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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.

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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.

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

Learn how to write a bio for you or your business to help you to make a good impression online.

First impressions count, even online. That’s why your professional bio is one of the most crucial marketing materials you’ll ever write.

Whether it’s on Twitter, LinkedIn, your online portfolio, or your employer’s website, your professional bio is the first thing people will read to understand who you are and what you do.

What you highlight will affect how readers perceive you—as a job applicant, public speaker, author, or entrepreneur.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to write a bio for a freelance business website, portfolio, or an employer’s website.

I’ll share some helpful professional bio templates and bio examples that’ll make the process even easier. Plus, I’ll quickly discuss what to do when using your bio with a resume.

Benefits and Uses of a Short Professional Bio

Short professional bios are gaining more popularity, not only because people’s attention spans are getting shorter but also because more platforms are favoring the shorter format.

Twitter, for instance, has a 160-character limit on user bios. Author bylines on many websites are limited to two to three sentences as well, while LinkedIn doesn’t show your whole summary unless the user clicks “ show more. ”

Bios, in general, don’t have a strict word count as it depends on the medium or platform used. In general, however, a ‘micro bio’ is usually two to three short sentences, similar to those in Twitter and website bylines, while a short bio may have about 100 words or three to five short paragraphs.

Where to Use a Short Professional Bio

• ‘About the author’ section at the back of your book
• LinkedIn summary
• Author byline in your website or guest posts
• Speaker One Sheet
• ‘Meet our Team’ or ‘About us’ page of your employer’s website

The options listed above are where you can use a short professional bio as it’s written. But you can also repurpose or customize your bio for in-person events, such as:

• As an elevator speech on networking events
• When someone introduces you as a speaker for an event

The Challenge

Short professional bios are hard to write because of their importance and word-count limitations.

Writing about what makes you worthy of other people’s attention while making sure you don’t sound pompous is like crossing a tightrope.

While there are many ways to write a bio, from professional to light and humorous, the good ones all follow a similar format that’s easy to follow if you’ve got all the needed information.

Read the step-by-step instructions and follow along using the short bio template below.

Professional Bio Template A: Corporate Bio for Employees and Applicants

[Name] is a [your professional title] who helps [your target audience] to [the problems or goals of your target audience].

Before starting a [business or freelance work], [Name] worked [number] of years as a [relevant job title 1] and a [relevant job title 2]. After a successful career helping [sub-niche or branch of your target market 1] (e.g. fitness trainers, residential leasing agents, make-up artists, aspiring authors) and [sub-niche of your target market 2], [Name] now [appropriate action verb] (e.g. trains, coaches, advises) them on how to [specific tasks you do for your target market].

[Name] enjoys [hobby 1] and [hobby 2].

[Name] is available for [your type of work or output] and private consultations. You can reach [Name] at [phone number] or [email address].

Here’s what this professional bio template looks like when filled in:

“Lorie Smith is a Loan Officer at XYZ Bank, where Lorie processes loan applications from start to finish, including mortgage refinancing and educating clients about their different financing options. Lorie has worked with reputable real estate agencies, including ReMax, Century 21, and Coldwell Banker, among others. Lorie helps homeowners and new buyers secure a loan that suits their budget and goals. You can expect 100% transparency, no horror stories, and nasty surprises when working with Lorie. Lorie is a cat-lover and CMAS diver from Michigan. Please email [email protected] or go to ExampleDomain.com to contact Lorie.”

Professional Bio Template B: For Speakers, Freelancers, and Entrepreneurs

Before starting a [business or freelance work], [Name] worked [number] of years as a [relevant job title 1] and a [relevant job title 2]. After a successful career helping [sub-niche or branch of your target market 1] (e.g. fitness trainers, residential leasing agents, make-up artists, aspiring authors) and [sub-niche of your target market 2], [Name] now [appropriate action verb] (e.g. trains, coaches, advises) them on how to [specific tasks you do for your target market].

Here’s an example of the corporate bio template in use:

Kate Hendricks is a Freelance Writer and Social Media Manager who helps finance professionals and Fin-tech startups build an audience and get more paying clients online. Before starting a writing business, Kate spent six years as a Bank Teller and Virtual Assistant for financial companies in the U.S. and U.K. After a successful career helping small banks and real estate agencies, Katie now helps them write marketing copy for their products and services. Kate enjoys trying new sports (archery, anyone?) and managing a small property rental business. Kate’s available for marketing and writing projects, as well as private consultations. You can reach Kate at [email protected] .

How to Write a Bio

Now we’ll go into detail on how to write a short bio. The two templates above serve only as a framework, so feel free to add or delete some sentences as you see fit.

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.

• Who will read your bio? This depends on when and how it will be used. A bio for a freelance designer’s website should be different than the one used in your employer’s website, even if you’ve got the same job function in both cases. Your employer won’t appreciate you for soliciting work using their website. Write one bio per target audience.
• What does your audience need to know? For employees or job applicants, recruiters will need to know your professional experience, skills, and academic background. For entrepreneurs, this refers to the products or services you offer and how they make your customers’ lives easier.
• What do you want your audience to know? This isn’t directly about your skills, products, or services. It’s about the underlying feelings you evoke in the people working with you. For instance, an accountant’s clients will want to work with someone trustworthy. Trainers, meanwhile, are sought after for their patience and creativity in interacting with students.
• What’s in it for your readers? Specify the problem or goal your audience can accomplish with your help.
• What’s your story? Tell a story about how you came into your current work to show readers what sets you apart from other professionals. You can also write about your core values or why you’re in that business.
• What do you want them to do? State how you prefer readers to contact you.

Gathering all this information before you start writing prevents writer’s block. But if that doesn’t work, try searching for bios of people in your industry to get some ideas.

Take note of the phrases or words you like, so you can use them later (with some editing) in your own bio.

Step 2. Start With Your Name

Write your name at the start or first sentence of your bio so people will immediately realize what they’re reading.

Step 3. Explain Your Business or Occupation

Just like a cover letter or resume, your business or occupation should be mentioned early on to get the reader’s attention—or give them a chance to stop reading in case you’re not the one they’re looking for.

Your job or business should be clearly explained in the first two sentences of your short professional bio. Don’t leave this to later paragraphs because it might cause some readers to lose interest.

Some professional bios replace job titles with value proposition statements, which explain the problems you solve for your target market and why people should choose you over your competitors. While it’s attention-grabbing, it may be confusing for some of your readers.

For instance, your value proposition might be to increase website traffic organically, but it’s not clear whether you can do that because you’re a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist or a Content Marketer. Both occupations can increase a website’s traffic, but the reader might be looking for a particular skill set—SEO, blogging, or something else.

Use a value proposition if you want to stand out, but don’t forget to mention your job title.

Here are some tips to help: How to Define Your Core Brand Values (And Why You Should)

Step 4. Add Personal Interests and Other Humanizing Details

This is a subtle way to show the reader that you’re a real person. If you’ve got something in common with your reader or a fascinating hobby, that may prompt more readers to contact you.

Avoid humor, unless you’re absolutely sure that whoever reads your professional bio will appreciate it. This will depend on the media or platform where your bio is published, as well as its intended audience.

Avoid sounding too cynical of yourself, as it may come off as fake.

Intimate or embarrassing details about yourself should be kept secret, no matter how funny or attention-grabbing it is, as you never know how people might react.

When not traveling, Mark enjoys practicing for marathons, going on hikes, and planning for the next adventure with the wife and kids.

Wondering how to define your personal values? Get more insights from this tutorial .

Step 5. Contact Details and Call to Action

End with your contact information and a simple call to action asking people to get in touch with you. Phone numbers are totally optional, but email is a must.

Feel free to replace your phone number with a link to your website.

Short bio examples that follow the above guidelines:

Here’s a premium creative portfolio template with space to add your short bio and social media logos:

Here’s the bio of a Full-stack Engineer :

And the micro-bio of an author for his author page on Amazon:

Tips for Writing a Concise Yet Appealing Professional Bio

Even with the guidelines and templates above, writing a professional bio can be quite an undertaking. I know it was for me when I first wrote the about page of my website.

Use the writing tips below to write an authentic yet confident-sounding bio that you can be proud of.

1. Get Real

Realize that a professional bio is meant to make you look like a confident and skilled person. You’re not bragging. Just write about who you are and what you can do.

You’re doing a service by telling others what you can do for them. If they need someone with your skills and they find your bio, that’s a win-win. That person will look at you as a solution, not a braggart.

2. Show, Don’t Tell

The same concept applies when writing resumes. Use action verbs and always include quantifiable or specific accomplishments when possible.

Instead of claiming you’re a genius developer, write about the groundbreaking programs you created.

3. Short Bios Are Like Movie Trailers

Movie trailers only show the exciting and intriguing scenes of a movie, right? The same goes for a professional bio, especially the short and micro formats.

You may have tons of accomplishments in different areas of your career or business, so it’s important to pick the ones that will make your readers “ ooh ” as they read it. Perhaps you’ve been awarded top designer in your company two years in a row, and your work has been featured in a local magazine for artists, as well as several podcasts with a small audience.

Present your short bio in different slides of a premium PowerPoint portfolio template . Give sequence to your story.

Leave out the podcasts without brand recognition, and if you really have to, ditch the company award as well. This doesn’t mean that the other accolades aren’t worthy; it’s just that you need to conserve space for other information.

Using Your Short Bio With a Resume

If you have to submit your professional bio to a website, you may also be asked for a resume.

If this happens to you, your resume needs to be as professional as your short bio. The best way to make sure that your resume makes the right impression is to use a resume template.

Write and Revise

Professional bios are meant to be updated every now and then. Don’t worry if the first one you write after reading this tutorial isn’t as perfect as you hoped it would be. You can always revise your current corporate bio or write a new one next time someone requests it.

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20 of the Best Professional Bio Examples We’ve Ever Seen [+ Templates]

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Lindsay Kolowich Cox | HubSpot | October 13, 2022

Your professional bio is not only relevant when applying for jobs, seeking new clients, or networking — it also gives the world a brief snapshot of who you are and your professional ideals.

To help you author one that packs a punch, we’ll teach you how to write a professional bio and leverage professional bio templates with the best professional bio examples we’ve ever seen to draw inspiration from.

What is a Professional Bio?

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 who you are, and what you’ve done, and also hints at what you are capable of doing. It can help potential employers, fans, or customers get a sense of your personality and what you stand for.

That may be hard to achieve without a starting point. Below, we’ve included professional templates to expedite the process of writing a great resume bio.

Read the full article and access templates here .

20 of the Best Short Professional Bio Examples to Inspire You

Every working professional needs a short bio to make a positive statement about their skill set.  Whether it’s for a LinkedIn bio, Twitter account, or business website, this bio needs to be brief and striking to captivate readers and invite them to learn more about you. 

Everyone needs three types of bios, long, short, and two-liners.

• The long bio can be a page and goes on your website.
• A short bio is about a paragraph and is used as your default bio. 
• Your bio should summarize your professional qualification and experience, accomplishments, and skills.

Each of these bios should make you stand out from other professionals. They should explain why people would want to work with you. 

With that in mind, here are 20 of the best short professional bio examples. Hopefully, you can use these examples to create your engaging bio.

1. Rebecca Bollwitt

You should include a professional bio on all of your social media accounts and website. Some people craft a single professional bio template. However, each platform is different, and so it’s important to mix it up accordingly. 

LinkedIn is a professional network where you can showcase your professional background and qualifications to prospective clients. Facebook is more geared towards personal interactions, while Twitter is more concise and direct. Meanwhile, Medium requires a deeper and more detailed bio. 

2. Lena Axelsson

You should use a well-written professional bio if you publish content on industry-relevant websites. Niche websites are a great spot to share your professional experiences with people who work in your sector.. 

In this example from Lena Axelsson, she begins her bio by first connecting with the readers. She acknowledges the problems that her audience is suffering from and empathizes with them. 

She then proceeds to explain how she helps clients and the benefits they can gain from her services. More importantly, she highlights her professional skills and qualifications, how she differs from other practitioners in the field, and why she would be best suited to help the clients and their families.

The final paragraph then showcases her educational background, an important piece of information for readers. Overall, the professional bio is compassionate, empathetic, and understanding– traits that are crucial in counseling clients. 

3. Audra Simpson

Another great bio example on the professional website is from Audra Simpson, an Anthropology professor from Columbia University. Here is the bio that she uses on the University website. 

Professional bios are often written in the first person to give it a personal touch, but in this example, it’s written in the third person to give it more authority. It also allows the writer to showcase her impressive accomplishments and qualifications without sounding boastful. 

In a limited space, the professional bio shares her work experience and interests. It displays Audra’s credentials, specializations, and even her work ethic. 

4. Corey Wainwright

Corey Wainwright’s professional bio on HubSpot’s website is the definition of keeping it cute and simple. As mentioned in her bio, she is a content marketer for the company, among other things. With less than 25 words on her bio, she presents a very approachable and friendly vibe to the readers.

Even though it’s written in the third person, the bio has character due to its casual and personal content. It’s almost as if she’s giving readers a piece of her personal life. 

This professional bio connects to her social media profiles so people can learn more about Corey. This type of bio doesn’t work in every situation. Some websites require a more serious tone, so it’s important to assess the medium before crafting your professional bio template. 

5. Marie Mikhail

When companies look for recruiters, they would want to hire someone passionate and genuinely interested in the field and your product. 

Marie Mikhail makes this particularly known to the readers. Not only does she express her love for recruiting, but she also presents a relevant story about it. Telling a story is also a good tactic in professional writing. 

Some may not find talent acquisition the most interesting career path out there, but Marie does a good job turning a relatively dull topic into something exciting. This LinkedIn bio from her profile details her professional experiences and her love for the company’s products. She also includes relevant qualifications to build up her profile. 

6. Megan Gilmore

Another good example of a professional bio on Instagram is from cookbook and food writer Megan Gilmore. 

Most professionals try to establish themselves on one or two platforms first instead of selling themselves short on over five or ten other platforms. Focusing on a few platforms allows you to customize the content for each platform, which means you’ll need two different bios.

You can use these bios to cross-promote your brand on each platform. 

Megan does this by highlighting her “no fad” writing style and listing down some books she has written. After this, she uses a pointing emoji to link her LinkedIn profile where readers can access her recipes. 

This is a great way to show off her credentials to potential book buyers. 

7. Tim Cook

Tim Cook is the CEO of the multinational technology company Apple since 2011. You would think that, with such a massive title, people who visit Apple’s website already have a pretty good idea of who he is. 

Nonetheless, Tim’s professional bio on Apple’s website doesn’t assume this. It is professionally written and highlights his position as Apple’s CEO. It also includes the fact that he serves as one of its board of directors. 

Moreover, it narrates details about his earlier career and his time as COO of Apple. Even with such an impressive resume, he provides readers all the information they need to know about him.

8. Shaquille O’Neal

Most professional bios, like some of the examples above, are written in the third person. That can make it sound more professional. It also allows people to list their experience and qualifications without sounding like they’re bragging. 

Writing in the first person can also be highly effective.

This is exemplified by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal’s LinkedIn bio. Aside from being a famous athlete, he also has a bachelor’s, a master’s, and a doctorate. 

Since it’s something he is most known for, Shaq begins his bio with his greatest achievement as a basketball player. He then proceeds to his accomplishments and credentials outside of basketball by detailing his business ventures with some of the big brands he’s worked with and his speaking events nationwide.  

He is a man of many talents, and professional bio writing is one of them. 

9. Richard Branson

Richard Branson starts off his professional bio by introducing the Virgin Group, a British company he founded. He is a man known equally for his failures as well as his many successes. 

His bio summarizes his career, but the last few sentences are the highlight. He shifts from a professional tone to a more fun and personable one by using the term “tie-loathing adventurer” and referring to himself as “Dr. Yes.”

10. Anthony Gioeli

If not written properly, bios tend to sound boastful, making some professionals hesitant to talk about themselves and their achievements. However, highlighting these achievements and skills is important as it can attract people to do business with you.

 Anthony Gioeli holds no stops in boasting his professional accomplishments. Rather than sounding big-headed, he does it confidently and factually. One of the skills he highlights is being an expert negotiator working with multimillion firms like Vodafone. 

Notice how his professional bio has good formatting. He does this by using a series of paragraphs and bullet points to present information to readers. 

While keeping your professional bio short and concise is effective, you can also be detailed like Anthony– you just need the right format. 

11. Katrina O.

Professional bios can sometimes seem repetitive and boring, which is why putting a little spin on it can work wonders. To do this, you will need to arouse curiosity from your readers so that they’ll be encouraged to read further. 

Katrina Ortiz does this in her LinkedIn bio. The first sentence alone sparks intrigue by using a line like “caught fire coding.” It’s different and, in turn, intrigues readers. Even her name ‘Katrina O.’ catches your attention.

In just three words, Katrina could captivate readers and give them an idea of her work. As an enthusiastic software developer, she highlights both her professional and personal experiences. She also shares the programming languages she is proficient with. 

12. Karen Abbate

We love a good list. Lists are a good way to organize ideas or thoughts in an easier way for readers to grasp. While it’s an unusual method in writing professional bios, it’s probably more unusual than this example from Karen Abbate uses numbers instead of bullet points. 

In her list, she presents six important and notable things about her professional and personal details.  She uses a confident and professional tone, just enough not to sound boastful. She starts by mentioning impressive brands she’s worked with and discusses her love for everything on the web. 

The bio also details her educational background, work experience, and passions. She also shares a personal backstory and relates it to her work. All in all, it is an innovative bio. 

13. Gijo Mathew

Another good use of the list on LinkedIn bios is this example from Gijo Mathew. A list can help improve readability and organize information that, if written otherwise, can seem complicated. Appearance-wise, it also makes the bio seem more compelling. 

In this bio, Gijo uses bullet points to list information to express why clients should choose to work with him. It makes his LinkedIn profile look more interesting and easy to grasp. 

14. Genevieve McKelly

LinkedIn is one of the most important channels for promoting yourself. You will need this perspective when crafting your professional bio on LinkedIn. 

A social media marketer’s mission is to instigate engagement or start a conversation among readers or consumers. Genevieve McKelly encourages this conversation by giving readers book and podcast recommendations in the last few sentences of her bio and, in turn, asking the readers for recommendations too. It’s a great ice breaker and makes her sound friendlier.

Aside from asking for great reads and listens, she also throws in an industry-related question. She then ends it with approachable words that welcome discourse. 

15. Darrell Evans

Identifying customer pain points is important in setting up marketing campaigns or a business in general. Pain points are specific problems that potential customers may be experiencing.

In this bio by Darrell Evans, he brings up a common pain point that most businesses suffer from: spending money on marketing and not the return on investment. Darrell then gives them a solution by telling readers the kind of work he does and the benefits it offers. 

Going further, he introduces who he is and what his company does. He also gives readers some facts and figures to suggest that his professional services are the best and help them solve their marketing predicament. 

16. Fernando Silva

Professional bios almost always start with the ‘professional’ aspect rather than the bio. It’s a common formula to showcase your credentials before adding a personal touch to make it seem friendlier and more approachable. 

However, Fernando Silva mixes things up with his LinkedIn bio by starting with personal information first. He kicks things off by describing himself as a “city dweller who loves to travel” and then proceeds to more professional details like his experience in SaaS.

Although short, it is a very passionate bio because it showcases things that he loves, like traveling and meeting new people. 

17. Nikki Ivey

Being relatable is a great way to connect with potential leads and clients. Nikki Ivey does this by sharing a heartfelt story about the struggles she had to face to become the “sales coach wing-woman” she is today. 

Her story shows empathy and allows readers to relate to her. It also encourages conversation among readers who may have experienced a similar situation. With this shared history, readers can get emotionally invested in her and make them open to working with her. 

However, this approach can be tricky as it needs to be sincere and relevant enough to attract attention. 

18. Raphael Parker

You should include your professional experience in your bio. Raphael Parker shows off his experiences in a very unique, unconventional way. He uses the term ‘ex’ to refer to his work history. He then indirectly discusses his current work by presenting it as a passion instead of a career. 

Raphael’s bio leaves a lot to the reader’s imagination but builds him up as an experience career man nonetheless. That is pretty impressive, considering he only uses a few words and sentences. 

19. Allison Zia

First impressions count. Having a striking first sentence in your professional bio can hook your readers into learning more about you. 

These first sentences are typically a few words long but should have a lasting impact. Allison Zia does this with only five words: “I like to solve problems”. It’s a bold statement that makes you want to read more. 

Allison moves on to her work experience, specialities, and skills to sustain her reader’s attention. She also includes relevant examples to relate to readers. 

20. Ann Handley

Ann Handley’s bio is a great example of how even a few words can make the best impression. She is an experienced marketer and, although many can claim this to be true, she evokes this kind of credibility with her choice of words. 

She encourages readers to read more by clicking a link on her website with little information she provides. Even after clicking the about page of her website, she keeps things short and simple by dividing information with bullet points. If readers are interested to learn more, she provides a few relevant links. 

This bio used as her header highlights her achievements as a writer, speaker, and partner in a major marketing company.  

A professional bio is your opportunity to attract a potential client, customer, or employer. Some may be short, while some may be detailed. The bottom line is that they should make you stand out in a crowd.

Use these examples as helpful templates you can use in creating your compelling professional bio.

About the author

Nicholas Prins

I'm the founder of Launch Space. We work with global companies helping them scale lead generation through SEO and content marketing. Head over to the homepage to find out more.

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20 Short Professional Bio Examples About Yourself

Whether it’s a LinkedIn profile, your Twitter account, or your business website, having a professional-sounding bio needs to make a positive statement.

It should be brief to ensure readers don’t switch off or tune out. This means that you have anywhere from around 10 words, in the case of Twitter bio, to 100 words, which is suitable for LinkedIn, to relay what you do, how you excel at doing it, and why readers should choose you over others.

• 1. Rebecca Bollwitt – Simple Short Bio Example For Instagram

2. Linda Hulme Williams – Simple Short Bio Example For Work

3. audra simpson – short professional bio example in third person for professional website, 4. corey wainwright – simple short professional bio example in third person, 5. marie mikhail, 6. megan gilmore – short bio example for social media, 7. tim cook, 8. shaquille o’neal, 9. richard branson, 10. anthony gioeli, 11. katrina o., 12. karen abbate, 13. gijo mathew, 14. genevieve mckelly, 15. darrell evans, 16. fernando silva, 17. nikki ivey, 18. raphael parker, 19. allison zia, 20. ann handley – personal brand website bio example.

Below, we have found 20 short professional bio examples that you can use for inspiration to help you write a professional bio.

20 Simple Short Professional Bio Examples About Yourself

1. rebecca bollwitt – s imple short bio example for instagram.

Instagram is a visual and fun social media platform . So, Instagram demands a visually appealing short bio.

Award-winning blogger Rebecca Bollwitt uses emojis to help categorize the sections of her personal brand short bio on Instagram. Use of emoji also give it a bit more color, a lot of character, and they make it relevant to the platform.

She also keeps it very short on words, because Instagram is a platform where pictures carry more weight than words.

Psychology Today is a professional industry website, which is yet another location for well-honed professional bios.

Linda Hulme Williams identifies with readers with her first sentence. She recognizes a problem that her potential clients are suffering from and shows that she has the empathy to identify why it is a problem.

This opening sentence enables Linda to launch into the rest of her bio. She explains how she helps clients and the benefits that help brings.

She also shows why she is a good fit, how she differs from others within the same field, and the professional credentials that qualify her to help you and your family.

In the final paragraph, readers find the slightly drier but equally important educational background information. Overall, the bio shows passion, empathy, and understanding, which is what most counseling clients want.

Audra Simpson is a Professor in the Anthropology Department of Columbia University. The University website is not only the ideal location to show off her qualifications, but visitors will expect to see these qualifications.

The professional bio is written in the third person, which is actually less common nowadays than it once was because many people prefer the personal touch of the first person bio.

A third person bio sounds more authoritative, allows the writer to relay information without sounding like they are bragging, and is more commonly used in professional situations like on university websites.

Audra’s website bio does a good job of getting across some quite complex language and topics in a short space.

It shows off her credentials clearly, without necessarily bragging, and it not only shows what she specializes in but how she goes about her studies and professional work.

Corey Wainwright is a content marketer, and we know that from her short professional bio on the HubSpot website. Her bio is written in the third person but it retains character thanks to the very personal information that it opens with.

The whole bio is less than 25 words and, as pointed out on the HubSpot blog itself, it makes Corey seem approachable while linking to her content. It almost feels like she’s giving away a secret about her personal life.

Right above Corey’s picture are links to her main social media profiles which means that readers have the opportunity to click through to her profiles where they will be able to find out more, should they wish.

This type of short professional bio won’t work for everybody, in every instance, but in the right situation, it can be highly effective. It is likely to have led to some clicks through to Corey’s social media profiles, which was part of the point.

Talent acquisition might not captivate everyone. However, when seeking someone to handle recruitment for your firm, it’s crucial. You want the individual representing you to genuinely find it intriguing and captivating

Marie Mikhail doesn’t just tell us that she is passionate about recruitment, she tells a story to show us. Novelists and fiction writers are routinely told to show something, don’t tell it, and this is just as true in a lot of aspects of professional writing.

In this case, it turns a relatively dry topic into something a little more interesting and with some character and backstory.

In her LinkedIn bio, Marie shows us her professional experience, including her extra-curricular love of convincing people to take on roles.

Following this, she gives us details of her experience and relevant qualifications.

There are a lot of social media platforms , and most professionals are advised to put the bulk of their efforts into one or two platforms, rather than trying to spread themselves too thinly over 10 or even five.

Doing so enables you to customize content for each platform, too. While this does mean that you should write a separate bio for each of your social media profiles, there’s no reason that you can’t use the bios themselves to cross-promote your other platforms.

Megan Gilmore is a cookbook and food writer. She highlights the kind of writing you can expect with the statement “no fads” and then goes on to show off some of her past experience by listing the books she has previously written.

After this, she includes a platform-relevant pointing emoji, links to her LinkedIn bio, and Megan even gives away access to some of her recipes as a means of showing her credentials to potential book buyers.

You’ve probably heard of Tim Cook. He is, after all, the CEO of one of, if not the most valuable companies in the world, Apple.

He has been featured on the Apple website since 2011, according to the bio. So, many visitors to the site might already recognize him. However, Tim does not assume that any readers know who he is or what he does.

His bio is professional. It obviously highlights his current position as CEO of Apple and the fact that he serves on its board of directors.

Then, it goes on to explain that he served as the company’s COO and gives details of his earlier working career. Despite having an incredibly enviable CV, his professional bio does not make any assumptions and ensures that readers are given all the information they need to find out about him.

Many of the bios examples we’ve examined till now are written in the third person. Most people opt for this writing style as it sounds professional. It also lets them discuss their experience and qualifications. This way, it doesn’t come off as overly boastful.

It sounds informational. However, writing a bio in the first person can also be very effective and highly emotive.

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal gets plenty of stuff right in his LinkedIn profile, as you would expect from a man with a bachelor’s, a master’s, and a doctorate.

Shaq starts with his greatest achievement and the thing that most people will recognize him for. He goes on to highlight his unique achievements and what he has done since getting out of basketball. He is clearly a polymath and can add writing bios in the first person to his list of credentials and skills that already includes “purveyor of fun.”

Richard Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group: a man as well known for failures as his successes, but there have been a lot of the latter.

In his bio, he gives an abridged version of his career to date, the last couple of sentences of his bio are where it really shines. He plays up to the well-known image of being a “tie-loathing adventurer” and being known as “Dr. Yes!”

Some people struggle to boast about themselves. Yet, it’s a vital professional skill. You don’t need to appear arrogant.

However, it’s important to emphasize your professional skills and accomplishments. These achievements attract people to use your services, consider you for a role, or engage with you.

Anthony Gioeli’s LinkedIn bio does boast about his professional accomplishments, but it is factual rather than boasting. Which is an achievement in itself when some of those achievements include negotiating multi-million dollar contracts with the likes of Vodafone.

His social media profile is also a good example of the benefits of good formatting because the paragraph and bullet point hybrid does a very good job of clearly and reliably setting out the information for readers to easily get through.

Although his is quite a long profile, if you’ve got it and you can format it well, you might as well flaunt it.

Intrigue arouses curiosity. It is what persuades us to keep watching films or reading the next page of a book , even when we know we should turn it off or put the book down. It can also be used in a professional bio to encourage people to read more, click through, or get in touch.

Katrina Ortiz’s profile is all about intrigue. The first sentence of her bio reads “I caught fire coding.” This instantly makes you want to read more to quench your curiosity.

Even her display name, Katrina O, starts to build a sense of fascination.

After explaining the first sentence of her bio (no spoilers here, sorry) Katrina then goes on to give details of relevant skills and the programming languages she has mastered.

There are quite a few points worth noting in Karen Abbate’s LinkedIn bio, starting with the layout. We love a list, and while it isn’t that unusual to see a bulleted list, it is more unusual to see a numbered list. In this case, Karen lists the six most important, or at least most prominent, things about her and her work. As she puts it, “in, out, nobody gets hurt.”

She has also mastered the brag.

• Point 1 highlights the brands that she has worked with, and it is an impressive list.
• Point 2 is another brag and it also highlights a little of what she does.
• Point 3 not only gives an insight into her education and experience but also her work while point 4 is a very personal piece of backstory.
• Point 5 highlights the benefits she has to offer.
• Point 6 is fun and personable while also showing a passion for her work.

It’s a relatively innovative way of getting all the required information into a bio and something you might expect from a talented creative director.

Bullet points can help identify and highlight important information. They can improve readability, maintain order in an otherwise complicated list, and they can make your LinkedIn bio look a lot more effective than a bullet-free bio.

In his well-written bio, Gijo Mathew uses bullet points to provide supporting evidence that backs up how he can help clients with their work. It makes the page look more intriguing and helps break information down.

Attempting to write the points out in full would have been clunky and almost impossible to follow along.

Using a site like LinkedIn can be viewed as a form of social media marketing. In some cases, rather than promoting a business or website, however, you’re promoting yourself, and you need to approach it in a similar way.

One thing that social media marketers are told is that they need to encourage engagement, which means trying to spark a conversation or get readers involved in some kind of discussion or other activity.

Genevieve McKelly bio tells us all about the books she is reading and the podcasts she is listening to before inviting us to tell her about our own reads and listens.

It’s a great way to start a conversation but it also makes Genevieve sound more approachable which makes it even more likely that her profile visitors will engage in the desired discourse.

After the personal questions, she then throws in a question related to her role and what she is looking for.

Customer pain points are problems that potential clients experience. These could relate to the product or service you offer. By positioning your product or service as a solution, you address these pain points.

This approach shows empathy with potential customers. Moreover, it offers them a way to alleviate their concerns.

In this LinkedIn bio, Darrell Evans highlights spending a lot of money on marketing to yield no results as being a major pain point for businesses. He then identifies himself as the solution: the painkiller that beats the pain, if you will.

He then highlights who he is, what his company does, and gives you some facts and figures to try and convince you that Darrell’s brand of painkiller is the best and will provide you with the relief you need.

Most professional bios start with the professional and end with the bio. That is, they highlight the professional credentials of the individual. They showcase the qualifications, work experience, and what they can do for a business or clients.

After this, they might briefly show a personal like or some other personal tidbit in order to appear more personable and friendly to the reader. This isn’t the only way it works out, though.

Fernando Silva, in his LinkedIn bio, turns the formula around and starts out with personal information. He lets them know that he is a “city dweller who loves to travel”.

He then gives us some professional details, such as the fact that he is experienced in working in SaaS, before telling us that he likes to meet new people.

There is no greater way to connect with potential leads and customers than to tell a story that they can connect with. It shows empathy and identifies a shared history. It shows your personal side and it encourages conversation.

It means that the reader is already emotionally invested in you and your future, and they will want to see success for both of you. Creating that narrative can be tricky because it needs to be heartfelt and personable, but it also needs to be relevant to what you do while attracting plenty of attention.

Nikki Ivey shares a heartfelt story about her past and how it led her to become the “sales coach wing-woman” that she is today.

You can use your bio to tell any story you may want, but you do need to ensure that it is relevant, in some way, to what you are trying to achieve.

Generally, this means getting across important information about your experiences, qualifications, or skills. This doesn’t mean that you have to simply write a dry list of those achievements.

Raphael Parker opted to highlight several things he has done in the past to show off some of his skills. He leaves quite a lot to the imagination, but also gives a lot of information away. That’s a lot to achieve in just a couple of lines of LinkedIn bio content.

You can use the first sentence of your bio almost like a headline. The headline of a news article is designed to hook the reader.

It pulls people in so that they read the rest of the story. Typically, the headline is only a few words long, which means that it has a lot of work to do in a very small amount of space.

Some of the most effective bios do something similar using the headline or the first sentence of their bio.

Allison Zia’s first sentence is “I like to solve problems” which is a bold statement that will hook most readers and encourage them to read more.

At this point, it is the role of the rest of the bio to keep the reader’s attention. Allison manages that by highlighting what she does, using examples, and showing off her specialties and her professional skills.

Ann Handley is a skilled and experienced marketer. Somebody that most people in marketing will have heard of at some point. As such, she has plenty of credentials and a years of experience that she could boast about in her bio.

Instead, she only gives a little information and encourages you to click and read more. Her personal website bio have seen several iterations, and the most recent is possibly one of the shortest.

It is, in fact, the header of the home page of her personal website, but it highlights her professional achievements as a writer, partner of a major marketing company, and speaker, while also encouraging visitors to get in touch. Powerful stuff from a skilled marketer.

Simple Short Professional Bio Examples About Yourself – Recap

In conclusion, while we’ve provided some exemplary short professional bio examples to help you write one, the key lies in customization.

Tailor your professional bio to align with each platform’s ethos and intended audience. By doing so, you not only cater to the varying preferences of your readers but also enhance your chances of leaving a lasting impression.

Writing a short bio isn’t just about stating facts; it’s about storytelling, and the most compelling stories are those that resonate with their target audience.

So, take the time, evaluate, and write a short bio that not only represents you but also engages your reader.

Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing. I started my first e-commerce company in college, designing and selling t-shirts for my campus bar crawl using print-on-demand. Having successfully established multiple 6 & 7-figure e-commerce businesses (in women’s fashion and hiking gear), I think I can share a tip or 2 to help you succeed.

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How to write a professional bio (with examples and templates)

• Rebecca Strehlow
• 11 min read

Get started by: Creating a website →  | Getting a domain →

Which three words would you use to describe yourself? Most of us have been asked this question, and many of us have fumbled through it awkwardly.

Coming up with a personal description can be daunting. But there are times when it’s essential - whether we’re updating our LinkedIn profiles, blogging for Medium or creating a business website of our own.

In this post, we’ll go over how to write a bio, step by step. To help guide you, we’ve also included a handy template, along with some professional bio examples for your inspiration. With these resources, you’ll find that writing a bio, as part of making a website , is much easier than you might think.

What is a bio?

Before you learn how to write a bio, you should have a clear understanding of what it is and why you need it.

In the world of literature, a personal biography can span the length of an entire novel, like Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom or Malala Yousafzai’s I Am Malala . In the online world, however, a bio is a short paragraph in which you introduce yourself. Typically, some of the best business websites place bios on a designated About Us page in their website, as well as on their social media pages and other networking platforms.

What to include in a bio

Depending on your audience and goals, your bio can highlight your personal interests, your professional achievements or a mix of both. Here are some of the elements a bio might include:

Job title or workplace

University degree and other qualifications

Hometown or city of residence

Personal or professional goals

Mission statement and values

Skills and expertise

Interests and hobbies

The goal of writing a bio is to provide people with a snapshot of who you are. This is important for a variety of reasons, whether it’s drawing people toward your personal website or promoting your blog, attracting clients and business partners to your brand, or highlighting your achievements for job interviews.

How to write a short bio

The most effective online bios are both professional and concise. Here’s how to write a short professional bio that suits your website or brand:

Introduce yourself

State your company or brand name

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. This makes your name easy for your audience to identify and remember. Your bio is a huge part of your personal branding efforts, and should start with a strong intro to make a positive impact.

02. State your company or brand name

Think about whether you want your bio to represent yourself on a personal level, or whether you’d like it to come across as more professional. If you have a personal brand or business - for example, a blog, freelance business or eCommerce site - be sure to mention your brand name at the beginning of your bio. Don’t be afraid if the name sounds simple or redundant. It’s perfectly fine, for instance, to say Mary Smith is the founder and CEO of Smith Digital.

Likewise, feel free to mention the name of another company or brand that you work for if you’d like to associate it with your professional accomplishments - e.g., Mary Smith is a consultant at Google and the founder and CEO of Smith Digital.

03. Explain your professional role

Next, briefly explain your current position. This is relevant whether you’re the founder of a company, a high-level specialist or a beginner in your field, and it can be similar to the description you have on your resume. Your website visitors won’t necessarily know what your job involves, so elaborating on your primary responsibilities helps paint a picture of who you are and what you have to offer. This can also be used, if needed for employment and recruitment opportunities. If you're a freelancer a strong bio can make all the difference in how successful sourcing work can be.

04. Include professional achievements

In addition to explaining what your job entails, highlight milestones that make you stand out. Even if you haven’t won an award or gained external recognition, you can discuss ways in which you’ve contributed to your professional role and touch on new ideas or approaches that you bring to the table.

05. Discuss your passions and values

Once you describe what you do and how you contribute to your role, you’ll need to explain the why . This is one of the most important elements to focus on as you consider how to write a bio.

Think about the values and passions underlying your work, as well as your professional philosophy. What gets you up in the morning? What’s the driving force behind what you do?

You can also think of this part of your professional bio as a kind of mission statement. Perhaps your mission is to serve others, contribute to society, grow your expertise or learn new skills. Whatever your reasons, expanding upon these ideas can help your audience get a better understanding of what truly matters to you. Don't be afraid to deploy storytelling in this part of creating your bio. Explore your narrative and then convey it.

06. Mention your personal interests

The most effective short bios will not only focus on your professional experience, but will also touch on what you like to do in your spare time. Consider mentioning:

Your family

Your hometown

Your hobbies

Side projects you’re working on

Transitioning to a more casual discussion of who you are outside of work is a great way to conclude your bio. This will present you as a more well-rounded person while making you relatable for your audience.

Professional bio template

As you go through the steps on how to write a bio, this handy template will help you get started:

Sentence 1: [Name] is a [job title] who [job description].

E.g., Lisa Green is an English teacher who teaches beginning to advanced literature courses for 10th and 11th grade students at Bloomfield High School.

Sentence 2: [Name] believes that [why you do the work you do].

E.g., Lisa believes that written and analytical skills are not only a fundamental part of academic excellence, but are also the building blocks of critical thinking in high school and beyond.

Sentence 3: [Name/pronoun] has [mention your achievements].

E.g., In addition to managing the English curriculum for the school, she runs an after school program where she works one-on-one with students.

Sentence 4: [Name/pronoun] is a [mention any relevant awards, training or honors].

E.g., She has also been nominated Teacher of the Year for two consecutive years.

Sentence 5: [Name/pronoun] holds a [insert degree] in [field of study] from [university].

E.g., Lisa holds a BA in Creative Writing and a Master’s Degree in Teaching from the University of Michigan.

Once you’ve filled in this template, put it all together into a single paragraph to create an initial framework for your professional biography. Note that you can shorten or expand upon this bio according to your unique needs.

Professional bio examples

Now that you know the basics of writing a professional bio, here are some short bio examples to inspire you. You can use these examples as additional templates for guidance as you craft your own personal biography.

Like the creators of these examples, you can place your bio on your personal or professional website and, later, revise the structure for other online platforms.

01. Bristol Guitar Making School

Of all the professional bio examples, Alex Bishop’s content exudes passion. Strategically placing the bio on the About page of his small business website , he highlights his skills and explains why he finds his work meaningful. In particular, we love his description of why he chose to pursue guitar making:

“​My passion as a guitar maker comes from a life-long obsession with making things. From a young age I have always tried to manipulate objects and materials in order to create something entirely different. I find that working with wood is a way for me to connect with nature. The simple act of shaping wood to make something functional or beautiful brings me endless satisfaction.”

He also lists his accomplishments and awards, adding credibility to his business and building trust among prospective clients.

02. Alexandra Zsigmond

As someone who has served as art director for both The New York Times' opinion section and The New Yorker , it's no surprise that Alexandra Zsigmond's bio is thorough and detailed. Providing statistics or reflections on the things she achieved in her career is a clever way to demonstrate her value without saying so directly. As she explains:

"She has collaborated with a roster of over 1000 artists worldwide and art directed over 4000 editorial illustrations. She is known for greatly expanding the range of visual contributors to the Times, drawing equally from the worlds of contemporary illustration, fine art, animation, and comics."

03. Amanda Shields Interiors

Amanda Shields provides us with another effective bio example on her interior design website. Importantly, she spices up her bio by explaining how home decor aligns with her personal life and why it’s so close to her heart as a mother and entrepreneur:

"After working as a product designer for numerous retailers over the years, and after I had my first child, I decided to take the plunge and start my own home staging business…. Coincidentally, a month later I discovered I was pregnant with my second child. I loved the new challenges I faced as a new entrepreneur and mom and it didn't take long for me to discover that this was my calling…. I felt the need to expand my business and launch Amanda Shields Interiors as its own entity to focus specifically on residential interiors and design."

By placing this content on her website’s About page, she provides potential clients with insights into her expertise and professional experience. She expands upon the choices she made along her career path, strategically making note of her achievements and acquired skills along the way.

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Tips for writing a bio

As you write your bio using the professional template above, make sure to keep the following tips in mind:

Keep it concise: Your bio should be sufficiently explanatory, but it should also be short and to the point. A good rule of thumb is to keep each element of your bio - from your job description to your mission statement and hobbies - to about 1-2 sentences. That way, you’ll end up with a brief paragraph that holds your readers’ attention without rambling on.

Consider your audience: The voice and tone you choose for your biography largely depends on your audience and personal goals. If you’re looking for a job and are writing primarily for recruiters, you’ll want to use a serious, professional tone. On the other hand, if you’re creating an Instagram bio , consider using more casual, conversational language that reflects your personality.

Add humor: Relatedly, consider adding humor when appropriate. This is especially valuable if you’ve founded your own business or created your own website , as it can give you a distinct brand identity while helping your audience build a stronger sense of connection with your brand.

Link to your website: When writing a bio for a platform other than your own website - a social media page, another company page, or a guest blog or publication - remember to include a link to your website. This will help you promote your website while highlighting your professionalism and authority.

Adapt for different platforms: You’ll most likely need to adapt the length and writing style of your biography to suit different platforms. For example, you may place a longer bio on your website’s About page and a shorter one on your LinkedIn page. In these cases, use the same main principles for writing a bio while scaling down the most important elements.

By following these tips, you can create a powerful bio that helps you stand out in your field and allows your audience to get to know you better.

How to write a bio in four sentences or less

Really need to create a super short bio? We'd suggest following some of the tips above, just condensing them into less word for a short bio that still makes impact.

But if we really had to choose we'd say focus on - you, your professional role and company. That condenses everything that matters for bio into three sentences. Humor, creativity and uniqueness still all matter - just use fewer words to convey them.

Creating a bio for your website

As we’ve noted in the examples above, one of the most strategic places to put your bio is on your website - so be sure to consider it within your web design plans. Whether the goal of your site is to start and promote your business , showcase your design portfolio or display your resume, including a bio gives your audience a glimpse into the person behind your content. It can also kickstart your professional growth . Show the world what you do, how you do it and why it matters, and people will be drawn to your passion and inspired by your experience.

Pro tip: You can add a bio to many different types of websites, so using templates can help you create yours faster. For example, if you're creating a portfolio website , explore portfolio website templates to help you get started.

Creating a bio for social media

Crafting a professional bio for social media is vital as it introduces you or your brand, and it builds credibility and trust. A well-written bio establishes your expertise, attracts the right audience, and fosters engagement. It helps maintain a consistent brand image, optimizes search and discovery, and opens doors to networking and career opportunities. A compelling bio delivers a concise, informative snapshot of who you are, what you do, and the value you bring, leaving a lasting impression on visitors and potential collaborators alike.

You may need to edit your bio depending on which social media platform you plan to use it on. Some of the most popular ones include Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Focus on getting your bio right on the platforms you plan to focus your personal or brand social media marketing efforts on.

Writing a bio with AI

If you're looking to write your bio fast while creating your website, consider using an AI text generator to build your draft. You'll still need to make sure it goes through. an intensive editing process, so that it really captures the essence of who you are and your professional skills. A bio is about much more than just basic information, so don't forget to include the storytelling too. Build a website with Wix and you can make use of the in-built AI text generator within its Editor .

Why good bios are important for a professional

In a world where first impressions matter, a well-crafted bio can make a significant impact in establishing trust and credibility with potential clients, employers or collaborators. It also offers insight into your personality and values, helping to forge authentic connections with your audience. It acts as a powerful tool for personal branding, allowing you to differentiate yourself in a competitive landscape and leave a memorable impression.

A strong bio also serves as a gateway to opportunities, whether it's securing new clients, landing job interviews or establishing partnerships. It acts as a professional introduction, allowing you to showcase your expertise. A polished and impactful bio is essential for you to effectively communicate your professional identity and stand out in your field.

Writing a bio without experience

Writing a bio when you don't yet have experience can be challenging, but it's an opportunity to showcase your potential and aspirations.

Begin by highlighting your educational background, skills and any relevant coursework or projects you've completed. Focus on your passions, interests and personal qualities that make you unique. Consider including volunteer work, internships or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your commitment and initiative. Emphasize your eagerness to learn and grow in your chosen field and express your future goals and aspirations. Don't be afraid to be honest about your current stage and your willingness to gain experience and develop professionally.

If you don't know what to write in your bio, start by brainstorming your key experiences, achievements, skills and personal attributes. Consider what sets you apart and what you want others to know about you. Look for inspiration from other bios or profiles in your field, and consider seeking feedback from friends, mentors or colleagues. Don't hesitate to highlight your passions, interests and goals, as well as any unique experiences or perspectives you bring to the table. Remember to keep it concise and engaging, and don't be afraid to revise and refine your bio until it accurately represents you.

How to write a bio FAQ

What is a short bio.

A short bio, short for biography, is a concise summary of a your life or professional background. It provides a brief overview of your key achievements, qualifications, experiences, and relevant details. Typically written in the third person, a short bio is often used in various contexts, such as professional profiles, social media accounts, introductions for speaking engagements, author descriptions, and other situations where a brief introduction is required. The length of a short bio can vary, but it's generally kept to a few sentences or a short paragraph to provide a snapshot of the person's background and expertise.

How do I write a bio about myself?

What should i include in a short bio, how do you write a fun bio for work, how do i make my bio stand out, related posts.

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How to Write Engaging Personal & Professional Bios (with Examples)

Last Updated: August 24, 2023 Fact Checked

Writing Personal and Professional Bios

Writing student bios, making your bio stand out, sample bios.

This article was co-authored by Melody Godfred, JD and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau . Melody Godfred is a Career Coach, Entrepreneur, and Founder of Write In Color, a full-service resume and career development company that specializes in developing compelling personal narratives and brands. With over ten years of experience, Melody has worked with clients at entertainment and media companies including Apple, Disney, Fox, Netflix, Riot Games, Viacom, and Warner Bros, among others. The Muse invited Melody and Write In Color to serve as one of its 30 trusted career counselors (out of 3,000) to provide one-on-one coaching and resume services to the platform's more than four million active users. Melody earned a JD from Loyola Marymount University and BS from the University of Southern California. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 5,730,194 times.

Personal bios are a great way to show people who you are and what you do. Whether writing a bio about yourself for a personal or professional website, a college application, or a social media account, bios are an important part of connecting with your audience or customer base. It’s important to take your time and be thoughtful as you write to ensure you get the right message across! Read on for a complete guide to writing a personal (or professional) bio about yourself, along with writing tips to make it as engaging as possible.

Things You Should Know

• Start with your first and last name in a quick introductory sentence. Then, explain your job, greatest achievements, and professional mission statement.
• Expand on personal details, including where you’re from, your educational background, and a quick summary of passions that aren’t related to your job.
• Mention any projects you’re working on and end the bio with your contact information. Write in the third-person perspective unless it’s for social media.

• The difference between personal and professional bios is all in the tone you use. Both cover your job and skills, but the bio you write for a personal website might sound less formal than the one you write for a job application.
• As you write your bio, adjust your tone to make your bio appropriately formal, funny, professional, or personal.
• If you can’t figure out what to write, check out bios from other people in your field and get a sense of their writing strategy. You can use their bios as models and write yours based on their overall structure.

• For example, begin a third-person bio with a sentence like, "Joann Smith is a graphic designer in Boston," and a first-person bio with "I am a graphic designer in Boston."

• For example, a simple yet solid introduction sentence could be, “Dan Keller is a columnist for the Boulder Times.”
• Avoid writing a nickname in your bio. Even if your bio isn’t strictly for professional use, it’s best to treat it like a formal introduction to other people.
• Be sure to mention your company or brand within your introduction. You might work for a company or own your own business with a personal brand.

• For example, “Dan Keller is a columnist for the Boulder Times. He specializes in writing public interest stories on the latest technology.
• Both personal and professional bios typically include job information; personal bios simply present that information a little more informally.
• If you’re writing about your job informally, you might write something like, “Joann Smith is a passionate knitter who also happens to own and run her paper supply company.”

• “Dan Keller is a columnist for the Boulder Times. His 2011 series "All that and More" earned him Boulder’s prestigious “Up-and-Comer” award for innovation.”
• Don’t make up accomplishments if you don’t have anything notable to add and only include achievements that relate to the career information or skills discussed in the bio.
• Avoid buzzwords like "innovative," "experienced," "creative," and so on, which are often so overused that they don’t mean anything to people. Show readers what you can do through specific details, not catchy phrases.

• For example, “Dan is committed to helping people understand and embrace the true power of technology.”

• For example: “When he isn’t glued to a computer screen, Dan spends time working in the garden, learning French, and trying very hard not to be the worst pool player in the Rockies.”
• The details you share can vary by bio. For a strictly personal bio, include details like hobbies, personal beliefs, and mottos.
• For a bio that falls between "professional" and "personal," try sharing details that give a sense of who you are but won’t alienate others.
• Avoid self-deprecating comments and details that are too intimate or potentially embarrassing for you or your audience.

• For example: “Dan is currently working on a memoir.”
• Keep this part of your bio short and sweet! A sentence is two is all you need.

• If you publish this bio online, format your email address carefully to avoid spam. Many people write email addresses online like: “Greg (at) fizzlemail (dot) com.”
• This clearly tells readers how to spell out your email without making it easy for spammers and bots to copy and use your information.

• Ask your friends and family (especially anyone who is a strong writer) to proofread your bio and give you feedback. A fresh pair of eyes can catch mistakes that you may miss!
• Online editing software like Grammarly can grade your piece in terms of readability and suggest minor improvements.
• Every once in a while, go back and update your bio. By putting in a little work frequently to keep it up to date, you'll save yourself a lot of work when you need to use it again.

• Chronological. Start at the story's beginning and end at the end. It’s simple and works well if you’ve had an interesting life that has taken you from points A to B to C in unusual or impressive ways.
• Circular. Start at an important moment (D), then backtrack to the beginning (A), and explain all the events leading up to that moment (B, C), eventually bringing the reader full circle. This is good for building suspense!
• Zoomed In. Focus on one critical event (C) to symbolically tell a larger story. Use a few small surrounding details (A, B, D) to orient the reader, but give that one moment enough emphasis to stand on its own.

• Avoid statements like, "UCSF has one of the top-ranked research-based med schools in the world, which would provide me with the foundation necessary to achieve my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor."
• Instead, write something like, “Watching a trauma surgeon save my brother’s life is a moment I’ll never forget. Since then, I’ve known undoubtedly that I would dedicate my life to medicine. My brother was lucky that his surgeon studied at one of the best programs in the country. By doing the same, I hope to one day mean to another family what Dr. Heller does to mine."

• Avoid statements like, "Having had a rather minimalistic upbringing, I find that I continue to assiduously value hard work and frugality above all else."
• Instead, try something like, "Growing up very poor taught me that hard work and thrift are sometimes the only things a person can afford."
• Well-written ideas make you seem far more intelligent than big words do. Focus on expressing yourself clearly, and don’t worry about the syllable count!

• Avoid statements like, "I learned a lot from my experience as a camp counselor."
• Instead, try something like, "I came out of my time as a camp counselor with a better understanding of empathy than before. Now, when my younger sister acts up, I know how to help her without sounding bossy or controlling."

• Different types of bio have different word count expectations. For instance, the average brief personal bio is around 250 words. For a resume or job search, it’s okay to have a personal bio of around 300 to 500 words.
• For longer personal bios (ones you might post on an “about me” page for a professional website, for example), aim for around 1,000 to 2,000 words. Include all the details you can, but keep them concise.
• Some social media sites, such as Twitter, restrict your bio to a certain number of words or characters. Ensure that you make the most of that space.

• For example, Tom Hank’s personal bio on Twitter reads, “I'm that actor in some of the movies you liked and some you didn't. Sometimes I'm in pretty good shape, other times I'm not. Hey, you gotta live, you know?”

• Passive: "The window was broken by the zombie."
• Active: "The zombie broke the window."
• The difference between these sentences is stark: in the first, you have no idea whether the window just happened to be broken. The second is obvious: the zombie broke the window, and you need to hit the road.

• Avoid statements like, "Reading The Great Gatsby was a pivotal moment in my life that made me totally rethink my preconceptions about what it means to live in modern America. Thanks to that assignment, I want to pursue American Studies."
• Instead, try something like, "My family’s ties to this country aren’t glamorous. We didn’t arrive on the Mayflower or have our surname butchered at Ellis Island. We settled in four states across the Midwest, where we’ve lived happily for over 100 years. The magic of that simple act isn’t lost on me, which is why I’ve chosen to major in American Studies."

• For example, if you’re writing an Instagram bio, include a link to your personal website too—especially if there’s a longer and more detailed bio for readers to check out there.
• Include a brief call-to-action, too! For example, if you have contact info, you might write “Contact me using the following” before you add the links.

• On your website, longer bios (between 1,500 and 2,000 words) will have the best online optimization. If your bio needs to be shorter, be sure to at least use third-person POV, since your name is another keyword.
• For example, your website’s “About” page could easily support a 1,500+ word bio. However, from there, you’d need to edit that bio down to a few sentences (a short paragraph) for your LinkedIn profile.

Community Q&A

• Throughout the process, think back to the purpose and audience you identified in Step 1. This will help guide your writing. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you're writing online, include hyperlinks to things you mention, such as projects you worked on or a personal blog you keep. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/8-steps-writing-bio-pro-chris-brogan-fact/
• ↑ http://michaelbmaine.com/home/2012/12/13/how-to-write-a-personal-bio
• ↑ https://www.pullmanfoundation.org/professional-bio-writing-101/
• ↑ https://www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2011/01/28/how-to-write-a-personal-bio
• ↑ https://thewritepractice.com/how-to-write-a-bio/
• ↑ https://weareindy.com/blog/freelance-bio-examples-how-to-write-an-eye-catching-bio
• ↑ https://searchengineland.com/guide/what-is-seo

About This Article

When you write a personal bio, write in the third person so it sounds more objective and professional. Start with a sentence that includes your name and what you do for a living. Then, mention your most important accomplishments that are relevant to your field of work. Briefly mention a couple of your hobbies or interests to make your bio more relatable. End with a sentence on any big projects you’re currently working on. Try to keep your bio around 250-500 words. For help writing a personal bio for college applications or social media, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Biography (Examples & Templates)

A biography is a written account of a person’s life that details their life in chronological order. Another person usually writes this detailed account, and it contains reports of their childhood, career, major life events, relationships, and social impact. It also details their relationships with their family, children, and life accomplishments.

The best way to find out more about a popular figure is through reading their biographies, so you need to make sure you get the correct information. Before writing a biography, you need to do a lot of research and interviews to represent a person’s life accurately.

Types of Biography

A biography is the story of someone’s life as written by another writer. Most biographies of popular figures are written years, or even decades, after their deaths. Authors write biographies of popular figures due to either a lack of information on the subject or personal interest.

A biography aims to share a person’s story or highlight a part of their life.

There are different types of biographies, depending on the story. Some biographies are written true to the story, while some are written as fictional works. Biographies can give you true understanding of a person on an internal as well as external level along with a lot of life lessons.

Autobiography

An autobiography is different from a biography because it is written by the subject of the story, themselves. The author writes in the first-person narrative, and it flows step-by-step like a story of their life. Autobiographies contain personal accounts of the subject’s life, along with their perspectives and opinions on events in their life.

How To Write a Biography

Pick a subject.

Picking a subject is the first step in writing a biography. You can pick an already famous person or a relatively unknown person with a great life story. If you already have a few in mind, you can start by asking yourself some questions such as;

• What has the subject accomplished that makes them a good subject?
• Have they had an impact on society?
• Is the subject a celebrity or a well-known personality?
• Will the biography appeal to a wide audience?

Get Permission

When you pick a subject, the next thing to do is to get permission from them or their family or rights owners. Although, with some historical figures, there may not be any need for permission. Getting permission from your subject makes it easier for you to get stories to put into your book. You can get the chance to obtain additional personal stories and anecdotes that will make your book more interesting by doing so as well.

Do The Research

Research is the most important part of a biography’s process as the entire content of the book is dependent on it. Irrespective of what you know about the subject, you need to carry out as much research as possible to get the story’s facts precisely.

Biography research comes from various sources, depending on the book’s subject. Firsthand reports from family, friends, or personal accounts from the subjects are primary sources. They are usually the most accurate and reliable, and they are crucial for a biography. Secondary sources come from other sources like magazines or documentaries.

Pick a Format

Biographies come in various formats, with each of them having their pros and cons. A typical biography will start at the beginning, usually with the birth and childhood of the subject. Yet, if the biography’s theme involves a different event in their life, the author may want to explore the flashback option or one with concurrent events from different times.

Usually, biographies have a theme or a general life lesson at the center. The author’s role is to tell the subject’s story leading up to the major event.

Which-ever format you choose should place the theme at the center, with the other events detailing the journey.

Create a Timeline Of The Story

Since a biography takes place in chronological order, there needs to be a timeline of the events in the right order. The timeline should contain the key events in the subject’s life, in the order the author plans on revealing them. A great way to declutter the story and keep it interesting is to use flashbacks . This way, the author can introduce past events and explain later events excluding the element of monotony.

Add In Your Thoughts

The good thing about biographies is that you don’t have to stick to the hard facts only. As the author, you can share your opinions and emotions in writing. The author has the freedom to do this by commenting on a significant action by the subject in a manner that describes why they feel the subject may have done what they did.

The author can also include commentary on events depicted in the biography – how it was influenced society or its impact on the lives around them. Recounting these events through a different perspective can make the biography more relatable and interesting to read.

FAQ’s

Why is a biography template important.

A biography template has an outline that makes the writing easier for the author. Biography templates usually contain a sample timeline, format, and questions that provide more information about the subject. With a great biography template, you can cut your writing time in half and spend less time coming up with an outline.

How are biographies better in comparison to autobiographies

Since a different person writes biographies, they tend to be more objective and somewhat accurate than autobiographies. An autobiography tells things from the author’s perspective, so their views and perspective cloud it. Thus, a biography will likely tell a more factual story.

These are the important steps you need to take to help you write a great biography. Now, to make things easier for you, we have a free customizable autobiography and biography template that you can use to start your first book. Get the template and start writing today

What are some of the most important elements to keep in consideration while writing a biography?

Any author looking to write a biography must consider the factors below. They aren’t the only important factors, but a biography isn’t complete without them. • Date and place of their birth • Academic background • Professional expertise • Death, if deceased • Facts and anecdotes about the person • Main accomplishments • Detailed accounts of their child and adult life

Biographies tell the untold stories of some incredibly relevant people in the world. But biographies are not always strictly accurate. So, every biographer needs to follow the necessary steps to provide a biography with all the requirements.

Related Documents

How to Write a Professional Bio for Any Situation—Without the Stress

How many times have you sat in front of a blank screen staring at the pesky cursor, wondering why it’s so hard to write about yourself? I’ll bet it’s more than once. Contemplating who you are as a human being is an exercise in mental (or existential?) gymnastics. And if you’re trying to write a professional bio, you’re trying to distill who you are and what you do in a way that’s compelling to recruiters, hiring managers, colleagues, potential clients, and other contacts all at once—so it can feel ramped up to Simone-Biles-floor-routine-difficulty levels.

SEARCH OPEN JOBS ON THE MUSE! See who’s hiring here , and you can even filter your search by benefits, company size, remote opportunities, and more. Then, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll deliver advice on landing the job right to you.

Your professional bio is, arguably, the most important text you’ll ever write about yourself. It’s the first introduction to who you are, what you do, and what you’re interested in—whether it’s for a social media platform, a personal website , or company team page. What you choose to highlight may play a role in others deciding to follow you, call you in for an interview, or invite you to participate in an event. It’s an opportunity for you to—in a few lines—showcase your work, competence, and areas of expertise. So you’d better stick the landing.

But don’t worry too much: You don’t have to be the Simone Biles of LinkedIn to write a professional bio. We’ve gathered the steps, template, examples, and bonus tips you’ll need to write a bio for any occasion.

How to get started on your professional bio

We’ll get to the good stuff shortly (read: the template and examples), but before you put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, there are a few things you should know—about yourself.

Your bio shouldn’t be a laundry list of accomplishments, but a window into the person behind the accolades. You’re more than your most recent position (especially if you have a trendy startup title; I’m looking at you, ninjas and rock stars), so think about the strengths that make you good at what you do and the qualities that make you unique. These are what you want the person reading your bio to come away knowing.

If you’re drawing a blank, try to answer these questions before you start writing:

• How have you personally helped your company, department, or clients?
• Which of your accomplishments would be most impressive to your entry-level self?
• What makes you most valuable in your role?
• What’s one thing not in your job description that relates to why you’re so successful? Maybe you want to include a line about volunteering, about writing in your free time, or about a previous role.
• Why do you do what you do? What do you believe about your field that drives you to do the work you do each day?

Once you’ve got all that down, you’re ready to get it into your professional bio.

Professional bio template

The template below is designed to help you write a “master” professional bio that you can then tweak for different situations. This template is meant to offer you a general framework only—if you find that you need to add an extra couple of sentences or determine that a section we’ve included doesn’t feel relevant to how you wish to present yourself, feel free to tweak it.

[Name] is a [role] who [how you help clients, customers, or your employer] by [something unique about your process or output]. [First name] [knows/believes] [what you know/believe about the work you do].

[First name] has [landed/secured/garnered/worked at/supported/mastered] [insert your most compelling experiences, accomplishments, and skills]. Currently [he/she/they] is/are [working toward/studying/planning to] [your next professional goal or some way you’re developing as a professional].

[First name] is [trained/certified/awarded] in [relevant trainings, awards, honors, etc]. [First name] holds a [ degree] in [area of study] from [University].

When [he/she/they] is not [brief phrase that describes what you do], [First Name] [can be found/enjoys] [brief description of compelling interests or hobbies you’d like to share].

Here’s an example of how this template could look filled in:

Matthew Chang is a social media manager who excels at creating campaigns and posts for nonprofits that make followers take action by combining strong writing and design with insights about the org’s  audience. Matthew believes that the right post, seen at the right time, can inspire people who believe in a nonprofit’s mission to help the causes they care about and ultimately allow that org to make a bigger impact.

Matthew has driven more than 10,000 social-influenced donations to three different nonprofits, with over $200,000 raised for important causes. Currently they’re working with GoodBoyGirl dog rescue to inspire not only donations, but also pet adoptions through Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok posts. (Matthew is always happy to share pictures of dogs they’ve helped find forever homes!)

Matthew holds a HubSpot Social Media Certification, and has taken several graphic design courses through The New School. They hold a bachelor’s degree from UCLA where they double majored in marketing and English.

When they’re not crafting social media campaigns, Matthew can be found biking around the city with their chihuahua Kyra on their back (don’t worry, the pup has a tiny helmet!) or taking in a Broadway show.

How to adapt your bio for different situations

Now that you have your “master professional bio,” you’ll want to tweak it for different situations.

For each iteration of your bio, imagine a specific reader and what they’d want to know about you, and then write for them. For instance, let’s say you’re on an alumni panel for your college. Student attendees will want to know what they should be doing now to get the career you have. In this case, your bio should reflect less of your day-to-day work responsibilities and more of the past campus activities, classes, and early-career internships and jobs that led you to where you are.

We’ve outlined specific advice for some of the most common scenarios where you’ll need to write a professional bio below—along with examples.

1. Your LinkedIn summary

Start by identifying how you use—or would like to use— LinkedIn . Are you content with your job, but looking to expand your network? Are you trying to attract recruiters?

Whatever you’re seeking, your LinkedIn summary should support your activity on the site; a profile focused on networking within the industry will read differently than that of someone aggressively hunting for a new job. Once you’ve identified your purpose, it will be much easier to tweak the above template for your LinkedIn summary. You’ll still want to lead with your position and other info from the first paragraph of the bio template. Then move onto whatever skills or accomplishments are most relevant to your LinkedIn goals. Last, share those goals.

Here’s an example of a LinkedIn summary that follows this strategy:

As a field sales manager with over eight years of experience driving market share growth in designated territories, I have mastered the ins and outs of pharmaceutical sales and territorial prospecting. After honing and executing these specialties to reach numerous company goals, I was honored with an invitation to join the National Marketing Council. Now, I spend the majority of my time brainstorming sales strategies and connecting with other industry professionals who are interested in talking shop.

You can always add supporting content on either side of this skeleton paragraph, such as a personal anecdote, previous positions, or a mission statement. If you need a bit more inspiration, look to your recommendations for outside opinions on what makes you special.

Read More: 5 Templates That’ll Make Writing the Perfect LinkedIn Summary a Total Breeze

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. Then make sure you’re stating it as succinctly as possible. Finally, squeeze in your pizazz. Key word: squeeze. Don’t focus on unrelated quirks or superfluous details.

For example:

Software engineering whiz @Belly spreading nuggets of coding gold related to mobile applications. 8-year member of @IEEEorg, aspiring member of The Avengers.

If you’re looking to create a more serious social presence, though, you may choose to leave out the pizazz while including all the same important info:

Proud 8-year member of @IEEEorg and lead software engineer @Belly. Passionate about innovations in coding and mobile applications.

3. Your company website blurb

A bio for your company website (like on a team or staff page) is where you can opt out of some standard details, such as your title, in favor of things that distinguish you as a pro (or a person). After all, anyone reading this knows where you work and your job title will likely be listed by default. So you can use the second and third paragraph of the template to craft a bio focused on what makes you unique.

Margot has exceeded every Clarabridge sales goal by at least 84%, which landed her in the top CEM-seller spot and prepared her for the challenging position of strategizing sales tactics for the National Association of Sales Professionals. Her keen and innovative insights in the areas of forecasting and sales force development have enabled Clarabridge to emerge as a national leader, with a sharp and qualified team in tow to maintain the standard she helped set.

If that’s too formal for the culture of your office, and all your colleagues mention their favorite food trucks, you can aim for a 50-50 split between the professional and personal—or whatever balance suits the company’s brand.

Margot tops the sales charts at Clarabridge. In fact, she’s beat every goal by at least 84% without ever missing a practice as the coach of her son’s (undefeated) soccer team. Fueled by loaded nachos, she landed the top CEM-seller spot and took on a position brainstorming sales tactics for the National Association of Sales Professionals. Not only is she a pro when it comes to forecasting and sales force development, but she can also advise a team on where to find the best free events in the city on any given weekend.

4. Your personal website or portfolio “About Me” page

Here’s where you want to lay it all on your audience. You can use as much of the bio you wrote from the template above as you see fit and feel free to expand on whatever sections you’d like. Craft your “About Me” page so potential partners or employers understand what you can do for them and why you’re the person they should hire .

Chad Wilborn takes complex technical ideas and distills them into user-friendly visuals to improve digital marketing campaigns for companies along the West Coast. He has an education in traditional advertising and a background loaded with marketing and graphic design projects, centered around modernizing the consumer experience. Chad’s portfolio demonstrates his ability to capitalize on every pixel for the overall benefit of startups or established enterprises trying to reach consumers. His services have won multiple design and branding awards, and he is excited to help add your company to his list of successes.

But don’t forget your brand ! If you want to showcase yourself in a more unique or quirky light, opt for a first-person version with more light-hearted language.

I am a modern magician, except I transform complicated technical ideas into user-friendly images before the eyes of your company’s customers. I believe in telling relatable stories through graphics, so I studied the basics of traditional advertising before working my magic on corporate marketing projects for companies along the West Coast. My portfolio showcases a lineup of my most recent tricks, which range from visual startup campaigns to Fortune 500 projects—each of which have won design and branding awards. I’m always ready for new design opportunities and have plenty of room up my sleeve for a few more award-winning performances.

A few more tips

Keep these in mind as you write your professional bio, no matter where it’s going to end up:

• Know your limits: Just as your resume is best when it fits on one or two pages, your bio likely also requires a certain length. Whether it’s two sentences, two paragraphs, or 160 characters, respect the limit or risk it being arbitrarily chopped down.
• Avoid jargon and buzzwords: When you spend nearly a third of your life at work, it’s easy to forget that the rest of the world doesn’t speak your industry’s (or company’s) language. Use your bio to share facts and impact in terms everyone will understand.
• Use your own voice: Write about what you know best and write the way that you talk. If your bio readers ever meet you in person, they should feel as if they already know you.
• Write more than one draft: Don’t just throw something together and send it off. Write it, sleep on it, then come back to it and ask: “Would I want to meet me?” Or better yet: “Would I want to hire or work with me?”
• Don’t forget to update your bio: Your bio should evolve as you do. If you start looking for jobs in different industries, have a new and exciting accomplishment to note, or just feel ready for a refresh, go for it. Now that you’ve got this draft down, it’ll be easy to rework your professional bio.

Alex Honeysett , Adrian J. Hopkins , and Regina Borsellino also contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.

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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Posted on Jun 30, 2023

How to Write a Biography: A 7-Step Guide [+Template]

From time to time, nonfiction authors become so captivated by a particular figure from either the present or the past, that they feel compelled to write an entire book about their life. Whether casting them as heroes or villains, there is an interesting quality in their humanity that compels these authors to revisit their life paths and write their story.

However, portraying someone’s life on paper in a comprehensive and engaging way requires solid preparation. If you’re looking to write a biography yourself, in this post we’ll share a step-by-step blueprint that you can follow. 

How to write a biography: 

1. Seek permission when possible 

2. research your subject thoroughly, 3. do interviews and visit locations, 4. organize your findings, 5. identify a central thesis, 6. write it using narrative elements, 7. get feedback and polish the text.

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While you technically don’t need permission to write about public figures (or deceased ones), that doesn't guarantee their legal team won't pursue legal action against you. Author Kitty Kelley was sued by Frank Sinatra before she even started to write His Way , a biography that paints Ol Blue Eyes in a controversial light. (Kelley ended up winning the lawsuit, however).  

Whenever feasible, advise the subject’s representatives of your intentions. If all goes according to plan, you’ll get a green light to proceed, or potentially an offer to collaborate. It's a matter of common sense; if someone were to write a book about you, you would likely want to know about it well prior to publication. So, make a sincere effort to reach out to their PR staff to negotiate an agreement or at least a mutual understanding of the scope of your project. 

At the same time, make sure that you still retain editorial control over the project, and not end up writing a puff piece that treats its protagonist like a saint or hero. No biography can ever be entirely objective, but you should always strive for a portrayal that closely aligns with facts and reality.

If you can’t get an answer from your subject, or you’re asked not to proceed forward, you can still accept the potential repercussions and write an unauthorized biography . The “rebellious act” of publishing without consent indeed makes for great marketing, though it’ll likely bring more headaches with it too. 

✋ Please note that, like other nonfiction books, if you intend to release your biography with a publishing house , you can put together a book proposal to send to them before you even write the book. If they like it enough, they might pay you an advance to write it.  

Book Proposal Template

Craft a professional pitch for your nonfiction book with our handy template.

Once you’ve settled (or not) the permission part, it’s time to dive deep into your character’s story.  

Deep and thorough research skills are the cornerstone of every biographer worth their salt. To paint a vivid and accurate portrait of someone's life, you’ll have to gather qualitative information from a wide range of reliable sources. 

Start with the information already available, from books on your subject to archival documents, then collect new ones firsthand by interviewing people or traveling to locations. 

Browse the web and library archives

Put your researcher hat on and start consuming any piece on your subject you can find, from their Wikipedia page to news articles, interviews, TV and radio appearances, YouTube videos, podcasts, books, magazines, and any other media outlets they may have been featured in. 

Establish a system to orderly collect the information you find 一 even seemingly insignificant details can prove valuable during the writing process, so be sure to save them. 

Depending on their era, you may find most of the information readily available online, or you may need to search through university libraries for older references. 

For his landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow spent untold hours at Columbia University’s library , reading through the Hamilton family papers, visiting the New York Historical Society, as well as interviewing the archivist of the New York Stock Exchange, and so on. The research process took years, but it certainly paid off. Chernow discovered that Hamilton created the first five securities originally traded on Wall Street. This finding, among others, revealed his significant contributions to shaping the current American financial and political systems, a legacy previously often overshadowed by other founding fathers. Today Alexander Hamilton is one of the best-selling biographies of all time, and it has become a cultural phenomenon with its own dedicated musical. 

Besides reading documents about your subject, research can help you understand the world that your subject lived in. 

Try to understand their time and social environment

Many biographies show how their protagonists have had a profound impact on society through their philosophical, artistic, or scientific contributions. But at the same time, it’s worth it as a biographer to make an effort to understand how their societal and historical context influenced their life’s path and work.

An interesting example is Stephen Greenblatt’s Will in the World . Finding himself limited by a lack of verified detail surrounding William Shakespeare's personal life, Greenblatt, instead, employs literary interpretation and imaginative reenactments to transport readers back to the Elizabethan era. The result is a vivid (though speculative) depiction of the playwright's life, enriching our understanding of his world.

Many readers enjoy biographies that transport them to a time and place, so exploring a historical period through the lens of a character can be entertaining in its own right. The Diary of Samuel Pepys became a classic not because people were enthralled by his life as an administrator, but rather from his meticulous and vivid documentation of everyday existence during the Restoration period.

Once you’ve gotten your hands on as many secondary sources as you can find, you’ll want to go hunting for stories first-hand from people who are (or were) close to your subject.

With all the material you’ve been through, by now you should already have a pretty good picture of your protagonist. But you’ll surely have some curiosities and missing dots in their character arc to figure out, which you can only get by interviewing primary sources.

Interview friends and associates

This part is more relevant if your subject is contemporary, and you can actually meet up or call with relatives, friends, colleagues, business partners, neighbors, or any other person related to them. 

In writing the popular biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson interviewed more than one hundred people, including Jobs’s family, colleagues, former college mates, business rivals, and the man himself.

🔍 Read other biographies to get a sense of what makes a great one. Check out our list of the 30 best biographies of all time , or take our 30-second quiz below for tips on which one you should read next. 

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When you conduct your interviews, make sure to record them with high quality audio you can revisit later. Then use tools like Otter.ai or Descript to transcribe them 一 it’ll save you countless hours. 

You can approach the interview with a specific set of questions, or follow your curiosity blindly, trying to uncover revealing stories and anecdotes about your subject. Whatever your method, author and biography editor Tom Bromley suggests that every interviewer arrives prepared, "Show that you’ve done your work. This will help to put the interviewee at ease, and get their best answers.” 

Bromley also places emphasis on the order in which you conduct interviews. “You may want to interview different members of the family or friends first, to get their perspective on something, and then go directly to the main interviewee. You'll be able to use that knowledge to ask sharper, more specific questions.” 

Finally, consider how much time you have with each interviewee. If you only have a 30-minute phone call with an important person, make it count by asking directly the most pressing questions you have. And, if you find a reliable source who is also particularly willing to help, conduct several interviews and ask them, if appropriate, to write a foreword as part of the book’s front matter .

Sometimes an important part of the process is packing your bags, getting on a plane, and personally visiting significant places in your character’s journey.

Visit significant places in their life

A place, whether that’s a city, a rural house, or a bodhi tree, can carry a particular energy that you can only truly experience by being there. In putting the pieces together about someone’s life, it may be useful to go visit where they grew up, or where other significant events of their lives happened. It will be easier to imagine what they experienced, and better tell their story. 

In researching The Lost City of Z , author David Grann embarked on a trek through the Amazon, retracing the steps of British explorer Percy Fawcett. This led Grann to develop new theories about the circumstances surrounding the explorer's disappearance.

Hopefully, you won’t have to deal with jaguars and anacondas to better understand your subject’s environment, but try to walk into their shoes as much as possible. 

Once you’ve researched your character enough, it’s time to put together all the puzzle pieces you collected so far. 

Take the bulk of notes, media, and other documents you’ve collected, and start to give them some order and structure. A simple way to do this is by creating a timeline. 

Create a chronological timeline

It helps to organize your notes chronologically 一 from childhood to the senior years, line up the most significant events of your subject’s life, including dates, places, names and other relevant bits. 

You should be able to divide their life into distinct periods, each with their unique events and significance. Based on that, you can start drafting an outline of the narrative you want to create.  

Draft a story outline 

Since a biography entails writing about a person’s entire life, it will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. You can pick where you want to end the story, depending on how consequential the last years of your subject were. But the nature of the work will give you a starting character arc to work with. 

To outline the story then, you could turn to the popular Three-Act Structure , which divides the narrative in three main parts. In a nutshell, you’ll want to make sure to have the following:

• Act 1. Setup : Introduce the protagonist's background and the turning points that set them on a path to achieve a goal. 
• Act 2. Confrontation : Describe the challenges they encounter, both internal and external, and how they rise to them. Then..
• Act 3. Resolution : Reach a climactic point in their story in which they succeed (or fail), showing how they (and the world around them) have changed as a result. 

Only one question remains before you begin writing: what will be the main focus of your biography?

Think about why you’re so drawn to your subject to dedicate years of your life to recounting their own. What aspect of their life do you want to highlight? Is it their evil nature, artistic genius, or visionary mindset? And what evidence have you got to back that up? Find a central thesis or focus to weave as the main thread throughout your narrative. 

Or find a unique angle

If you don’t have a particular theme to explore, finding a distinct angle on your subject’s story can also help you distinguish your work from other biographies or existing works on the same subject.

Plenty of biographies have been published about The Beatles 一 many of which have different focuses and approaches: 

• Philip Norman's Shout is sometimes regarded as leaning more towards a pro-Lennon and anti-McCartney stance, offering insights into the band's inner dynamics. 
• Ian McDonald's Revolution in the Head closely examines their music track by track, shifting the focus back to McCartney as a primary creative force. 
• Craig Brown's One Two Three Four aims to capture their story through anecdotes, fan letters, diary entries, and interviews. 
• Mark Lewisohn's monumental three-volume biography, Tune In , stands as a testament to over a decade of meticulous research, chronicling every intricate detail of the Beatles' journey.

Finally, consider that biographies are often more than recounting the life of a person. Similar to how Dickens’ Great Expectations is not solely about a boy named Pip (but an examination and critique of Britain’s fickle, unforgiving class system), a biography should strive to illuminate a broader truth — be it social, political, or human — beyond the immediate subject of the book. 

Once you’ve identified your main focus or angle, it’s time to write a great story. 

While biographies are often highly informative, they do not have to be dry and purely expository in nature . You can play with storytelling elements to make it an engaging read. 

You could do that by thoroughly detailing the setting of the story , depicting the people involved in the story as fully-fledged characters , or using rising action and building to a climax when describing a particularly significant milestone of the subject’s life. 

One common way to make a biography interesting to read is starting on a strong foot…

Hook the reader from the start

Just because you're honoring your character's whole life doesn't mean you have to begin when they said their first word. Starting from the middle or end of their life can be more captivating as it introduces conflicts and stakes that shaped their journey.

When he wrote about Christopher McCandless in Into the Wild , author Jon Krakauer didn’t open his subject’s childhood and abusive family environment. Instead, the book begins with McCandless hitchhiking his way into the wilderness, and subsequently being discovered dead in an abandoned bus. By starting in medias res , Krakauer hooks the reader’s interest, before tracing back the causes and motivations that led McCandless to die alone in that bus in the first place.

You can bend the timeline to improve the reader’s reading experience throughout the rest of the story too…

Play with flashback 

While biographies tend to follow a chronological narrative, you can use flashbacks to tell brief stories or anecdotes when appropriate. For example, if you were telling the story of footballer Lionel Messi, before the climax of winning the World Cup with Argentina, you could recall when he was just 13 years old, giving an interview to a local newspaper, expressing his lifelong dream of playing for the national team. 

Used sparsely and intentionally, flashbacks can add more context to the story and keep the narrative interesting. Just like including dialogue does…

Reimagine conversations

Recreating conversations that your subject had with people around them is another effective way to color the story. Dialogue helps the reader imagine the story like a movie, providing a deeper sensory experience. 

One thing is trying to articulate the root of Steve Jobs’ obsession with product design, another would be to quote his father , teaching him how to build a fence when he was young: “You've got to make the back of the fence just as good looking as the front of the fence. Even though nobody will see it, you will know. And that will show that you're dedicated to making something perfect.”

Unlike memoirs and autobiographies, in which the author tells the story from their personal viewpoint and enjoys greater freedom to recall conversations, biographies require a commitment to facts. So, when recreating dialogue, try to quote directly from reliable sources like personal diaries, emails, and text messages. You could also use your interview scripts as an alternative to dialogue. As Tom Bromley suggests, “If you talk with a good amount of people, you can try to tell the story from their perspective, interweaving different segments and quoting the interviewees directly.”

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These are just some of the story elements you can use to make your biography more compelling. Once you’ve finished your manuscript, it’s a good idea to ask for feedback. 

If you’re going to self-publish your biography, you’ll have to polish it to professional standards. After leaving your work to rest for a while, look at it with fresh eyes and self-edit your manuscript eliminating passive voice, filler words, and redundant adverbs. 

Then, have a professional editor give you a general assessment. They’ll look at the structure and shape of your manuscript and tell you which parts need to be expanded on or cut. As someone who edited and commissioned several biographies, Tom Bromley points out that a professional “will look at the sources used and assess whether they back up the points made, or if more are needed. They would also look for context, and whether or not more background information is needed for the reader to understand the story fully. And they might check your facts, too.”  

In addition to structural editing, you may want to have someone copy-edit and proofread your work.

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Importantly, make sure to include a bibliography with a list of all the interviews, documents, and sources used in the writing process. You’ll have to compile it according to a manual of style, but you can easily create one by using tools like EasyBib . Once the text is nicely polished and typeset in your writing software , you can prepare for the publication process.  

In conclusion, by mixing storytelling elements with diligent research, you’ll be able to breathe life into a powerful biography that immerses readers in another individual’s life experience. Whether that’ll spark inspiration or controversy, remember you could have an important role in shaping their legacy 一 and that’s something not to take lightly. 

Continue reading

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• TemplateLab
• Art & Media
• Biography Templates

47 Biography Templates & Examples (Personal, Professional)

A biography is simply an account of someone’s life written by another person. A biography can be short in the case of few sentences biography, and it can also be long enough to fill an entire book. The short biographies explain a person’s basic life facts and their importance, but the long biographies would go an extra mile and include more details to make an interesting read. You may find yourself in a situation which requires you to write a biography of a famous person, a close friend or a relative. For this reason, it pays to know how to come up with a biography and the important details that you should include in it. The lives of many people have interesting bits of information, but you ought to know what to capture in the biography and what to leave out.

Table of Contents

• 1 Biography Examples
• 2 What to include in a biography
• 3 How to write a good Biography
• 4 Steps in writing a biography;
• 5 Biography templates
• 6 A professional Biography Template
• 7 Personal Biography Template

Biography Examples

What to include in a biography

The length of a biography depends on the type of information that should be included. The length will determine the nature of information and how extensively it will explain the life of a person. For instance, if you are to write a short paragraph about a person it will mostly capture the important details that identify the person compared to a pages-long biography that may even include the person’s childhood experiences and achievements shaping their life.

For a short biography, maybe a paragraph or two long, the following details should be captured:

• A person’s date and place of birth, at times with the date and place of death as may be applicable
• The person’s major achievements in life
• Their educational background and notable awards
• Work facts of a person and their contribution to that field if any
• A brief account of the significance of an individual in the community

A lengthy biography will bring out more details of a person’s life making it a bit more complex. His/her history will be brought out more clearly especially the details that shaped them to be the persons they turned out to be.

The target audience will also dictate the nature of the information that is to be included. The relation of the audience to an individual will have an impact on how the information is presented and the important details that they could be interested in. In a case where the audience is unknown, more details will have to be included. This mostly happens in the case of a several paged biography. You will have to scrutinize the person in a more detailed way and establish more people relating to the person. Focusing on the uniqueness of an individual can do wonders in this case and this might turn out to be inspirational to many people. The field that the person has majored in or had majored in ought to influence the direction that the biography will take as this will help to bring out the contribution of the individual to their field of study.

How to write a good Biography

A biography is meant to analyze a person’s life and interpret it as well. A good biographer will try to join the dots and explain certain actions and events that a certain figure was involved in. This will help in clearly bringing out the significance of a person’s life through their accomplishments or remarkable deeds.

Biographies are usually written in a chronological order. Some biographers could also draft them in a themed order that is early life, educational background, a person’s achievements or accomplishments. But some especially the short ones will focus on one area in a person’s life.

There are several sources of information that could aid one in writing an astounding biography. These sources of information can be grouped into either primary sources or secondary sources. The primary sources of information include materials like letters, newspaper accounts or diaries. A biographer can also make an arrangement to interview an individual they want to write about. This is also considered as a primary source of information. The secondary sources are reference books, other biographies or historical records that are related to the subject being written about.

Steps in writing a biography;

• Select the individual you want to write about
• Search for the basic facts that relate to a person’s life. The encyclopedia or almanac could be handy at this.
• What’s the most interesting bit about the person?
• What is the significance of the individual to the society and the world in general?
• What qualities or adjectives will be best suited for the description of the individual?
• What actions or life events bring out the qualities or adjectives chosen above?
• What life events or world events shaped the individual or brought out the best in them?
• Did they face obstacles or take some risks in life? How did they handle the obstacles and did they happen to be lucky?
• What impact did they have in the world? Did they add value to the way people view certain aspects of life? Did they come up with a thing, idea or way of action that transformed the way things are handled or rather done in their societies or world in general?
• Carry out some additional research on the internet to answer some of the questions mentioned above. Ensure that you find information that will help you tell a story that many will love.
• After getting everything in order, you can proceed to write the biography. We have provided sample biographies in this site that you could check out in order to get the drift.

Biography templates

A biography template is meant to specifically aid a writer come up with an excellent biography. For this purpose to be achieved the writer needs to get his/her hands on a high-quality biography template, just like the ones provided on this site.

The best biography templates should provide clear instructions, and this should be in great detail to avoid the risk of the writer missing out some important facts. The templates available on this site will help you capture all of the details.

The biography templates should also be precise and avoid beating around the bush. Going round one idea or item will make the biography boring to read and it is prudent for the writer to be straight to the point. By doing this it will be easier for the readers to skim through and find the details they might be interested in with lots of easy. The writer will also save his/her time and concentrate on writing other things.

The general sections of any biography as outlined by our sample biographies will have;

• The name of the person
• A picture of the person
• An account of their early life
• The person’s family life
• The major achievements of the person
• The three main interesting qualities or facts about the individual

A professional Biography Template

A professional biography is a statement that could either be short or long that is written about a person, business or company. It should be engaging, informative and interesting for the readers to identify with the person or business entity being talked about. It has a sales pitch that is a little bit different. A professional biography template is meant to ease the process of generating printed professional biographies especially for an individual who wants to reach a lot of people or institutions.

Elements that should be captured in a professional biography are:

• A summary of one’s early life in a sentence or two, make it interesting
• Then information touching on your education, mention any academic awards or the clubs and societies that you were part of. Any work experience while in school.
• Talk about how creative and innovative you are with coming with solutions to the problems that you have faced as an individual, mention any situation that you were self-reliant in coming up with solutions
• Mention qualities that make you stand out for instance, being independent, principled or discerning to increase your trustworthiness.

The following tips will enable you to come up with the best professional biography;

• Be brief and precise to the point. This is to enable the reader to easily and quickly get to know about you.
• Be spontaneous in your writing
• Be as expressive as possible and avoid too much of self-editing while drafting the professional biography in the initial stages to capture as much information as possible
• Be friendly but not too informal
• Be as interesting as you could in order to get the attention of many people out there
• Write it in third person. Talk about your life as if someone else were describing it.

This site offers you a professional biography template that could aid in making the generation of professional biographies an easy and less time consuming task. You can also check out sample bios to figure out how to go about the whole process of coming up with a professional biography.

Personal Biography Template

A personal biography is a short account of who you are, your credentials and your notable accomplishments in life. Personal bios ought to be short, precise and relevant to your target audience. The use of personal statistics such as hobbies or family should be avoided. A personal biography template will help one to easily and conveniently come up with personal bios.

The key elements in a personal biography are;

• Give an introduction of yourself. Remember to write it in third person and include the year that your professional career started to be relevant. You could give a list of any relevant specializations in your field.
• State your educational facts and credentials. Mention the degrees that you have pursued and the respective institutions. Add any relevant experiences you have that are required for your career and mention the name of the society that you are legally a member of.
• Proceed to outline any notable achievements or awards you have earned in your practice. Remember that the information ought to be relevant to the audience being addressed. If you happen to be an author you could mention the magazines or any publishing house that has recognized your works.
• Your conclusion should mention any upcoming projects or works in progress that people should lookout for in the near future. Don’t forget to mention your current place of residence .

As you age, it is good to keep on updating your biography to reflect who you are at present time. You can make use of the personal biography template offered by this site to easily and in a more convenient way generate your own biography without missing out on the important details.

We also provide sample biographies to give you a feel of what your end draft should look like. If you have kids and you want to let them in on famous historical figures, this site offers biographies for kids. These will help them know the notable people who help shape the world to what it has become to be.

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6 short professional bios and how to write one yourself

Short professional bios can be just as effective as long ones that detail your accomplishments. Whether you need to work within Twitter’s character count or you’re making career moves on LinkedIn, a well-written short professional bio gives you the chance to make an excellent first impression. Here’s how to turn this brief text into a powerful introduction to your greatest strengths and accomplishments.

Short professional bio template

To help you get started, here’s a third-person short professional bio template you can use:

“[Your name] is a [professional title] at [current employer] with [length of experience] helping [target audience] with [audience’s problems] . Specializing in [area of expertise] , [first name] uses that experience to [describe most important aspects of the job] . 

By focusing on [branding statement about what matters professionally] , [first name] has been able to put the [degree(s)] they earned at [college or university attended] to good use. Over the years, [first name’s or pronoun] strengths at [employer or project] has garnered some recognition for/by [major accomplishments] . [First name] may spend their days at [employer or employer location] , but it’s the [one or two aspects of the job that they’re passionate about] that gets them up in the morning.

When they’re not at [employer] , [first name] is an avid [hobby] and loves spending time [another hobby or interest] .”

Example of a professional bio

Jerry Smith is a race car driver at Hendrick Motorsports with five years’ experience making speedy turns for several hours, helping his thousands of fans to fulfill their entertainment needs. Specializing in left turns and safely overtaking his opponents in the pursuit of a checkered flag, Jerry uses that expertise to never come in last.

By focusing on making sure Hendrick Motorsports ends up in the winner’s circle at every race, Jerry has been able to put the racing certifications he earned at driver’s school to good use. Over the years, his strengths at Hendrick Motorsports have garnered some recognition for winning several races each year. Jerry may spend his days at the racetrack, but it’s the thrill of the race and the glory of coming in first that gets him up in the morning.

When he’s not behind the wheel, Jerry is an avid fisherman and loves spending time in the great outdoors.

What should be included in your bio?

Now that you know how effective a short bio can be, you’re getting closer to putting the proverbial pen to paper and letting the world know more about you. Before you get started on your bio, it’s important that you consider each element you want to mention in it. A correct representation of your professional work experience, especially if it's narrow and global at the same time such as bringing technical innovations to the market, proving new hypotheses in science or just digitization of processes in the healthcare industry may become ace up your sleeve. A good professional bio should include the following bits of information, regardless of your writing style or your goals:

- Start with who you are and what you do. The basics of a bio include your name and a brief summary of your professional endeavors and goals. 

- Describe what you’re currently doing. Include quantifiable information that can show how effective you are in your most recent position.

- Share a couple of professional triumphs. If you’ve enjoyed a level of professional excellence that resulted in special recognition, share those results. This is your moment to showcase two or three key moments in your career, such as awards, special recognition, or significant accomplishments. Approach this like you would a cover letter for a job application.

- Create a branding statement . Consider your values as a professional and take some space to outline them. Think of this as an easy way to help people quickly determine what matters to you.

- Include some personal details that showcase your personality. At the end of the day, your career doesn’t completely define you. Feel free to include interests and hobbies in your bio to make you more relatable.

- Mention how to reach you. Add social media links or an email address to your bio. This one is more optional and context-dependent, but a smart idea nonetheless. 

5 steps to write a professional bio

With all that in mind, here are the five steps you should take when writing your professional bio:

1. Identify the bio’s purpose and gather information. Good news — if you followed along in the previous section, then you’ve already arrived at this step. Knowing why you’re writing the bio, who you expect to read it, and how you want to present yourself to that reader is important to the bio writing process.

2. Choose either a first- or third-person perspective. Do you want to use first-person “I” and “me” language, or do you want to talk about yourself in the third person? Third person sounds as though someone else wrote your bio for you, giving it an air of objectivity. However, if you’re posting this on your own portfolio page and the rest of your content is written in first person, then you may want to stick with that style for consistency.

3. Write for the platform. Depending on where you’re posting this bio, you may have a short character limit or as much digital real estate as you want. A Twitter bio will naturally be much shorter than your website. Consider writing bios of different lengths to fit each situation.

4. Begin writing. Your bio should contain everything you collected earlier. It should start with a broad overview of who you are and what you do before ultimately diving into your background and what makes you unique. Have fun with it, but remain professional. Be thorough, but don’t overstay your welcome.

5. Proofread, proofread, proofread. Before posting your professional bio online, walk away from the finished product and then return to it with fresh eyes. Reread it and make edits. When you’re good with your edits, share your bio with a friend you trust to look it over. Once this process is complete, your short professional bio is ready for prime time.

Real life bio examples

While the professional bio template and example provided above can serve as a good starting point for your own bio, it may help to check out some bios from successful individuals in their fields. Here are six excellent examples of what makes a good professional bio.

The bio : Tim Cook is the CEO of Apple and serves on its board of directors.

Before being named CEO in August 2011, Tim was Apple’s chief operating officer and was responsible for all of the company’s worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apple’s supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. He also headed Apple’s Macintosh division and played a key role in the continued development of strategic reseller and supplier relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace.

Prior to joining Apple, Tim was vice president of Corporate Materials for Compaq and was responsible for procuring and managing all of Compaq’s product inventory.

Previous to his work at Compaq, Tim was the chief operating officer of the Reseller Division at Intelligent Electronics.

Tim also spent 12 years with IBM, most recently as director of North American Fulfillment where he led manufacturing and distribution functions for IBM’s Personal Computer Company in North and Latin America.

Tim earned an MBA from Duke University, where he was a Fuqua Scholar, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Auburn University.

Why it’s good: Featured on a corporate about page and focused on one of the most important people in tech, Tim Cook’s professional bio speaks directly to his impressive professional history. This bio is a great example for someone with significant experience in their field.

Richard Branson

The bio : Founder of the Virgin Group, which has gone on to grow successful businesses in sectors including mobile telephony, travel and transportation, financial services, leisure and entertainment and health and wellness. Virgin is a leading international investment group and one of the world's most recognised and respected brands. Since starting youth culture magazine “Student” at aged 16, I have tried to find entrepreneurial ways to drive positive change in the world. In 2004 we established Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, which unites people and entrepreneurial ideas to create opportunities for a better world. Most of my time is now spent building businesses that will make a positive difference in the world and working with Virgin Unite and organisations it has incubated, such as The Elders, The Carbon War Room, The B Team and Ocean Unite. I also serve on the Global Commission on Drug Policy and supports ocean conservation with the Ocean Elders. I'm a tie-loathing adventurer, philanthropist and troublemaker, who believes in turning ideas into reality. Otherwise known as Dr Yes!

Why it’s good: Richard Branson’s LinkedIn professional bio just exudes his personality. Seen as an eccentric billionaire with a penchant for space travel, the Virgin Group founder meshes his professional accomplishments with the many value-driven, philanthropic passion projects he’s undertaken over the years.

Ann Handley

The bio : Ann Handley is a writer, digital marketing pioneer, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author who inspires and empowers you to create marketing that your customers will love, igniting real results for your business.

Ann Handley writes and speaks about how businesses can escape marketing mediocrity to achieve tangible results.

And she will inspire you to do work you’re proud of.

Why it’s good: Marketing guru Ann Handley's profile is short, sweet, and to the point. Perfect for most venues, such as the personal website this is posted on, Handley's bio explains what her strengths are and how she can best help you and your business.

Joaquin Duato

The bio : Joaquin Duato is the Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson and serves on its Board of Directors. As CEO of the world’s largest healthcare company, Joaquin leads a global workforce of 135,000 employees in developing and delivering transformational and innovative healthcare solutions in Pharmaceuticals, MedTech, and Consumer Health.

From his early days in Spain, Joaquin found inspiration by focusing on how healthcare improved patients’ lives. Over the course of three decades with the company, he developed a deep understanding of what’s possible at Johnson & Johnson by working in all business sectors and across multiple geographies and functions. Before being named CEO, Joaquin served as the Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee, where he provided strategic direction for the Pharmaceutical and Consumer Health sectors and oversaw both Information Technology and the Global Supply Chain.

Joaquin’s many accomplishments include driving the transformation of the company’s pharmaceutical business into a global powerhouse by refocusing strategy and investment around core therapeutic areas and areas of greatest unmet need during his tenure as the sector’s Worldwide Chairman. More recently, he oversaw the company’s rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic and drove coordination of global initiatives to safeguard the health of employees and ensure business and supply chain continuity, so the company’s life-saving medicines and products reached patients and communities in need.

A believer in the power of technology to accelerate progress in healthcare, Joaquin is leading Johnson & Johnson to harness data science and intelligent automation for insight generation so that teams work as a united front, with expertise and purpose, to solve the world’s toughest health challenges.

A dual citizen of Spain and the United States, Joaquin’s international perspective gives him a deep appreciation of diversity in all its forms. He is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the patients J&J serves, evidenced by nearly a decade acting as Executive Sponsor for the African Ancestry Leadership Council ERG.

Joaquin earned an MBA from ESADE in Barcelona, Spain, and a Master of International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, Arizona. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and two college-aged children.

Why it’s good: Joaquin Duato, an executive at pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, shares an extensive profile. Not only does this corporate professional bio outline his impressive career, but the long-form entry backs up his status as someone at the top of his game by listing past accomplishments.

Anne T. Madden

The bio : Anne T. Madden is Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Honeywell.

She is responsible for managing legal affairs, Government Relations, health, safety, environment, product stewardship and environmental sustainability. Anne is also responsible for Honeywell’s global M&A efforts.

Prior to taking this role in 2017, Anne was Vice President, Corporate Development and Global Head of M&A, leading acquisition and divestiture activities for 16 years. During her tenure, Honeywell made around 100 acquisitions, representing approximately $15 billion in revenues and divested about 70 businesses, representing close to $9 billion of non-core revenues.

Anne joined Honeywell’s predecessor AlliedSignal in 1996 as General Counsel of Fluorine Products. Later that year she became Vice President and General Counsel of Specialty Chemicals and then Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Performance Materials and Technologies (PMT).

Prior to that, Anne worked at Shearman & Sterling and KPMG Peat Marwick.

Anne earned an A.B. in English and American literature from Brown University, an M.S. in accounting and MBA in finance from the NYU Stern School of Business, and a J.D. from the Fordham University School of Law, where she was Managing Editor of the Law Review.

Why it’s good: Anne Madden's corporate bio is shorter than Joaquin Duato's, but it still manages to detail her career's trajectory in a comprehensive way. Additionally, it offers quantifiable data to show how proficient she is in her field.

Ethan Klei n

The bio : Host of @TheH3Podcast

(Podcast Booking Inquiries: [email protected]) (Business Inquiries: [email protected])

Why it’s good: Not all professional bios need to be lengthy descriptions of a person's career, passions, and hobbies. Ethan Klein's Twitter bio not only highlights his current role as the host of the H3H3 Podcast, but also provides potential connections and partners with ways to get in touch. It gets straight to the point in a way that’s atypical for most professional bios, but it certainly meets the definition for short without missing any key information.

Why do you need a professional bio?

Think of a professional bio as the narrative of your career up to this point. Rather than focusing exclusively on chronological minutiae like a resume, a good bio will give you the ability to focus on your “greatest hits” in a way that also showcases your personality. Here are some of the benefits of having a professional bio of your own:

- Serves as a preemptive icebreaker. If you’re regularly meeting new people at work or attending networking events (check out Namecheap’s how-to video on networking ), a professional bio lets everyone know who you are beforehand. This is particularly helpful for conferences and industry events.

- Easily conveys your personality. While most professional writing requires some rigidity for professionalism’s sake, your bio can and should speak to who you are as a person.

- Gives you a chance to brag. You worked hard to get awards, receive honors, and achieve professional milestones, so flaunt them if you have them!

- Explains who you serve as a professional. If you have a niche you cater to, your bio can quickly and easily explain the areas of focus that mold your professional life.

- Showcases what you do aside from work. There’s more to life than work, so use your bio to show how well-rounded you are by sharing the hobbies or volunteer work that shape your life outside the office.

- Works as your own sales pitch. If written properly, your professional bio will make you more attractive to potential employers and clients by highlighting exactly what makes you a unique and worthwhile addition to any team or project.

Get started on your bio

Anyone can write their own professional bio. Whether you’re looking to book additional side gigs, trying to promote past work, or currently seeking full-time employment, crafting the right professional bio for your needs can give you a leg up in achieving your goals. Through the use of tools like Namecheap Site Maker , you can put together a personal or professional site that highlights your work and showcases who you are as a person by broadcasting your bio to the internet. Likewise, if you’re looking for tips on a crafting professional bio for networking purposes, you may want to check out Namecheap’s business card maker , which can help you make a great first impression with a well-designed calling card.

Ready to get your name out there and build your professional brand? It’s time to write your professional bio and use Namecheap as your source for a website and professional identity.

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24 Biography Templates and Examples (Word | PDF | Google Docs)

Biographies serve as a fascinating lens into the lives of individuals, ranging from influential family members and historical figures to renowned personalities. Whether you’re a student, an aspiring writer, or someone captivated by the art of telling a life story , grasping the essential elements of a biography is vital. Writing a biography goes beyond compiling facts; it involves crafting a narrative that educates and inspires your readers. This guide provides you with practical steps, style advice, and, importantly, biography templates to assist you in structuring your work effectively. With these resources, you can start to create biographies that not only inform but also captivate your audience. Are you ready to capture the essence of a life story in words? Let’s delve into the fundamentals of crafting a compelling and memorable biography.

Biography Templates & Examples

Aesthetic Biography Template

An Aesthetic Biography Template is a carefully designed layout that allows individuals to present their personal and professional information in an organized and visually appealing manner. The template provided in the previous response offers a structured format for users to showcase their educational background, work experience, skills, and personal interests. This format is particularly useful for creating a compelling narrative of one's life and achievements, making it ideal for applications, personal websites, or professional profiles. The inclusion of sample data guides users on how to effectively fill out each section, ensuring clarity and coherence in presenting their unique story.

Short Biography Template

A Short Biography template is a structured format for summarizing an individual's personal, educational, and professional background. It offers a concise yet informative way to present one's achievements, skills, and experiences. The template provided above is designed to capture a wide range of details, from basic personal information to career highlights and skills. It is versatile and can be tailored to suit different situations, whether for a professional profile, a speaker introduction, or a personal website. The inclusion of sample data in the brackets makes it user-friendly, allowing for easy customization. This template serves as a useful starting point for anyone looking to create a clear and engaging biography.

Professional Biography Template

A Professional Bio Template is a structured format designed to aid individuals in crafting a succinct and engaging biography that highlights their career achievements, skills, and personal qualities. This template helps users efficiently organize and present their professional story, ensuring that key elements like career milestones, skills, and personal interests are effectively communicated. This assists in creating a compelling bio that resonates with various audiences, such as potential employers or networking contacts, enhancing their professional presence and impact.

Personal Biography Template

A personal biography template is a structured outline designed to guide individuals in documenting their life stories, achievements, and experiences. It provides a framework to organize personal details in a coherent and engaging manner. This template, created in our prior response, can assist users by simplifying the process of writing their biography. It offers a clear structure, ensuring that key aspects of one's life are highlighted effectively. This can be particularly useful for creating professional bios, personal introductions, or for preserving personal history.

You can explore more free biography templates and examples in the collection at Highfile . This resource offers a diverse range of templates suitable for various needs, whether for professional, personal, or academic purposes.

What Is a Biography?

A biography is an in-depth narrative of someone’s life, written by another person. It encompasses more than just basic facts like birthplace and education. A biography delves into the subject’s personal experiences, significant life events, and the influences that shaped their character and achievements. It’s not just a timeline of events; a biography weaves these details into a compelling story, offering insights into the individual’s motivations and impacts. The aim is to present a well-rounded portrait that is both informative and engaging, allowing readers to understand and empathize with the subject’s journey. A biography, in essence, is a vivid window into another person’s life experience, capturing their unique contributions and the essence of their existence.

Fun Fact: Did you know that one of the earliest biographies ever recorded was about an ancient Egyptian official named Ptahhotep around 2400 BC? This ancient biography was not written in a book but carved on the walls of his tomb, depicting his life and achievements. This highlights how the art of biography writing has been significant throughout human history, evolving from ancient carvings to modern digital formats!

Essential Elements of a Biography Template

Crafting a professional biography involves creating a concise yet comprehensive summary of your career objectives, current position, and notable achievements. This type of bio is ideally suited for professional networking platforms like LinkedIn or AngelList, where a more detailed and career-focused narrative is expected compared to the brief bios often seen on other social media sites.

Key Components to Include in Your Professional Biography:

• Your Name : Clearly state your full name at the beginning.
• Personal Brand or Company Affiliation : Mention your business or the brand you represent.
• Professional Tagline or Current Role : Include your current job title or a tagline that encapsulates your professional essence.
• Career Aspirations : Briefly outline your career goals or what you aim to achieve professionally.
• Unique Personal Fact : Share an interesting personal detail that sets you apart.
• Top Achievements : Highlight two or three significant accomplishments relevant to your professional trajectory.

While primarily professional in tone, don’t hesitate to weave in personal elements like a favorite book or hobby. This adds a human touch, making your bio more relatable and engaging. Remember, a well-rounded biography balances professional accomplishments with personal insights, creating a holistic view of you as both a professional and an individual.

How to Write a Biography

Writing a compelling biography requires a structured approach. Follow these steps to create an engaging and informative biography:

• Choose a Subject : Select a person whose life story is interesting and impactful. Consider whether their contributions or experiences have the potential to inspire or connect with your audience.
• Obtain Permission : If your subject is alive, obtaining their consent is crucial, as it involves discussing personal details. For deceased or public figures, ensure all information is factual to avoid legal issues.
• Conduct Thorough Research : Gather information from primary sources like interviews, letters, and personal accounts for an authentic portrayal. Complement these with secondary sources like documentaries and articles for additional context.
• Formulate a Thesis : In the opening section, clearly state what the reader will learn from the biography. This thesis sets the stage for the narrative to unfold.
• Organize Chronologically : Structure the biography in a timeline format, presenting events in the order they occurred. This helps in maintaining a clear narrative flow.
• Incorporate Flashbacks : Skillfully use flashbacks to provide context or highlight significant past events, enriching the narrative without overloading it with background details.
• Inject Personal Insight : While sticking to factual information, don’t shy away from adding your own perspective on the subject’s achievements and their societal impact. This adds depth and personal touch to the biography.

A good biography balances factual accuracy with narrative flair, bringing the subject’s story to life in a way that resonates with the readers.

Tips on Writing a Biography

Crafting a biography requires a blend of accuracy, creativity, and attention to detail. Here are some essential tips to guide you in writing an effective biography:

• Write in Third Person : Use the third person perspective for a professional and objective tone.
• Inject Humor Appropriately : While maintaining professionalism, subtle humor can make the biography more engaging and relatable.
• Be Mindful of Length : Keep an eye on the word count. A biography should be comprehensive yet concise enough to hold the reader’s interest.
• Narrate a Story, Not Just Facts : Instead of listing events, weave them into a compelling narrative to make the biography more interesting and readable.
• Include Relevant Links : Provide links to your work, projects, or publications to offer readers additional context and evidence of your achievements.
• Provide Contact Information : Make it easy for readers to reach you by including up-to-date contact details.
• Edit Thoroughly : Ensure your biography is free of errors and well-polished. Comprehensive editing enhances readability and professionalism.
• Keep it Concise : Aim for brevity while ensuring all critical information is included. A succinct biography is often more impactful and memorable.

Important Note: Before diving into our FAQs, it’s crucial to remember that while a biography aims to be factual and accurate, it also requires a respectful approach, especially when dealing with sensitive aspects of a person’s life. As a biographer, your responsibility extends beyond mere storytelling; it involves ethical considerations, such as respecting privacy and presenting information in a manner that is fair and considerate to the subject and their family. Keep this in mind as you explore the frequently asked questions and embark on your journey of writing a biography.

For online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter, a three-sentence bio should be concise yet informative. It should briefly introduce you, focusing on key aspects: Your Name : Start with your full name. Your Current Role : Mention your profession or the role you’re known for. A Notable Achievement or Personal Touch : Include a significant accomplishment or a unique personal detail (like a hobby or goal). This format ensures your bio is succinct but covers essential details.

A personal biography is a brief narrative focusing on your professional life, used for job searches or on professional platforms like LinkedIn. It’s slightly more detailed than a social media bio and should include: Your Name Personal Brand or Company : If applicable. Professional Tagline or Current Role Two or Three Key Achievements : Choose the most relevant and impressive ones. While primarily professional, feel free to add a personal detail like a hobby or favorite book to give a glimpse of your personality.

In a work-related bio, focus on aspects directly relevant to your professional life. This might be more detailed, including your career journey, key skills, and notable projects or roles you’ve held. Personal anecdotes or interests can be included if they relate to your professional persona or add value to your professional story. Remember, the context dictates the bio’s content and tone. Tailor it to suit the platform and the audience you are addressing.

When choosing a subject, consider individuals whose life stories are not only interesting but also have the potential to inspire or educate others. Look for unique experiences, significant achievements, or challenges they’ve overcome. Public figures, historical personalities, or even unsung heroes in your community can make excellent subjects.

Begin with an engaging opening that captures the essence of your subject’s life. This could be a pivotal moment, a significant achievement, or an anecdote that reflects their character. Starting with something compelling draws readers in and sets the tone for the biography.

Effective research methods include conducting interviews with people who know the subject well, reviewing primary documents like letters or diaries, and consulting reputable secondary sources for historical context. Online archives, libraries, and specialized databases are also valuable resources.

To maintain objectivity, present facts without bias, and avoid letting personal opinions color the narrative. Acknowledge different perspectives on the subject’s life, especially in controversial or unclear aspects. Being fair and balanced is key to a trustworthy biography.

Yes, you can write a biography about a family member. However, it’s important to balance personal insights with objective storytelling. Ensure you have enough distance to present their story truthfully and respect their privacy and perspective.

Approach sensitive topics with care and respect. Verify the accuracy of such information and consider its relevance to the overall story. Be mindful of the impact this could have on the subject and their family, especially if they are still living.

The length of a biography depends on the depth of the subject’s life story and the intended audience. Some biographies are short, focusing on key events, while others are comprehensive, covering the subject’s life in detail. Tailor the length to suit the story’s complexity and readers’ expectations.

Final Thoughts

Crafting a biography requires a thoughtful blend of accuracy and creativity to captivate and engage your readers. By focusing on these essential elements and following the outlined steps, you can transform a simple life story into a compelling narrative that holds the reader’s interest from start to finish. Whether you’ve always wanted to write a biography or are just beginning to explore this genre, this guide provides a solid foundation to embark on your biographical writing journey. Remember, a well-written biography not only informs but also inspires, offering a deeper understanding of the subject’s life and legacy.

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Writing a Professional Bio for Your Website

By David Shannon

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One essential component to making an impact with your site and showing visitors what makes you unique is a professional bio. These short, powerful summaries tell your audience who you are and more importantly, why they should care. 

Let’s go over what an About Me page can do for your website, how to write an impressive bio that puts you in the best light possible, and tips to make yours truly shine. From length and layout to customizing for your target audience , it’s best to cover it all to make your site one to bookmark. 

Here’s how you introduce yourself online—and make sure you get noticed.

Why you need an About Me page

Whether you own a business, create content or art, need to get your portfolio online, or just want people to read your personal blog, an About Me page is crucial for establishing your authority and building trust and familiarity with visitors. It allows you to share your story in an authentic way and connect on a personal level with your audience.

A captivating About Me page also gives you a perfect opportunity to talk about your mission and values . It provides the platform to dig into why you do what you do and the impact you hope to have. That helps visitors determine if you're the right fit for them and attracts people with similar values.

Your About Me page can be a powerful tool for turning visitors into loyal customers, readers, brand advocates—in short, it helps build your community. They'll see you as the go-to expert in your industry or area of interest and a person they want to work with or stay informed about.

4 elements of a strong professional bio

An effective bio is an important tool for promoting your expertise and services. Your bio is one of the most important parts of your online presence because it establishes your credibility and convinces people you're worth their time. With the right look and a good balance of professionalism, personality, and optimization for your audience, you'll make a strong impression and turn readers into clients, customers, or followers. 

1. A layout they can’t look away from

Let’s start with what your bio page looks like. A professional yet personable photo of yourself is key. Your visitors want to put a face to your name. 

Avoid thumbnail-size or low-quality images that make visitors squint to see who you are. This is all about you—give them a headshot that shows your personality or photos of you at work doing what you love. Whatever you do, your images should match the overall style and tone of your website.

As for words? Keep your bio concise, around two to three short paragraphs for easy reading. Use active language and avoid repetition.

Those are the basics. But there are a few other elements that can go a long way towards creating the effect you want.

Font design: Think about using an attractive, legible font that jibes with your brand or personal look.

Text and page design: Add visual interest with bold text, bulleted lists, and spacing that gives the words room to breathe.

Accomplishments: Depending on your goals, including snapshots of key accomplishments could also be appropriate.

Simplicity: Use plenty of white space and align everything neatly. Avoid crowding too much onto the page. If your bio is longer, use clear headings to provide structure.

Your bio should have a clean, uncluttered feel that’s easy to navigate. And maximum visibility is critical: Place your bio prominently on your website (like in the navigation menu) so your audience can’t miss it.

2. Clear experience and expertise

Your visitors need to know why they should keep coming back to your site or use your services, so it’s important to share your story in an authentic way that connects with readers. You’ll want to cover: 

Your relevant work experience

Relevant education or certifications

Mission or business goals

Accomplishments

Awards or key successes

Share details about your areas of expertise and how you can help clients or customers. Relate your passion for the work you do and how you came to start your business. Your visitors want to know what motivates and inspires you and get a feel for what it's like to work with you. 

This is your chance to highlight what makes you and your business unique. Any interesting facts and details that set you apart? Including these critical pieces gives followers a reason to check out your product or service, keep reading, or sign up for your mailing list . 

While listing accomplishments and skills shows your expertise, keep things light and avoid being too self-promotional. It can be a delicate balance, but trust your instincts to find the right mix.

3. Your personality

While professional, your bio should also reflect your distinctive personality and voice. Share some personal details about your passions or interests outside of work to help readers connect with you. Do you have an unusual combination of skills or experience? Let them know about it.

The tone you use should be a reflection of your own personality or your brand personality . Should it be an enthusiastic and friendly tone, something informal and conversational to make it inviting and accessible? Or should it be more businesslike and formal, with terminology and language that underscore how versed you are in your industry? Whichever tone you settle on, be sure you’re speaking directly to your audience and what they’re most likely to respond to. 

This space is designed to share what makes you, you.

4. Optimization, optimization, optimization

Customizing your professional bio for your target audience is key to making the best impression. Think about your desired audience, who you’re trying to attract, and how you can shape your bio to have the widest appeal. This is for your website, so focus your bio on how your service, product, or content helps visitors and brings value . What type of language or tone will they respond to? What accomplishments or skills would make them trust you more?

Looking to rank in search results ? Including keywords that optimize your site for search engines, even in your bio, will help people find you organically. Again, consider what your target audience might be searching when looking for someone like you. Find ways to naturally weave similar phrases into your copy.

Think about including links to your social media profiles or other websites. This gives readers an easy way to connect with you and learn more about what you do. Place links at the end of your bio paragraph or in a "Connect with Me" section at the bottom of the page.

A website bio example

Let’s say you own a food truck that specializes in natural ingredients and healthy, homemade alternatives to takeout. You’re garnering some glowing reviews and it’s time to create a website that takes your business to the next level. One of the big questions you’ll need to answer: how to write an About Me bio.

One way to introduce yourself is to share your history with the type of cuisine you prepare. That context will give visitors a relatable, authentic story they can connect with.

For example: “My friends and family loved when I cooked for them, always asking me to cater their parties or bring a dish to share. Their positive feedback fueled my motivation to keep improving my craft.” 

You could then go on to briefly describe your path to owning a food truck and living your dream. How did you turn your hobby into a thriving business, develop your recipes, and cultivate a following? What’s your goal for the future? Lessons learned along the way? 

For example: “I started to get requests from friends of friends, and found myself planning recipes on my way home from my 9-5. As word spread, I decided to invest some savings in the truck we work out of today and give it a try full-time. We’re now happily on the road six days a week, and one day, we hope to bring our recipes to a brick-and-mortar location for the community.”

Include a photo of yourself in the kitchen doing what you love or in front of your food truck, with a line of customers waiting to sample your recipes. Or consider showcasing a few flattering, professional images of your dishes.

You might even include a personal touch like sharing a recipe for one of your dishes to show how the magic is created and illustrate the quality ingredients you use. The possibilities are endless, so get creative to bring something a little different than your competitors.

With these tips on how to write a professional bio, you're on your way to crafting a website that leaves an indelible first impression and gives readers a sense of what you do and why they should do business with you. An engaging yet professional About page is one of the most important elements of any website, so take your time, consider how you want to present yourself, and show the world who you are.

Ready to create your professional bio?

Posted on 14 Jun 2024

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30 Professional Biography Examples (& Templates)

A biography is a written depiction of the life of a person that includes factual stories and details from their personal lives along with their successes, trials, and failures. Most of us have read biography examples of famous personalities, especially those we admire.

• 1 Biography Examples
• 2 What is an example of a biography?
• 3 Personal Bio Examples
• 4 How do I write a biography about myself?
• 5 Professional Bio Templates
• 6 How to write a short bio?

Biography Examples

What is an example of a biography.

Biography examples have become so popular these days that we even have a cable network devoted entirely to narrating the stories of the lives of famous people. If you plan to make a biography, you can draw inspiration from various bio samples including:

• “Alexander Hamilton,” written by Ron Chernow
• “Into the Wild,” written by Jon Krakauer
• “Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World,” written by Tracy Kidder
• “Steve Jobs,” written by Walter Isaacson
• “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” written by Rebecca Skloot
• “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time,” written by Greg Mortenson
• “Unbroken,” written by Laura Hillenbrand

Personal Bio Examples

How do i write a biography about myself.

Anyone can write their own personal biography. For instance, you may need your own biography examples when seeking employment. Personal bio examples provide a short introduction and a summary of your professional credentials, education, accomplishments, and other relevant information that makes you what you are.

The document provides hiring managers with an idea of why you consider yourself the perfect person for the job. Aside from the employment angle, you can also use a professional bio template on professional websites and networking platforms.

The hardest part when creating biography examples is to get started. Before writing, you should give yourself time to focus, so that you can include all of the information you want to share in an efficient but concise manner. Consider the following tips to create your personal biography:

• Introduce yourself Start with a short introduction that shows the reader who you are. Your first sentence must include your full name, followed by relevant details that you want to emphasize like your certifications, achievements, and education. After this strong first sentence, mention your attributes, skills, personal, and professional values. You can also include other significant details relevant to your goals like your job title, the industry where you work, and the duties of your job. These details are essential for employers looking for employees on various professional platforms.
• Keep things short Remember to keep your personal bio short. Start by having a word count goal although this may vary depending on the focus and purpose of your biography. For a personal bio for employment purposes, it should be at most just one paragraph or a couple of short paragraphs with descriptions of who you are. The most ideal word count will be between 300 – 500 words. Short bios are usually meant to get the attention of the reader and encourage them to continue reading the rest of your CV or resume. Make sure your bio includes your accomplishments, purpose, history, credentials, and education. In case there is a lot of information you would like to include, you need to organize the most relevant information first. Remove any details that have no relevance to your bio’s purpose.
• Use the third person Remember that you’re making a biography, not an autobiography. Although it may sound strange to write about yourself in the third person, there are many advantages to doing so. Writing in the third person allows you to include your complete name. This method works well for search engine optimization as it tells the search engine that the bio is all about you.
• Think strategically while writing There’s nothing wrong with mentioning all of your achievements but you should avoid creating a list that’s too extensive. If you’re finding it difficult to start, ask yourself the following: Who are you writing for? What do you want your readers to learn about you? What life events should you include to show them who you are? If you can compose a compelling story for others to read so that they can learn more about you, you would have differentiated yourself from the competition. You can include narratives that have inspired you to go after your current job or shaped your goals. Using personal anecdotes provides readers with a more profound understanding of your interests. core values, and passions.
• Include your contact details If the biography is the first step for you to communicate with others, the contact details section of your bio encourages your readers to communicate back as it makes you seem more approachable and open. Your contact details should include your email address and links to your professional social media platforms. Generally, you should place your contact details at the end of your bio.
• Edit and revise as needed Remember that your biography is a reflection of you as an editor and a writer. For this, make sure to proofread for spelling and grammatical errors before sending or publishing it. The following are some tips for refining your bio: Avoid editing as you go – just focus on your writing. Edit after writing all of the content. Read your bio out loud to catch any grammatical errors. Also, find areas where you can still improve the structure. Use online editing software to check and grade your bio in terms of readability. Ask friends, co-workers or family members to give you honest feedback on what you can improve. Editing your work is one of the many important steps to ensure that your personal bio is the most professional representation of your accomplishments, character, and background.

Professional Bio Templates

How to write a short bio.

When you talk about online biographies, you can readily come up with a few short biography examples. Social media platforms all have space for a short description of what you do and who you are.

You should take advantage of the 2 to 3 lines you have for short but creative bio examples. If you have limited space, keep your bios short, sweet, and filled with the most significant details strangers should know about you like:

• Your full name
• Your current job title or role
• Your ultimate goal in life
• Your most notable achievement

Related Posts

40 useful roles and responsibilities templates [word, ppt], 37 product requirements document templates [word], 40 best interview templates (+formats & guides).

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AI Generator

A biography is a detailed account of a person’s life, documenting their experiences, achievements, and impact on the world. It explores the subject’s personal and professional journeys, offering insights into their character and legacy.

What is Biography?

A bibliography is a comprehensive list of all sources consulted for a research project, including books, articles , websites, and more. It provides essential details such as the author, title, publication date, and publisher, formatted according to specific citation styles like APA, MLA , or Chicago. Bibliographies credit sources, avoid plagiarism, and enhance the credibility of your work.

Format of Biography

A well-structured biography format ensures that the narrative is both engaging and informative, offering readers a comprehensive view of the subject’s life. Here is a structured format that can be adapted to suit different types of biographies:

Title: Should capture the essence of the subject’s life. Subtitle: Optional, providing additional context or focus. Author’s Name: The name of the biographer.

Table of Contents

Lists chapters or sections with page numbers for easy navigation.

Introduction

Introduces the subject of the biography, including their significance and the scope of the biography. Provides a thesis statement or the main theme of the biography.

Birth and Family Background: Details about the subject’s birth, parents, siblings, and early family life. Education: Information on the subject’s education, including significant schools attended, degrees earned, and influential teachers or mentors. Formative Experiences: Early experiences that shaped the subject’s character, interests, and future path.

Early Career: Overview of the subject’s initial jobs or roles and early career milestones. Major Contributions and Achievements: Detailed account of the subject’s key contributions, achievements, and career highlights. Challenges and Setbacks: Challenges faced in their career and how they were overcome.

Personal Life

Relationships and Family: Information on the subject’s personal relationships, marriage(s), children, and close friendships. Interests and Hobbies: The subject’s personal interests, hobbies, and extracurricular activities.

Philanthropy and Activism

If applicable, details on the subject’s involvement in philanthropy, social causes, activism, or community service.

Legacy and Impact

Analysis of the subject’s legacy and impact on their field, community, or the world. Includes public and professional recognition, awards, and honors.

Later Life and Death

Details about the subject’s later years, retirement, and circumstances of their death (if applicable). Reflections on their life and contributions.

Summarizes the key points of the biography, reinforcing the subject’s impact and legacy. Reflects on the broader implications of the subject’s life and work.

Appendices (If Applicable)

Includes additional information, such as letters, documents, or photographs.

Bibliography/References

Lists sources, interviews, and materials used in researching the biography.

An alphabetical listing of names, places, and subjects mentioned in the biography, with page numbers.

Examples of Biography for Students

1. abraham lincoln (1809-1865).

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and is best known for leading the country during the Civil War and working to end slavery. Born in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky, Lincoln had humble beginnings. He educated himself by reading books and became a lawyer in Illinois. His political career began in the Illinois State Legislature and later in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Lincoln became a national figure during the debates with Stephen Douglas in 1858, which highlighted his opposition to the expansion of slavery. In 1860, he was elected President. His presidency was dominated by the Civil War, a conflict between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy), which had seceded from the Union. Lincoln’s leadership was crucial in preserving the Union.

In 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were free. This was a significant step towards the abolition of slavery. Lincoln was re-elected in 1864 but was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in 1865, just days after the end of the Civil War.

Lincoln is remembered for his eloquent speeches, including the Gettysburg Address, and his dedication to principles of equality and freedom.

2. Malala Yousafzai (1997-Present)

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani education activist and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Born in Mingora, Pakistan, Malala developed a passion for education from an early age, inspired by her father, who was an educator and ran a girls’ school in their village.

In 2009, at just 11 years old, Malala began writing a blog for the BBC under a pseudonym, describing her life under the Taliban’s rule and their attempts to restrict education for girls. Her advocacy made her a target, and in 2012, she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman while riding a bus home from school. Miraculously, she survived and was flown to the United Kingdom for extensive medical treatment.

Malala’s courage and determination gained international attention. In 2013, she co-authored the memoir “I Am Malala,” which became a global bestseller. In 2014, at the age of 17, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.

Today, Malala continues to be a leading voice for education and women’s rights through the Malala Fund, an organization she co-founded to ensure girls around the world have access to 12 years of free, safe, and quality education.

3. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

Martin Luther King Jr. was an American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the American civil rights movement. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, King was a Baptist minister and an advocate for nonviolent resistance based on the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

King first came to national prominence during the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, which was sparked by Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. This boycott lasted for over a year and resulted in the desegregation of the city’s public buses.

In 1963, King led the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where he delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, envisioning a future where people would be judged by their character rather than the color of their skin. His efforts were instrumental in the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

King’s commitment to social justice and equality earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Tragically, his life was cut short when he was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. King’s legacy lives on through his speeches, writings, and the ongoing efforts for racial equality and justice in America.

4. Marie Curie (1867-1934)

Marie Curie was a pioneering physicist and chemist who conducted groundbreaking research on radioactivity. Born in Warsaw, Poland, as Maria Sklodowska, she moved to Paris to study at the Sorbonne, where she met her future husband, Pierre Curie. Together, they discovered the elements polonium and radium.

Marie Curie’s work earned her two Nobel Prizes—one in Physics in 1903 (shared with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel) and another in Chemistry in 1911. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to have won Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields.

Curie’s research contributed significantly to the understanding of radioactivity, a term she coined, and laid the foundation for future scientific advancements, including cancer treatment. Despite facing numerous challenges as a woman in science, Curie’s dedication and perseverance left a lasting legacy in the scientific community.

5. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Born in the village of Mvezo in Umtata, Mandela became involved in the anti-colonial and African nationalist politics while studying law in Johannesburg.

Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 and co-founded the ANC Youth League. In the 1950s, he led peaceful protests and defiance campaigns against the apartheid regime’s racial segregation policies. However, after the government banned the ANC, Mandela shifted to advocating armed resistance.

In 1962, he was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for his activities against the apartheid government. Mandela spent 27 years in prison, during which he became a global symbol of resistance to apartheid. Released in 1990, Mandela led negotiations to dismantle apartheid and establish multiracial elections.

In 1994, Mandela was elected South Africa’s first black president in the country’s first democratic elections. His presidency focused on reconciliation, nation-building, and social justice. Mandela’s leadership and commitment to peace earned him international acclaim and numerous awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Examples of Biography for Professionals

1. elon musk.

Elon Musk is a renowned entrepreneur and innovator, best known for his work in the technology and space exploration sectors. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971, Musk moved to the United States to pursue his ambitions in the tech industry. He earned degrees in Physics and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Musk co-founded Zip2, an online city guide software, which was sold to Compaq for nearly $300 million in 1999. He then founded X.com, an online payment company, which later became PayPal and was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in stock.

In 2002, Musk founded SpaceX with the goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars. SpaceX has since achieved numerous milestones, including the first privately-funded spacecraft to reach the International Space Station.

Musk is also the CEO of Tesla, Inc., a company dedicated to producing electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions. Under his leadership, Tesla has become a leader in the automotive industry, pushing the boundaries of electric car technology and sustainable energy.

Musk’s other ventures include Neuralink, a neurotechnology company, and The Boring Company, which focuses on tunnel construction and infrastructure. His innovative approach and relentless drive continue to shape the future of technology and space exploration.

2. Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Facebook (now Meta Platforms, Inc.) and a prominent advocate for women’s leadership and empowerment. Born in Washington, D.C., in 1969, Sandberg earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Harvard University and later an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Sandberg started her career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company before joining the U.S. Treasury Department as Chief of Staff under President Bill Clinton. In 2001, she joined Google, where she was Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations, significantly contributing to the company’s revenue growth.

In 2008, Sandberg became the COO of Facebook, where she helped scale the company’s operations and expand its global presence. Her leadership was instrumental in turning Facebook into one of the world’s largest and most influential social media platforms.

Sandberg is also the author of the best-selling book “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead,” which encourages women to pursue their ambitions and challenge workplace inequalities. She founded LeanIn.Org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women’s professional growth and leadership.

Sandberg’s influence extends beyond her professional achievements, as she continues to advocate for gender equality and empowerment in the workplace.

3. Satya Nadella

Satya Nadella is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microsoft, one of the world’s leading technology companies. Born in Hyderabad, India, in 1967, Nadella moved to the United States to pursue his education, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology, a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Nadella joined Microsoft in 1992 and held various leadership roles in the company’s enterprise and cloud computing divisions. He played a crucial role in transforming Microsoft’s business model to focus on cloud computing, which significantly boosted the company’s growth and profitability.

In 2014, Nadella was appointed CEO of Microsoft. Under his leadership, Microsoft has embraced a culture of innovation and collaboration, expanding its product offerings and investing heavily in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other advanced technologies. Nadella’s vision has been pivotal in maintaining Microsoft’s status as a global technology leader.

Nadella is also known for his emphasis on empathy and inclusive leadership, which has helped foster a more diverse and supportive workplace culture at Microsoft.

4. Indra Nooyi

Indra Nooyi is a distinguished business executive and former CEO of PepsiCo, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies. Born in Chennai, India, in 1955, Nooyi earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from Madras Christian College and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. She later obtained a Master’s degree in Public and Private Management from Yale School of Management.

Nooyi began her career at Johnson & Johnson and later worked at Boston Consulting Group and Motorola. In 1994, she joined PepsiCo and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming CFO in 2001 and CEO in 2006.

During her tenure as CEO, Nooyi led PepsiCo through a period of significant growth and transformation, focusing on product innovation, health and wellness, and sustainability. She spearheaded the acquisition of Tropicana and the merger with Quaker Oats, expanding PepsiCo’s portfolio and market presence.

Nooyi’s leadership earned her numerous accolades, including being consistently ranked among the world’s most powerful women by Forbes and Fortune. She is also known for her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and her commitment to corporate social responsibility.

After stepping down as CEO in 2018, Nooyi continues to serve on various boards and remains an influential voice in the business community.

5. Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos is the founder and former CEO of Amazon, one of the world’s largest and most influential e-commerce and technology companies. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1964, Bezos showed an early interest in science and technology. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Bezos worked in the finance industry before founding Amazon in 1994 from his garage. Initially an online bookstore, Amazon quickly expanded its product offerings and grew into a global e-commerce giant. Bezos’s customer-centric approach and relentless focus on innovation have been key drivers of Amazon’s success.

Under Bezos’s leadership, Amazon introduced groundbreaking services such as Amazon Prime, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Kindle, transforming the retail and technology landscapes. Bezos also acquired The Washington Post in 2013, revitalizing the newspaper through digital innovation.

In 2021, Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon to focus on his other ventures, including Blue Origin, a space exploration company he founded to make space travel more accessible. Bezos’s impact on e-commerce, technology, and space exploration continues to shape the future of these industries.

Examples of Biography for Kids

1. albert einstein.

Albert Einstein was one of the most famous scientists of all time. Born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Germany, Einstein showed a great interest in math and science from a young age. When he was just a teenager, he taught himself advanced mathematics.

Einstein is best known for his theory of relativity, which changed the way we understand time and space. He developed the famous equation E=mc², which explains how energy and mass are related. This discovery had a huge impact on science and technology.

In 1921, Einstein won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the photoelectric effect, which helped scientists understand how light works. He moved to the United States in 1933 and worked at Princeton University.

Einstein was also known for his wild hair and playful personality. He loved to play the violin and was passionate about peace and human rights. He passed away on April 18, 1955, but his discoveries continue to inspire scientists around the world.

2. Helen Keller

Helen Keller was an extraordinary woman who overcame incredible obstacles. Born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama, Keller lost her sight and hearing due to an illness when she was just 19 months old. Despite these challenges, she became a famous author, speaker, and advocate for people with disabilities.

When Keller was six years old, her parents hired a teacher named Anne Sullivan to help her learn. Sullivan taught Keller how to communicate using sign language and braille. Keller quickly learned to read and write, and she even learned to speak.

Keller attended college and graduated with honors in 1904. She wrote several books, including her autobiography, “The Story of My Life.” She traveled the world, giving speeches and raising awareness about the abilities of people with disabilities.

Helen Keller’s determination and achievements continue to inspire people today. She showed that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible. She passed away on June 1, 1968, but her legacy lives on.

3. Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong was an American astronaut and the first person to walk on the moon. Born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio, Armstrong was fascinated by airplanes and space from a young age. He earned his pilot’s license at just 16 years old.

Armstrong studied aerospace engineering and became a test pilot for NASA. In 1962, he was selected to be an astronaut. On July 20, 1969, Armstrong made history when he stepped onto the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. He famously said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Armstrong and his fellow astronauts, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, safely returned to Earth, and they were celebrated as heroes. After his historic mission, Armstrong continued to work in aviation and space exploration.

Neil Armstrong’s bravery and accomplishments continue to inspire future generations of explorers. He passed away on August 25, 2012, but his journey to the moon remains one of the greatest achievements in human history.

4. Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall is a British primatologist and anthropologist who is famous for her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees. Born on April 3, 1934, in London, England, Goodall was fascinated by animals from a young age. She dreamed of living in Africa and studying wildlife.

In 1960, at the age of 26, Goodall traveled to Tanzania to study chimpanzees in the wild. She observed their behavior and discovered that they used tools, a trait previously thought to be unique to humans. Her work changed the way scientists understand primates and their similarities to humans.

Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 to support wildlife research, education, and conservation. She has spent her life advocating for the protection of animals and the environment, traveling the world to share her message.

Jane Goodall’s passion and dedication have made her a hero to many people who care about animals and the planet. Her work continues to inspire young scientists and conservationists around the world.

5. Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist who became famous for her role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, Parks grew up in a time when African Americans faced widespread discrimination and segregation.

On December 1, 1955, Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a protest against the city’s segregation laws. The boycott lasted for over a year and led to the desegregation of the public bus system.

Parks’ courage made her a symbol of the civil rights movement. She worked alongside other leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. to fight for equality and justice. Parks received many honors for her work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Rosa Parks’ bravery and determination continue to inspire people to stand up for what is right. She passed away on October 24, 2005, but her legacy as a champion of civil rights lives on.

Personal Biography Examples

1. author bio.

Name: Jane Smith Occupation: Author

Jane Smith is a bestselling author known for her compelling narratives and complex characters. Her debut novel, “Echoes of the Heart,” captivated readers worldwide and was awarded the prestigious National Book Award. With a background in journalism and a passion for storytelling, Jane weaves intricate plots that explore the depths of human emotions and relationships. When she’s not writing, Jane enjoys hiking, painting, and spending time with her family in the picturesque countryside of Vermont.

2. Personal Blog Bio

Name: Mark Davis Occupation: Travel Blogger

Mark Davis is an avid traveler and the voice behind the popular blog “Wanderlust Adventures.” With a mission to inspire others to explore the world, Mark shares his experiences and tips from over 50 countries. His journey began as a solo backpacker through Southeast Asia and has since evolved into a full-time adventure, capturing the beauty and culture of each destination. Mark’s blog features stunning photography, in-depth guides, and personal anecdotes that resonate with fellow wanderers. When he’s not on the road, Mark enjoys cooking international cuisines and planning his next trip from his home base in New York City.

3. LinkedIn Bio

Name: Emily Johnson Occupation: Marketing Professional

Emily Johnson is a dynamic marketing professional with over a decade of experience in creating and executing successful marketing strategies. Currently, she is the Marketing Director at Bright Ideas Co., where she leads a talented team in driving brand awareness and customer engagement. Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MBA from Stanford University. Known for her innovative approach and analytical mindset, Emily has a proven track record of boosting sales and enhancing brand loyalty. Outside of work, she is passionate about mentoring young professionals and volunteering at local animal shelters.

4. Instagram Bio

Name: Alex Chen Occupation: Fitness Enthusiast

Alex Chen is a fitness enthusiast dedicated to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. With a background in personal training and nutrition, Alex shares workout routines, healthy recipes, and motivational content on his Instagram page, @FitLifeAlex. His journey began with a personal transformation that ignited his passion for fitness, and now he inspires thousands of followers to achieve their fitness goals. Alex believes in balance and encourages his community to find joy in their fitness journey. When he’s not at the gym, Alex enjoys hiking, experimenting with new recipes, and spending time with his dog, Rocky.

5. Artist Bio

Name: Lisa Martinez Occupation: Visual Artist

Lisa Martinez is a visual artist whose work explores the intersection of nature and human experience. With a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Lisa has exhibited her paintings and installations in galleries across the United States. Her work is characterized by vibrant colors, organic forms, and a deep connection to the environment. Lisa draws inspiration from her travels and the natural world, often incorporating sustainable materials into her pieces. When she’s not in the studio, Lisa enjoys teaching art workshops and exploring national parks with her sketchbook in hand.

Artists Biography Examples

1. visual artist.

Name: Sophia Rivera Medium: Painting and Sculpture

Sophia Rivera is a contemporary visual artist known for her evocative paintings and intricate sculptures. Based in New York City, Sophia has been creating art that explores themes of identity, memory, and transformation for over 15 years. She holds an MFA from the Pratt Institute and has exhibited her work in solo and group shows across the United States and Europe. Sophia’s use of bold colors and mixed media techniques challenges traditional boundaries and invites viewers to engage with her pieces on a personal level. In addition to her studio practice, Sophia teaches art workshops and mentors emerging artists.

2. Photographer

Name: David Lee Medium: Photography

David Lee is an award-winning photographer whose work captures the raw beauty and complexity of urban life. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, David’s photographs reveal the hidden narratives of cityscapes and their inhabitants. He graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York and has since been featured in numerous galleries and publications worldwide. David’s recent project, “Metropolis,” explores the interplay of light and shadow in metropolitan environments. When not behind the lens, David enjoys traveling, teaching photography, and collaborating with other creatives.

3. Digital Artist

Name: Mia Thompson Medium: Digital Art

Mia Thompson is a digital artist known for her innovative use of technology to create immersive and interactive art experiences. Based in Los Angeles, Mia’s work spans digital illustrations, animations, and virtual reality installations. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Digital Media from the California Institute of the Arts and has worked with leading tech companies and art institutions. Mia’s art often explores themes of futurism, identity, and the digital age, pushing the boundaries of how art can be experienced. Her recent VR exhibition, “Beyond the Screen,” received critical acclaim for its groundbreaking approach to digital storytelling.

4. Musician

Name: Alex Martinez Medium: Music

Alex Martinez is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends elements of folk, rock, and indie pop. Hailing from Austin, Texas, Alex has been performing and writing music since his teens, drawing inspiration from personal experiences and the world around him. He has released three albums, with his latest, “Wandering Heart,” earning a spot on the Billboard Top 100. Alex’s soulful lyrics and melodic compositions resonate with audiences of all ages. When he’s not touring, Alex is passionate about music education and works with local schools to inspire the next generation of musicians.

5. Film Director

Name: Raj Patel Medium: Film

Raj Patel is an acclaimed film director known for his thought-provoking and visually stunning films. Born in Mumbai and now based in Los Angeles, Raj’s work often explores themes of cultural identity, social justice, and human connection. He studied film at the University of Southern California and has directed several award-winning films that have been screened at major international film festivals. Raj’s most recent film, “Echoes of Silence,” received widespread praise for its powerful storytelling and cinematography. In addition to directing, Raj is committed to mentoring young filmmakers and advocating for greater diversity in the film industry.

Short Biography Examples

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a German-born physicist renowned for his theory of relativity and the famous equation E=mc². His groundbreaking work laid the foundation for modern physics and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921. Despite facing numerous challenges, including fleeing Nazi Germany, Einstein’s contributions to science and his advocacy for peace and human rights have left an indelible mark on the world.

2. Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks (1913-2005) was an American civil rights activist whose refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955 sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Her act of defiance became a symbol of the struggle for racial equality and helped propel the civil rights movement forward. Parks’ bravery and commitment to justice continue to inspire generations.

3. Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was an Italian Renaissance polymath whose contributions spanned art, science, and engineering. Best known for masterpieces like the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper,” da Vinci’s work exemplifies the blend of art and scientific inquiry. His detailed studies and inventive designs have influenced countless fields, making him one of history’s most celebrated geniuses.

4. Marie Curie

Marie Curie (1867-1934) was a pioneering physicist and chemist who conducted groundbreaking research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to have won Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields (Physics and Chemistry). Curie’s work not only advanced scientific understanding but also paved the way for future generations of women in science.

5. Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and the first black president of South Africa. Imprisoned for 27 years for his activism, Mandela emerged as a global symbol of resistance to apartheid and a leader in the fight for racial equality. His presidency and lifelong dedication to peace and reconciliation have left a lasting legacy on the world stage.

6. Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall (1934-Present) is a British primatologist and anthropologist known for her groundbreaking studies of chimpanzees in Tanzania. Her observations and research have transformed our understanding of primates and their behaviors. Goodall’s commitment to conservation and animal welfare has made her an influential advocate for environmental sustainability.

7. Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs (1955-2011) was an American entrepreneur and co-founder of Apple Inc. Known for his visionary leadership and innovation, Jobs played a crucial role in the development of revolutionary products like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. His impact on technology and consumer electronics has shaped the modern digital landscape and continues to influence the industry.

8. Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai (1997-Present) is a Pakistani education activist and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. After surviving a Taliban assassination attempt for advocating girls’ education, Malala co-authored her memoir “I Am Malala” and founded the Malala Fund to champion education for girls worldwide. Her courage and advocacy work have made her a global symbol of resilience and empowerment.

9. Walt Disney

Walt Disney (1901-1966) was an American animator, film producer, and entrepreneur, best known for creating Disney Studios and iconic characters like Mickey Mouse. His innovative spirit and storytelling revolutionized the entertainment industry, leading to the creation of Disneyland and Disney World. Disney’s legacy lives on through his beloved films and theme parks.

10. Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) was an American aviator and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her daring spirit and achievements in aviation made her an international icon and a symbol of women’s empowerment. Despite her mysterious disappearance during an attempted around-the-world flight, Earhart’s legacy continues to inspire future generations of aviators and adventurers.

More Biography Samples & Examples in PDF

1. biography sample.

2. Biography of Heroes and Heroines

3. Social Biography

4. Author Biography

5. Short Biography

6. Student Biography

7. Historical  Biography Example

8. Object Biography

9. Features of Biography

10. Biography Example PDF

Types of Biography

Biographies come in various forms, each offering a unique perspective on an individual’s life. Understanding the types of biographies can help readers choose the one that best suits their interest or research needs. Here are the main types:

1. Autobiography

• Written by the subject themselves, an autobiography is a self-narrated account of one’s life. It provides personal insights and perspectives, offering a detailed look into the author’s experiences, thoughts, and feelings.
• Focus: Personal journey, challenges, successes, and reflections.
• A memoir is a subset of autobiography but focuses more on specific aspects or periods of the writer’s life rather than a comprehensive life history. It often explores themes, emotions, and personal growth.
• Focus: Emotional journey, significant events, or relationships.

3. Biography

• A biography is an account of someone’s life written by someone else. It covers various aspects of the subject’s life, including their achievements, personal life, and impact on society.
• Focus: Objective analysis, historical context, and comprehensive life story.

4. Authorized Biography

• Authorized biographies are written with the subject’s permission, cooperation, or endorsement. This access can lead to more detailed and personal insights but may also reflect the subject’s bias or desired legacy.
• Focus: Collaborative storytelling, often with direct input from the subject.

5. Unauthorized Biography

• Written without the subject’s permission, unauthorized biographies might offer a more critical or controversial perspective. They rely on public records and third-party interviews, which can lead to disputes about accuracy.
• Focus: Independent research, potentially revealing unknown aspects.

6. Academic Biography

• These biographies are written with a focus on scholarly research, often detailing the subject’s contributions to a specific field. They are usually well-documented and cited, aiming for academic audiences.
• Focus: Scholarly analysis, contributions to the field, and historical impact.

7. Collective Biography

• Also known as group biography, it explores the lives of a group of individuals who share a common theme, profession, or period. It provides a broader perspective on the impact of a collective group.
• Focus: Group dynamics, collective contributions, and shared experiences.

8. Fictional Biography

• These are imaginative accounts that blend facts with fiction, often to fill in gaps in historical records or to create a more engaging narrative. While based on real people, these stories are partly or largely fictionalized.
• Focus: Entertainment, speculative history, and narrative creativity.

Different Aspects of Biography

Biographies encompass several dimensions that contribute to their depth and appeal. Understanding these aspects can enhance both the reading and writing of biographies, offering a more comprehensive view of the subject’s life.

1. Historical Context

This aspect involves placing the subject’s life within the broader historical period in which they lived. It includes the examination of social, political, and cultural events that influenced or were influenced by the subject.

2. Personal Background

This covers the subject’s family origins, upbringing, education, and early life experiences. It helps to understand the foundation upon which they built their achievements and character.

3. Career and Achievements

A critical focus is often on the subject’s professional life, including their career path, significant achievements, contributions to their field, and any obstacles they overcame along the way.

4. Psychological Dimension

Exploring the subject’s personality, motivations, values, and internal struggles offers insights into their actions and decisions. This aspect adds depth, showing the human behind the accomplishments.

5. Personal Relationships

The examination of key relationships in the subject’s life, including family, friends, mentors, and rivals, reveals how these interactions influenced their journey and development.

6. Impact and Legacy

Assessing the subject’s long-term impact on their field, community, or the world highlights their lasting legacy. This includes their influence on future generations, societal changes, or advancements in their area of expertise.

7. Controversies and Challenges

Addressing any controversies, criticisms, or significant challenges faced by the subject provides a balanced view of their life, showcasing resilience, perseverance, or, in some cases, their vulnerabilities.

8. Cultural and Social Contributions

This aspect looks at the subject’s contributions beyond their professional achievements, including their role in societal movements, cultural shifts, philanthropy, and public service.

Characteristics of a Biography

A biography is a detailed account of a person’s life written by someone else. Here are the key characteristics of a biography:

1. Fact-Based

Biographies are based on factual information about the person’s life, including dates, places, and events. They rely on verifiable data and aim to provide an accurate portrayal of the individual.

2. Chronological Structure

Biographies typically follow a chronological order, starting from the subject’s birth and proceeding through their life events. This structure helps readers understand the progression of the person’s life and the context of their achievements.

3. Comprehensive Coverage

A good biography covers all significant aspects of the person’s life, including their childhood, education, career, personal relationships, and major life events. It provides a holistic view of the individual.

4. Detailed and Descriptive

Biographies often include detailed descriptions of events, people, and places. They provide context and background information to help readers understand the significance of the subject’s experiences.

5. Focus on Achievements and Impact

Biographies highlight the subject’s achievements, contributions, and the impact they had on their field or society. This focus helps readers appreciate the individual’s importance and legacy.

6. Personal Anecdotes and Stories

Incorporating personal anecdotes and stories makes a biography more engaging and relatable. These elements provide insight into the subject’s personality, character, and motivations.

7. Objective and Balanced

While biographies may reflect the author’s perspective, they strive to present a balanced and objective view of the subject. They include both positive and negative aspects of the person’s life, providing a nuanced portrayal.

8. Use of Primary and Secondary Sources

Biographies rely on primary sources (such as letters, diaries, interviews) and secondary sources (such as books, articles, documentaries) to gather information. The use of credible sources ensures the accuracy and reliability of the content.

9. Exploration of Influences and Motivations

A biography often explores the influences and motivations behind the subject’s actions and decisions. This exploration helps readers understand the factors that shaped the individual’s life and career.

10. Narrative Style

Biographies are written in a narrative style, telling the story of the person’s life in a compelling and engaging manner. This style makes the biography enjoyable to read and helps maintain the reader’s interest.

What is included in a Biography?

A biography provides a comprehensive account of a person’s life, detailing significant events, achievements, and influences. Here are the key components typically included in a biography:

1. Basic Information

• Date and Place of Birth
• Date and Place of Death (if applicable)
• Nationality

2. Early Life and Background

• Family Background : Information about parents, siblings, and other family members.
• Childhood Experiences : Notable events, upbringing, and early interests.
• Education : Schools attended, academic achievements, and notable teachers or mentors.

3. Career and Major Achievements

• Career Beginnings : First jobs or roles and how the person started in their field.
• Significant Positions and Roles : Important jobs, titles, and responsibilities held.
• Major Achievements : Key accomplishments, awards, and recognitions.
• Impact and Contributions : How their work or actions influenced their field or society.

4. Personal Life

• Relationships : Information about significant relationships, marriages, and children.
• Hobbies and Interests : Personal interests, hobbies, and activities outside of their professional life.
• Challenges and Struggles : Personal or professional obstacles and how they were overcome.

5. Influences and Motivations

• Influences : People, events, or experiences that significantly influenced their life and career.
• Motivations : Insights into what drove them to achieve their goals and aspirations.

6. Anecdotes and Personal Stories

• Memorable Events : Interesting or significant stories from their life.
• Personal Quotes : Quotations that capture their personality or philosophy.
• Lasting Impact : How they are remembered and their long-term contributions to their field or society.
• Recognition and Honors : Posthumous honors, awards, or memorials.

8. Illustrative Material

• Photographs : Images of the person at various stages of their life.
• Documents : Important letters, awards, certificates, or other relevant documents.

Biography vs. Autobiography

How to Write a Biography

A well-written biography allows readers to have insight into the person’s life. Examples of well-written biographies include Steve Jobs a biography written by Walter Isaacson and Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore. If you are still confused about biographies and are still unsure about the whole writing process you may look at the biography examples, samples , and PDFs on the list above.

1.Obtain Permission from the Individual

Begin by obtaining permission from the individual you are writing about. Biographies can be made without the permission of the chosen individual, but having the permission of the individual will help provide more substantial information and gives you access to the thoughts of the chosen individual. Not only that, but their approval will also increase the chances of you being able to interview your chosen individual.

2.Research the Individual

Regardless if you have obtained the permission of the chosen individual, you will need to research the life of your subject. This means you must read articles, reports, and various articles all about the life of your subject. Not only must you read, but you must also interview people associated with and related to your subject’s life. Because of the factual nature of a biography , you must ensure that the data and information you are providing are factual, accurate, and credible.

3.Create a Timeline of Events

After you have completed your research, you will need to create a timeline of the events the subject has lived through. This will help create an outline and a reference that you can in your writing. Not only that but it will also help root out any inconsistencies in the information you have gathered or researched.

4.Write the Biography

Using the timeline, write down the biographical information of the person. Note that this step will be the longest and may take months or even years to accomplish.

5.Write Down Your Thoughts and Opinions.

After you have finished the biography properly, you can write down your thoughts and feelings about the biography to give it a bit of a personal flair and touch. This will help connect you to your target audience. When you have finished with everything, be sure to edit and revise the contents of the biography as you see fit.

How is a biography structured?

A biography typically follows a chronological structure, starting from the subject’s birth and covering significant life events, achievements, and influences in sequence.

What sources are used in a biography?

Biographies use various sources like interviews, letters, diaries, official documents, and historical records to provide accurate and comprehensive information.

Why are biographies important?

Biographies offer insights into the lives of influential individuals, highlighting their contributions and the impact they had on society and history.

Can a biography be biased?

Yes, a biography can reflect the biographer’s perspective and potential biases, although it aims to be objective and balanced.

What is the difference between an authorized and unauthorized biography?

An authorized biography is approved by the subject or their estate, while an unauthorized biography is written without their permission or input.

Who can write a biography?

Anyone with access to reliable information and the ability to research and write comprehensively can write a biography.

How long does it take to write a biography?

Writing a biography can take several months to years, depending on the depth of research and the complexity of the subject’s life.

What makes a biography compelling?

A compelling biography includes detailed descriptions, personal anecdotes, and insights that make the subject’s life story engaging and relatable.

How do biographers verify their information?

Biographers verify information through cross-referencing multiple sources, conducting interviews, and reviewing historical records and documents.

Can a biography include fictional elements?

No, biographies should be factual and based on verifiable information. Fictional elements are not appropriate for a biography.

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Styling a biography page

• Overview: CSS first steps

With the things you have learned in the last few lessons you should find that you can format simple text documents using CSS to add your own style to them. This assessment gives you a chance to do that.

Starting point

You can work in the live editor below, or you can download the starting point file to work with in your own editor. This is a single page containing both the HTML and the starting point CSS (in the head of the document). If you prefer you could move this CSS to a separate file and link to it when you create the example on your local computer.

Note: You can try solutions in the interactive editors on this page or in an online editor such as CodePen , JSFiddle , or Glitch .

If you get stuck, you can reach out to us in one of our communication channels .

Project brief

The following live example shows a biography, which has been styled using CSS. The CSS properties that are used are as follows — each one links to its property page on MDN, which will give you more examples of its use.

• font-family
• border-bottom
• font-weight
• text-decoration

In the interactive editor you will find some CSS already in place. This selects parts of the document using element selectors, classes, and pseudo-classes. Make the following changes to this CSS:

• Make the level one heading pink, using the CSS color keyword hotpink .
• Give the heading a 10px dotted border-bottom which uses the CSS color keyword purple .
• Make the level 2 heading italic.
• Give the ul used for the contact details a background-color of #eeeeee , and a 5px solid purple border . Use some padding to push the content away from the border.
• Make the links green on hover.

Hints and tips

• Use the W3C CSS Validator to catch unintended mistakes in your CSS — mistakes you might have otherwise missed — so that you can fix them.
• Afterwards try looking up some properties not mentioned on this page in the MDN CSS reference and get adventurous!
• Remember that there is no wrong answer here — at this stage in your learning you can afford to have a bit of fun.

You should end up with something like this image.