Have you noticed how dull it can be to read a bio statement? Too many used in the professional world are essentially a list of dates, academic degrees, and formal job titles.
But a biographical sketch is a miniature story of a person, and there’s so much more to individuals than education and employment history. In many situations, a bio statement makes a better impression when it offers something colorful.
Keeping bios fresh was central to one of my assignments during the pandemic. I was asked to write about members of a national professional association. They were scattered across the country and unable to meet in person then. But new and ongoing members needed to be introduced. So I wrote their bios using a few evocative questions.
For instance:
What drew you to this field, and what keeps you in it?
How would you describe an ideal Saturday?
What’s a little-known fact about you?
The results let each person’s uniqueness shine through in simple anecdotes ranging from high school football experiences to elementary school memories to first jobs. I found out, for instance, that one loved jujitsu. Another enjoyed entering his dog in competitions to race through an obstacle course. Weaving these elements together with people’s professional histories made their bios stand out.
This approach lets a bio convey who a person is and piques the interest of others. It turns what could be drab bios into compelling introductions. And, along with establishing credentials, isn’t that the point of writing a bio?
