what is a professional biography compiled

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Help with VA Hospital Application Questions...slightly confused new grad. :/

Nurses General Nursing

Published Dec 28, 2014

FinallyRNStatus, BSN

I'm filling out the VA Hospital Application and there are some questions I'm not certain I understand how to answer correctly. Advice welcomed on what these questions mean! New grad here unfamiliar with lingo.

II - REGISTRATION AND CLINICAL PRIVILEGES

14. ARE YOU FULLY REGISTERED IN EVERY STATE IN WHICH YOU ARE NOW REGISTERED? Yes or No. (If restricted, limited or probation in any State(s), explain on separate sheet).

I believe, yes. Recently licensed new grad in PA. No restrictions.

15. DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE OR HAVE YOU EVER HAD CLINICAL PRIVILEGES AT ANY HEALTH CARE INSTITUTION, AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION. ((If "YES" explain on separate sheet Yes as a student nurse we have clinicals, is that what it is asking??? Doesn't everyone who works or volunteers in a hospital have clinical experience? What is this question referring to. Should I list clinical experience as a student here?

NAME OF CURRENT OR MOST RECENT INSTITUTION, AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION WHERE

HELD? Question after one above. I'm unemployed,all of my clinical experience is from nursing school clinicals. Do I list my nursing school here?

IV - THIS SECTION TO BE COMPLETED BY FACILITY DIRECTOR OR DESIGNEE CERTIFICATION

I certify that I have verified registration with State boards, and sighted visa or evidence of citizenship. Board certification has been verified (if appropriate).

19. EVIDENCE HAS BEEN SIGHTED IN REGARDS TO:

_ CERTIFICATION AS A NURSE ANESTHETIST

_ REGISTRATION FOR ALL STATES LISTED BY APPLICANT

_ CURRENT OR MOST RECENT CLINICAL PRIVILEGES

_ NO CURRENT OR PREVIOUS CLINICAL PRIVILEGES

_ NATURALIZED CITIZENS Does the person receiving the application fill this out?

IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY COMPILED? Yes or No. I don't have one so, no.

IF YOUR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY STUDY IS NOT A PART OF YOUR

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY, PLEASE SEND OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(S)

Link to application to better understand context: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850a-fill.pdf

Like I said, as a new grad I'm not sure I understand the context of these questions correctly. Or maybe its just confusing wording of a VA Hospital application. I would appreciate any clarification if you have completed this application or understand the context better.

• + Add a Comment

JustBeachyNurse, LPN

13,952 Posts

15 no. This is for clinicians like APN, CRNA, MD, DO, PA-C, etc not student clinical rotations.

Peppermint_RN

I filled mine out as a new grad but have no clue what I put as answers! I think i did 14- yes, 15 & 16-no. The gray part is what their department fills out. If you're looking up the position on USAjobs.gov, there should be a name & phone number and/or email of the HR person to contact. I'd say contact them if you have questions. :)

Good luck! I feel so lucky to have gotten a job at the VA as a new grad. Love my job!

Thank you so much! I was thinking about contacting the HR person, but I was worried I would come a across as completely clueless. But as you can see, I am. Lol. :)

I filled mine out as a new grad but have no clue what I put as answers! I think i did 14- yes, 15 & 16-no. The gray part is what their department fills out. If you're looking up the position on USAjobs.gov, there should be a name & phone number and/or email of the HR person to contact. I'd say contact them if you have questions. :) Good luck! I feel so lucky to have gotten a job at the VA as a new grad. Love my job!

Peppermint_RN, can you list any non- RN experience for the "nursing experience" section? I'm guessing they only want jobs there from working as a RN .

I would love an opportunity to work at the VA. I hear new grads tend to have an easier transition into their program. :)

wheeliesurfer

If you worked as an LVN before I would guess you could list that as nursing experience, but that things like CNA experience and clinical experience don't count.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN

3 Articles; 10,428 Posts

I would suggest you go to the top of this page, and find the heading "Specialties" on the yellow banner. Click that, and then scroll down to "Government / Military Nursing". You will find a ton of info on VA-specific topics (including this one).

Good luck! :)

Standout Professional Bio Examples (And Why You Need One)

• Compelling examples of bios in multiple contexts

The difference between a resume and a professional bio

Who needs a professional bio.

A professional bio is one of the most important pieces of writing you have in your toolkit.

What career and business opportunities will yours open up?

Effective examples of bios in multiple contexts

When crafting a professional bio, be intentional about the content you include and tailor it according to your objectives.

You want to adjust it accordingly based on where it appears and what type of organization and industry you work for.

The purpose of a professional bio is generally to:

• State who you are and what you do
• Provide examples of your work experience that bolster your credibility
• Tell your story

How you go about accomplishing these three goals, however, will vary.

We compiled a variety of professional biographies and explain why they are effective to give you an idea of how to structure yours.

Company Website

If you are a senior executive, you may have a professional bio on your company’s website: this is the most common request we receive.

John Hartman | Equifax

John Hartman put together a classic example of an executive bio for the Equifax website.

His writing is clear, concise, and follows the standard structure for an effective bio by providing:

• Name and current role at Equifax
• Previous experience at Equifax
• Early career history
• Education summary

If you’re looking for a conventional executive bio, you’ll want to follow this format.

It’s perfectly acceptable to use the bio you have on your company’s website for LinkedIn.

However, don’t forget that LinkedIn is still a social media platform, so it’s okay to infuse a bit more personality into it !

Jay Shetty | Personal Brand

Jay Shetty's profile headline and introduction quickly grab the reader's attention: “Meet the former monk who is making wisdom go viral.”

He further builds his credibility by explaining that he has 200 million views on social media, over one million followers, and was selected for Forbes 30 Under 30.

His bio also includes information about his education and career history while infusing elements of his story (we’ll forgive him for grammar errors and focus on content – because it is quite strong).

At the end, he also provides a preferred method of contact.

You should consider including your email address or a link to your LinkedIn profile as well – especially if your bio doubles as a marketing tool.

Need help crafting a compelling executive bio? Learn more  about our professional bio writing service!

Personal Website

We’re increasingly seeing freelancers and even professionals in the corporate sector building personal websites that serve as an online resume, so to speak.

If you are a freelancer or run your own business, think carefully about your copy and what kind of message you are sending to your readers.

• What kind of impression will they have of you and your business after reading your bio?
• Does your bio leave them inspired and wanting to talk to you further?
• What is the image you are trying to convey? Do you want to come off as polished and professional, engaging, fun, or simply vanilla? 

Melanie Everett | melanieeverettco.com

Melanie Everett runs an independent real estate firm in Chicago.

Coming from a journalism background, she has leveraged her writing skills to drive her real estate business. She currently ranks in the top 1% of real estate agents in Chicago.

Conference or Event Pamphlet

If you are speaking on a panel or delivering a keynote speech, you may have the opportunity to provide a bio to be featured in the event’s print materials.

For these types of communications, you’ll want your bio to be shorter than what you might include on a company page or LinkedIn summary.

These executive bios build credibility for you and your company while positioning you as an expert on the topic you will be speaking about.

Vera Manoukian | Hilton

Hilton’s Vera Manoukian provided this bio when she spoke on a panel titled “The Rebirth of Full-Service Hotels,” effectively demonstrating her leadership experience in the hospitality sector.

Nonprofit Bio

Executive bios for nonprofit organizations often employ a storytelling approach to introduce readers to the organization’s mission and impact.

Ben Justus | EGBOK Mission

In his bio, Ben explains why he started EGBOK, the work his organization does, and how it has grown.

When you contribute to an industry blog, you may have the opportunity to include additional information that showcases why you are an authority on the topic.

In this context, your bio can also serve as publicity for your company.

Arianna Huffington | THRIVE Global

Brian X. Chen | The New York Times

Other times, you may have very limited space to work with, making it especially important to consider how each word is adding value.

A resume and professional bio are both personal marketing documents, but they are used in different contexts.

Resumes are generally used to apply for a job. They are written in third person, follow a conventional structure, and are predominantly based on facts and achievements .

Professional bios , on the other hand, provide a more informal narrative that serves as a compelling elevator pitch.

Professionals of all experience levels can benefit from a bio.

As an executive, you should have a long and short version of a professional bio to use on:

• Corporate or personal websites
• Company marketing brochures
• Conference materials

If you are a student , you can use yours as a LinkedIn summary or on the webpage of a campus organization you are a part of. You never know who might come across it!

We hope these examples have given you inspiration and an understanding of what to include in your bio.

When writing yours, remember to keep the following in mind:

The best bios are written thoughtfully and intentionally, so it’s not something you want to leave to the last minute!

Need a compelling executive bio? You can order our professional bio writing service here !

About resume pilots.

Resume Pilots is an award-winning executive resume writing firm and a proud member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our previous clients include CEOs and senior executives at the world's leading companies.

As a professional services firm, we take your reputation seriously. We are committed to delivering writing excellence and superior service while operating with integrity and discretion. Recruitment firms we partner with also trust us to consistently deliver quality documents for their clients.

Our writers have studied in the Ivy League and other top-tier universities and have strong writing backgrounds coupled with industry experience.

Here's how we can help you:

Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Writing Services : If you are looking for end-to-end support, hire one of our professional resume writers to rewrite your documents from the ground up.

Executive Resume Template Downloads : If you plan to prepare your own resume, consider using one of our classic, ATS-friendly resume templates for Microsoft Word.

To learn more about our services, book an introductory call with our founder here or email [email protected] .

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About the Author Matt Glodz

Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of Resume Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer. After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked within Fortune 500 companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents. At Resume Pilots, Matt combines his business and writing background - which includes prior work for a Chicago Tribune publication - to craft resumes that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He works with clients ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. He has been quoted on numerous business and career-related topics in outlets including Business Insider, CNBC, Fortune, Glassdoor, The Ladders, and Thrive Global.

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How to Write a Bio That Represents Your Professional Self

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What is a professional bio?

How to write a professional bio, professional bio example, tips for writing a professional bio.

Your professional biography is often the first way an industry member or a prospective employer learns about you. Writing one that clearly and effectively represents you and what you do is key to making an outstanding first impression. This article will provide tips and examples for writing a compelling professional bio.

A professional biography is a statement that summarizes who you are and what you do as a professional. It might include information such as your current position, education, accomplishments and interests. People use professional biographies on social media pages, college applications, resumes, bylines and personal or company websites. When employers read your bio, they should be able to tell whether your experience and character fit within their company.

Follow these steps to help you write a professional biography:

1. Identify your audience

Your audience should guide the tone of your bio. A professional bio for a resume will likely be far more formal than one for a social media platform. For guidance, look to descriptions of professionals in your field. For example, if you are applying for a marketing position, read through employee bios on marketing company websites to see how they represent themselves.

2. Pick your point of view

To help your bio appear more objective, write it in the third person. First-person bios are more personal and tend to be better suited for social media profiles and private blogs.

3. Introduce yourself and your role

Start your bio with your full name and title. If you are employed, list your position and employer so your audience clearly understands your industry and experience level. If you are unemployed, you might list your previous position or years of experience in the field.

For example, ‘Adrian Holmes is a technical support specialist from Houston, Texas, with more than four years of experience helping businesses solve software problems.’

4. Share your strengths and accomplishments

State what you specialize in and one or two of your achievements or awards, if relevant. By describing what you are good at, you are telling your audience why you are well-qualified for this position and that you are more than just a job title.

For example, ‘Adrian specializes in data access and was a member of the support team that earned the Service Desk Institute’s 2018 Best Service Improvement Project award.’

5. List something you’re working on

If you are working on a special project or pursuing continuing education, share that information so people can see that you are motivated and hard-working.

For example, ‘Adrian is currently learning a third programming language.’

6. Add interesting but professional details

In some cases, you may want to show your personality by listing a few of your hobbies, interests, favorite books or movies or fun facts about yourself. These details give your professional bio a human touch and can be useful conversation starters during interviews or networking opportunities.

For example, ‘When Adrian’s not behind a computer screen, she is training for her first half-marathon and road-tripping around Texas.’

7. End your bio with contact info

If you want to give people a way to contact you, end your bio with your email address and, if appropriate, your professional social media handle, blog or website.

You can organize the details of your professional bio in a different order than what is listed here. You might also include other details, such as degrees and institutions where you received them, depending on your experience and your audience. If you have not been given a word count for your bio, try to keep it under 500 words.

Here is an example of a third-person professional biography that follows the above steps:

‘Reagan Park is a technical editor with Journals Inc. who produces high-level scientific content for research organizations. Reagan works closely with researchers to publish accurate information in the applied science field and regularly attends technical communication conferences to stay current with the latest trends and tools. Reagan earned a Distinguished Community Service Award from the Society for Technical Communication for mentoring young scientists in his hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. He is currently completing a course in web coding to strengthen his desktop publishing skills. A 2009 graduate of the University of Louisville, Reagan is an active member of the local cycling community and enjoys perfecting his culinary skills in his free time.’

Here are popular tips that will help you write a compelling professional bio:

• Use examples to show your experience. Rather than saying you are a successful graphic designer, for instance, share a significant project or two you have created the visuals for.
• Avoid using industry jargon or slang.
• Only include information that adds value to the bio.
• Use active voice to keep your bio engaging, clear and concise.
• Base the tone and organization of your professional bio on your audience and industry. 
• Update your bio as you gain experience, accomplish new things or enter new jobs or industries. 

Practice writing a professional bio before you need one. Then you will have a template that you can perfect depending on the platform, tone and purpose. Your goal is to use concise and engaging language to make a strong first impression on prospective employers and other professionals in your industry.

How to Write a Professional Bio – and 6 Great Examples

• Carolyn Manion Kinnie
• March 25, 2024

Table of Contents

 If you care about your personal brand, you care about how to write a professional bio. Regardless of your position and industry, learning how to write a good professional bio is non-negotiable. Even if you just need a short paragraph for your company’s website,  That’s why we’ve compiled this guide for how to write a professional bio. Today we’ll talk about why your professional bio matters, share a rough template for your bio, and share six professional bio examples for several situations that might be applicable to your own needs. Get ready to learn how to write the best professional bio of any length, for any reason! 

Why your Professional Bio Matters

Many professionals don’t focus on building a personal brand until they need a new job, are trying to win over a customer, or decide to start their own business. But waiting until you’re in a jam isn’t the way to go about building your personal brand! Rather, you should start building it once you’re comfortable in your career. That way, no matter where you go and what goals you strive for, you are always putting your best professional foot forward. Learning how to write a great professional bio now will save you time later and create a foundation for a consistent brand. 

Whether you’re content in your profession, or considering a career pivot, writing a great professional bio will help you meet your goals. First impressions matter a lot–recruiters and potential employers will see your professional bio and make a snap judgment about you if anything seems “off.” For established professionals, a good bio helps represent you and your company. Clients or anyone else for whom you are the “face” of the company will read your bio and decide whether they want to work with you. And if you’re thinking of shifting into a new industry or launching a speaking business, a professional bio will help others learn about your personal brand. 

Ultimately, your personal brand is the story you tell on and offline. Your professional bio is the vehicle for putting that story into words. It’s worth putting in extra effort to polish and perfect–whether it’s on your website, LinkedIn profile, company directory, or your speaker one sheet . 

How to Write a Professional Bio

We’ll cover several different bio examples for all kinds of professionals today, but they have a few key elements in common. Mastering how to write a professional bio comes down to communicating the essential information about yourself while interesting the reader in your business, product, or personal brand!

There are five non-negotiables for any good professional bio. You can use these as a template, but keep in mind every situation is different! Sometimes, it might be expedient to leave out one of these elements, especially if you have a word limit. However, in general, you should strive to include them all! They are: 

1. Your name and title. It’s very important that people know who they’re reading about–this could mean having “CEO” next to your name on a company directory, or it could mean describing your entrepreneurial ventures succinctly and clearly at the start of your LinkedIn profile. Even if the person reading your bio closes the tab after the first sentence, at least they will remember who you are and where you work! 

2.Where you work or serve currently (even if it’s your own business!). If you’re writing a professional bio for work, this means elaborating on the role you play at your company. If your bio is for an event program, social media, or personal website, this means mentioning your place of work and position or the services you or your company offers. In the latter case, if you’re a photographer, speaker, or another kind of “solopreneur,” you should explain what you do and who you serve in more detail–especially for unique professions. 

3. Your expertise or experience (certifications, degrees, other roles served, etc.). This is the part where you summarize your resumé, but make it interesting! Trace the path from the start of your career (or even earlier!) to where you are today. List past jobs, military service, volunteer experiences, or anything else that shaped your professional life.  

4. Career highlights (awards, recognition, accomplishments, companies founded). We can’t commend bragging all the time, but your professional bio is one place you should brag! Remember, this bio is an integral part of your personal brand that could affect future job opportunities, client relationships, and your overall journey to success. Mention as many career highlights, awards, and big achievements as you can. You can leave out accomplishments unrelated to your current field of work if you are writing a shorter bio, but those “irrelevant” facts can add color and expansiveness to the impression of your expertise. If you’re one of the “solopreneurs” we described above, you should also include testimonials from past clients here. 

5. A personal touch (family, hobbies, or fun fact). Many people struggle with integrating their personal life into a professional bio. After all, how does your dog’s name, your marathon time, or how many grandchildren you have factor into your business endeavors? The truth is, your bio is being written for people to read. And humans like reading about other humans! Where appropriate, reminding the audience of your bio that you are just like them, a person with personable interests, will engage and create a positive first impression. 

Audience targeting tips

While you should always maintain these five critical elements as much as possible, the audience of your bio will determine exactly how you implement them. Whether your bio appears on your company site or on an event program will drastically affect how you structure it and what details you include or exclude. Before you write a professional bio for any purpose ask: what does the reader already know about me? Why are they looking at this bio? What are they hoping to find out? What do they need from me? Then, write a bio that answers those questions. Knowing your audience is the key for how to write a professional bio that really stands out from the crowd!

Feeling overwhelmed by the many possible variations of your professional bio? We always recommend maintaining a “master bio” that you can tweak for any audience. In your “master bio,” you can include the maximum amount of information that might belong in a professional bio. Then, you can edit, update, or rearrange for various contexts. Now, we’re going to move on to professional bio examples from leaders, entrepreneurs, and world-transformers. As you read through them, take note of elements that you can add to your “master bio.” By the time you get to the end, you’ll have a well-rounded sampling of all the amazing forms a professional bio can take!

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Professional bio examples

Dominique luster.

For a great example of a short professional bio, we’ll start with TSL alum Dominique Luster. (You could say we’re biased, but Dominique is really cool!)Dominique is a historian and DEI speaker who helps  In this bio for a program at a university employee conference , Dominique introduces her unique platform in one powerful sentence. While this might seem challenging, you can and should learn how to do the same. Even if you have carved a unique career for yourself, it’s important to figure out how to communicate it in as few words as possible. If you’re an entrepreneur, doing so can help you verbalize your Expert Positioning Statement , one of the most important assets in your marketing toolkit. 

Dominique’s bio goes on to describe how her professional experience illuminated the historical realities that inspired her to educate others. Finally, she finishes strong with her mission . If you are a speaker, entrepreneur, or founder, try to include your mission in even the shortest of bios. 

Since her keynote is being delivered in a fairly formal academic setting, it makes sense to avoid personal details. Furthermore, her bio is clearly oriented to pique interest in the subject of her talk. As we’ll discuss in more detail further on, a bio for an event usually serves the double purpose of informing audience members about who you are and marketing your talk. Dominique uses the limited space allowed to her to vividly describe a historiographical problem and her solution for it, so the audience knows exactly what they’re getting into. Sounds pretty fascinating, right? Good news–you can listen to Dominique tell her story of becoming a DEI speaker on our Podcast here .

Dan Martell

Dan Martell’s bio for SaaS academy is another great example of using just a few words to convey a lot of useful information. In just over 100 words, he supplies all the information that someone wanting to learn more about SaaS Academy would need to be assured of the company’s credibility. In the first paragraph he describes his relationship to the company, what the company does, and what he does outside of the company. Then he dives in deeper with the professional qualifications of himself and the business. Finally, for readers interested in Dan the person rather than SaaS Academy, he directs them to his personal site where you can read his much longer professional bio.

Unlike Dominique, Dan introduces a personal touch at the very beginning of this bio. In a company founder’s bio, personal details are extremely helpful to the audience. The founder’s personal brand significantly affects the perception of their company. details like “father” and “triathlete” remind readers that behind this business are normal people who do interesting things. Even if you have a strict word limit, try to include “fun facts” in any professional bio where humanizing the brand might make a difference. 

Learning how to write a short professional bio (~100 words) is incredibly useful for situations like event programs , social media profiles that aren’t LinkedIn, the author section of an article you write, and anywhere else with limited verbal real estate. These bios should include all the relevant information without going into too much detail. That doesn’t mean to just summarize your resume and hope for the best. Instead, you should strive for the same intentionality as you would with a long professional bio. List the information that most accurately communicates who you are, what you do, and how you can help whoever is reading the bio. We had Dan on the TSL podcast last year–listen to his branding tips here. 

Nancy Duarte

Nancy Duarte’s CEO blurb on the site for Duarte, her communications firm, is an incredible example of an executive professional bio. When you’re an executive, all eyes are on you. Even more so when your company is named after you! It’s normal to base your opinion of a company on what you know of the executive team. Nancy caters to this perception with a bio that emphasizes her professional qualifications as well as various interesting facts. It makes you think: “wow, I’d trust a company with her at the helm!”

When you have as many amazing achievements as Nancy Duarte, you can pick and choose what you open your bio with. She goes with her six books and her position within the company, establishing her brand as an author and executive. Her bio develops her brand with the added connotations of consultant, speaker, and University Lecturer. 

Notice the list of media organizations who have featured her takes up a lot of space. This kind of name-dropping plays a big role in professional bios, especially for executives. Keep in mind that people perusing the Duarte website are thinking about making what could be a very expensive investment in professional training or consulting. Whenever money is involved, well-established credentials are of utmost importance. Nancy isn’t just showing off–she’s letting potential customers know her methods are well-attested. 

After her long list of accomplishments, Nancy explains what her company does that is so unique in one simple sentence. Explaining your area of expertise in a single mission-oriented statement brings readers back to the why of your bio. Why are they reading about you? Because you have something to offer them. What do you do that other people don’t and what drives you? Always try to squeeze this information into your bio. Career highlights are and credentials are essential, but so is expressing what makes you different. We’ve got an amazing podcast episode about storytelling with Nancy Duarte that you can listen to right here . 

Anne Marie Anderson

Anne Marie Anderson is a woman of many talents. After a successful career in broadcasting, she started applying sports coaching expertise to corporate leadership. Her methodologies led her to become an incredibly successful speaker. Her professional speaker bio for a women’s leadership symposium is a great example of how to communicate the arc of your career alongside your expertise. Even if you’re not a motivational speaker , you likely have made or plan to make a career pivot at some point in your life. When that happens, your qualifications in one field may not seem immediately relevant to the next. If you simply list off bullet points from your resume, readers of your bio could turn skeptical. Your professional bio should solve this problem by connecting the dots.

Because Anne Marie’s bio is oriented toward a speaking presentation, she focuses on the subject of her talk. She describes the transformation her keynote offers the audience in simple but inviting terms. This kind of “teaser” makes people excited for her talk and interested in how they too can achieve that transformation. Then she explains how “Building an Audacious Mindset” rests on the methodology she learned behind the scenes of her sports broadcasting career–connecting the dots between her two career fields.

If you want more insights into making this kind of career pivot, we’ve got you covered! Anne Marie talked to our team about her amazing career and “building an audacious mindset” on the podcast right here.  

The next two professional bio examples we’re covering today are applicable to your personal website or LinkedIn profile. (LinkedIn profiles have a generous allowance of 2,600 characters or about 370 words.) In these situations you can really let the creative juices flow and tell your story. You also have the comfort and confidence of knowing your reader wants to know all about you. They aren’t looking to learn about your company, or an event, or somebody else whose name is on the same page. They want to know about you and how you can help them. 

Our first exemplar, Ty Bennett, has a personal website oriented toward his speaking and leadership training services. He begins with prestigious qualifications that showcase the variety and extent of his entrepreneurial career. When you’re a solopreneur who offers a service like speaking or consulting, it’s important to back up your qualifications. Testimonials are a straightforward way to do just that. Ty somewhat humorously arranges his at the top of his bio. He goes into more details about his past clients in the second paragraph after explaining the impact of his groundbreaking leadership methodology. 

He finishes off with a quick descriptor of his personal life and a short explanation of his mission. This rounds out his longer bio with a reminder of what’s important. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to end your bio on a more personal, engaging note. No matter how many amazing awards you’ve won, your audience wants to know what really drives you. In Ty’s case, that’s clearly his family and a passion for cutting-edge leadership strategies. 

Ty has been a guest on our podcast a couple times before. We highly recommend his tips for speaking 100 times a year !

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Ryan Holiday

Ryan Holiday’s personal website is oriented toward his career as a writer. Unsurprisingly, it reads like a story–from his college dropout experience to his ranch in Texas. You’ll notice right away he talks a lot about his blog and his email list in his bio. These are his main way of connecting with readers…and potential customers.

If you have one product or platform that generates most of your followers or customers, emphasize it in your bio. Remember, your bio is probably the first touchpoint the reader has with your personal brand. You shouldn’t turn it into a sales pitch, but emphasize whatever one thing it is you want someone to do after reading your bio. For Ryan, that’s signing up for his email list! He makes this call to action easy peasy by including a newsletter form below this bio. 

Ryan is a speaker as well as a writer, and he talked about merging these two occupations On Our Podcast. Give it a listen if you’re interested in becoming a multifaceted entrepreneur!

Conclusion 

Writing a professional bio is an important skill for executives, mid-level employees, and entry-level professionals alike. With the help of these professional bio examples, you can craft your own stellar bio for any occasion. The most important advice we can give? Keep your audience in mind and tell a story. Stories are almost always a surefire way to make a good first impression. And most importantly, they help your personal brand remain fixed in your readers’ memory. 

• Last Updated: March 26, 2024

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How to Write a Professional Bio and Why You Should Have One

Published: Dec 03, 2022 By Steven Weidinger

Writing a professional bio can help you in a variety of ways as you grow your career. Like writing a resume , it can feel overwhelming, but if you follow a simple formula, you can create one with ease.

What is a professional bio?

A professional bio tells people who you are and what you do, and there are three common lengths: long, short, and very short (micro). A long bio can be up to one page, and it most likely lives on your website. A short bio is a paragraph and can be used multiple places, including as a summary on your resume and on career-focused social media, such as LinkedIn. A very short (micro) bio is one to two sentences you can use to introduce yourself on a call, when giving a presentation, or on social media sites such as Twitter.

Why should you write one?

You can assume any time you apply for a new position or connect with someone in a professional capacity, they are looking you up online. Having a bio helps establish your brand and credibility, and it takes the facts that are in your resume and gives them plot and story.

To put yourself in the best position for later, start with writing a long version of your bio.

How do you write a professional bio?

Before you start, decide whether you’ll be writing in first or third person, and remain consistent throughout. It’s more common to have your professional bio written in third person, but if you plan to use your bio in a more informal way, it’s fine to write in first person.

One thing to keep in mind—it can feel a bit more natural to write about accomplishments in the third person because you can mentally separate yourself from feeling like you’re bragging about how amazing you are. If you plan to make two versions, it could be easier to start with writing in the third person.

At a high level, this is what you should make sure to include:

• Responsibilities
• Major, quantitative accomplishments
• What makes you tick
• Something personal (but not too personal)

Your name, title, and the company you work for

Your full name should be the first thing in your bio, and it can be followed by either your title or the company name, whichever flows most naturally to you.

How should you write about your responsibilities?

If you’re like most people, your job description has changed over the years—think about what your main responsibilities are day-to-day, but focus on how describing those responsibilities can show the reader the skills and expertise you bring to the table. Do you manage a successful team? Do you excel at connecting with clients? Are you often asked to QA new technology? Write about the responsibilities that help the reader see who you are.

How should you write about your major, quantitative accomplishments?

Talking about your responsibilities should lead easily into pointing out a few of your most impressive accomplishments. And if possible, make them quantitative. Have you increased engagement by 35 percent? Have you created new training materials that have helped decrease the time it takes to onboard new employees? Have you maintained consistent profit margins? Did you build a new division within your company? Write in a way that allows you to use numbers and/or show the reader very clearly what you’re most proud to have achieved.

How should you write about what makes you tick?

What are your values? What would your personal mission statement be? What drives you in your professional life? Is it the connections you make with people? Is it seeing the big picture or is it your focus on the small details? Is it developing more efficient methods for your team? Is it problem solving? Ideally, some of those major accomplishments you just wrote about will tie into this—did you develop those new training materials because you love problem solving? Is your team successful because you are naturally drawn to mentoring?

How do you write about something that’s personal, but not too personal?

You can choose to be done at this point, or you can include something a little more personal—it doesn’t need to be too personal, but it should show some personality. Here’s where you can talk about a fun hobby, something interesting and unexpected about your family, or a cool tidbit about your background to show the reader who you are outside of work.

Once you have your master bio written, you can tailor as the situation demands and use it in many places—shorten it for the various social platforms you want to put it on, use a compressed version for your resume summary, remove unnecessary portions for specific situations, and post it in its entirety on your website. And just like your resume—keep it current! 

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No matter the context, if you’re asked to write a professional bio, it can be a daunting request.  Even if you’re comfortable in a writing capacity, the idea of writing about yourself is often met with more unease.  Whether you’re more modest or confident in your profession, it’s important to be sure that you can communicate your professional strengths without unnecessarily boasting about your accomplishments—and you don’t want it to sound boring either.  As a result, striking the right tone with the right information can be challenging.

While a professional bio may seem overwhelming at first, there is one simple solution that can not only intrigue the reader but ensure that you don’t sound too pompous: don’t make it about yourself.  Now, you may ask, “How do I write about myself without making it about me?”  The answer is that your professional bio should mostly convey the impacts of your work rather than the actual work itself or your personal accomplishments.  When you do so, you shift the focus to the people and businesses that you help.  To craft a compelling professional bio, ask yourself the following questions:

What is your impact?

When you’re looking to describe your impact, that could mean many different things.  Depending on your job, it could mean how you impact a customer’s life or a business’ results, or perhaps how your work affects people or communities in their daily lives.  To answer this, you may also consider what challenges others face that you solve through your work.

For example:

“John Smith is a professor who helps students realize their full potential as they enter the medical profession.”

“Susan Sommers is an Account Executive who helps her clients reduce production costs on average by 20%.” 

What do you believe in?

When it comes to the impact you’re making in your field, the way you approach your work comes accompanied with your values and what you believe is the purpose of your job.  As a result, communicating to the readers why you do what you do is fundamental to them understanding how you conduct yourself and your business.  When they identify with your motivations and passions, they’re more likely to take interest in you.  As a result, emphasize your core values that drive you to do your best work every day.

“Susan believes that people are a company’s biggest asset.”

“John knows that students respond to honest communication and collaboration in the classroom, which is why they are the cornerstones of his teaching philosophy.”

How can you prove the impact that you make?

Next, come in with the proof that your work has made the impact you describe.  This kind of evidence could come in many forms, as long as it conveys that you are effective in your role.  Ideally, your proof is something that can be measured.  However, be sure that you don’t convey the idea that personal profits are more important than the people or businesses that you help.

“While Susan takes an individualized approach to each of her clients, she has also increased sales by 25% over the last 5 years.”

“John is proud to say that his students entering the field have a 95% job placement rate.”

What about you?

Now that you’ve addressed the impacts of your job and what makes you passionate about your role, you can add the final details about yourself that may be of interest to readers.  For example:

• Where you’re from
• Where you received an education
• What kind of degree you have
• Other details from your professional background
• Your areas of expertise
• Other trainings, certifications, or awards you’ve received
• Where you live or work
• Contact information

While not all this information is necessary, depending on where this professional bio is placed, you can use your discretion as to how much personal information is needed.

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How to Write a Professional Bio

Follow these guidelines and examples for a professional bio that stands out to hiring managers.

How to Write a Bio

Are you trying to get noticed by clients or hiring managers? A professional bio can help you stand out from the crowd by showcasing a bit about who you are and what you strive for in your work. However, writing a professional biography is easier said than done. It can feel awkward to write about yourself and express your worth fluently, so here are a few tips to help you get the process started.

Here are some essential elements in any professional bio:

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• Your name and professional title.
• What you do in your current position.
• Your branding statement.
• One to two outstanding professional accomplishments with measurable results.
• One to two personal details to describe your personality.

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You can post your professional bio on your personal website, your personal blog, your company's website, your professional portfolio, your LinkedIn "about" section, your Facebook business page and on other social media pages such as Instagram. While the length of your bio will vary depending on where you are wanting to publish it, using that outline of elements will help you create a complete bio.

For example, if you post your bio in your "about” section on LinkedIn, you are limited to about 2,000 characters; your own website could include a lengthier bio on its own page. A short professional bio would work best on your social media pages; consider including your professional title and branding statement.

How to Start a Biography

You may know who you are professionally, but it can be hard to articulate this clearly and precisely, especially in writing. To start, create an outline of what you want to include in your bio using the elements above. You can use your resume and other documents where you've tracked your professional accomplishments to help you, but avoid copying and pasting from there.

You can also look up the professional bios of successful professionals that you admire. What items do they include? What impresses you about their bios? While you don’t want to copy their bios, you can take note of the elements that speak to you and then try to emulate that in your own bio.

To help you come across authentically in your bio, think about what you would say out loud to someone if they asked you about the items on the list above. For example, how would you explain what you do for work or what your branding statement is? Write down what you would say. This can help you to “see” your voice on paper.

Keep in mind that, generally, a professional bio should be written in third person , especially if it’s for a company website. However, there are exceptions to this. For example, your “about” section on LinkedIn should be written in first person.

Your Name and Professional Title

Include your full name and your title. If you don’t have a job currently, list your last job title or what you are certified for. For example: John Doe, Marketing Director.

What You Do in Your Current Position

This helps the reader understand what you do and if you would be a good fit for their organization. For example: John specializes in all forms of digital marketing including social media marketing, online advertising and search engine optimization.

List Your Branding Statement

This is a sentence or two that reflects your professional values and how you stand out from others in the industry. For example: John is diligent and adapts seamlessly to constantly evolving processes and technologies. This allows him to provide the best service possible to his customers.

List Outstanding Professional Accomplishments

Listing a few accomplishments allows readers to understand your level of expertise and how you positively contribute to your organization or industry. Examples could include how you have helped the company save money, increased visibility or attained positive results for your clients.

List Personal Details

Listing a few personal details can help the reader connect with you on a more personal level. If they connect with you, they will be more likely to reach out to you. Examples could include hobbies , pets, a favorite movie or interesting details about your background. Of course, make sure that you feel comfortable with any personal details that you choose to share with your readers.

How to Write a Bio for Work

If your company has asked you to write a professional bio for their webpage, make sure you include the requested elements. If you are unsure, ask your supervisor for additional information. Also, check the “about” page of your company and take note of what those in higher positions have included in their bios. Try to follow that same format and order of information. This shows attention to detail on your part and also speaks to your professional worth. When you have finished your professional bio, ask someone you trust to proofread it for grammatical errors and clarity.

Professional Bio Examples

Here are a few examples of what a short professional bio could look like:

Sample 1: Empathetic family medicine physician leveraging 10+ years of experience promoting health and improving the quality of patients through changes in research, medical education and patient care across organizations and the community. Known for innovative, tactical thinking, and an authentic, influential leadership style. Skilled in building the relationships, consensus and strategic partnerships needed to move large-scale and challenging initiatives forward.

Sample 2: Certified career coach, speaker, author and national career expert with over 21 years of experience. Her company Create Your Career Path is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. She is regularly featured in the media and has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Vanderbilt University and the University of Illinois. With over 1,500 success stories, her team of coaches and resume writers help professionals find jobs that make them want to jump out of bed in the morning to go to work.

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Shenandoah University

Support of Career Exploration and Professional Growth of SU Students

Professional Biography

A professional biography is a summary of who are you as an employee, business person, or professional..

When it comes to a professional biography, there are three different lengths, each for a different use.

• Long – one page, typically used for the homepage of your professional website
• Short – no longer than 100 words, generally used as your “default” bio, as well as for programs
• Micro – two lines, mostly used for others to succinctly present you to an audience

Although not set in stone, professional biographies are typically written in this order:

• Introduction
• Education and Credentials
• Notable Achievements
• Closing Statement
• Long Bio Example
• Short Bio Example
• Micro Bio Example

HEATHER LEE POLLAK is a recent honors graduate of Montclair State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Her previous coursework included Ballet, Modern, Dance Improvisation, Laban Movement/Bartenieff Fundamentals, Production Elements, Rhythmic Analysis, Choreography I, II & III, Dance History I & II, Dance Methods, and The Danceaturgy Workshop.

Heather also pursued a minor in Psychology and studied courses such as Abnormal Psychology, Psychological Foundations of Personality, Psychology of Judgment & Decision Making, and Psychology of Aggression. Additionally, she studied the culture and language of American Sign Language for two years.

Heather has performed multiple roles in various productions of The Nutcracker. Her dance training highlights include summer intensives with Paul Taylor, Parsons Dance, José Limón, Bolshoi Ballet, the Kirov Academy of Ballet, Point Park University, Life Dance Company’s Winter Workshop under Fredrick Earl Mosley with Ellenore Scott, and Giada Ferrone’s Toscana Summer Dance Hub in Florence, Italy.

Heather has most recently performed at the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence, Italy, and the Joyce Theater in New York City with the Montclair State University Repertory Company.

Some of Heather’s related skills include many years of pointe work, partnering, voice, and sight-reading. Heather was an active member of the Montclair State University Dance Department by holding the titles: Dance Department Open House Representative, Senior Class Dance Department Fundraising Coordinator, and Audition Day Registration Assistant for four years. She has worked as a Child Performer Supervisor for New York City Ballet’s productions of The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, La Sylphide, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Heather’s passion for Performing Arts Administration guides her future career in managing the arts.

HEATHER LEE POLLAK is a recent honors graduate of Montclair State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Her passion for Performing Arts Administration guides her future career in managing the arts. Heather has performed multiple roles in various productions of The Nutcracker. Her dance training highlights include summer intensives with Paul Taylor, Parsons Dance, José Limón, Bolshoi Ballet, the Kirov Academy of Ballet, Point Park University, Life Dance Company’s Winter Workshop under Fredrick Earl Mosley with Ellenore Scott, and Giada Ferrone’s Toscana Summer Dance Hub in Florence, Italy. Heather has most recently performed at the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence, Italy, and the Joyce Theater in New York City.

HEATHER LEE POLLAK is a recent honors graduate of Montclair State University with a BFA in Dance. She is predominantly trained in multiple techniques of ballet and various styles of modern dance. Heather is continuing her education in pursuit of a career in Performing Arts Administration.

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