, relevant skills, and experiences that set you apart. Keep it concise and tailored to your audience to engage and leave a memorable impression. You can also use the Teal  AI Resume Builder  Generative AI to craft a bio that highlights your unique professional journey and skills in an engaging way.

What is a short biography about yourself?

A short biography about yourself should concisely summarize your professional background, major accomplishments, and skills. For example, "I'm an innovative software developer with 5 years of experience in creating scalable applications, known for my ability to troubleshoot complex issues and my commitment to delivering high-quality software solutions."

how to write a short biography for work

Emily Polner

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Enchanting Marketing

Writing advice for small business

How to Make a Rip-Roaring First Impression, With Only a Few Words

by Henneke | 95 enchanting opinions, add yours? :)

How to Write a Short Professional Bio (And Make a Strong First Impression)

Even if you don’t need a short bio right now, writing one is a great exercise. You learn how to say more with fewer words. You learn how to position yourself and how to make a big impression from the get go.

But last week, when I started preparing this post, I made a big mistake.

I looked for inspiration on Twitter.

I scrolled through hundreds of Twitter bios, and I almost gave up on this post because most Twitter bios are utterly dull. And they say almost nothing, like this:

If you try to explain a lot about yourself in a few words, you end up saying nothing. No personality. No big impression. No sense of connection. You sound the same as everyone else.

So, I decided to look for inspiration elsewhere. How do fiction writers introduce their characters in a few words?

4 examples of saying a lot with a few words

I skimmed through the books I’ve read recently to look for powerful descriptions of people.

For instance, here’s how William Kent Krueger typifies an FBI agent in “Boundary Waters:”

How powerful is that comparison to a pit bull! In only 11 words, Krueger gives us a picture of an aggressive guy who’s persistent, too.

It made me wonder, if I were a dog, what dog would I be?

Here’s a longer example by the same author, from “Iron Lake:”

Why is this description powerful? Because the author focuses on one aspect of the person and he gives specific examples. The description is visual, so we can picture this guy sparking fires, tying knots and shooting arrows.

The description may be a little long, but you can cut it easily by 50% and still make a strong first impression.

Here’s a shorter character description from “Force of Nature” by Jane Harper:

Three specific details (jogging, yoga, deep-conditioning her hair) help us visualize Breanne, and we can imagine how she glows even in the unflattering office light.

And here’s one last example, from “The Keeper of Lost Things” by Ruth Hogan:

Again, three specific details express a lot: Prozac, Pinot Grigio, and pretending things weren’t happening. The words even alliterate for extra flair.

When you focus on one character trait or skill, you make a strong first impression and you invite readers to learn more. In contrast, if you try to say too much too quickly, a description of a person falls flat and nobody gets a feel of who they really are.

Choose what to tell in your professional bio

Of course, the fiction examples above are different—you wouldn’t write about Prozac in a professional bio.

But the principles of what makes a good bio remain the same. Choose what to tell and, even more importantly, what to leave out. You can’t cram your whole resume into one sentence. You have to be ruthless.

Twitter bios, for instance, are so short, you can only communicate one or two things. That’s it.

The Twitter bio of Unbounce’s Twitter bio explains what their software can do for you plus invites you to try it for free:

Casa Collective’ s bio is similar:

If you Tweet as a person rather than a company, I like bios that show personality, like this one from Haemin Sunim :

Or this bio from John Espirian :

Or this bio from Kitty Kilian is one of my favorites (the original is in Dutch, I’ve translated it):

A Twitter bio is super short, and you can only make a strong impression if you choose carefully what to write.

The 3-step professional bio

If you have three sentences, for instance for an author bio, then you can say a little more. But be careful, the same rule applies as with the one-sentence Twitter bio. Keep it short to make a strong first impression.

For a three-sentence bio, consider these three objectives:

  • Tell readers who you are and what you do
  • Reveal a glimpse of your personality
  • Encourage readers to find out more

For instance, my author bio is:

In three sentences, I explain what I do (writing), what I’m passionate about (stamping out gobbledygook), and I invite you to join my course so you can learn how to write more persuasively.

Jessica Blanchard’s bio follows a similar pattern:

And Ry Schwartz’ bio:

Ry’s call to action isn’t very strong, but “More reclusive than J D Salinger on a rainy day” is a superb way to sketch a personality in a few words.

How to write a short professional bio

Want to make a big impression with only a few words?

Communicate less instead of more:

  • Start with answering the question “What do you do for your clients?” or even better, finish this sentence suggestion from Mark Schaefer : “Only I …”
  • Think about an adjective describing you well; Ry Schwartz uses “reclusive,” John Espirian uses “relentlessly helpful” and I use “irreverent” to present a quick glimpse of who we are
  • Consider a metaphor to communicate more with fewer words, such as the “pit bull” or “delicate as a hand grenade”
  • If you have space, have a clear call to action

In short, communicate what makes you different, and tell clients what you can do for them.

Because a professional bio is not only about you.

It’s about your clients, too.

Books mentioned in this post:

how to write a short biography for work

Recommended reading on writing about yourself:

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Reader Interactions

Leave a comment and join the conversation cancel reply.

how to write a short biography for work

October 31, 2022 at 6:47 am

I love the way you gave perspective from books you read. Very relative and helpful. You keep giving me hope. Thanks.

how to write a short biography for work

October 31, 2022 at 11:56 am

Thank you, Andrea. Happy writing!

how to write a short biography for work

April 12, 2022 at 4:47 pm

Thank you! You helped me make mince-meat out of a project I always dread – writing about myself. I did a quick search for “how-to write a short bio” and found my favorite writing coach.

April 12, 2022 at 4:52 pm

Wow. So, great when Google delivers exactly what you need 🙂

And thank you also for your lovely compliment, Amy.

how to write a short biography for work

April 28, 2021 at 6:50 am

Yet another comment, after reading close to a couple of your blogs. l was asked for a CV today.

Definitely l had to make a search. These days whether its something about writing or not, l first input the search topic with Enchanting marketing.

Sometimes , l don’t really get anything but when l do like today, l get so thrilled like a 5 yr old with a favourite toy.

Let me stop gaping at your writing talent and get on with this CV. Thank you & Cheers Henneke.

April 28, 2021 at 3:14 pm

Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Emily. I’m happy to read that Enchanting Marketing has become your #1 source for writing advice. Good luck with your CV!

how to write a short biography for work

April 18, 2021 at 2:34 am

I just landed a new job and it asked or a bio. Google search presented me this page. What an inspiration… I am awestruck with all the wisdom in such a simple article, yet as mentioned in several of the conversations below, writing something in a couple of sentences is far from easy. I admire your patience in responding to every individual comments. I have to get to work in crafting something, which is creative and succinct.

April 18, 2021 at 2:40 pm

I’d say clarity is more important for a bio than being creative. Being creative is a bonus but not a requirement. Have fun!

how to write a short biography for work

September 17, 2020 at 4:17 pm

Thanks so kindly, Henneke. This is quite helpful. How does this sound? …a necessity entrepreneur, an avid supporter of women entrepreneurs, helping small business owners fall in love with their business.

September 17, 2020 at 6:38 pm

I don’t know what a necessity entrepreneur is. But maybe your potential clients know what it means? That’s more important than that I understand it.

Also, it’s unclear whether you help women entrepreneurs or all small business owners. Better to focus on one option instead of risking confusion.

how to write a short biography for work

May 23, 2020 at 2:17 pm

If you are guest posting, and the host allows for a much larger word count, do you include more information about yourself? Or do you include more about your results? Or maybe 50/50? Or do you keep with the short version and resist the temptation to change it any? I’ve revisited all mine and realize how many I’ve written, each one different. I did not even notice until now, so thanks for that! Also, I totally missed this post when it first came out and I love the tulips! 🙂

May 25, 2020 at 5:54 pm

I’m glad you enjoyed the tulips!

The bio I used for guest posts is the one I’ve quoted above—it’s relatively short: Henneke Duistermaat is an irreverent writer on a mission to stamp out gobbledygook. Get your free 16-Part Snackable Writing Course for Busy People and learn how to enchant your readers and win more business.

Even if the host allowed a longer word count, I haven’t made the bio longer because I was always afraid people might lose interest. Also, they’ve already read a whole blog post so I’ve already built up some credibility with the advice shared in the blog post. But this is not something I’ve tested. It’s mainly based on gut feeling.

May 26, 2020 at 2:20 pm

Thanks! I think you’re right!

how to write a short biography for work

January 24, 2020 at 7:46 am

Am still kind of confused but am sure I will get the hang of it. And thanks a lot.

January 24, 2020 at 10:54 am

What are you confused about?

how to write a short biography for work

January 9, 2020 at 1:28 am

Wow! I stumbled upon this article and you have successfully provided the unique kind of ideas I was looking for : ) Thank you Henneke

January 9, 2020 at 7:17 pm

Great 🙂 That makes me happy. Have fun writing your bio!

how to write a short biography for work

November 29, 2019 at 5:40 am

Oh my goodness! marvellous bio! Thanks.

Thank you so much, Henneke.

November 29, 2019 at 10:02 am

Thank you, Abhinav. Happy writing!

how to write a short biography for work

November 12, 2019 at 3:01 pm

You play a dangerous game when you automatically assume the author who used the pit bull reference intended to self describe as aggressive. Pit bulls are smart, loyal, and most of all affectionate. People like you spread bullshit and add fuel to the stereotype of pit bulls being aggressive. I highly suggest you educate yourself before making a blanket statement about an entire breed of animal. Do better.

November 13, 2019 at 12:24 pm

The example you refer to is from the book Boundary Waters, a thriller, in which the author describes one of the characters as a pit bull. He’s an FBI agent who comes as aggressive in the remainder of the book—a fighter.

how to write a short biography for work

April 2, 2019 at 8:06 pm

Hey, Henneke

Really amazing content. You’re right a bio define a person and about their profession. So, it’s really important to write an awesome bio.

I will surely use your tips to write a bio of my social media accounts.

how to write a short biography for work

March 11, 2019 at 4:15 am

Marketer ExtraOrdinaire, like a stick of dynamite, I blow up old ways of doing things, bringing fresh ideas. The pink bunny can’t keep up with me.

how to write a short biography for work

September 13, 2018 at 2:21 pm

Indeed, First impression last. Making an impressive bio needs to convey both professional status and personality in just one or two sentences which creates a great impact to the clients. I sometimes say or write too much and with no idea where I was going or how to make the points I wanted to make. It felt like I was writing in circles, as a result, I was saying nothing. Now I know what to do. Great tips, Henneke.

September 16, 2018 at 1:10 pm

I sometimes write in circles, too, as I don’t always know exactly what I want to say. The writing (even when it seems to lack purpose at first) somehow brings clarity.

Thank you for stopping by to leave a comment, Rebecca 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

September 4, 2018 at 11:12 am

September 4, 2018 at 11:33 am

My pleasure 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

September 1, 2018 at 10:08 am

I like this. Always playing around with my Short bio for social platforms. What do you think of my twitter bio? @davidgcant Could be improved? Give it your best shot..

A risk savvy health and safety consultant extraordinaire. Cuts through the red tape (with a safety blade of course).

September 2, 2018 at 10:09 am

I like it! I’d be tempted to shorten it a little: A health and safety consultant who cuts through the red tape (with a safety blade of course).

(To me the phrase “risk savvy” doesn’t add a lot as it feels kind of obvious that a health and safety consultant would be risk savvy; that’s what the job is about.)

September 2, 2018 at 4:04 pm

That reads much better. I was thinking of replacing risk savvy with refreshingly practical. What do you think? Or is that too much?

September 2, 2018 at 7:06 pm

The idea of cutting through the red tape already indicates that you’re a practical person rather than a rigid you-must-follow-the-health-and-safety-bible type of person. So, I’d say adding “refreshingly practical” doesn’t really add anything new as you’re already telling me you’re practical—you understand client’s objections to health and safety, plus you have a sense of humor.

how to write a short biography for work

August 30, 2018 at 11:44 pm

Succinct and thereby excellent, Henneke. Have to say that I’ve read words of many copywriters down through the years – some good, some not so, even if near-legendary. In my view your writing surpasses most. Please keep it up because I’ve learned more from your posts than I have from anyone else’s. Thanks.

August 31, 2018 at 6:27 pm

Thank you for your lovely compliment, Paul. I appreciate it! 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

August 25, 2018 at 5:37 am

Helpful post, as always, but I really just wanted to say I love that drawing of Henrietta with the tulips, on a grey cold day like this it warms the brain. Not that I can complain about the greyness, NSW where I live is 100% in drought. I hope the clouds are not just teasing. Best wishes.

August 26, 2018 at 6:09 pm

Thank you for your lovely compliment on my drawing, Susan. That means a lot to me! I hope the rain will soon ease the drought.

how to write a short biography for work

August 22, 2018 at 11:16 pm

Hi Henneke, Thank you for a great article. I remember when I first came across your website (last year, I think), I was impressed with your bio and made a note to myself to use that as inspiration for mine. Of course that mental note was long forgotten! This time I’ve already made a first attempt for my social media profiles. I’ve been a longtime lurker, this is my first comment and is well overdue. Thank you, I can hands down say I learn and apply something useful from each of your articles.

August 23, 2018 at 9:27 pm

That is a lovely compliment. Thank you so much, Sonna.

My own default position is also as a lurker. I appreciate you stepped out of the shadows to leave a comment. Have fun with writing your bio! 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

August 22, 2018 at 5:19 pm

Insightful and incisive Love the bonus recommended reading 😉

August 22, 2018 at 5:59 pm

Thank you, Hendel. I started adding the bonus reading recommendations recently as I was asked so often 😉

how to write a short biography for work

August 22, 2018 at 9:54 pm

Henneke: Few weeks back, I came across your blog and book.. I not only like the content and but also the presentation style… I really enjoyed reading this article and response to the many comments. I drafted by first short Bio.. could you please review.

Chandra is a Meditation teacher who conducts group meditation sessions in-person and on-line. Her Smile and her energy is contagious. Her mission is to encourage many human beings e discover their SacredSpace with in them through powerful meditations. To know more about her journey visiti https://cvelpula.wixsite.com/mysite/blog/journey-of-discover-sacredspace-within-you

August 23, 2018 at 9:05 pm

I’m glad you enjoyed this blog post, Chandra.

Great start on your bio! You may want to consider tightening it a little as you use the phrase “meditation” three times which is usually a sign that you can make it more concise. Also, what is the ultimate aim of your clients? Do they want to discover their SacredSpace or is their a deeper purpose? This depends on who you’re targeting.

how to write a short biography for work

August 22, 2018 at 4:07 pm

Henneke, this was very helpful. I always have trouble writing shorter than longer. Thanks.

August 22, 2018 at 4:19 pm

I find it hard, too. And it takes more time than writing longer!

Thank you for stopping by, Anita. It’s always good to see you 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

August 22, 2018 at 11:38 am

Now this is powerful stuff Henneke and thanks to Lisa for sharing.

My bio is not more than 2 sentences but this post just gives me a lot of meat.

I hope you are having a great week

August 22, 2018 at 1:46 pm

I’m glad you found it useful, Enstine! Thank you for stopping by.

how to write a short biography for work

August 22, 2018 at 11:12 am

Hi Henneke – I hadn’t thought about writing my bio until I read your article. I’ll certainly follow your excellent advice when the time comes. All the best from sunny Sydney

I hope you’ll have fun writing your bio, Paul!

Still cloudy here 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

August 22, 2018 at 1:43 am

Ooh! Henneke, I love this post. And who is Henrietta’s new friend? (or did I miss a post?) I love these smart, smooth, silky, bio’s and would love to add my own. I dream♡ This is my first attempt. Your comments would be sooooo valued. Thanks for all your gorgeous posts Henneke.

Like Columbo shelling his morning egg Joan reveals you to yourself; then helps you delete what no longer serves you and install what does. Joan is an NLP Master Practitioner and Professional Coach working with coaches and service professionals. …… this would be followed with a short CTA

August 22, 2018 at 1:43 pm

Henrietta’s puppy is called Arthur. He’s been around for ages, but often I’m too lazy to draw him! 🙂

You can probably take one step further with your bio, by defining the real benefit of what you do. You can find the real benefit by finishing the sentence: she helps you delete what no longer serves you and install what does, so ….. What is it your clients really want to achieve?

August 23, 2018 at 2:20 am

Thanks, Henneke, that helps. I did add that initially but thought it made it too long – I wrote – “so that you can make a difference and make money as you grow your Lifestyle-Biz.”

I’ll keep playing with it. Now I’m thinking the Columbo piece sounds a bit ‘cheesy’.

August 23, 2018 at 9:33 pm

I’m not sure the Columbo reference adds a lot. I do like the phrase “reveal you to yourself.” I also like “make money as you grow your Lifestyle-Biz” as it’s a true benefit and it’s also specific to your audience. “Making a difference” is a little abstract. So, I’d be tempted to leave that out, or to make it more specific (but that might make it even longer).

how to write a short biography for work

August 23, 2018 at 11:26 pm

Terrific, just leave that Columbo piece out. I’ll play with the rest of it. Thanks for the extra input Henneke. ♡

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 11:28 pm

The short takes are never easy. How to sum up Hetty in 3 sentenceso ha! So…. Easy going until taken for granted. Lover of stationery, determined to be a success in business. Express your thoughts in our Ankara Fabric Covered Notebooks

August 22, 2018 at 1:41 pm

Great start on your bio, Hetty. It makes me wonder what’s special about your notebooks and why are you passionate about them?

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 6:14 pm

Brilliant and enchanting as usual! Thanks for confirming how difficult it can be to engagingly summarize one’s life in two sentences. I get to put a short bio on most of the articles I write for magazines and I am so disappointed in the various versions I have come up with over the years. Now I see why, I conveniently left out my real personality. Shoot.

August 21, 2018 at 8:58 pm

Don’t beat yourself up over it, Thea. Most people leave their personality out of their bios. It IS a tough challenge.

Thank you for your lovely comment. I appreciate it! 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 5:33 pm

To be honest, I skimmed your initial email the first time and, because my day is the usual crazy, didn’t click through initially. But I’m so glad I made the time to do it now. This was an absolutely genius post—and the examples were outstanding! I’ve added a note to do some brainstorming on my bio next week. As always, thank you for the inspiration and the easily digestible and actionable advice!

August 21, 2018 at 8:56 pm

You know, it really humbles me when you make time on a crazy busy day to not only read my post but also leave a comment. You’re a star. Thank you 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 4:41 pm

Thank you for the valuable insights.

August 21, 2018 at 4:47 pm

Thank you, Mohsin. Was there anything in particular you found valuable?

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 3:43 pm

Hi Henneke:

For me the fight to find the perfect bio is unending…seems like I’m forever tweaking. Also, in my constant state of evolving (or is it experimenting?) I’ve taken to changing my bio for different places I publish! Oh Henneke, why can’t I just do one perfect one like you and it’s everywhere!!! Geez. P.S. But, don’t forget you need to add “illustrator” to yours!!! Bi Oh My!! Take care, Sue-Ann

August 21, 2018 at 4:43 pm

I don’t have one perfect bio either. I don’t think the perfect bio exist. Unless you’re Andy Murray whose Twitter bio simply says: “I play tennis.” How brilliant is that? Unfortunately, that doesn’t work for mere mortals like you and me.

And you see … you already mention “illustrator,” but somehow it didn’t feel right. Also, I have a different bio on Instagram because I mainly share my drawings there. My Insta bio is: I play with words and colored pencils.

Perfection doesn’t exist. Experimentation is what life is about, isn’t it?

how to write a short biography for work

August 22, 2018 at 8:34 am

Ha ha! I always laugh at Murray’s twitter bio as it’s so deceptively simple yet at the same time understated. I like how he doesn’t feel the need to list out all his achievements. By the way, I missed my flight home from NYC in 2012 to see him win the US Open, which was amazing.

Anyway, back on topic, trying to do a short About section for my new “personal branding photography” landing page. Trying to work in something like my “hobbit-like stature and tenacity”, along with being eco-friendly and helping businesses save time by creating images for their online content. It’s still a work in progress.

August 22, 2018 at 1:45 pm

Murray’s bio is brilliant. I love how understated it is. And lucky you for seeing him play (and win!) live!

I like “hobbit-like tenacity” 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 3:02 pm

Thanks, Henneke. I’m honoured to get a mention here – much appreciated!

I hate it when all those letters, spaces and punctuation marks don’t amount to anything meaningful.

August 21, 2018 at 4:51 pm

It was rather demotivating to read through all those Twitter bios!

Thank you for stopping by, John.

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 2:33 pm

Great post and I loved the examples you gave.

I find writing bios very hard. I have this instinct to look at what others in my field are writing and try to find something that would work for me. It’s insane! I know it’s wrong, I know it’s useless and yet, I’m attracted to it.

What’s with the copycatting? I have a strong identity, I know what I want and who I am. Why does it all go to smoke when writing things like bios on social media?

I’m going to get to work in a dark room with no phones or internet and write away. Well, scratch the dark room part. You know what I mean. 😀

August 21, 2018 at 4:38 pm

I think most of us look at what others in our niche are doing, and there’s nothing wrong with trying to learn from others. I’ve found it’s often easier to look outside our own niche for inspiration.

And out of all the different writing tasks, writing a bio is probably one of the most difficult. Play for a while, then let it simmer for a while, and then play a little more. Have fun!

Thank you for stopping by, Elfin!

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 2:16 pm

You’re inspired me! Awesome post – and glad you said it took weeks to come up with your bio. These examples make it look easy.

August 21, 2018 at 4:36 pm

Writing so often looks easy, but we don’t see how much effort has gone into it. For me, the biggest challenge was to decide what I wanted to say. I was just starting out and I hadn’t figured out my positioning yet.

Thank you for stopping by, Cathy. I appreciate it 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 2:08 pm

Great advice Henneke! I took notes and will check out some of your examples!

August 21, 2018 at 4:34 pm

Yay! Happy bio writing, Kim 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 1:59 pm

Hi Henneke,

Thank you for this post. It came just in time as I am currently trying to re-do my website about page and social profiles.

Here’s what I came up with after reading your post. What do you think? Storytelling is my superpower, so I thought to highlight that. So how’s this for a try:

Enamored with writing. I spin engaging stories about your brand so your clients don’t have to shop elsewhere. Just call me your Fairy Wordmother.

August 21, 2018 at 4:45 pm

I’m glad this post came at the right time, Zika 🙂

Using a positive is often stronger rather than a negative. So, for instance, instead of “so your clients don’t have to shop elsewhere,” you could have: “so your clients fall in love with your brand.”

August 21, 2018 at 4:57 pm

Thank you so so much, Henneke.

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 1:38 pm

I read your post not for my own bio actually but because I need help writing one and two sentence introductions for 40 – 50 historical puzzle pages. And it works for that! Where yesterday I was plodding through it like an elephant in quick sand this morning I’m inspired to have more fun with my project. Especially love the suggestion to use metaphors. That would make a whole blog on its own. Maybe you already have?

August 21, 2018 at 4:33 pm

Yay! I’m so glad you feel inspired, Patty 🙂

I wrote about metaphors here and here . But I could probably write another one 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 1:37 pm

Brilliant and not boring bios. That draw you in.

Excellent article Henneke.

August 21, 2018 at 4:31 pm

Thank you, Ray. I appreciate your comment 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 1:26 pm

I’ve rewritten my Twitter bio using this post as inspiration! It originally said;

#Blogger & #copywriter for #software & #tech (esp #IoT). Loves #design, productivity & mindfulness. Newcastle upon Tyne. Ravenclaw. INTP. Chocoholic.

I was clearly so very guilty of trying to say as much as possible in a short space of time. Now it says this;

Chocoholic copywriter LJ enjoys making tech sound fun, not scary. She’s also as subtle as a sledgehammer and wants to help startups build brilliant blogs. Start here; http://eepurl.com/cS8g99

My dad is the one who describes me as being as subtle as a sledgehammer 😉

I love the changes you’ve made! 🙂

I wonder whether you can connect “subtle as a sledgehammer” somehow to building blogs. Something like: Subtle as a sledgehammer, she helps startups build blogs that rip through online noise. Maybe not quite, but it’d be great if you could show the advantage of being like a sledgehammer 🙂

What do you think?

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 1:23 pm

One of your best Henneke!

I’ve long felt the same about “elevator speeches” — the reason they don’t work is we try to jam too much information into what should be a single thought-provoking nugget.

August 21, 2018 at 4:27 pm

Yep, I agree with you. The idea of elevator speeches makes me roll my eyes. But that’s silly because a good elevator speech is fab. As you say, you need just one thought-provoking nugget, something to connect with your audience.

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 1:16 pm

Great tips and examples Henneke!! It’s awesome to see examples that are different from the norm. Love the visuals.

You’ve inspired me to improve my byline. What do you reckon?

Cynthia is a copywriter powered by chai lattes, rockclimbing, and remedial massages. She’s on a mission to draw out personable, reputable, small health and fitness businesses from the shadows. Grab her free guide on how to sound intelligent by writing in plain English.

August 21, 2018 at 4:25 pm

I like it. You can probably still improve the second sentence a little more. Try to find a stronger phrase than “draw out from the shadows”—something that sounds more positive, and reduce the number of adjectives as “personable, reputable, small health and fitness businesses” is quite a mouthful.

I love the idea of a free guide on sounding more intelligent 🙂

September 11, 2018 at 5:38 am

Thanks for the feedback. I find it tough to keep it simple sometimes! 🙂

How about this version? Cynthia is a copywriter powered by chai lattes, rockclimbing, and remedial massages. She’s on a mission to help small health and fitness businesses connect with clients through writing that sticks in their reader’s minds. Grab her free guide on how to sound intelligent by writing in plain English.

September 12, 2018 at 2:09 pm

Yes, I like it. If you like, you can consider making your mission more specific to your audience. For instance: help small health and fitness businesses inspire their clients to lead a more healthy lifestyle.

August 22, 2018 at 1:53 am

I like it! And Henneke’s suggestions.

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 12:27 pm

Hi Henneke, Another great of your posts here. The goal of every writer is to have their target audience read through to the last word. That said, it is genius to be artistic if a writer has to stand out of the crowd. This is where you have touched best ~ Use of a BIO ~ and a captivating bio for that matter. Most of the time readers will look at the bio of an author before they could dedicate their time to read the author’s article. You nailed it as always. I always read your articles to enrich my knowledge Keep doing what you do BEST 🙂

August 21, 2018 at 12:43 pm

Thank you for your lovely comment, Tony. A dash of creativity can definitely make a bio more captivating.

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 12:23 pm

‘More reclusive than J D Salinger on a rainy day,’ >> yes! Jealous of that.

And thanks for including me 😉 Interesting that the second sentence translates from 6 words in Dutch to 11 in English – usually it’s the other way round.

August 21, 2018 at 12:42 pm

Yes, I found it also weird that I ended up with more words. I somehow couldn’t make it shorter and it doesn’t feel as good as the Dutch version (probably because that one is shorter).

I love “delicate as a hand grenade,” too! 🙂

how to write a short biography for work

August 21, 2018 at 12:18 pm

Henneke, I love this one: “Because a professional bio is not only about you. It’s about your clients, too.” We have to think more like our own client to help us create a catchy bio that will work and answer “what’s in it for me?” Thanks for the info and the great examples here Henneke. I’ll be playing around with mine in the coming days.

August 21, 2018 at 12:40 pm

“Playing around” is a good phrase for writing a bio!

I can’t remember how long I played around with mine, but it was weeks rather than days (and writing this post makes me wonder whether I have to revisit my Twitter bio again!).

Happy playing, Lisa, and thank you for stopping by.

how to write a short biography for work

August 22, 2018 at 10:48 am

Oh yes, I try to update my Twitter bio every month or so. Things change, you know? You are most welcome. Love your mugs by the way as I’ve seen them via Sue-Ann.

how to write a short biography for work

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how to write a short biography for work

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How to write a short professional bio (with examples)

  • Best Practices

You know exactly how to curate your personal social media accounts: posting about the succulents you got at the farmer’s market, last night’s five-star street tacos and outings with friends and family. 

Your social media bio probably sums up your personality with a quippy one-liner and a well-placed emoji or two. Maybe your personal bio even mentions your profession. But when it comes time to write a work-focused bio, it’s easy to feel stuck. 

Whether you’re an up-and-coming performing artist, the face of your company’s sales department or the city’s newest Mexican food truck proprietor, your career aspirations will likely benefit from learning how to show the world your professional side. 

Our crash course on how to write a bio for work will help clear your writer’s block and show you why social media is essential to your professional pursuits – especially for entrepreneurs. Save the Britney Spears lyrics for your personal account: it’s time to learn how to showcase your professionalism in a social media bio . 

Leveraging social media in the business world

Social media isn’t just about having fun. Work requires you to be social too. LinkedIn may be the go-to professional social network, but platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook are also valuable for networking, marketing and recruiting. 

Whether you’re looking for a new job or launching your first company, do a holistic assessment of your professional presence on social media. If you don’t think your personal account is professional enough for a future employer to see, set this account to private and create a new one that’s more focused on your work. If you’re a performing artist, include audio or video clips. If you’re a graphic designer, think of your social media profiles as portfolios. 

Potential employers from all over the world can find your public social media profile. If you’re actively searching for a job, recruiters or HR departments may take a peek at all your accounts – not just LinkedIn. So set yourself up for success with a professional profile picture and articulate bio to prove you’re someone they’ll want to work with. 

@linktr.ee Will you be using creator portfolios on Instagram? 👀 #contentcreators #contentcreatortips #instagramupdate #instagramstrategy #brandcollabs #instagramgrowth #socialmediatips ♬ original sound - Linktree

Key elements of a professional bio

Before we demonstrate how to write a professional description , let’s explore what your bio should include. Understanding the most critical elements will enable you to make the most of this space – even if you’re working within tight character limits. Here’s what a solid professional bio should include:

  • Areas of expertise: You’re in marketing, but what sets your work apart? Tell us about your specialized skills as a content marketer, for example, and get as specific as possible. Include your job title, years of experience, degrees, majors, and concentrations.
  • Where you work: If you’re not actively looking for a job, include the name of your current work in your bio . Flex a little to let followers know you work for a renowned or innovative company. If you’re an entrepreneur, including the name of your business is a must.
  • Links: Bios don’t give you much real estate to work with, but you can maximize the space by including a link to your personal website, podcast, or portfolio. If you have multiple sites to send visitors to, consolidate them into a Linktree URL .
  • What drives you: Let the reader know why you’re in this line of work. If you’ve just started your food truck, tell the audience in just a few words why you did so. You can also add descriptors about how you work, which will help readers know what sets your skills apart.

how to write a short biography for work

Get inspired with professional bio examples

Now comes the hard part: writing a bio that fits within each social media platform’s unique character limit. 

Below are three examples for platforms such as LinkedIn, where writing about yourself in the third person is the norm. We’ll also show you how you might modify what you write for your LinkedIn profile to fit within the character counts imposed on Instagram and Twitter bios. You’ll notice the perspective shift to first person for sites such as Instagram. 

If you’re drawing a blank, try using one of our examples as a professional bio template , switching out key details to make it your own. 

The creative 

LinkedIn: Gabriela Smith is an award-winning novelist whose works have been translated into several languages, with novel excerpts appearing in prestigious international literary magazines. The recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and three artist residencies, Gabriela received her Bachelor of Arts from Yale in 2012 and has since been transforming her family history into experimental texts. 

Instagram: Novelist, storyteller, Guggenheim Fellow. Yale 2012.  

The non-profit employee 

LinkedIn: John Lee works hard to bring better educational and extracurricular opportunities to children in his community. He received his Doctorate in Education from Northeastern. John’s specialized knowledge in nutrition in educational spaces led him to co-found a wellness organization in his hometown of New York City.  

Instagram: Educator, dreamer, non-profit founder. Northeastern ‘06. Community is everything. 

LinkedIn: Alex Foster received an MBA from Harvard in 2008 and founded a tech startup dedicated to helping cities implement cleaner mass transportation solutions. He spends his free time writing blogs and op-eds about future-forward energy solutions. Read his latest piece at the following link. [Linktree URL]

Instagram: Humanitarian CEO and blogger working for a better future. Harvard MBA 2008. Check out my projects here [Linktree URL]. 

Tips for creating a professional profile on social media

You’ve read our bio examples and penned one of your own. All that’s left is posting it to your account. But before you take it public, give your profile a quick review to ensure it’s ready for recruiters, potential clients and investors – you never get a second chance at a first impression. Here are a few last-minute tips for polishing your professional social media presence:   

  • Make sure all your posts align with the values of the companies you’d like to work for or the organizations you’re involved with. 
  • Don’t archive posts that showcase your personality. Just make sure they’re safe for work. 
  • Include a work-related hashtag in your bio that could help an employer find you in a search. 
  • Make sure your account is public. 
  • If you have a separate business account, include contact information so potential clients or employers can reach out. 

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5 Inspiring Short Bio Examples + How to Write a Professional Bio

POSTED ON Nov 23, 2023

Shannon Clark

Written by Shannon Clark

Are you a business owner who wants to share your expertise but is unsure of how to stand out in a crowded marketplace? Maybe you want to write a book or create a course but there’s still the matter of convincing people of why they should trust you. This is where a professional bio comes in.

When you are building a personal brand, every word you use matters. In this article, we’ll break down the parts of a professional bio, walk through the steps of creating one, and share some short bio examples. 

New Call-To-Action

This guide for writing a professional bio includes:

What is a professional bio.

Your professional bio is a short, curated snapshot of your education, accomplishments, and career highlights. Similar to an author bio , it gives background information on why you are qualified to do what you do, but unlike an author bio that focuses only on a book, a professional bio is a broader take on who you are as a business owner and your brand.

The best professional bios are streamlined, highly focused, and targeted to your audience. They condense all of your years of experience and knowledge into a bite-sized snippet that you can share across various mass media outlets like your website, podcasts, social media, television interviews, and speaking engagements .

Creating a short bio that resonates with readers and doesn’t sound like a boring list of accomplishments may sound like a tall order, but it’s doable with the right template. 

How do you write a professional bio?

The challenge that many career professionals face when trying to write a short bio is that there’s so much information to sift through. What do you include? What do you leave out? When do you use generalities? When do you get specific?

Here are some basic steps for writing a professional bio. 

Gather the necessary information. Prewriting is a great way to pull everything together.

  • Start with your personal brand. Think specifically about your current offer and the products and services that you sell. Write those down.
  • Define your audience. As a business owner, you likely have an avatar or multiple avatars (marketing personas) of your ideal customer. Before writing your professional bio, you’ll need to know who will be reading it.
  • Know your why. Where are you in your career currently? Why is now the time to define your personal brand? Knowing this will help you develop the tone for your professional bio. You don’t want your bio to be static and boring. You want it to have personality, and knowing your why will help you create an engaging one.

In this article, we’re focusing on short bios, and one of the best ways to get to a short bio is to start with a longer one. It’s easier to subtract from a short one than to try to make a short bio longer. You’ll need different bio lengths for different purposes, and starting with the longest and narrowing it down to the shortest will help make the process more efficient.

Here’s how to build your main bio.

There are several ways to write a professional bio, but one of the easiest is to use the 5-paragraph structure that's common in personal essays: introduction, body, and conclusion. 

Writing it in the third person is standard and often viewed as more formal and professional, but some opt for the first person which has a more casual feel. 

  • Introduction (1 paragraph) – This opening paragraph sets the stage for the rest of the bio. You can start from your childhood if it’s relevant or whatever point on the timeline when your career focus began to take shape. Some even begin with their current title and position and move on from there. Wherever you start, you want this paragraph to catch everyone up to where you are now so you can tell them where you’re going.
  • Body (3 paragraphs) – Your body paragraphs are where you “flesh out” your history. It’s your story. This is where you talk about your education, your accomplishments, and the whys that motivate you to do what you do.
  • Conclusion (1 paragraph) – This is where you tell your reader where you are going—your vision for your brand and the people that you serve. 

Once you’ve written your full bio (up to 400 words, give or take), you’ll want to cut it to about 200 words to create the shorter version. This is where you go from specifics to generalities. For example, in a longer bio, you might mention the subject of your dissertation as it relates to your current career path, but in the shorter bio, it would suffice to say you received a Ph.D. and from where. 

5 short bio examples

Below I’ve shared 5 short bio examples from business owners who've put in the work to create outstanding personal brands. Some are solopreneurs whose personal and company brands are the same, while others head up large companies and have chosen to separate their personal brand from the company's. 

The first example from Whitney Johnson, the CEO and co-founder of Disruption Advisors shows her full bio (pulled from her LinkedIn profile). Underneath you’ll find the shortened version she displays on her website. I found even shorter versions on her YouTube and Twitter (X) pages. This is a good example of how to take a longer bio and shorten it.

1. Whitney Johnson

Area of expertise or Industry: Leadership training

Products / Services: Coaching, public speaking, books, workshops

Short Bio Examples - Whitney Johnson

Full bio ( source )

Word count – 372

Whitney Johnson is the CEO of Disruption Advisors (thedisruptionadvisors.com), a leadership development company, helping you grow your people to grow your business.

A Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Amazon bestselling author, Whitney was named by Thinkers50 as one of the ten leading business thinkers in the world (2021). She is a world class keynote speaker and a popular lecturer for Harvard Business Publishing’s Corporate Learning. She has 1.7 million followers on LinkedIn where she was selected as a Top Voice in 2020. Her course on Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship has been viewed more than one million times, and her LinkedIn Lives have more than 1 million cumulative views. In 2017, she was selected from more than 17,000 candidates for the initial cohort of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches, and was named as the #1 Talent Coach.

Johnson is a frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review, as well as the author of the WSJ bestselling Smart Growth, Build an A Team, a Financial Times Book of the Month, and the critically acclaimed Disrupt Yourself. In these books, she codifies the S Curve of Learning and the Seven Accelerants of Personal Disruption, both of which operationalize disruption theory by applying it to the individual. Integral to her work is the weekly Disrupt Yourself Podcast which has millions of downloads. Guests have included Brené Brown, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Stephen M.R. Covey.

Johnson was the cofounder of the Disruptive Innovation Fund with Harvard Business School’s Clayton Christensen, through which they invested in and led the $8 million seed round for South Korea’s Coupang, currently valued at more than $25 billion. She was involved in fund formation, capital raising and the development of the fund’s strategy.

A former award-winning Wall Street stock analyst, Johnson applies her understanding of momentum and growth in stocks to people. She was an Institutional Investor–ranked equity research analyst for eight consecutive years, rated by Starmine as a superior stock-picker. As an equity analyst, stocks under coverage included America Movil (NYSE: AMX), Televisa (NYSE: TV) and Telmex (NYSE: TMX), which accounted for roughly 40% of Mexico's market capitalization.

She is married, has two children, and lives in Lexington, Virginia, where her family grows strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries and enjoys making jam.

Short bio (source)

Word count – 188

Whitney Johnson , CEO and Co-Founder of Disruption Advisors, is a world-class coach globally recognized thought leader, author, keynote speaker, and consultant helping organizations operationalize a high-growth mindset in their leaders and teams. 

Whitney is the WSJ, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author of Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company (Harvard Business Press, 2022). She shares her passion for personal disruption, helping individuals transform their lives, careers, teams, and companies through her keynote addresses; her popular podcast Disrupt Yourself; lectures at Harvard Business School’s Corporate Learning; the award-winning books How to Build an A Team , Disrupt Yourself , and Dare, Dream, D o; and frequent article contributions to the Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review.

Whitney is ranked a top talent coach by Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the top 10 leading business thinkers in the world, and named Inc.’s 200 Female Founders of 2023. She is co-founder of the Disruptive Innovation Fund with Clayton Christensen, and a former award-winning stock analyst on Wall Street, Whitney Johnson now applies her understanding of momentum and growth in stocks to people.

2. Tiffany Dufu

Area of expertise or industry: Peer coaching

Products / Services: books, public speaking

Short Bio Examples - Tiffany Dufu

Short Bio ( source )

Word count: 203

Tiffany Dufu is founder of The Cru, a peer-coaching tech company acquired by Luminary in 2023. Their algorithm matches circles of women who collaborate to meet their personal and professional goals. She’s also the author of the bestselling book Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less. According to foreword contributor Gloria Steinem, Drop the Ball is “important, path-breaking, intimate and brave.”

Named to Entrepreneur's 100 Powerful Women and Fast Company’s League of Extraordinary Women, Tiffany has raised nearly $20 million toward the cause of women and girls. She is a frequent speaker on women’s leadership and has presented at Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Women Summit, MAKERS and TEDWomen. She was a launch team member to Lean In and was Chief Leadership Officer to Levo, one of the fastest growing millennial professional networks. Prior to that, Tiffany served as President of The White House Project, as a Major Gifts Officer at Simmons University, and as Associate Director of Development at Seattle Girls’ School.

Tiffany is a member of Women’s Forum New York, Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. and is a Lifetime Girl Scout. She serves on the board of Simmons University and lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

3. Chris Do

Area of expertise or industry: Brand design

Products / Services: public speaking, courses, workshops

Short Bio Examples - Chris Do

Word count: 123

First-person example

As the Founder and CEO of The Futur, I have over 27 years of experience in brand design, strategy, and consultancy, working with clients such as Microsoft, Sony, Nike, and Starbucks. I am passionate about helping people realize their value and communicate it to others, whether through design, content, education, or coaching.

I am also a sought-after public speaker and mentor, delivering keynote speeches, workshops, and courses at various events, conferences, and organizations around the world. I share my insights and expertise on topics such as branding, business, creativity, and social media marketing, reaching millions of people through my YouTube channel, podcast, and online platform. My mission is to empower the next generation of creative entrepreneurs and leaders to achieve their full potential.

4. Andrew Huberman, Ph.D

Area of expertise or industry: neuroscience

Products / Services: public speaking

Short Bio Examples - Andrew Huberman, Ph.d

Word count: 228

Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. He has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviors, skills and cognitive functioning.

Huberman is a McKnight Foundation and Pew Foundation Fellow and was awarded the Cogan Award in 2017, given to the scientist making the most significant discoveries in the study of vision. His lab’s most recent work focuses on the influence of vision and respiration on brain states such as fear and high attention focus and developing rapid and effective tools for mitigating stress and improving sleep and other physiological metrics.

Work from the Huberman Laboratory at Stanford School of Medicine has been published in top journals including Nature, Science and Cell and has been featured in TIME, BBC, Scientific American, Discover and other top media outlets.

In 2021, Dr. Huberman launched the Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast is frequently ranked in the top 10 of all podcasts globally and is often ranked #1 in the categories of Science, Education, and Health & Fitness.

Alongside hosting the Huberman Lab podcast, Andrew Huberman is the co-founder of Scicomm Media, and actively invests in and advises a handful of businesses. 

5. Amy Porterfield

Area of expertise or industry: entrepreneurship

Products / Services: public speaking, book, courses

Short Bio Examples - Amy Porterfield

Word count: 204

I help entrepreneurs build businesses online. My areas of expertise include how to start and grow an email list, how to create digital courses and how to promote and sell courses online using webinars.

About My Podcast, Online Marketing Made Easy

How do I start an online business? Grow my email list to thousands of subscribers? Sell more and grow faster? These are just some of the big questions that leading online marketing strategist, Amy Porterfield, digs into on the top-ranked Online Marketing Made Easy Podcast.

Featuring insights from A-List online marketing experts (Russell Brunson, Jamie Kern Lima, Rick Mulready, Marie Forleo, etc.) as well as mini marketing masterclasses and step-by-step guides, each episode is designed to help you take immediate action on the most important strategies for starting, scaling and automating your online business.

My specialty is getting into the online trenches with you. Thinking about creating an online course? Want to promote with webinars? Need help building your email list? Discover why hundreds of thousands of online business owners turn to me to generate more profits and to make sense of the online marketing space, implement the strategies that really get results, and turn that side hustle into a business that lasts.

Final thoughts

When you are designing your personal brand, how you present yourself to the world will define how the world sees you. A well-written, engaging professional bio will pull newcomers into your world and invite them to stay awhile and look around. A dry, static list of your credentials will do the opposite—push potential followers away. 

By using the easy-to-follow guidelines above and learning from the short bio examples shared, you can create a standout professional bio that demands attention. 

Are you interested in sharing your expertise with the world as an authorpreneur ? Have you given serious thought to writing a book to grow your business? A book makes a great lead magnet to build your audience. Selfpublishing.com has a team of experts ready to show you how to create a book funnel and start growing your personal brand today!

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Status.net

2 Inspiring Examples of Artist Bio with Tips

By Status.net Editorial Team on March 11, 2024 — 7 minutes to read

Creating an engaging artist bio is a key step in sharing your artistic identity and accomplishments with a broader audience. A well-crafted bio not only provides a narrative about your artistic journey but also connects with readers on a personal level, helping them to understand your work and motivations. Think of it as a professional introduction: concise, relatable, and charismatic.

Crafting the Perfect Artist Bio

Creating an engaging artist bio means understanding who will read it and what they’re looking for, while making sure to highlight your unique journey and artistic perspective.

Knowing Your Audience

Your bio should connect with your intended readership. If your work is often displayed in contemporary art galleries, tailor your language to appeal to curators, collectors, and art aficionados. Conversely, if your primary platform is on social media or craft fairs, aim for a more conversational tone that resonates with a broader, more casual audience.

For instance, if your art is shown in galleries, you might include statements like, “John Doe’s pieces interrogate the boundaries of post-modern aesthetics,” which would resonate with an art-informed reader. For a general audience, you could say, “Jane Smith creates vibrant paintings that bring a splash of joy to any room,” which is accessible to all.

Essential Elements to Include

Your artist bio should have a few key components:

  • Introduction : Start with your name and what you do. Give a snapshot of your artistic style and primary medium. “Alex Martinez is a mixed-media artist known for layered, textural works that explore themes of memory and identity.”
  • Background : Include your relevant education, such as formal degrees or apprenticeships, and any influences or inspirations. “Trained at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Martinez was heavily influenced by the tactile methodology of Anselm Kiefer.”
  • Artistic Achievements : Highlight key exhibitions, awards, or recognitions you’ve received. You can list these in a simple, bullet-point format to keep things clear and concise. For example: Solo exhibition at (…) Gallery, 2023 Recipient of the (…) Art Grant, 2022
  • Current Work : Mention what you’re currently working on and what themes or subjects you’re exploring. “Currently, Martinez is diving into the intersection of digital and physical spaces, blending traditional techniques with AR technology.”
  • Contact Information : Always end with a way for readers to connect with you, whether it’s an email address, phone number, or website. “For more information about Alex Martinez’s work, visit www.alexmartistexample.com or email [email protected].”
  • These specific sections make up a comprehensive and engaging artist bio that serves to introduce you to your audience and invite them to learn more about your art and practice.

Artist Bio Template and Examples

When crafting your artist bio, you want to give readers a sense of who you are, your artistic journey, your style, and what inspires you. A well-written bio can create a connection with your audience and help them understand your art on a deeper level. Here’s a simple template to get you started:

Artistic Discipline(s) or Genre(s)

Brief introduction : Start with your name and what type of artist you are.

Inspiration : Share what motivates you and your work.

Background : Mention key points about your artistic education and milestones.

Artistic Philosophy : Describe your creative approach and what your art means to you.

Recent Work : Highlight recent projects or notable pieces.

Future Direction : Give a glimpse into what you’re working toward.

Contact Information : Provide a way for people to reach out or see more of your work.

Jordan Smith

Abstract Painter

Hi there, I’m Jordan! Painting vibrant, abstract landscapes is my life’s work. The ever-changing beauty of nature inspires each brushstroke. I refined my skills at the Chicago Art Institute and have been blessed to exhibit in galleries across the Midwest. My art is a dialogue with the world, exploring the boundary between chaos and order. My latest series depicts urban jungles with a touch of the wild. Looking ahead, I’m experimenting with recycled materials to add texture to my canvases. You can see my journey unfold on my website (…).

Alexis Chang

Contemporary Sculptor

I’m Alexis, a sculptor who brings industrial materials to life. Intrigued by the dialogue between space and form, I construct sculptures that challenge perception. Educated at (…), my work has been featured from LA to Tokyo. My sculptures are a physical representation of internal narratives, often sparked by current events. Recently, I’ve been using light and shadow as sculptural elements. On the horizon, I’m exploring kinetic sculptures to engage audiences in motion. Find more of my work at my gallery (…).

Best Practices

  • Begin with a compelling fact or achievement.
  • Tailor your tone to match your artistic identity.
  • Highlight milestones that are relevant to your current work, hinting at your artistic journey (like Hockney’s six-decade-spanning career).
  • It’s important to keep your bio to the point and engaging to ensure it resonates with your audience.

Applying these strategies to your bio can help it stand out. Draw from your unique experiences and remember, an effective bio is akin to a strong handshake—it introduces you and leaves a lasting impression.

Revision Strategies

When you revise your artist bio, you’re giving it the polish it needs to shine. Think of revision not just as a necessity, but as an opportunity to critically assess and enhance your work.

Seeking Feedback

Artist bios can benefit greatly from outside perspectives. After you’ve written your draft, reach out to peers, mentors, or a writing group to gather their thoughts on your content.

  • Who to ask : Consider individuals who are knowledgeable about your art or have experience in the industry.
  • How to ask : Be specific about the type of feedback you’re looking for, whether it’s clarity, impact, or grammar.

For example, you might say, “Could you tell me if my bio accurately reflects the style and themes of my work?” This pinpointed question will yield more actionable input than a general request for thoughts.

Final Edits and Considerations

Revising your artist bio includes proofreading for spelling and grammar, as well as ensuring the information is up to date.

  • Personal Details : Double-check the spelling of names, places, and technical terms.
  • Consistency : Ensure you’re consistent in tense and first/third person usage. You might use the second person for a more interactive bio.
  • Update Accordingly : If you’ve recently had an exhibition or received an award, add that in!

A helpful tip is to read your bio aloud. This can uncover awkward phrasing or errors that your eyes might skip over when reading silently.

Mistakes to Avoid

When crafting your artist bio, certain pitfalls can diminish its effectiveness. You want to catch the right attention without overdoing it. Firstly, stay away from long paragraphs. Your bio should be easy to skim, with snappy sentences that won’t lose the reader’s interest. Keep each point concise.

  • Avoid overt self-promotion. While you want to highlight your achievements, you don’t want to come off as boasting. A simple list of key accomplishments works better than a self-aggrandizing story. Steer clear of overused clichés and jargon that might confuse the reader or sound unoriginal.
  • Details are important, but don’t overdo it. Excessive technical information about your process can overwhelm your audience. Instead, focus on a couple of your artistic techniques and why they matter to your work. This approach lends insight into your art without boring your reader with a how-to guide.
  • It’s important to remain genuine. If your bio reads as insincere or disingenuous, you may lose potential interest. Authenticity helps you to connect with your audience. Share what truly inspires you and how your experiences shape your artwork.
  • Be aware of your target audience. Using highly sophisticated language may alienate those unfamiliar with art terminology. Instead, use language that’s accessible to a broad range of readers without talking down to them.
  • Lastly, proofread your bio. Spelling and grammar issues can quickly detract from your professionalism. A well-polished bio shows you care about your presentation as much as your art.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you craft a compelling short bio as an artist.

Your artist bio should strike a balance between professional achievements and personal insights. Use an engaging storytelling approach and keep it concise—around 150 to 200 words. Think about what defines you as an artist and how you want to present that narrative to your audience.

What are some key elements to include in an artist’s biography?

A strong artist’s biography typically includes your name, your medium, themes or styles you specialize in, your philosophy or inspiration, significant education or experiences, exhibitions or awards, and notable collections or publications where your work has appeared. Make sure to update it regularly with new accomplishments.

What are effective strategies for writing a bio as a self-taught artist?

As a self-taught artist, leverage your unique path to engage the reader. You can highlight your dedication to the craft, distinctive techniques you’ve mastered, and the personal explorations that have shaped your art. Point to specific works or projects that exemplify your self-directed growth.

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how to write a short biography for work

How to write a biography without biographical information

O n the first page of Sarah Ruden’s biography of Vergil, she states the problem that any biographer of the ancient poet and author of the Aeneid faces: We know almost nothing about him. “The man is like Shakespeare ,” she writes. “He disappeared into his writing.”

So, why write a biography of him, and how might one go about it if one did? The answer to the first question might be money. That was certainly Stephen Greenblatt’s motivation in writing a highly publicized biography of Shakespeare nearly 20 years ago. Greenblatt got a six-figure advance for Will in the World , which sold 150,000 copies on the first day of publication and was on the New York Times’s bestseller list for nine weeks. But only Shakespeare is Shakespeare, of course, and no other author, living or dead, comes close to generating the amount of interest he does.

KEEPING THE NOVEL ALIVE BY READING, AND ARGUING, WELL

Ruden in her preface stated that she decided to write a biography of Vergil largely out of curiosity. She is the author of an acclaimed translation of the Aeneid , and she became increasingly intrigued, she writes, as she worked on the translation by how a “mere life” could “produce such beauty”: “After much hesitation, I set off on a quest to know Vergil the man better through what probably follows from such things as his physical, social, and literary contexts and his own literary innovations.”

Thus, we have the answer to the second question. How to go about writing a biography of someone who left behind no memoir, no collection of letters, and whose entire biographical record consists of a few pages in Suetonius Tranquillus's On Illustrious Men ? Use historical contexts to speculate as to what he might have thought or could have done. Call it the Might-Have-Could-Have approach to biography.

The risk of such an approach is obvious. The subject of the biography becomes a mere object of our own projections. What we get is not Vergil himself, but the proto-fascist Vergil or the anti-imperialist Vergil, the proto-Christian Vergil or the gay Vergil. I am reminded of Daniel Mendelsohn’s article in the New Yorker a few years ago in which he presented Vergil as something of a tragic, bleeding-heart liberal, whose sympathies are on the side of the victims whom "‘empire’ leaves in its wake” but who was pressed into the service of empire nonetheless.

Ruden is aware of this risk. “We need to make our own peace with our own histories,” she writes, “and leave Vergil out of them.” She proposes to avoid it by sticking closely to what Vergil wrote and extrapolating only those biographical tidbits that seem plausible. H. L. Mencken may have been right when he wrote that criticism “is no more than prejudice made plausible.” But a biography that is no more than prejudice made plausible is no biography at all.

Problematically, Ruden proposes to compare Vergil to his modern “descendants” — that is, to modern writers — to gain insight into his life. She argues that because writers are categorically different from other people, it makes sense that Vergil might have more in common with other writers, even those who lived 2,000 years after he died, than he did with the people of his own time. After all, wasn’t Vergil, like so many modern writers, an eccentric who lived an unconventional life marked by an unwavering commitment to art? “Many things about Vergil’s life made more sense to me,” she writes, “once I dared to grasp that this shy young man from nowhere, who struggled from line to line as he composed and revised, sensed in some part of his mind that if he tried hard enough he could cause the world to welcome millions of copies of his work.” She goes on to compare him to Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf, among others.

Alas, rather than getting us closer to the “real Vergil,” Ruden’s biography simply gives another Vergil — Vergil the brooding, sensitive modern writer who sacrifices everything for his art. This leads to problems.

One thing we know about Vergil from Suetonius is that he was frequently ill and rarely “appeared in public in Rome.” We're told this was because his fame made it difficult for him to move about freely in the capital. Ruden claims (and I think she is right) that he also avoided going to Rome because he was shy and committed to his work. But she suggests that he may have even faked illness to avoid social contact and was something of a misanthrope. “I am convinced,” she writes, “that his characters tend to fall short in differentiation and believable thoughts and feelings because he did not like other people much or find their minds reliably interesting compared with his own.” Her further evidence of this misanthropy is that he wrote a lot about nature.

She wants to see Vergil as a modern artist who eschews authority and “civic and professional duty,” but she is at pains to explain how he could be one while also writing an epic poem whose primary purpose was to celebrate the Roman empire. This leads her to make muddled statements like this:

The poet’s quasi-propagandistic work remains worth reading now that all its ideological and cultural assertions but the most universal have been discredited, at least in liberal democratic nations. Modern ethics reject unquestioning religious, filial, and patriotic 'duty,' and most especially the divinely decreed 'fate' of one race to conquer and rule others. But the Aeneid is still running on its literary steam.

This divorce of content and form forces Ruden to identify Vergil’s literary accomplishment with something like verbal decoration. Ruden means it as a compliment when she writes that “Vergil was the only poet” who could “relieve and decorate” the “necessary heavy-handedness” of a “full-length epic poem about the ruling dynasty’s purported ancient foundations.” But this diminishes, rather than heightens, Vergil’s accomplishment. Immediately after this, she admits that Vergil and Augustus likely did not disagree on the work’s “major themes.” So why divorce those themes from style and prosody in the first place?

Even more problematically, Ruden suggests that several of the poems of the Appendix Vergiliana , a supposed collection of Vergil’s juvenilia that many scholars dispute, were indeed written by Vergil because it is implausible that he would not leave a record of his development. Why? Because Vergil was more of a modern poet than an ancient one. “If Vergil was, as he appears to have been,” Ruden writes, “a modern type of conspicuously isolated author with an independent, obsessive drive to perfect certain literary forms, rather than the typical ancient author who wrote for public occasions and communal edification, then a large archive makes sense.” Talk about begging the question.

Ruden even wonders whether Vergil became so obsessed with perfecting the Aeneid that Augustus became paranoid and killed him. Vergil died of heatstroke in Athens, which doesn’t make much sense according to Ruden. “If the Romans knew anything, it was how to deal with hot climates," she continues. "Did Augustus, alive to the difficulties of either controlling or sidelining the popular, well-liked author who had written the great national poem but then fled the nation, turn his mind to the advantages of Vergil’s bad health worsening to a lethal degree? ... Was treatment of Vergil’s condition withheld? Or was sunstroke a cover story for something else? Was there something in Vergil’s refreshments?”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

She quickly adds that this is all “speculative reconstruction.” A better phrase for it is “pure speculation.” The only thing she insists on is that the ancient account of his death doesn’t make sense.

Fine. But why not leave it at that? Because word counts must be met, I suppose, for book contracts to be kept.

Micah Mattix is a professor of English at Regent University.

Tags: Books , Book Reviews , Media , Literature , History , Roman Empire

Original Author: Micah Mattix

Original Location: How to write a biography without biographical information

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200+ Instagram Bio Ideas For 2024

how to write a short biography for work

While you spend most time optimizing your Instagram feed, don’t neglect your Instagram bio—it’s more important than you think.

This 150-character blurb is like your storefront on Instagram. It's the first thing people see. In this post, we'll give you some fresh new bio ideas to try in 2024 that could turn profile views into likes and followers.

What Is an Instagram Bio?

how to write a short biography for work

Your Instagram bio is the short description on your Instagram profile where you share about yourself and include any links, hashtags and call to action.

What should I put in my Instagram bio?

Here are some ideas for what to write in your Instagram bio:

  • Keep it short and sweet. Aim for around 100 characters.
  • Add an interesting fact or quote about yourself.
  • Mention what type of content you post and your niche.
  • Link to your other social media profiles and website.
  • Use hashtags relevant to your niche.
  • Add a call to action like "DM for collaborations"
  • Add an emoji or two to make it more fun.

What Makes a Good Instagram Bio?

A good Instagram bio effectively captures the essence of who you are and what you offer, all within a tight 150-character limit. Make it simple and sweet, and focus on what makes you unique.

Keep it short, sweet, and to the point so people understand right away what your account is about and who you are. The right bio can help you attract more of your ideal followers and set the right tone for your content.

200+ Instagram Bio Ideas

Here are some effective Instagram bio ideas to attract the right followers and set the right tone for your content:

Cool Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Not your average bio. Stay curious and scroll through.
  • Always ahead of the curve. Stay tuned for the latest in [your niche/interest].
  • Giving you a sneak peek into my life, passions, and creative process.
  • Collecting sunsets & good vibes ✨ Follow my adventures!
  • Making memories, one day at a time.
  • Less talking, more doing. Inhale confidence, exhale doubt.
  • Bio so good it will make you tap that follow button.
  • Here for the good vibes and good times.
  • Always up for an adventure, DM me if you're down.
  • Life's too short not to have fun, so follow along!

Positive Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Living my best life. Here for good vibes and good times.
  • Chasing sunsets and adventures. Follow along!
  • Storyteller. Collector of moments.
  • Coffee lover. Wanderer. Food enthusiast.
  • Life's an adventure. Let's go exploring!
  • Creating joy through photography.
  • Spreading positivity one post at a time.
  • Documenting life's simple pleasures.
  • Capturing the beauty in the everyday.
  • Sharing my passion for travel and culture.

Cute Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Be sweet as sugar.
  • Your smile is the cutest.
  • I love to bake and make things cute.
  • Kindness is the new cool.
  • Spreading joy one cupcake at a time!
  • Making the world a little cuter, one craft at a time.
  • Chasing rainbows and unicorns.
  • Living my best fairy tale life.
  • Believing in magic and possibilities.
  • Happily Ever After starts now.

Aesthetic Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Chasing golden moments with a vintage lens.
  • Sipping matcha under fairy lights, weaving stories one photo at a time.
  • Lost in wanderlust, collecting coffee shop vibes and foreign smiles. ✈️☕️
  • Minimalist soul with a maximalist heart.
  • Bookworm by day, moonlit adventurer by night.
  • Curating a life filled with warm cups of tea. 🪴☕️
  • Collecting vintage treasures and sharing them all here. ️
  • Wild at heart, with a dash of daydreams and a sprinkle of stardust. ✨
  • Embracing slow living, finding magic in the everyday.
  • Building a life like a poem, filled with whispered verses and quiet beauty.

Creative Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • My bio is under construction, just like my life. Stay tuned for chaos!
  • My bio is a riddle... Solve it if you can. (Hint: It's hidden in my posts)
  • Brush in hand, creating one story at a time.
  • Exploring the world through words and images.
  • Sharing the journey of creation, one piece at a time.
  • Making art to make sense of the world.
  • Telling visual stories that connect us.
  • Turning passion into pixels and ink.
  • An artist's life, captured in moments.
  • A camera, a pen, and a world to explore.

Descriptive Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Coffee connoisseur by day, stargazer by night. ☕️
  • Baking chaos architect, plant whisperer, and sunshine enthusiast. ‍☀️
  • Uncaging laughter with puns and adventures, one photo at a time. ️
  • Aspiring wordsmith weaving tales of travel, culture, and the occasional doggo pic. ️
  • Curating a visual journey of vibrant hues, soulful connections, and endless curiosity.
  • Fitness fanatic and foodie, fueling both body and mind with delicious challenges.
  • Music maven, bookworm, and dreamer sharing snippets of joy, reflection, and melodies.
  • Chasing creativity through fashion, photography, and the occasional DIY disaster. ✨
  • Embracing the chaos and beauty of motherhood, one messy bun and heartfelt moment at a time. ‍‍
  • Tech enthusiast by trade, adventurer at heart, documenting the digital world and beyond.

Funny Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Warning: This may contain excessive sarcasm and questionable life choices.
  • Basically just here for the snacks and the chaos. Don't mind me.
  • Professional overthinker with a minor in procrastination. 🙎‍♂️
  • 90% caffeine, 10% actual personality. But hey, it works! ☕️✨
  • My hobbies include napping, eating, and avoiding adulting like the plague. ‍♀️
  • Making questionable decisions at an alarming rate. Follow for updates. ⚠️
  • My life motto: "If you can't laugh at yourself, life will do it for you...awkwardly."
  • My therapist says I should express myself more. So here I am, unleashing the chaos.
  • Not sure what I'm doing, but at least my outfit is on point. ‍👗
  • I'm like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get (but with slightly more existential dread).

Simple Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Coffee, cats, and creating things I love. ☕️
  • Sunshine seeker, wanderlust chaser, laughter finder. ☀️
  • Just here for the good vibes and fluffy dogs.
  • Fueling my wanderlust with every sunrise.
  • Books, beats, and chasing big dreams.
  • Laughter is my language, kindness my superpower. ❤️
  • Cooking up deliciousness and sharing the journey. ‍
  • Embracing the simple things, finding beauty in the everyday.
  • Living life with a grateful heart and open mind.
  • Discovering adventures one click at a time.

Short Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Coffee & wanderlust: my two loves. ☕️
  • Embracing the chaos with a smile.
  • Books, brews, and beautiful views. ☕
  • Less talk, more explore.
  • Sunshine seeker, laughter finder. ☀️
  • Wild at heart, free in spirit.
  • Coffee fueled, wanderlust driven. ☕️
  • Finding magic in the everyday. ✨
  • Spreading kindness, one smile at a time.
  • Collecting memories, not things. ✨

Quotes for Instagram Bio

how to write a short biography for work

  • "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Plato
  • "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." - Arthur Ashe
  • "Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice." - Steve Jobs
  • "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant." - Robert Louis Stevenson
  • "The purpose of our lives is to be happy." - Dalai Lama
  • "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain." - Vivian Greene
  • "There is nothing permanent except change." - Heraclitus
  • "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." - Theodore Roosevelt
  • "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow." - Helen Keller
  • "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

Inspirational Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Every new morning is a chance to start over.
  • If you can dream it, you can achieve it.
  • Be the reason someone smiles today.
  • Change the world by being yourself.
  • Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
  • The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
  • The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.
  • The most wasted of days is one without laughter.
  • Don't let the fear of striking out hold you back.
  • Fall down seven times, stand up eight.
  • Life has its ups and downs. Moments of joy and sorrow. But the key is to keep moving forward.
  • Don't let past failures hold you back from trying again. .
  • Focus on the progress you are making, not perfection.
  • Surround yourself with people who believe in you and lift you up.
  • Have faith that you are right where you are meant to be.

Instagram Bio Ideas for Businesses

how to write a short biography for work

  • Obsessed with [product/passion]. Helping you [benefit]. Join the journey!
  • We turn [problem] into [solution]. See how!
  • Your one-stop shop for [niche]. Curated with love.
  • Handcrafted goodness for the [target audience]. Shop now!
  • Making a difference, one [product/service] at a time. Be part of it.
  • More than just [product/service]. We're a community.
  • We don't just sell [product], we build stories. Follow for yours!
  • Local love, global impact. Shop small, dream big.
  • Behind the scenes at [business name]. Get exclusive access.
  • More than a business, we're a movement. Join the [cause].

Travel Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Passport stamps are my souvenirs. ✈️
  • Wanderlust is my middle name.
  • Plane tickets are my love language.
  • Trading comfort zones for cocktails with a view.
  • Home is wherever I roam.
  • Follow me, I'm lost but enjoying the scenery. ️
  • Brb, exploring the world. Be back never.
  • My happy place is anywhere with Wi-Fi and a passport.
  • I travel not to arrive, but to go.
  • Wander often, wonder always.

Fashion Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Clothes whisper, style roars.
  • Curating chaos, one outfit at a time. ️
  • Runway ready, wherever I wander.
  • Expressing myself, seam by seam. 🪡✨
  • Thrifting finds & designer dreams.
  • Style chameleon, blending trends & vibes.
  • Clothes tell stories, mine are bold & bright. ️
  • Mixing high & low, creating my own flow.
  • Sustainable threads for a stylish future.
  • Embracing curves, rocking confidence.
  • More than clothes, it's a feeling I chase. ✨
  • Fashion is my therapy, join the session. ‍♀️
  • Where comfort meets confidence, I bloom.
  • Sharing my fashion journey, follow along! ️
  • Curating looks that inspire & empower. ✨

Fitness Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Building strength, smashing goals, inspiring others.
  • ‍Fun workouts, healthy recipes, positive vibes. Join the journey!
  • ‍ Runner, mama, motivator. Making fitness accessible.
  • ️‍No gym needed! Effective home workouts for busy lives.
  • Delicious food, healthy habits, happy life.
  • Train your mind, transform your body. Mental fitness matters.
  • ️ Outdoor adventure addict. Exploring & pushing limits.
  • Make fitness a party! Fun challenges, supportive community.
  • No pain, all gain (well, mostly ) Feel-good fitness.
  • Body positivity & strength training. Love YOUR body!
  • Plant-based athlete. Fueling workouts, inspiring change.
  • ⏱️ Time is precious. Short & effective workouts for real life.
  • ♿️ Inclusive fitness for everyone. Let's move together!
  • Age is just a number. Let's stay active & strong!
  • Dog lover & fitness enthusiast. Workouts with furry friends!

Food Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Salads and smoothies, with a side of inspiration. 🥗
  • Making pasta 🍝 , sharing recipes and spreading joy.
  • Food is love, join me in the kitchen.
  • Growing, cooking and sharing fresh food.
  • Discovering deliciousness, one bite at a time.
  • Tasting the world, one recipe at a time. 🍴
  • Pancakes and positivity, join me for breakfast. 🥞
  • Obsessed with bagels and spreading the joy of good food.
  • Chocolate therapy and sweet inspiration. 🍫
  • Cooking up comfort and spreading joy, one dish at a time.
  • Always on the hunt for the next culinary adventure
  • Sharing flavourful recipes and stories from my kitchen.
  • Baking up happiness and spreading joy one sweet treat at a time.
  • Curating deliciousness for a taste of joy.
  • Food brings people together. Join me at the table.

Pop Culture Instagram Bio Ideas

how to write a short biography for work

  • Music is my escape, and pop is my jam. 🎧
  • Obsessed with all things pop. Follow me on this musical journey! 🎶
  • Pop star in the making, follow my rise to fame! 💫
  • Pop queen living my best life, join the party. 👑
  • Lover of all things pop culture. TV, movies, music and more.
  • Living for pop divas. Share my appreciation for the icons! 👸
  • Pop trivia king, putting your pop knowledge to the test!
  • Pop culture junkie, here for all the latest trends.
  • Pop star wannabe, singing my heart out. 🎤
  • Pop princess dreaming big, follow my journey!

Instagram Bio Ideas for Boys and Girls

how to write a short biography for work

  • Foodie by day, gamer by night (or vice versa!)
  • Music, coffee, and code - my fuel.
  • ✈️ Collecting stamps and memories, one trip at a time.
  • Building myself, one rep at a time.
  • Avid reader, curious mind, open heart.
  • Chasing melodies and mastering chords.
  • Capturing moments, sharing stories.
  • Always learning, always growing.
  • Thriving on adrenaline and creativity.
  • ✍️ Wordslinger, storyteller, caffeine addict.
  • Hustle by day, chill by night.
  • ‍♂️ Living life one wave at a time.
  • Looking up, dreaming big.
  • Creativity is my superpower..
  • Just a guy living his best life (follow along!).
  • Confidence is my accessory, sass is my signature style. sass ✨
  • Fashion-forward with a touch of sass.
  • Fearless & fabulous, breaking the mold and rewriting my own story.
  • Don't mess with the lipstick, it hides a firecracker personality.
  • From boardroom to brunch, slaying every scene with grace and grit.
  • More than just a profile pic, I'm a force to be reckoned with. ‍⚡️
  • Unapologetically bold, leaving glitter trail wherever I go. ✨
  • Not waiting for a prince, building my own castle, brick by dream. ‍
  • Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm the queen of my own destiny, and you?
  • Life's too short for boring bios, join me on this chic adventure.
  • Confidence comes from within, no filter needed for these selfies.
  • Chasing sunsets, chasing dreams, never chasing after anyone.
  • Making my mark on the world, one adventure at a time.
  • Bold, brave and beautiful, ready to take on the world.
  • Every day is an opportunity to sparkle.

Also read: https://www.hypotenuse.ai/blog/social-media-post-ideas

10 Instagram Bio Tricks You Should Know

Your Instagram bio is like your business card on the ‘gram. With just 150 characters, you need to make an impact and get your brand message across. Follow these 10 tricks to create a standout bio that converts profile views into followers.

Show Your Personality

Don’t simply list your name, company, and a link. Show off your brand’s personality with fun emojis, quirky phrases, and humor. Give people a taste of your vibe.

Highlight Your Niche

Help potential followers immediately understand what you’re all about. For example: “Helping foodies find the hottest new restaurants in NYC” or “Making natural skincare products for glowing skin.”

Ask a Question

Engage your audience by prompting them to respond in comments or DMs. For instance: “What does your perfect day look like?”

Use Branded Hashtags

Include 1-2 branded hashtags to make it easy for people to find and share your content. Keep it short like #FoodieFinds or #NaturallyGlowingSkin.

Add a Call-to-Action

Tell people what to do next - follow you, shop the link in your bio, or sign up for a newsletter. CTAs give clear direction.

Link Your Website

Drive traffic to your online destination for sales and email signups. Use a link shortener like bit.ly .

List Your Location

If you have a physical location, let people know where to visit you. This works for local businesses.

Mention Your Awards

Build credibility by touting press features, certifications (e.g. #1 Best Pizza in NYC), or accolades.

Share a Discount Code

Run promotions to gain followers by offering a coupon code, exclusive giveaway, or special offer just for your Instagram audience.

Rotate Your Bio

Change up your bio regularly to promote new products, sales, events, and more. Keep it fresh!

With these tips, you can create an Instagram bio that captures attention and gives visitors an immediate sense of your brand. Show off your unique personality and tell people why they should hit that follow button!

More FAQs about Instagram Bio

Curious about some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to crafting the perfect Instagram bio? Let's go over some of the top concerns people have.

Where is the Bio on Instagram?

The bio is located on your Instagram profile page. It is the text box below your profile picture and username where you can write a short description about your page.

How to Change Bio on Instagram?

To change your Instagram bio:

  • Go to your Instagram profile by tapping the profile icon in the bottom right corner.
  • Tap the "Edit Profile" button in the top right corner.
  • Tap the "Bio" button next to your pronouns.
  • Type your new bio, up to 150 characters.
  • Tap "Done" in the top right corner to save your changes.

Your new bio will now show on your Instagram profile page.

How to Add a Link to Instagram bio?

To add a link to your Instagram bio:

  • Tap the "Links" button next to your bio.
  • Add your website URL to your bio, making sure to include "http://" at the beginning.
  • Instagram will automatically detect the URL and turn it into a clickable link.

Your link will now show in your bio and users can simply tap the link to be taken to your website.

How Long Should My Bio Be?

You have 150 characters to work within your Instagram bio - so keep it short and sweet! Aim for 1-2 sentences or 50-150 characters max. Anything longer risks getting cut off.

Should I Use Emojis?

Yes! Emojis are a fun way to express your personality and brand. But don't go overboard - the best ones to use are relevant to your niche or brand. A camera emoji works for photographers, a pizza slice for foodies, etc.

How Can I Get More Followers from My Bio?

A strong bio makes you look established and worth following. But don't explicitly ask for follows. Instead, pique interest with your description and niche hashtags. Having a link to your website or online shop can also draw in potential followers.

Craft the Perfect Bio with Hypotenuse AI

The Instagram bio is an important element of your profile that allows you to introduce yourself, showcase your brand and attract new followers. Writing an Instagram bio with the right length, hashtags, call-to-action, and links can help grow your Instagram presence. Experimenting with different bio ideas will help you find what resonates best with your audience.

Making a standout Instagram bio is a breeze with Hypotenuse AI . It's like having a clever friend who knows just the right words to describe you or your brand. With this tool, you can quickly create a bio that's both unique and true to who you are. So, go ahead and give it a try—your Instagram profile will look better for it.

Join 100,000+ marketers writing with Hypotenuse AI

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IMAGES

  1. 38+ Biography Templates with Images

    how to write a short biography for work

  2. Short Personal Bio Template

    how to write a short biography for work

  3. 20 Short Bio Examples to Use for Inspiration

    how to write a short biography for work

  4. 4 Ways to Write a Personal Bio

    how to write a short biography for work

  5. 45 Free Biography Templates & Examples (Personal, Professional)

    how to write a short biography for work

  6. 30 Professional Biography Examples (& Templates)

    how to write a short biography for work

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COMMENTS

  1. How To Write a Professional Short Bio (With Examples)

    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.

  2. The Best Short Professional Bios (Examples + Templates)

    Your short bio should include your brand, your accomplishments, and your values and goals. Your short bio should be one to three short paragraphs or four to eight sentences long. Knowing how to write a concise, informative, and interesting biography about yourself can help throughout various parts of the professional process.

  3. 27 of the Best Professional Bio Examples I've Ever Seen [+ Templates]

    Lisa gets creative by mentioning the brands she's worked with and highlighting some of her favorite projects. Written in the third person, this bio invites the reader behind a metaphorical door to meet Lisa as a professional, traveler, learner, wife, and mother. 11. Nancy Twine: Hair Care Founder.

  4. 40 Short Professional Bio Examples and How To Write Your Own

    Here are 40 two-sentence short professional bio examples to help you write your own: "I'm Jane Hong, and I recently graduated with an advanced diploma from Smith secondary school. I'm seeking an internship where I can apply my skills in content creation and increase my experience in digital marketing." "I'm John Grayson, and I'm a recent ...

  5. How To Write a Professional Bio in 6 Steps (With Examples)

    1. Choose the appropriate name and professional title. Writing a professional bio starts by choosing the right name and professional titles to use. Different names and titles can change depending on the purpose and audience of the bio. For example, some people choose to use a different first name in their bio instead of their given name.

  6. How to Write a Short Professional Bio (With Examples and Templates)

    Choose your voice. You have the option to write your bio using either first or third person. When using first person, you will be utilizing the pronouns "I, me, and my". When using third person, you would refer to yourself using your name and preferred pronouns. Ultimately, the choice is yours.

  7. How to Write a Short Bio: Templates, Examples

    A short bio should be approximately 4-6 sentences or about 150 words. Be sure to highlight your achievements, experience, and expertise with confidence and clarity. To start, introduce yourself briefly, including your name, title, and current role or profession.

  8. How to Write a Short Bio: 7 Things to Put in Your Bio

    How to Write a Short Bio: 7 Things to Put in Your Bio. Whether for your company's website or your own personal use, it's important to know how to write a short bio about yourself and your personal accomplishments. These little blurbs help you stand out from the crowd by showing what makes you a unique and qualified addition to the workforce.

  9. Professional Bio Guide: Template and Examples

    2. Your Twitter bio. Even a snappy, 160-character bio can help set you apart. To write a great bio for social media, grab the first two sentences of the bio we just drafted. We've crammed a lot of great info in there: who you are, what you do, who you do it for, how you do it, and what you believe about the work you do.

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    LinkedIn profiles. Personal websites. Portfolios. Social media profiles. Resumes. Your professional bio provides others with an opportunity to get to know a little bit about who you are and what you do, and gives potential employers or clients a bit of insight into what you have to offer as an employee.

  11. How to Write a Professional Bio That Stands Out (+Templates & Examples)

    Recent graduate short professional bio template. Recent graduates should mention their degrees and undergraduate experiences. "As an undergraduate student at [university/college], I have successfully [accomplishment] and [other accomplishment]. I hold a degree in [major] and studied [subject matters or minors].

  12. How to Write a Bio for Work (With Template and Example)

    Follow these simple steps to learn how to write a bio for work: 1. Begin with your first and last name. When writing your professional bio, begin by using your full name at the start of the first sentence. This ensures that if the reader remembers nothing else, they can remember your name. Starting with your name also sets the tone of the ...

  13. How to Write a Short Bio (With Examples and Helpful Tips)

    Here's a list of steps that outline how to write a short bio, with examples to add clarity: 1. Choose a voice. A helpful first step is to decide which voice is most appropriate for your bio. You can write it in the first-person point of view, which uses terms like I or my, or you can choose the third-person point of view, which refers to when ...

  14. How To Write a Bio for Work: Examples and Template [Video

    It's also important to make sure that your qualifications are up to date, especially if you are going to be posting this in a public capacity. 3. Your "why". Your "why" is arguably one of the most important parts of your professional bio, because it's really going to communicate "why" it is that you do. Now, if you're not really ...

  15. How To Write a Bio—Quick Tips and Bio Examples

    Tip #3: When in doubt, borrow. Bios can be repetitive, sometimes even tedious. So if you find a structure you like and think sounds unique, borrow it! You should never copy a person's bio—after all, it's their story, not yours—but you can mimic the structure if you're feeling stuck.

  16. How to Write a Short Professional Bio (Templates & Examples)

    Use the step-by-step instructions below as a general guideline for customizing the short bio templates above, or write one from scratch. Step 1. Gather Information and Inspiration. Answer the questions below to gather the information you'll need to customize your professional bio.

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    A Twitter bio is super short, and you can only make a strong impression if you choose carefully what to write. The 3-step professional bio. If you have three sentences, for instance for an author bio, then you can say a little more. But be careful, the same rule applies as with the one-sentence Twitter bio.

  18. How to write a short professional bio (with examples)

    Include your job title, years of experience, degrees, majors, and concentrations. Where you work: If you're not actively looking for a job, include the name of your current work in your bio. Flex a little to let followers know you work for a renowned or innovative company. If you're an entrepreneur, including the name of your business is a ...

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    Additionally, if you need help to write a short professional bio, an AI writing tool like Jasper can be helpful. It will provide you with a professional bio template that prompts you to fill in your details and produces a well-written bio for you. Read our full Jasper AI review to learn how it can help you in your job search.

  20. How to Write a Short Bio: Step-by-Step Guide

    How to Write a Short Bio. Write your bio in the third person. Introduce yourself. Lead with your relevant claim to fame. Share accomplishments and impacts. Add layers to your profile. Keep it short and concise. Additional Tips for Writing a Bio. Personalize the content.

  21. How To Write a Professional Bio (With Examples and Templates)

    Explain your professional role. Include professional achievements. Discuss your passions and values. Mention your personal interests. 01. Introduce yourself. Begin your bio by stating your first and last name. If you're writing in the third person, these should be the first two words of the paragraph.

  22. How To Write A Short Bio: The Essential Tips

    This brief template will show you exactly how to write the perfect short bio for your website or portfolio. Line 1: [Name] is a [job title] who [job description]. Example: Robin Gillham is a Content Writer who writes engaging and informative content for a number of high-level clients. Line 2: [Name] believes that [why you do the work you do].

  23. 5 Inspiring Short Bio Examples + How to Write a Professional Bio

    Here are some basic steps for writing a professional bio. Gather the necessary information. Prewriting is a great way to pull everything together. Start with your personal brand. Think specifically about your current offer and the products and services that you sell. Write those down. Define your audience.

  24. 2 Inspiring Examples of Artist Bio with Tips

    Artistic Discipline(s) or Genre(s) Brief introduction: Start with your name and what type of artist you are.. Inspiration: Share what motivates you and your work.. Background: Mention key points about your artistic education and milestones.. Artistic Philosophy: Describe your creative approach and what your art means to you.. Recent Work: Highlight recent projects or notable pieces.

  25. How To Write a Personal Bio (Plus Tips and Examples)

    3. Choose a point of view. In a personal bio, you can either write in a first-person or third-person point of view. First-person language uses words like "I," "we" and "me" to describe yourself. It's a good idea to write in the first person if you want to make a personal connection with your audience.

  26. How to write a biography without biographical information

    On the first page of Sarah Ruden's biography of Vergil, she states the problem that any biographer of the ancient poet and author of the Aeneid faces: We know almost nothing about him. "The ...

  27. How to Write a Biography: 6 Tips for Writing Biographical Texts

    Using flashbacks allows the author to introduce relevant past information to the reader without bogging them down with paragraphs of background exposition. 6. Include your thoughts. A biography isn't just a transaction of facts. A biographer can share their own feelings and opinions on their subject's life.

  28. 200+ Instagram Bio Ideas For 2024 + How to Write a Bio

    Here are some ideas for what to write in your Instagram bio: Keep it short and sweet. Aim for around 100 characters. ... You have 150 characters to work within your Instagram bio - so keep it short and sweet! Aim for 1-2 sentences or 50-150 characters max. Anything longer risks getting cut off.