Who should have a professional bio and where can they be used?

A well-written professional bio can help set you apart. Most job seekers know how important it is to be prepared with a strong resume and cover letter when starting a job search. But the need for a professional bio is becoming increasingly common. 

Once thought of as a requirement for just professional authors and speakers, a professional bio is being requested more frequently – and has a number of uses:

• The bio section of your social media profiles. You will need a longer bio for sites like LinkedIn and a shorter version for Twitter.
• Job search – employers routinely look at job seekers' online bio and will sometimes request it along with your resume.
• Marketing materials, proposals and quotes you send to prospective customers.
• Pitches for public speaking, presenting and/or training.
• Publications such as books, e-books, reports, professional documents and guest blog posts.
• The “about us” page on your personal website and/or blog.