How to Write a Career Biography

You may be asked to write a career biography, also called a professional biography, for marketing materials, About Us web pages, articles, presentations or proposals. Though often written by the person they are about, and therefore technically autobiographies, career biographies summarize a person's expertise by providing a snapshot of his career history. Depending on its use, a career bio may be one paragraph to multiple pages in length. Regardless, the goal is to tell the reader what you are doing in your career now, your expertise, how you (with this expertise) can help the reader and how the reader can contact you.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pen
• Paper
• Computer
• Professional photo (headshot) of yourself

1. Write you career biography using the third person. For example, instead of writing "I am a technology consultant" write "Doug Ray is a technology consultant." Use your full name, first and last, the first time you use it; after that, use only your first name. Some companies prefer more formal-sounding bios and will ask you to use Ms. Surname or Mr. Surname instead.

2. Begin your career biography by telling the reader what you do now and by providing your educational background if it relates to your current career choice. Reveal your educational degrees and certificates later in your bio if they are unrelated to your career.

3. Show your professional credibility by briefly explaining your key career achievements: milestones reached, awards won and other positions held. Identify (generically, not necessarily by name) past and current clients so the reader knows who you have worked for and with. This can also give you credibility.

4. Define your business niche if you or the company you work for has one.

5. Mention published articles you've written, presentations you've given and seminars attended. Especially if new to your career, bulk up your professional bio with as many examples of your professional achievements as possible. As you gain more experience, you will have to edit your bio to include larger highlights and to delete the smaller details.

6. Provide your certifications, spelling them out and providing the acronym or initialism in parentheses. Though others in your field may know what a CISA certification means, others will be unfamiliar with the Certified Information Systems Auditor designation.

7. Provide your contact information in the last paragraph (or last sentence if you bio is one paragraph long). Give your name, address, telephone, fax, email and website address. Make it as easy as possible for your reader to get in touch with you.

8. Include a small photo of yourself, dressed professionally, at the top of your bio or at the end with your contact information. Photography studios offer package deals for these types of photos. Your company may require you to get one taken.

References

• Career Biographies: How and Why to Write These Third Person Autobiographies by Dulcinea Norton-Smith
• How to Write a Bio

Resources

• Top Ten Tips for Writing a Professional Overview or Biography by Tara Kachaturoff
• Sears Portrait Studio