Your professional bio is not only relevant when applying for jobs, seeking new clients, or networking — it also gives the world a brief snapshot of who you are and your professional ideals.
To help you author one that packs a punch, we’ll teach you how to write a professional bio, give you professional bio templates, and show you the best professional bio examples you can get inspiration from.
Skip to one of these sections if you know what you’re looking for:
What is a professional bio?
Professional Bio Templates
How to Write a Professional Bio
Best Professional Bio Examples
How to Write a Short Bio
What is a professional bio?
A professional bio or biography is a short overview of your experience. Professional bios usually include details about education, employment, achievements, and relevant skills.
Purpose of Professional Bios
A bio tells an audience about who you are, what you’ve done, and what you can do. It can help potential employers, fans, or customers get a sense of your personality and what you stand for.
Writing your bio may be hard to achieve without a starting point. Below, we’ve included professional templates to expedite the process of writing a great bio.
Professional Bio Templates
With professional bios, keeping your message honest and to the point is best practice. So how do you write one that will effectively market you and your brand? You use a professional bio template.
By sticking to a predetermined format, all you have to do is fill in the blanks with your most relevant career information. These bio templates will guide you on where you should place your:
- Name
- Occupation or job title
- Passions and goals
- Skill set and expertise
- Education
- Work history
- Location
Of course, while there is no one-size-fits-all template for a professional bio, these templates are a quick way to start building your long or short bio before customizing it.
But before choosing your bio template, there are some key elements to include to ensure yours is effective.
For example, say you’re looking for a job. Your professional bio should give recruiters a peek at your career accomplishments and experience.
What if you’ve recently published a book or are applying for a grant? In those situations, highlight organizations you support or include catchy anecdotes.
And if you’re a recent graduate? A well-written professional bio helps you communicate how your life experience makes you the best candidate for the roles you’re seeking.
Bottom line: Tailoring your professional bio to your goals and who you want to reach will make it effective.
To structure your professional bio to stay true to these objectives, try our 80+ downloadable professional bio templates — for both short- and long-form bios — to start creating a bio that hits the mark.
Download free, editable short and long professional bio templates.
What should a professional bio say?
Your professional bio should be as unique as you.
First-Person Bio vs. Third-Person Bio
Writing a First-Person Bio
Here’s one way to write a first-person bio:
Here are a few tips to make your first-person bio great:
Don’t start every sentence with “I.”
Showing instead of telling is a great approach.
Remember, you know yourself better than anyone.
Focus on useful details.
However, if your interests lie elsewhere, including a more relevant hobby is better.
Writing a Third-Person Bio
For instance, when you write a third-person bio, you may start with:
This makes third-person bios feel aloof or overly formal sometimes.
Write from the perspective of someone you know and trust.
Show the reader why they should trust your opinion.
Remember, you’re telling a story.
Here’s how to write a professional bio, step by step.
How to Write a Professional Bio
- Create an ‘About’ page for your website or profile.
- Begin writing your bio with your first and last name.
- Mention any associated brand name you might use.
- State your current position and what you do.
- Include at least one professional accomplishment.
- Describe your values and how they inform your career.
- Briefly tell your readers who you are outside of work.
- Use humor or a personal story to add flavor to your professional bio.
Whether you choose the formal or casual route, use the following steps to create a perfect bio.
1. Create an ‘About’ page for your website or profile.
Instagram, for example, allows only 150 characters of bio space, whereas you can write as much as you want on your website or Facebook Business page.
2. Begin writing your bio with your first and last name.
For example, if I were writing my bio, I might start it like this:
Lindsay Kolowich is a Senior Marketing Manager at HubSpot.
3. Mention any associated brand name you might use.
- Lindsay Kolowich Marketing.
- SEO Lindsay.
- Kolowich Consulting.
- Content by Kolowich (what do you think … too cheesy?).
4. State your current position and what you do.
5. Include at least one professional accomplishment.
6. Describe your values and how they inform your career.
Create a professional bio that answers these questions.
7. Briefly tell your readers who you are outside of work.
- Your family.
- Your hometown.
- Sports you play.
- Hobbies and interests.
- Favorite music and travel destinations.
- Side hustles you’re working on.
8. Use humor or a personal story to add flavor to your professional bio.
Why Good Bios Are Important for a Professional
Now you may think, “How many people read professional bios, anyway?”
And, most importantly, it’s the tool you can leverage most when you’re networking.
So, what does a top-notch professional bio look like?
Check ’em out and use them as inspiration when crafting your own.
Best Professional Bio Examples
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Author
- Chima Mmeje: SEO Content Writer
- DJ Nexus: DJ
- Lena Axelsson: Marriage & Family Therapist
- Mark Levy: Branding Firm Founder
- Audra Simpson: Political Anthropologist
- Marie Mikhail: Professional Recruiter
- Wonbo Woo: Executive Producer
- Chris Burkard: Freelance Photographer
- Lisa Quine: Creative Consultant
- Nancy Twine: Hair Care Founder
- Trinity Mouzon: Wellness Brand Founder
- Alberto Perez: Co-Founder of Zumba Fitness
- Ann Handley: Writer and Marketer
1. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Author
Bio Platform: Personal Website
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie begins her professional bio with an invitation to her roots.
Why We Like It
- It’s written in the third person, allowing it to show authority.
- It provides a brief but engaging account of Chimamanda’s life and experiences.
- Mentioning her honorary doctorate degrees makes readers know Chimamanda is one of the best writers in the world.
2. Chime Mmeje: SEO Content Writer
Bio Platform: LinkedIn
Why We Like It
- There’s clarity about who Chima serves.
- The hook is bold, catchy, and compels anyone to read further.
- Including client results make clients visualize what they can expect.
3. DJ Nexus: DJ
Bio Platform: Facebook
DJ Nexus’s bio brilliance doesn’t stop there.
Why We Like It
- The eight compelling words in the bio pack a punch and grab attention.
- The bio gives off the feeling that DJ Nexus is great at his craft.
4. Lena Axelsson: Marriage & Family Therapist
Bio Platform: Industry Website
If you think about it that way, you’d likely write a painfully uninteresting bio.
Why We Like It
- It summarizes Lena’s background as a therapist, including her approach to therapy.
- The tone of the bio is professional and informative, rather than overly personal or casual.
- The bio focuses on Lena’s audience. This makes readers know that Lena wants to help.
5. Mark Levy: Branding Firm Founder
Bio Platform: Personal Website
Click here to see the full version.
Here’s another excerpt from the middle:
Why We Like It
- Mark’s funny and approachable personality shows all over his bio.
- Mark writes his bio in the third person, which positions him as an expert.
- It uses storytelling to humanize Mark and pull the reader into Mark’s world.
6. Audra Simpson: Political Anthropologist
Bio Platform: Personal Website
Why We Like It
- Audra’s bio shows how experts can succinctly discuss their years of experience in a few words.
- It proves Audra is an expert political anthropologist.
- It shows Audra’s interests, giving readers a sense of what she likes as a professional.
7. Marie Mikhail: Professional Recruiter
Bio Platform: LinkedIn
Marie Mikhail checks nearly every box that makes an excellent bio.
But there are a lot of recruiters out there, and Marie knows that.
It’s a well-put value proposition that sets her apart from the rest of the HR industry.
Why We Like It
- Straight off the bat, Marie uses a story to share her experiences of how she began as a recruiter.
- It provides a subtle pitch for readers to check out her podcast.
- The bio exudes Maries approachable, fun, and playful personality.
8. Wonbo Woo: Executive Producer
Bio Platform: Personal Website
Why We Like It
- The first sentence of the bio leads with authority and instantly gets the reader’s attention.
- The bio dives into the many exceptional projects Wonbo Woo has executed.
- Wonbo Woo uses lots of specificity to pass points across, like WIRED’s YouTube channel nearly quadrupled subscribers (+375%) and views (+391%), publishing over 100 videos annually with over a million views each.
9. Chris Burkard: Freelance Photographer
Bio Platform: LinkedIn
Why We Like It
- It highlights Chris’s achievement without bragging.
- The last sentence portrays Chris as a responsible man who loves his family.
- The well-written bio speaks to nature lovers who like the outdoors, surfing, and more. This gives them reasons to follow Chris.
10. Lisa Quine: Creative Consultant
Bio Platform: Portfolio Website
Why We Like It
- Lisa’s bio checks the box on nearly all of our recommendations for a great bio. She begins with her full name, her location, and what she does best.
- Lisa gets creative by mentioning the brands she’s worked with and highlighting some of her favorite projects.
- Written in the third person, this bio invites the reader behind a metaphorical door to meet Lisa as a professional, traveler, learner, wife, and mother.
11. Nancy Twine: Hair Care Founder
Bio Platform: Company Website
Why We Like It
- The bio explains why Twine started her company and what ultimately drives her.
- It uses the founder’s story to connect with its audience.
- Using a video further shows the face behind the brand and helps Twine connect with her audience.
12. Trinity Mouzon: Wellness Brand Founder
Bio Platform: Personal Website
The language used throughout Mouzon’s bio is authentic, real, and honest.
For instance, in the second paragraph, she admits:
Why We Like It
- It tells a story and quickly transitions into how Trinity built her brand.
- This bio highlights Trinity’s impressive background, including how she can help her readers start and scale their businesses.
- Focusing on the reader lets Trinity show that a good bio can convert new readers into leads and customers.
13. Alberto “Beto” Perez: Co-Founder of Zumba Fitness
Bio Platform: LinkedIn
Learn how to write your professional bio with more free tips, templates, and inspiring examples.
Why We Like It
- Perez tells the story of his business, rather than list out his accomplishments.
- The bio positions Perez as both relatable and inspirational.
14. Ann Handley: Writer and Marketer
Bio Platform: Personal Website
But when people list their accomplishments in their bios, they risk sounding slightly egotistical.
Best of all, Ann focuses on her readers’ challenges and motivations, rather than her own.
There’s something in there for everyone.
Why We Like It
- The last section of the bio shows Ann’s warm personality — “Ann lives in Boston, where she is Mom to creatures two- and four-legged.”
- Written in the third person, this bio has lots of proof (like followers), which shows Ann is a terrific marketing leader.
How to Write a Short Bio
To get started, use these best practices for writing your short professional bio:
1. Introduce yourself.
If you’re writing a bio for an online platform, stating your name at the beginning works as well.
2. State what you do.
So detail your most relevant work in your short bios, like CEO, professor, and author.
Take a cue from Angela Duckworth, who specifies what she does in her LinkedIn bio:
3. Add key skills or areas of expertise.
4. Include a personal mission statement.
For instance, Farmer Bea has a goal of helping to raise awareness about all things bees.
So give an honest answer about your goals or mission so you can add color to your professional purpose.
5. Celebrate your wins.
Your short bio can be a proud showcase of your accomplishments, so add one to two successes you’ve achieved through your skills or mission.
For instance, if you got recognition from industry leaders like Art Critic Jerry Saltz, you can list your wins like his:
So whether they’re awards you won, publications you featured in, or companies you worked with, be sure to spotlight any major achievements.
6. Provide your contact information.
People who visit your profile or receive your message already know your social media account. But to take business off the app, include your email address, website, or any other professional profiles where they can reach you.
Political Commentator and Sports Correspondent, Angela Rye, shows a great example of this in her short professional bio on Instagram:
After listing her name, job titles, and contact information, Rye includes a Linktree to their website where you can read a longer version of the professional bio:
This lets Raye detail her values more in-depth and how she shows them through her work. So before diving into your long professional bio, begin with a short bio to tease who you are, what you care about, and what you can do for others.
7. Show them your personality.
Don’t be afraid to add a bit of charisma to your short professional bio. “Professional” doesn’t have to mean plain. You can best portray your personality through:
- A joke. “Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. At least that’s what I learned when I created…”
- Mention a hobby. “I’ll be honest: for me, tennis is life — Go Nadal!”
- A fun fact. “Every year, I watch 100 new films! I’m a cinephile and love every movie genre.”
- A few emojis related to your interests. “🎶🤖🎾🎬🎭”
Whichever way you choose to get personal, give people a glimpse into who you are as an individual.
When writing a short bio, it can be tempting to pack in as much relevant information about yourself as possible — but this isn’t the most effective approach.
Instead, focus on including the details that you and your audience care about most and leave out the fluff.
Let’s dive into a few examples of short professional bios.
Short Professional Bio Examples
- Corey Wainwright: Principal Marketing Manager
- Lianna Patch: Copywriter
- Precious Oboidhe: Content Strategist and Writer
- Rebecca Bollwitt: Writer
- Megan Gilmore: Cookbook Author
- Bea Dixon: Feminine Care Founder
- Tammy Hembrow: Instagram Influencer
- Dr. Cody: Chiropractor
- Larry Kim: Founder
- Dharmesh Shah: Founder and CTO
- Lily Ugbaja: Content Strategist
- Ian Anderson Gray: Marketer
- Van Jones: Political Commentator, Author, and Lawyer
1. Corey Wainwright: Principal Marketing Manager
Bio Platform: Blog Byline
Corey Wainwright is a Principal Marketing Manager here at HubSpot. She’s written content for HubSpot’s Marketing Blog for years, and her blog author bio caught my eye before I ever started working for HubSpot.
(Back then, it started with, “Corey just took a cool vacation.”)
What I love most about Corey’s bio is that it’s a great example of how to deliver information about yourself without taking things too seriously. And in this context, that’s totally appropriate.
Despite having several impressive accomplishments under her belt, she simply doesn’t enjoy displaying them publicly. She prefers making her author bio a little “light.”
Her bio reads, “Corey is a Bruce Springsteen fan who does content marketing, in that order.”
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It works in this context because, at HubSpot, our blog authors prefer to make themselves friendly and approachable — while letting their content speak for itself.
It helps that authors’ social media accounts are located right below our names and above our pictures. This lets folks click the LinkedIn button and go to the author’s LinkedIn page.
(You can read this blog post to learn how to create social media buttons and add them to your website.)
Why We Like It
- It’s short and simple.
- It pitches her company’s product as the best CRM software.
- Pairing her perfect smile and the mention of a popular singer — Bruce Springsteen — adds humor to her bio, shows singing may be one of her interests, and makes her appear friendly.
2. Lianna Patch: Copywriter
Bio Platform: Blog Byline
Lianna Patch is a rockstar copywriter who has written for popular publications like Copy Hackers. What’s striking about Lianna’s bio is that it sums up everything you want in a copywriter.
I mean, see the first sentence of her bio — “Lianna’s greatest dream is to make your customers pause, smile, and click (in that order).”
The second sentence shows how she executes the first. It reads, “She does this through irresistible emails and shockingly effective landing pages.” And finally, the last sentence is a call to action for interested people to reach her.
Why We Like It
- It’s punchy and welcoming.
- It shows the outcome companies can get by working with her.
- It has a call-to-action (CTA).
3. Precious Oboidhe: Content Strategist and Writer
Bio Platform: Blog Byline
I don’t check out an author’s byline unless the post is interesting. My guess is you do the same. And most times, you do this because you may be interested in working with the writer.
This is where a short bio that speaks to your needs comes in. An example? An example? Precious’ bio that shows off his skills as a freelance content strategist and writer.
Why We Like It
- It states that Precious is for hire, causing interested prospects to contact him.
- It includes his website, where prospects can learn more about him.
- People can connect with Precious on social media to learn more about his work.
4. Rebecca Bollwitt: Writer
Bio platform: Instagram
Instagram is a notoriously difficult platform on which to write a good bio. Similar to Twitter, you don’t have room for a professional bio that includes everything about you.
And because Instagram is primarily a mobile app, many viewers read about you passively on their mobile devices.
Instagram’s limited bio space requires you to highlight just your most important qualities. Blogging icon Rebecca Bollwitt does just this in her own Instagram bio excellently.
Rebecca’s brand name is Miss604, and she cleverly uses emojis in her Instagram bio to tell visitors what makes her a valuable content creator. See the screenshot below:
Starting with a laptop emoji, Miss604 says she’s been a Vancouver blogger since 2004. I haven’t even looked at her pictures yet, and her bio introduction has already sucked me in.
The rest of her bio follows suit, breaking up the text with an appropriate emoji and a perfect collection of nouns to tell me who she is as a person.
She even links out to her husband’s Instagram account after the heart emoji (an adorable addition) and assures her followers that all of her pictures are authentically hers.
Take a lesson from Miss604 and show your personal side. Branding yourself as a professional shouldn’t involve discarding many things that make you human. Often, your most personal attributes make for the best professional bio content.
Why We Like It
- Using emojis gives off Rebecca as a friendly person.
- Rebecca highlights her most important qualities in a few words.
5. Megan Gilmore: Cookbook Author
Bio Platform: Instagram
Megan Gilmore is a best-selling cookbook author. She often posts healthy recipes on her Instagram page and inspires her followers to learn not to sacrifice taste for the sake of health.
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You can glean most of this information immediately from her Instagram bio, which is short and to the point: “Gluten-free recipes and meal plans.”
Gilmore further includes a CTA link within her Instagram bio that leads followers to free, ready-to-use recipes. You might think, “Why would she do that since it discourages people from buying her book?”
But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
By giving her followers the chance to try out her recipes, she’s slowly turning leads into customers. After I tried a few of her Instagram recipes and loved them, I bought her book, knowing I’d like more of what she offered.
Why We Like It
- The bio is short and direct.
- The CTA link includes an invitation for people to join her newsletter. Meaning, she can build her email list.
6. Bea Dixon: Feminine Care Founder
Bio Platform: Instagram
Bea Dixon, Founder and CEO of The Honey Pot Company, efficiently uses the space on her Instagram profile to highlight who she is as a well-rounded human — not just a businesswoman.
For instance, while she highlights her girl boss attitude with a tiara emoji, she equally calls attention to her fashion interests (Free People), her pets, Boss and Sadie, and her love for ramen noodles.
Consider how you might also highlight your interests, hobbies, or passions outside of the 9-to-5. If people are reading your bio, they’re interested in getting to know the full you.
Why We Like It
- It shows who Bea is outside work.
- It includes a CTA that lets people check out everything Bea offers.
7. Tammy Hembrow: Instagram Influencer
Bio Platform: Instagram
Tammy Hembrow is a founder, fitness model, Instagram Influencer, and entrepreneur. These are a lot to fit into one Instagram profile. And this is where a summary of what you do and where people can find you take center stage.
Tammy shows in her bio that she’s a founder; she links to her app, mentions her YouTube channel, which has almost two million subscribers, and has a link for people to learn more about her and what she does.
If you wear many hats like Tammy, be sure to mention your biggest traffic driver in your Instagram profile and include a link to all you do.
Why We Like It
- It shows Tammy’s core channel besides Instagram — YouTube.
- It includes a CTA that lets people learn more about what Tammy does.
- It links out to other pages owned by Tammy.
8. Dr. Cody: Chiropractor
Bio Platform: Instagram
Dr. Cody is a Sydney-based chiropractor. Like Tammy, Dr. Cody brilliantly uses the limited space on his Instagram profile to convey vital info to his audience.
At first glance, including location in his bio may look like a waste of limited space. But here’s the thing: Dr. Cody’s job has to be done in person as a chiropractor. By including his location, he immediately calls out those he serves.
Adding his TikTok account with almost three million followers is another excellent move.
Why We Like It
- No one gets three million followers by doing a poor job. By including 2.9M+ TikTok followers in his bio, Dr. Cody instantly proves his expertise to his audience.
- Including his TikTok handle is a subtle pitch for people to follow his account on TikTok.
- The CTA link is great for those who want to learn more about Dr. Cody’s offers.
9. Larry Kim: Founder
Bio Platform: Twitter
Forget about words for a moment. Looking at Larry’s bio, you immediately know what he prioritizes above all else — his family.
When you get into the bio, you see that besides the companies Larry founded and publications he writes for, he re-emphasizes his love for family by mentioning his kids.
This could endear people to him. And don’t forget the inclusion of “Christian” — this instantly shows what he stands for.
Why We Like It
- It shows what Larry takes seriously besides work — his family and his faith.
- The popular publications give people a reason to follow Larry.
10. Dharmesh Shah: Founder and CTO
Bio Platform: Twitter
Dharmesh Shah is the co-founder and CTO of HubSpot. Dharmesh’s bio is exciting because it has social proof, gives people a reason to follow him, and shows what people can expect.
His bio shows social proof by mentioning he’s the founder of a popular software company. This gives people a “why” to follow him. Plus, by mentioning the favorite topics he talks about, he instantly qualifies those he wants as followers.
Why We Like It
- It shows what followers can expect.
- Dharmesh’s warm smile is welcoming, and his personal mission is inviting.
- It calls attention to Dharmesh’s business — HubSpot.
11. Lily Ugbaja: Content Strategist
Bio Platform: Twitter
Look no further than Lily’s if you want inspiration for a Twitter bio packed with social proof.
Lily is a content strategist and writer for popular companies like HubSpot, WordPress, and more. When you read Lily’s bio, the second sentence grabs your attention immediately because it shows the result you can get by working with her.
That aside, she includes brands she’s worked with, including a popular content marketing agency known for doing excellent work. This gives Lily the instant credibility she needs to attract prospects who want to win with content.
Why We Like It
- It has catchy social proof elements.
- It contains a CTA encouraging people to subscribe to her newsletter.
12. Ian Anderson Gray: Marketer
Bio Platform: Twitter
Details matter, especially when there’s a cap on the number of words you can use to express yourself.
For instance, the funny and impactful bio of Ian Anderson on his Twitter page reads:
“Dad & Husband. Confident Live® Marketing Podcast 🎧 & Show 🎥 Helping you level up your impact, authority & profits through the power of Confident Live Video.”
What more do you need to know?
Ian doesn’t take his bio too seriously but uses every character to highlight everything about him.
He includes his skill as a marketer and podcast host, who he is outside work as a dad, and what he can help you do. His smiles also give the bio a sense of humor and realness.
Consider how you might showcase your uniqueness in just a few words, particularly for a social media account that already restricts word count.
Why We Like It
- It highlights everything about Ian in a few words.
- It includes a CTA to check out Ian’s podcast.
- It shows Ian’s fun personality, an important trait for podcast hosts.
13. Van Jones: Political Commentator, Author, and Lawyer
Bio Platform: Twitter
Someone known for various talents and skills may find it difficult to capture who they are in a professional bio. The feat is nearly impossible when limited to just over 100 characters on Twitter.
But Van Jones effortlessly explains who he is and why it matters to everyone who visits his Twitter profile.
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He starts his professional bio with a token of personalization and prioritization of his values. By mentioning that he is a dad first, we recognize what’s important to him in his long list of successes.
As we’ve seen in other bios, sharing who we are outside of work makes us more personable and should find its way into your bio, if possible.
What’s great about Van’s Twitter bio is his ability to link valuable offerings to his readers. He invites us to check out his latest book and has his website magiclabsmedia.com linked at the top.
Why We Like It
- It includes a CTA.
- It shows Van’s personality and what he cares about.
- It shows one of Van’s accomplishments as a 3X NYT bestseller.
Create Your Own Professional Bio
Prim and proper, relaxed, or studded with accomplishments, your bio reflects your best professional self. Your professional bio will often precede your physical presence. Before people meet you for the first time, they’ll probably read your bio.
Whether you’re creating an about page for your website or social media profile, one thing’s for sure: You’ll want to put your best foot forward with a top-notch professional bio.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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