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How Do I Make a Sample Bio Letter?

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A sample bio (biography) letter can come in handy when applying for a new job, promotion or position on a board or committee. A sample bio letter should contain information about various aspects of your personal and professional career and can be adjusted depending on the need.

Begin the bio letter with letterhead that includes your name, address, phone number, e-mail and any other pertinent information such as website, social media profiles or fax number. This should be in larger type at the top of the page.

List professional work experience in reverse chronological order, with the most recent job first. Include the dates you were employed, name of the company and list of main duties and accomplishments.

List awards, including the date you received the honor and the organization honoring you. List the most recent awards first.

List educational information, including colleges attended and any special training. Include degrees and certifications and the dates you received these. If you graduated with honors, write that, too.

Write a short personal biography, including cities you have lived in, organizations you are involved with and hobbies. Highlight only the groups and activities you are most involved with. Include past organizations only if you had an active role.

Tip

Keep information in list form so it's easy for the person reading it to scan it and get all the details. Do not be overly flowery in your description. Use action phrases such as "managed a team of 20," "raised revenue by 50 percent," or "overhauled the sales guide." Your sample bio should include as much information as possible for your own reference, but each bio should be tweaked to fit the needs of the specific position you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a board director position, you should emphasize charity work and fund-raising experience. If you are applying for a management job, focus on the parts of your bio related to team-building and supervisory roles.

Tips
  • Keep information in list form so it's easy for the person reading it to scan it and get all the details.
  • Do not be overly flowery in your description. Use action phrases such as "managed a team of 20," "raised revenue by 50 percent," or "overhauled the sales guide."
  • Your sample bio should include as much information as possible for your own reference, but each bio should be tweaked to fit the needs of the specific position you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a board director position, you should emphasize charity work and fund-raising experience. If you are applying for a management job, focus on the parts of your bio related to team-building and supervisory roles.
Writer

Ester Venouziou started writing professionally in 1992. She has been published in major newspapers and magazines in Florida and around Washington, D.C. Venouziou completed a dual-degree program with a Bachelor of Science in journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology at Boston University.