Step 2 of 6·10 min read
Write Your About Section
The 2,600-character chance to tell people who you are, in your own voice.
Why this matters
About sections get skipped. Yours doesn't have to.
Most LinkedIn About sections read like the back of a corporate brochure. Three sentences of buzzwords, a mission statement, then a wall of company history. Almost nobody reads past the first line.
A great About is the opposite: written like you're talking to a smart friend over coffee. Specific, personal, and clearly aimed at one kind of reader.
This step gives you the structure, ten templates, and a generator that drafts one for you in 30 seconds.
Key principle
The 4-part structure: hook, story, value, CTA
A reader sees about 220 characters before "see more" cuts off. That window has to earn the click. After they expand, deliver what your hook promised: a story (how you got here), what you actually do for whom, and one specific next step.
The four parts, in order
Hook (first 220 characters)
Example
I write the email sequences that turn your SaaS free trials into paying customers. Last year my clients hit a combined $4.2M in trial-to-paid conversions.
Lead with the most interesting fact about you. A surprising stat, a contrarian take, a specific result. Never lead with 'I am a...'. It's the equivalent of starting a podcast with 'hello and welcome to my podcast'.
Story (one paragraph)
Example
I started writing copy at 23 for a B2C ecommerce store, switched to B2B SaaS five years ago when I realized I cared more about retention than acquisition, and went solo in 2023.
How you got to what you do now. Two or three sentences. The reader wants to know you're a real person, not just a list of skills.
Value (what you do, for whom)
Be specific about who you serve and what they get out of working with you. Bullet points are fine here. Keep it tight, three to five bullets.
CTA (one specific next step)
Example
If you're a SaaS founder looking to fix your trial-to-paid funnel, the easiest next step is to email me at hi@yoursite.com with 'trial conversion' in the subject.
Don't say 'feel free to reach out.' Tell the reader exactly what to do: book a call, email you, check out a project, follow you. One specific action.
10 About-section templates by use case
Copy the structure, fill in the blanks. Click any template to copy.
Job seeker (recent grad)
For new grads or career switchers actively looking.
[Hook: most interesting thing about your trajectory.] I'm [name], a [role] who recently graduated from [school] in [field]. Right now I'm looking for [specific role type] at [type of company]. What I bring: → [Concrete skill or experience #1] → [Concrete skill or experience #2] → [Concrete skill or experience #3] If you're hiring for [role type] in [industry / location], the easiest next step is to email me at [email] or DM me here.
Founder
Frame yourself around the company's mission and what your team does.
[Hook: the problem your company solves, or a striking number.] I'm [name], co-founder of [company]. We [one-sentence what we do for whom]. Before this, I [one sentence about what you did before, especially if relevant, e.g. ex-Stripe, ex-Google]. If you're [target customer], we'd love to talk: → [Specific use case 1] → [Specific use case 2] → [Specific use case 3] Email me at [email] or reach out here.
B2B sales / AE
Position around the customer's pain, not your quota.
[Hook: a specific result you've helped a customer achieve.] I'm [name], an Account Executive at [company]. I work with [specific customer segment, e.g. mid-market RevOps leaders] who are trying to [specific outcome]. What I won't do: → Send you 8 follow-ups in a row → Pretend I have a reason to call when I don't → Push you to buy if it's not the right fit What I will do: → Tell you honestly if [company] is or isn't a fit → Connect you with someone better if we're not If you're a [target persona], book a call: [link]
B2B marketer
Lead with measurable outcomes you've owned.
[Hook: a specific marketing result, in numbers.] I'm [name], a B2B marketer who has spent the last [X] years working on [specific area: content, growth, paid, etc.] for [type of company]. Most recent results: → [Specific outcome with number] → [Specific outcome with number] → [Specific outcome with number] I write occasionally about [topic] at [link/blog]. If you're hiring for a [role title] or want to compare notes on [topic], DM me.
Freelancer / contractor
Make it dead simple to know if they should hire you.
[Hook: who you help and what they get.] I'm [name], a freelance [role]. I work with [specific type of client] to [specific outcome]. Recent work: → [Project 1: client + result] → [Project 2: client + result] → [Project 3: client + result] I'm currently [available / booked through Q2 / taking on 2 more clients]. Rate is [$X / project, $X / day, or "available on request"]. If you're a [target client], email me at [email] with what you're working on.
Designer (in-house)
Showcase the work and the way you work.
[Hook: a single design problem you've solved that you're proud of.] I'm [name], a [role] at [company]. I work on [specific surface or product area]. How I work: → Start with the problem, not the screen → [Belief or principle 2] → [Belief or principle 3] Outside of work I'm interested in [adjacent passion: typography, type history, illustration, etc.]. You can see selected work at [link / portfolio].
Engineer (senior IC)
Specifics > seniority. Lead with the systems you've built.
[Hook: the most interesting system you've built, in one line.] I'm [name], a [staff/senior/principal] engineer working in [domain, e.g. distributed systems, ML infra, frontend platform] at [company]. What I've shipped recently: → [Specific system + scale or impact] → [Specific system + scale or impact] → [Specific system + scale or impact] Strongest in: [list 3-5 specific technologies or domains]. Comfortable but not specialist in: [list 2-3]. Open to chats about [interest: distributed systems, type systems, hiring, etc.].
Creator / writer
Lead with what you publish and where to find it.
[Hook: what you publish about + the audience.] I write about [topic] for [audience]. [Number] readers a month at [newsletter / blog name]. What I write about: → [Theme 1] → [Theme 2] → [Theme 3] If any of that lands, the best place to follow along is the newsletter: [link]. I also DM here, especially if you're a [target reader] working on something interesting.
Career switcher
Frame the transition as intentional and connected.
[Hook: the through-line that connects your past and future.] I spent [X] years doing [previous field], and I'm now [transitioning to / working in] [new field]. The connection: [specific reason the past makes you good at the new thing]. The skills that transfer: [skill 1], [skill 2], [skill 3]. What I'm looking for: [specific role + company type]. If you're hiring for [role] in [industry], or have just done a similar transition, I'd love to chat. Email is [email].
Open-to-work (executive)
For senior people quietly exploring without screaming it.
[Hook: a result from your last role, framed in numbers.] I most recently [led / built / scaled] [function] at [company], where [specific outcome with metric]. Before that: [one line about previous role + result]. Before that: [one line, only if notable]. What I'm looking for next: [specific scope and stage]. Not for me right now: [things you don't want to do, keeps the inbound clean]. If you're a [target] looking for someone to [function], introductions through [mutual connection type] are welcome.
Before you save your About section
0 / 6If you can't tick all six, the section needs another pass.