An ‘About Me’ page or section is an important part of any professional portfolio, website, or company profile. It allows you to give readers a short introduction to who you are, your background, skills, experience, and what you bring to the table. A good ‘About Me’ should quickly tell people why you are credible and worth their time. When writing your professional ‘About Me’, keep the following tips in mind:
Keep it Brief
You generally want to keep your ‘About Me’ focused and concise. Attention spans are short online, so you want readers to quickly grasp the key facts.Aim for a length of 2-4 paragraphs or around 100-200 words. You can always provide more details in your full resume or CV.
Highlight Relevant Skills and Experience
Carefully curate the skills, qualifications, and experience you include to match the purpose of the ‘About Me’ and your target audience. For example, for a company website, focus on achievements, capabilities, and training directly relevant to that business. On a portfolio site, emphasize your creative skills and project successes in that field.
Use Facts But Also Show Personality
An ‘About Me’ shouldn’t just be a dry list of skills and credentials. Try to inject some personality into your writing to stand out. However, you still want to come across as professional. Referencing hobbies, interests, or values can help humanize you without going overboard.
Have a Clear Structure
Organize your paragraphs logically starting with a brief opening, followed by a description of your background, then key achievements and qualifications, before ending with future goals or priorities. This provides a clear flow for readers to follow.
Proofread Thoroughly
Carefully check for any spelling, grammar, or formatting issues which could undermine your professionalism. Run spellcheckers but also read over your ‘About Me’ out loud to catch any errors. Consider having a second set of eyes look over it too.
Key Details to Include
When writing your ‘About Me’, you want to ensure you provide certain key details. The exact contents will vary depending on your industry and the specific purpose of the ‘About Me’. However, you generally want to cover:
Full Name and Job Title
Start by formally introducing yourself with your full name and current job title. This immediately tells readers who you are and what you do.
Location or Background
Briefly explain where you are located and share some of your background. This could include where you grew up, your education, early career experiences, or other shaping influences.
Years of Experience
To establish your professional credibility, summarize your overall years of experience in your field or relevant industries. You can highlight certain positions or companies you have worked with over the years.
Qualifications
List any formal degrees, certifications, training, or accreditations you have gained that add weight to your expertise. These qualify you to provide the services or skills you offer.
Areas of Specialization
Explain your particular areas of specialization, knowledge, and skills that make you most valuable. This shows readers what specific needs or gaps you can fill for them.
Notable Achievements
Describe any standout career achievements, awards, publications, or projects you have delivered. Concrete successes give evidence of what you can achieve.
Values and Interests
Optionally, as mentioned earlier, you can reference a few personal hobbies, causes, or values to present a fuller picture of who you are as a person.
Tailor Your Tone
The tone you write your ‘About Me’ in should match both your own personal brand and the specific platform or audience it is for. For example:
Professional and Formal
For most corporate or client-facing uses, maintain a polished, professional tone. Avoid slang or cliches. However, you can inject warmth and approachability.
Conversational but Still Professional
On a portfolio site, you may use slightly more conversational language while still coming across credibly. Share your story and passion. An authentic, human voice can connect with readers.
Playful or Creative
If appropriate for your industry, inject some light-heartedness or creativity into your ‘About Me’ writing. Personal blogs or arts/performance portfolios allow more leeway to convey your personality.
The tone should always suit your brand. Be sure to run any less formal language by others first before publishing publicly.
Common ‘About Me’ Sections and Templates
‘About Me’ pages often contain similar key sections. You can include some or all of these elements depending on your needs:
Introduction
Open with a short introductory paragraph summarizing who you are and what you do. State your job title and the service you provide.
Background
Provide some context on your origins, education, early experiences, and background that shaped your path. Keep it brief and focused on influences directly relevant to your work and brand.
Skills
Explain your key skills, areas of expertise, training, and capabilities. Support these with proof points of projects delivered or techniques mastered.
Achievements
Showcase career and educational accomplishments that demonstrate your abilities and credibility. Choose advancements that align with the goals of your audience.
Testimonials
Select one or two brief client testimonials that endorse the quality of your work and professionalism.
Personal Interests
Optionally, share a concise summary of pursuits, causes, or interests outside work that show more of your personality.
Example ‘About Me’
Here is an example ‘About Me’ using the key sections above:
Introduction
Hi, I’m Jane Smith. I’m an experienced copywriter and content creator with 5+ years helping brands find their voice and share their stories. My pieces engage audiences while driving real business results.
Background
Originally from Chicago, I studied English and Marketing at Northwestern University. I honed my writing chops early on as editor for the campus newspaper. My first roles out of college were as a content writer for a public relations firm and advertising copywriter.
Skills
Over my career, I’ve mastered many forms of copywriting. My strengths include SEO-optimized web content, product descriptions, newsletters, social media posts, and press releases. I’m skilled at crafting messages tailored to any brand’s tone, values, and buyers.
Achievements
My proudest career achievement was leading a rebranding campaign for ACME Company. I produced a wide range of branded content that increased their website traffic by 30% and directly led to a 15% boost in sales. The CEO commended my work.
Testimonial
“Jane created a brand voice for us that perfectly resonated with our target demographic. Sales went up because she nailed our tone and message.” – CEO, ACME Company
Interests
Outside work, I enjoy hiking, reading historical fiction, and volunteering at a local animal shelter. Dogs are my passion!
Key Takeaways
Some key tips for writing a strong ‘About Me’ professional introduction:
– Keep it concise but compelling
– Carefully curate the details you include to appeal to your audience
– Structure content logically starting with an intro, then background, achievements etc.
– Proofread thoroughly to avoid any errors
– Match your tone to your personal brand and the platform
– Illustrate your value by summarizing relevant skills, experience, and successes
A well-crafted ‘About Me’ makes a powerful first impression online and establishes you as an authoritative industry voice readers want to engage with. By following the steps above, you can write an ‘About Me’ page that showcases the best of your personal brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should an ‘About Me’ be?
Aim for an ‘About Me’ length of 100-200 words or 2-4 paragraphs. This keeps it focused while allowing you to summarize key background and skills.
Should you include a photo?
In many cases, yes. A professional headshot helps readers put a face to your name and makes your ‘About Me’ more engaging. Be sure it presents the image you want to convey.
What’s the difference between an ‘About Me’ and a bio?
Where do you put an ‘About Me’?Typical places for an ‘About Me’ include: your website home/about page, resume introduction, portfolio descriptions, company website bios, and social media profiles.
How do you start an ‘About Me’ introduction?
Effective opening lines include: “Hi, I’m [Your Name], and I…”, “Hello! I’m [Your Name], a [Your Profession] specializing in…”, or “I’m [Your Name], passionate about [Your Field] and dedicated to [Your Mission].”
Conclusion
A well-crafted ‘About Me’ is critical for making the right first impression online across any professional platform. By highlighting your most relevant background, skills, and achievements, tailored to your audience, you can quickly establish credibility and get readers excited to engage further. Use the tips and best practices outlined here to develop an ‘About Me’ that does your personal brand justice while appealing strongly to those you want to connect with. An engaging, thoughtful ‘About Me’ demonstrates the value you provide.