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What to write for your 'About Me' in a resumé (with examples)

SEEK content team – updated on 14 March, 2024

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An ‘About Me’ section on a resumé can make a lasting first impression on a potential employer. Similar to a resumé summary, it’s a section that tells a hiring manager who you are: your qualifications, key skills and professional experience.

Learning how to write an ‘About Me’ summary on a resumé can be a great way to make your application stand out, and let a hiring manager know why you’re a good candidate for the role. So, how do you introduce yourself on a resumé? In this article, we explain why an ‘About Me’ section is so important, what to include in it, and examples that you can use as a guideline.

Why an ‘About Me’ section matters

The ‘About Me’ section on a resumé is a short professional bio, typically a few sentences long. It tells people who you are, highlighting your most relevant skills and experience. Your ‘About Me’ section should grab the attention of the hiring manager by portraying you as the best fit for the advertised position.

Some other reasons why it’s important are:

It can set you apart from other applicants. A short introductory paragraph can highlight your most relevant skills and achievements, potentially showing that you’re the most suitable person for the job.
It provides a concise summary. Your ‘About Me’ section makes it easy for the reader to see at a glance if you’d be a good fit for the role, without having to read your whole resumé.
It offers context. An ‘About Me’ summary of your experience and skills gives the reader some background into who you are as a professional.

What to put in ‘About Me’ in a resumé

With the above in mind, you might be wondering: what can I write in the ‘About Me’ section? You don’t need to put much in your ‘About Me’, it’s just a quick snapshot of where you are in your career and the most relevant information for the advertised role. Here are some of the main components to include in your ‘About Me’ section.

A strong opening sentence highlighting core strengths

Your ‘About Me’ section should start with an opening sentence that catches the hiring manager’s attention by answering the core needs of the advertised role. For example, if the position is for a receptionist, you should lead with a statement that shows you can fill that role. Be specific about your experience and skills.

Instead of writing: I am a highly experienced receptionist…

Write: I am a diploma-qualified receptionist with 5 years of experience in a finance setting, with strong office-administration and client-service skills.

Relevant skills and achievements tailored to the position

When writing your ‘About Me’ section in your resumé, match your skills and qualifications to the job ad. If the job ad lists a certain skill as an essential criteria or a degree as desirable, be sure to include these details. This will make it easy for the hiring manager to see you have the basics pof what they’re asking for. For example, if the job ad asks for experience in Adobe Photoshop, you should include it in your summary:

I am a graphic designer with 3 years’ agency experience and advanced knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud software, including Photoshop.

Specific results to demonstrate skills

Rather than listing off skills, if you can, include a tangible result that demonstrates how you have used your knowledge and abilities in the workplace. This could be figures you achieved, projects you have completed, or a noteworthy achievement in your industry.

For example:

I am an SEO specialist with 12 years’ experience and a track record of successful content optimisation for more than 50 clients across APAC.

Career goals

Your career goals show the hiring manager that you’re aligned with their organisation’s overall objective and vision. By including a career aspiration in your ‘About Me’ section, you show that you’d be a good cultural fit as well. For example, if a job ad mentions opportunities for progression, your ‘About Me’ could include that your goal is to have a leadership position in your industry. If the company you’re applying at is a small business, you would avoid mentioning any career goals to do with working overseas or leading a large team.

For example:

I am a data analyst with 4 years’ experience in the travel-tech sector. I have advanced skills in Tableau and MySQL and am looking to apply my knowledge within a large, global organisation.

Dos and don’ts of writing your ‘About Me’ section

When deciding what to write in ‘About Me’ in your resumé, there are some pitfalls you should avoid. Here’s a quick overview of things to do (and not do) to help you write an ‘About Me’ section that strikes the right notes.

Dos:

Use strong action verbs. Strong action verbs like leading, achieving, strategising, creating are more impactful than verbs like assisting, supporting, making, etc.
Focus on achievements, not duties. Say ...leading successful national campaigns instead of managing projects. Quantify your results with numbers or specific examples, if applicable.
Tailor your language to the industry. Use terminology relevant to the job and company, if you’re familiar with it. Avoid overusing jargon, however.
Highlight transferable skills. Focus on soft skills applicable to the role, like strong interpersonal and time-management skills.
Proofread. Make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors. Ask a friend or family member to review your ‘About Me’ for clarity and to check for mistakes.

Don’ts:

Don’t use clichés. Phrases like team player, go-getter, and think outside the box don’t tell the employer anything unique about you.
Don’t include irrelevant personal information. There’s not much space in an ‘About Me’, so there’s no need to include hobbies (unless it’s your first job), personal qualities that aren’t related to the job, or any interests/passions outside of work.
Don’t go overboard with keywords. Keyword stuffing means putting too many of the ad’s words and phrases into your ‘About Me’, which looks unnatural.
Don’t sound generic. Avoid vague statements like I am a quick learner or I work well under pressure, as these can go in your cover letter. Instead, focus on unique, specific qualities and skills.
Don’t lie or exaggerate. Be honest about your skills and experience.

‘Tell me about yourself’ examples you can adapt for your resumé

Before writing your ‘About Me’, it can help to first see a few examples, to give you ideas on the types of skills you should include. You can use these ‘About Me’ job application examples as a template for your own, just substitute in your own experience, relevant to the advertised role.

An industry-specific example of an ‘About Me’

Accomplished professional with X experience in [industry], specialising in [skill/experience]. Expertise in [specific task/responsibility] and proven ability to [achievement/outcome]. Looking to [career move you want to make].

An ‘About Me’ example for students

Motivated [area of study] student studying eager to begin an internship/traineeship position in [industry/type of company]. Strong foundational [specific skills] skills and knowledge of [knowledge area].

Entry-level example: Recent graduate seeking marketing role

Fine Arts graduate with specialist knowledge in [study focus area]. Proficient in [relevant skill 1], [relevant skill 2] and [relevant skill 3]. Eager to apply my [specialisation] knowledge and leverage my qualifications into a marketing role at a leading [city] agency.

Mid-career: Experienced project manager transitioning to a new field

Project manager with 8 years of experience looking to pivot to [new field]. Proven track record leading teams of [number-of-team-members]+, leading national projects and heading global accounts.

Executive: C-level leader with a proven track record

Senior executive with more than a decade of experience leading ASX companies in various c-suite roles. Track record of driving multimillion-dollar revenue growth for a diverse range of organisations and industries. Leader of high-performing management teams and seasoned public speaker looking for my next challenge.

Tips for personalising your ‘About Me’ section

After you’ve chosen an ‘About Me’ in a resumé sample as a starting point, you need to make it unique to you and relevant to the role. Some ways to personalise your ‘About Me’ section include:

Researching the company and tailoring your ‘About Me’ to align with their goals and values
Using specific skills, experience and keywords from the job ad
Highlighting why you’re passionate about the industry and the role

It’s also important to proofread your ‘About Me’ (and the rest of your resumé) to ensure it’s free from errors and is easy to understand.

To provide the best overview of who you are and what you offer potential employers, your ‘About Me’ section should neatly summarise your relevant work experience, skills, qualifications and achievements. A well-written ‘About Me’ section in your resumé is a great way to get a hiring manager’s attention and show why you’re the ideal person for the job.

FAQ

What should I write in the ‘About Me’ section in a resumé?

Wondering what should I write about me in a resumé? This section is a short summary of your professional background, with details like your qualifications, experience and achievements, wrapped up in two or three sentences.

How important is the ‘About Me’ section in a resumé?

Your ‘About Me’ section is an important part of your resumé because it gives hiring managers a quick overview of your professional background, without them having to read your resumé in detail. It provides context about who you are and what you can offer their organisation.

What is a good example of an ‘About Me’ section in a resumé?

A good example of an ‘About Me’ section should include your professional identity (customer service officer, designer, engineer, teacher, etc.), your years of experience, any special skills or accomplishments, and your career goal (if it aligns with the role you’re applying for). This could look something like:

Diploma-qualified graphic designer with six years of experience and specialisation in UX-UI design. Highly skilled in app design and functionality for e-commerce platforms. Eager to take the next step in my career, ideally leading design and branding projects within an international agency.

What to exclude in the ‘About Me’ section in a resumé?

Some things you should exclude in a resumé ‘About Me’ section may be:

Religious or political alignment
Hobbies or interests unrelated to the job
Irrelevant details – choose what’s most important and leave the rest for your cover letter and remaining resumé sections

Always prioritise the skills and experience that match the job ad. Try to address what the employer is looking for and only mention abilities and qualifications that are relevant to that role.