Writing a Fantastic Bio

Host Sheila Boysen-Rotelli is discussing the current reality that we find ourselves in where most of our interactions take place over Zoom. It has been a year now and the Zoom fatigue is definitely real, but there are things you can do to help!

Episode Highlights:

• It seems like when you finally sit down to write this bio, writer's block stops you from putting anything on paper

• People waste hours before surrendering to their writer’s block and giving up for the day

• So often, negative self talk comes up during this process, but there are ways to get through that

  • Know that there is no one right way to do this and you are not doing it wrong, but you could be doing it better

  • You don’t need to be everything to everyone, rather, determine the ideal audience for your bio

  • Stop comparing your bio to others in a negative fashion or you will sabotage yourself

• Bios are about more than just listing your professional achievements

  • Let go of the hope that your bio is going to appeal to everyone; it’s unrealistic

  • Use your bio as a digital introduction that can grab people’s attention when you use it as a branding and marketing tool

• There are a few things that you absolutely must focus on in order to write a great bio

  • Choose the tone of your bio based on the platform that you are sharing it on

  • Start writing your bio for one platform, then tweak that in whatever fashion you need for other platforms

  • Get started with your name, your job title, and your responsibilities - the things that you need someone to know about you

  • There’s nothing wrong with bragging in moderation as it establishes credibility and helps you stand out from others in your industry

  • Clearly differentiate between job responsibilities and achievements when making your bio

  • Bring in some of your personality by sharing a little bit about your interests outside of work and who you really are

  • In certain circumstances, it might behoove you to add a call-to-action at the end of your bio

3 Key Points:

1. When writing your professional bio, it’s important to find a balance between being authentic and professional.

2. Avoid writing a bio that is going to be everything to everyone or you risk coming across as scattered and making it difficult to know what your goals are.

3. Writing in first-person can help make a bio more casual which makes it easier for others to connect with you.

Tweetable Quotes:

“We want to showcase ourselves as being incredible, accomplished, and a likable expert in the industry that we work in.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli

“Most likely, you’re not doing it wrong. It’s just that with some tweaking and a little bit of help, you could be doing it better.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli

“Now we have access to everyone’s social media bios and their online resumes and their LinkedIn, so I think that comparison trap creeps in a little bit more easily and a little bit more often.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli

Resources Mentioned:

Contact Sheila at sheila@professionalsuccesscoaching.com

Fast Track Your Job Search: fasttrackyourjobsearch.com