Write a better bio
Photo by MILKOVÍ on Unsplash
Armed with a great bio, the sky’s your limit.
“Your CV, about page, cover letter or social media profile don’t have to get you work. They just have to grab someone’s attention enough that they want to talk to you.”
Harry Ashbridge, Monzo for Lecture in Progress
01: Write in first person
Whether it’s on your website, LinkedIn profile or CV, your bio has obviously been written by you, so own it with confidence.
02: Your discipline doesn’t define you
Don’t get hung up on job titles. You’re not expected to graduate and find your niche within the same year. If you’re yet to nail down your specialism, then lead with your approach. This could be your hands-on attitude to problem solving, or passion for collaboration and working within a team.
03: People hire people
Your bio should reflect you as a person and show off your interests that make you a unique asset to a team. If for example you’re a bubbly and upbeat person, don’t shy away from some humour! If a friend or family member read your bio without knowing it was about you, they should be able to identify it as yours regardless.
04: Use buzzwords sparingly
The odd “self-starter” or “forward-thinking” is totally fine, but what’s 10x more effective is backing up your adjectives with real life examples. Instead of saying you’re a problem-solver, talk about a scenario in which you found the solution. Instead of saying you’re a motivated individual, explain what drives you and sparks that motivation.
05: Remove all elements of uncertainty
Don’t leave any room for doubt in your bio. This means eliminating words and phrases such as “Possibly”, “Might”, “Trying to”. This undermines your abilities and doesn’t sell the confidence your bio deserves.
06: Never use ten words if five will do
Quality over quantity, every time.
07: Consider the context
We can’t tell you the perfect bio length, as that very much depends on the platform, but focus on getting all the relevant information across as succinctly as possible. Most of the time people will just scan for the key points.
08: Get it proofread
To check for typos, but also to ensure it sounds like you! Don’t be afraid to send around a few drafts to your friends and family and get as much feedback as possible.
And that’s it! We hope you found this feature useful. The writing process is full of trial and error, so just get writing!
Source: www.lectureinprogress.com
