NCET Biz Tips: Professional Bio? What is that?
NCET helps you explores business and technology
By Shawna Guarino
Shawna Guarino
Your networking group, company, or client wants to spotlight you as a pivotal member of the community. You think to yourself, “Woohoo! This is great for my business.”
As you read the email, you realize they need your professional bio. You can do that, right?
However, you soon discover there is no template, no questionnaire, and no guidance as to the information they are looking for. So, what do you do?
There are so many parts to who you are, what you do, and why you do it. What do you highlight? How do you make your message deliverable to the audience you are trying to reach? Here are five tips to help you showcase yourself:
1. Write in 3rd Person: Avoid using “I” statements. Your professional bio should be a piece written about you as if you were looking in from the outside. The audience wants to know who you are and connect with you without you telling them who you are as if to brag. Writing in 3rd person can also prevent passive language.
2. Be Authentic: Focus on the accomplishments and organizations that make you who you are. Give your audience insight into what you are passionate about, so they begin to build trust in you and relate to you.
3. You Evolve, Your Bio Should Also: Keeping your bio up to date is crucial in its effectiveness. As you grow in your career, your bio should be updated to reflect your most current self. If you participated in a professional organization 20 years ago but haven’t been involved since, it is not relevant to yourself as you are today unless you are still active in the organization.
4. A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words: While not everyone has a professional head shot, your professional bio picture should focus on who you are in business. Having pictures with busy backgrounds or while you are on vacation, may not give the impression that you are the hardworking, trustworthy professional you are. Keep your bio picture clean and simple.
5. Be Mindful of Length: Depending on the platform being used, the maximum number of characters or words is important to know. Build a solid foundation bio that can be easily modified as the length of the platform requires. Keep it simple and inviting so your audience wants to reach out to you and learn more.
Using these five simple tips will help you create an attention-grabbing bio that will help you succeed in your business and get you the recognition you deserve!
Learn about Building a Better Professional Bio at NCET’s Biz Cafe on October 16. NCET is a member-supported nonprofit organization that produces educational and networking events to help people explore business and technology. More info at NCETcafe.org.
Shawna Guarino is the Branch Manager at 160 Driving Academy in Reno, www.160drivingacademy.com, and spends her time assisting her community members find a lifetime career and enhance their professional skills.