How to build a killer bio [with example]

Down-and-dirty tips for writing your bio (…or, someone else’s).

Fact: Writing bios feels hard. 

Why? 

Bios are reflections of a person: they’re the sum of who they are (...but in not too many words!). And whether we’re writing them about someone else or we’ve been asked to write our own, bios require some reflection and introspection about where we’ve been, what we’ve done, and how our past has led to our today. 

Some folks are completely at ease with thinking-talking-writing about themselves. Others? Makes their brains bleed. Which leads to another fact:

Writing bios doesn’t have to feel hard…if we follow some tricks.

Throughout your career, you’ll more than likely be asked to submit a bio as a conference presenter, a podcast guest, a new member of a team…who knows what else: your current resume probably has an intro, and your LinkedIn profile does, too. And while it’s not an exercise you should have to do on the regular, once you have a bio you like, it can last you a goodly while.

That said, we’re here to take the pain out of writing one — starting with how to write yours. (Being the smart cookie you are, if you need to write one about or for someone else, you’ll simply ask them the prompts instead of answering them yourself.)

You don’t have to be a good writer to write a bio (though if you’re looking for style or storytelling points, it’s always helpful to work with someone who is). With answers to a few thoughtful questions, you’ll end up with a page of words that will more than likely help you craft a few paragraphs about what you feel are the most important things for people to know about you, your past work, and what you do for your organization.

Using this guide

If you’ve ever played with Mad Libs or a fill-in-the-blank word game, this will feel familiar: You’re going to self-guide through an exercise that (hopefully!) will give you the words to build a bio you’re proud of. You’ve already done the work and lived the experience. Now, it’s time to get it on paper by following the below:

• Read the prompts.
• Free-write what pops in your head in a manner that lets you just get it all out, either by typing or long-hand.
• Fit your answers into our suggested bio format that’ll give a reader insight into who you are, the work you’ve done, and how you contribute to your organization.

1) Self-guided bio-writing: The prompts

(#ProTip: It’s extremely helpful to do this with a copy of your resume beside you.)

Thinking about your job at your company…

1) What’s your title? 

2) Why were you hired? (Meaning, what service does your skillset provide, or what problem can your skillset solve?) 

3) What do you feel are your responsibilities? Brainstorm a few sentences and see what you come up with.

4) What are some things you do every day/week? List them. (Why? Your tasks can act as helpful fill-in and transition words in your bio.)

(Next: Because some people aren’t used to writing conversationally, these few questions are designed to help you unearth some of the words-concepts-phrases that good bios need…the stuff that gives bios personality and life.) 

5) If you met with an old friend you hadn’t seen in ages, and you were excited to share about your current work, how would you describe what you do? In a few sentences, write out your answers as if you’re talking to them.

5b) What do you feel you contribute to your organization? What are you most proud of that you do, daily?

5c) Are there any stats/accomplishments/accolades you can share to support the impact you’ve had? (Note: If you’re new, this may be moot, and that’s okay. Big impact can happen quietly.)

6) Talking to that same friend (but now looking at your resume), what are some of the things you’ve done in your past that help support your current work? Meaning, what were some old roles or responsibilities that you honed a long time ago that now help support what you’re doing today?

7) Looking back at your answers to 1-6, see if you can identify themes or words that pop up. Are there words  that speak to your skills (i.e., write/edit/design/develop/build/transform/enhance/grow)? Notice any overarching ideas, themes, or patterns in your past or present work history? (Are you a helper? A builder? A fixer? A maker? A leader? A supporter? A nurturer?) Bold-face the words that mean something to you (...because they’re often the words we’d like others to know about us). 

2) Self-guided bio-writing: The writing 

Time to write!

To help see how the parts of this exercise can come together in a final product, we're going to use an example from the bio of a Creative Director of Content.

Generally, a good bio or “about me” segment has a cadence to it. Here are a few that could work:

Paragraph 1 (Option 1)

• Sentence 1: Open with a quote that typifies a belief that you hold true, or that your company holds true
• Sentence 2: Brief analogy/explanation about how the quote relates to your company

Example: Delight everyday humans, doing everyday things. That tenet requires a perfect storm of design, innovation, and functionality, to create digital experiences that melt away in the hands of our clients’ users (…and that storm equally requires memorable words and messaging to help make the melting happen). 

Paragraph 1 (Option 2)

Sentence 1: Name a few tasks you do on the regular; name your title; mention the length of your career; and end with a closing statement about the work you do.

Example: With the evolving, revolving task of pairing the perfect content strategist with the perfect Modus client, as Creative Director of Content, my 25-year career ensures that the words Modus delivers are as profound as the products containing them.

Paragraph 2 

Sentence 1: List things you did before your current position

Sentence 2: Name the number of years you’ve been using X-skills, as well as an accomplishment or two

Example: Pre-Modus, as a freelance writer and managing editor of remote magazine writing staffs, my cross-media career spanned print, B2B and web content, and the occasional cookbook (#two), for brands Bertolli, Breville, Ciao Italia, Forbes Travel Guide, Hard Rock Hotel, Mastercard, and others. I bring to Modus 15 years of lifestyle branding experience, where my passion for crafting right words for right moments helped overhaul UX and customer engagement strategies, resulting in consistent revenue growth, as well as growth in brand love.

Paragraph 3 

Sentence 1: List the things you’re valued for in your current position, followed by why you were hired by your current employer.

Sentence 2: Add any biographical information about degrees you’ve earned, awards won, etc.

Example: Valued for my empathic people-management skills; a content-strategy commitment to outside-the-box thinking; and as a writer, a balance of clever wordplay and reverentially correct grammar, I was hired in 2022 to build, direct and support Modus’ full-time and freelance content department team while also contributing to Modus’ word needs. I earned a master’s in print and multimedia journalism from Boston’s Emerson College and a bachelor’s in theater/dramatic lit from Wheaton College (the one in Norton, Mass.).

Finished product:

Delight everyday humans, doing everyday things. That tenet requires a perfect storm of design, innovation, and functionality, to create digital experiences that melt away in the hands of our clients’ users (…and that storm equally requires memorable words and messaging to help make the melting happen). 

With the evolving, revolving task of pairing the perfect content strategist with the perfect Modus client, as Creative Director of Content, my 25-year career ensures that the words Modus delivers are as profound as the products containing them.

Pre-Modus, as a freelance writer and managing editor of remote magazine writing staffs, my cross-media career spanned print, B2B and web content, and the occasional cookbook (#two), for brands Bertolli, Breville, Ciao Italia, Forbes Travel Guide, Hard Rock Hotel, Mastercard, and others. I bring to Modus 15 years of lifestyle branding experience, where my passion for crafting right words for right moments helped overhaul UX and customer engagement strategies, resulting in consistent revenue growth, as well as growth in brand love.

Valued for my empathic people-management skills; a content-strategy commitment to outside-the-box thinking; and as a writer, a balance of clever wordplay and reverentially correct grammar, I was hired in 2022 to build, direct and support Modus’ full-time and freelance content department team while also contributing to Modus’ word needs. I earned a master’s in print and multimedia journalism from Boston’s Emerson College and a bachelor’s in theater/dramatic lit from Wheaton College (the one in Norton, Mass.).