How to Write About Yourself

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Introduce yourself. Writing about yourself can be tough, because there is so
much you can say. You have a lifetime of experiences, talents, and skills to
summarize in a paragraph, or two. Whatever kind of writing you are planning on
doing, whatever your purpose, just think about it like you are introducing yourself
to a stranger. What do they need to know? Answer questions like:

 Who are you?

 What is your background?
 What are your interests?
 What are your talents?
 What are your achievements?
 What challenges have you faced?
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Start with a short list of your talents and interests. If you are not sure where
to start, or if you are limited to one thing for the assignment, start by making a list.
Brainstorm good ideas that will help you decide, then sketch out as many different
answers as you feel necessary.
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Narrow your topic. Pick one specific topic, describe it in detail, and use that to
introduce yourself. It is better to pick one thing and use a lot of detail, than to
give someone a big long list of general items.

 What is your most interesting or unique quality? What word(s)

describes you the best? Choose that topic.
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Use a few good details. When you have a specific topic to narrow in on, give
the reader unique details to hold onto. Remember, you are describing yourself
and add details that show you in a positive light:

 Bad: I like sports.

 Ok: I'm a fan of basketball, football, tennis, and soccer.
 Good: My favorite sport is football, both to watch and to play.
 Better: When I was growing up, I would watch Big Ten football with my
dad and brothers every Saturday, before we'd go outside and toss the
football around. I've loved it ever since.
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Be humble. Even if you are very accomplished or talented, you want to come
across like a down-to-earth person. Do not write about yourself to brag. List your
accomplishments and your successes, but temper them with some more humble
language:

 Braggy: I'm the best and most dynamic worker at my company right
now, so you should want to hire me for my talents.
 Humble: I was lucky enough to be awarded three employee of the
month awards at my current job. Turns out it was a company record.