A short professional bio says who you are and what you do, who you do it for, one or two things that show you are good at it, and one human detail, in that order. Three to five sentences is enough. Use the third person ("Dana is") when someone else is presenting you, such as a company website, a conference programme or a press release, and the first person ("I am") on your own site and on social profiles.
Start by finding out where it will appear and how long it may be. Then write a long version once and cut it down.
The formula
- Name, role and where. "Dana Whitfield is a structural engineer at Holt and Marsh." If you work for yourself, say what you do: "Dana Whitfield is a freelance illustrator."
- What you do and for whom. The kind of work, and the kind of client or problem, in words an outsider would understand.
- Proof. One or two of: a notable project or client, years in the field, a result, a qualification, a publication, an award. Pick what this audience cares about.
- Something human. Where you live, what you do at weekends, what you are learning. One line. It is often the thing people mention when they meet you.
A fifth line, how to contact you or where to see your work, goes on the end when the bio stands alone.
First person or third
| Where it goes | Person | Usual length |
|---|---|---|
| Company website, team page | Third | 50 to 100 words |
| Conference programme, speaker introduction | Third | 40 to 80 words |
| Article or book byline | Third | One or two sentences |
| Press release, award entry | Third | 50 to 100 words |
| Your own website or portfolio | First | 80 to 150 words |
| LinkedIn About section | First | 100 to 200 words |
| Social media profile | First, or no pronoun at all | One line |
If the organiser gives a word limit or a house style, that wins. On a team page, match the other bios.
One bio at three lengths
Write the fullest version first. The shorter ones are the same bio with things taken out.
The full version, for a website:
Dana Whitfield is a structural engineer at Holt and Marsh, where she leads the team that repairs and reuses old buildings. In twelve years she has worked on more than forty mills, chapels and warehouses across the north of England, including the conversion of Calder Mill into flats and studios. She is a chartered engineer and teaches a short course on timber repair each spring. Dana lives in Halifax with two lurchers and a house she describes as her longest-running project.
The short version, for a programme:
Dana Whitfield is a structural engineer at Holt and Marsh, specialising in the repair and reuse of old buildings. She has worked on more than forty mills, chapels and warehouses across the north of England.
One line, for a byline or a profile:
Dana Whitfield is a structural engineer who keeps old buildings standing.
More examples
All invented.
First person, for a freelancer's website
I'm Kofi Mensah, a bookkeeper for small food businesses: cafes, bakeries, market stalls and the odd brewery. I take the receipts, the invoices and the tax deadlines off your plate, and once a month I send you one page that says how the business is doing. Before this I spent eight years in the finance team of a restaurant group, so I know what a bad week in August looks like. I work from Bristol. Email me at kofi@example.com.
Early in a career
Ingrid Solheim is a junior software developer at Fennwick, where she works on the booking system used by independent cinemas. She joined in 2025 after a degree in computer science, and built the feature that lets cinemas sell tickets for one-off community screenings. She volunteers as a mentor at a weekend coding club for teenagers.
A speaker introduction
Dr Tobi Adeleke is a GP in Leicester and the clinical lead for a group of six practices. He writes and speaks about how small surgeries can use their appointment data, and his talk today draws on three years of changes at his own practice. He is also a slow but determined marathon runner.
An author byline
Marianne Coste writes about food and farming. Her first book, a history of the apple, is out next year.
A small business owner, first person
I started Arch Nine Cycles in 2018 with a rented railway arch and one workstand. We repair and rebuild everyday bikes, not racing machines, and we teach a maintenance class on the first Saturday of each month. I trained as a mechanic after ten years as a courier, which is why we open at seven.
What to leave out
- A string of adjectives. "Dynamic, passionate and results-oriented" describes nobody. One fact does more.
- Every job you have had. A bio is a selection. The CV is the full list.
- Titles only insiders understand. "Senior Associate II" means little outside the building. Say what you do.
- Jokes that need explaining. One light line at the end is plenty.
- Anything out of date. Read it again when you change job, finish a project or move.
- Claims you cannot back up. "Award-winning" needs an award.
- Private details you would not want quoted. Bios get copied into places you did not expect.
A bio for a dating app or an Instagram profile is a different thing. For those, see how to write a dating profile or the Instagram bio generator. For LinkedIn, see how to write a LinkedIn summary.
Writing it with Hemmingway
The professional bio generator is a short form. Tell it your name and role, what you do and for whom, one or two real achievements, a personal detail if you want one, and where the bio will go. Hemmingway writes the bio from those facts, in the first or third person as you ask. It uses only what you give it, so it will not add an award or a number of years you did not mention.
If you want it shorter or longer, ask in the chat and it rewrites it. Read the result as a stranger would, check every fact, and change any phrase you would not say about yourself. Hemmingway can be wrong and sound sure, so the checking is yours. There is a free trial with no card needed.
Try HemmingwayDownload the app
Common questions
How do you write a short bio about yourself?
Give your name and what you do, who you do it for, one or two facts that show you are good at it, and one personal detail. Keep it to three to five sentences. It is easier to write a long version first and then cut.
Should a bio be in first or third person?
Use the third person when someone else is presenting you: a company website, a conference programme, a byline or a press release. Use the first person on your own website and on social profiles. If you are given a house style, follow it.
How long should a professional bio be?
It depends on where it goes. A byline is one or two sentences, a programme or team page is about 40 to 100 words, and a personal website can run to 150. Keep a one-line, a short and a full version ready.
What do I put in a bio if I have no experience?
Say what you are studying or starting out in, and use what you have done: a project, a placement, a part-time job, volunteering, something you built or organised. Add what you are aiming for. An honest, specific bio reads better than a padded one.
What is an example of a short professional bio?
"Dana Whitfield is a structural engineer at Holt and Marsh, specialising in the repair and reuse of old buildings. She has worked on more than forty mills, chapels and warehouses across the north of England." Two sentences: who she is, what she does, and proof.