How to Write a Short Self-Bio

Personal biographies should be short and specific.

Condensing your achievements, experiences and personal accolades into a short personal biography can be challenging without a proper set of guidelines. Learning to emphasize important details over irrelevant material will help you write the perfect self bio that will set you apart in your career, educational and personal aspirations.

Instructions

1. Determine the voice of your bio. A formal bio is written in third person as if your accomplishments and relevant experiences are being announced by another person. For example, a third-person bio would read that "Jane Doe attended Harvard University." A first-person bio states, "I attended Harvard University." A third-person voice is recommended for professional biographies.

2. Tailor your bio to the target audience. If you are applying for a teaching position in the arts, details about your summer experience as a lifeguard might not be suitable but a reference to world travel could tell a prospective employer or colleague about your perspective.

3. Sell yourself starting from the first line of the bio. If you have won awards or been recognized in your field, lead the bio with the phrase "award-winning" or use your previous accolades to portray that others have acknowledged your skill set. This establishes you as an authority in your field of expertise and gives the reader a specific idea about what you do.

4. Emphasize your education and credentials immediately after your introductory sentence. List all degrees with any specific specialties and majors that relate to the target audience. Include licenses and certifications but stick with pertinent information. Noting that you are CPR-certified takes up space and means little if you are applying for a job as a financial analyst.

5. Read your bio to a friend or colleague to see if there are details of your personal history that you may have forgotten or failed to emphasize. Determine what is unique and positive about yourself and use the bio to market your abilities.

6. Proofread your bio.. A poorly written biography full of spelling and grammatical errors can distract the reader from your message. Use a spell-check program to scan the document, read the document aloud to spot awkward wording and have a friend check your work.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid humor, sarcasm and whimsy in your personal bio.

References

• Brand-Yourself: Tips For Building Your Personal Brand: How to Write a Bio
• "Lab Times"; All About Me in 100 Words; Livia Puljak; February 2008
• Purdue OWL: Writing a Personal Statement