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Original poster

Got to second interview..they want a 'short bio in third person' ???

18 replies

bmachine · 20/08/2020 23:58

Hello

As title says i have got through to the second round of an interview process

I have a full day interview/workshop via zoom in two weeks but in advance i need to submit a few things including a ' short bio written in the third person'

i have never produced anything like this...can anyone guide me on tone?...do i need to tell them about my personal background or is it just professional?

Any guidance much appreciated, I'm trying to enter a new industry and this is not something ive come across before...

OP posts:
RNBrie · 21/08/2020 00:06

Urgh what a pain... I'd keep it purely professional unless your personal life is relevant in any way.

Bmachine is an animal behavior expert with over 25 years of experience.

Qualifying in 1990 with a first class degree in Cat Behaviour from the London School of economics, Bmachine joined Battersea Cat Home as a full time Cat welfare expert where she specialised in the support of Cats who had been shaved by their previous owners.

Bmachine went on to freelance as a cat behaviour therapist working both from her home-based clinic and in clients' homes.

Bmachine maintains her practice alongside voluntary work advising the RSPCA on treatment of abandoned cats as well as appearing regularly on Sky news as an expert in Cat Behaviour.

Something like that Grin

Harriedharriet · 21/08/2020 00:19

@RNBrie

Urgh what a pain... I'd keep it purely professional unless your personal life is relevant in any way.

Bmachine is an animal behavior expert with over 25 years of experience.

Qualifying in 1990 with a first class degree in Cat Behaviour from the London School of economics, Bmachine joined Battersea Cat Home as a full time Cat welfare expert where she specialised in the support of Cats who had been shaved by their previous owners.

Bmachine went on to freelance as a cat behaviour therapist working both from her home-based clinic and in clients' homes.

Bmachine maintains her practice alongside voluntary work advising the RSPCA on treatment of abandoned cats as well as appearing regularly on Sky news as an expert in Cat Behaviour.

Something like that Grin

Thank you for that belly laugh! LOVE it! Plus gets the style across to the OP.

Bravo!!

Smallsteps88 · 21/08/2020 00:24

Do you really, really want the job? because if not I’d tell them they’re being fucking ridiculous.

TeetotalKoala · 21/08/2020 00:25

@RNBrie

Urgh what a pain... I'd keep it purely professional unless your personal life is relevant in any way.

Bmachine is an animal behavior expert with over 25 years of experience.

Qualifying in 1990 with a first class degree in Cat Behaviour from the London School of economics, Bmachine joined Battersea Cat Home as a full time Cat welfare expert where she specialised in the support of Cats who had been shaved by their previous owners.

Bmachine went on to freelance as a cat behaviour therapist working both from her home-based clinic and in clients' homes.

Bmachine maintains her practice alongside voluntary work advising the RSPCA on treatment of abandoned cats as well as appearing regularly on Sky news as an expert in Cat Behaviour.

Something like that Grin

Magnificent!
OccasionalNachos · 21/08/2020 04:01

@Smallsteps88

Do you really, really want the job? because if not I’d tell them they’re being fucking ridiculous.
That’s a bit extreme! A bio is pretty standard for a lot of jobs, I’ve never done one for an interview before but it’s expected in the first few weeks of a new role, to go on the company web site, introductory emails etc.
Smallsteps88 · 21/08/2020 17:52

Yes a bio is fine and normal. Requesting it be done in third person is fucking ridiculous.

dementedma · 21/08/2020 17:55

We got an entire CV written in the 3rd person once, and it just sounded ludicrous.." Smithers did this and Smithers did that and Smithers has excellent communication skills"

Elouera · 21/08/2020 18:02

I would assume its essentially a summary of your CV in the 3rd person- weird though!!! I'd keep it about your work and professional life, uni/training etc. Did they say how long you need to talk for?

I used to interview and review multple CV's. Dont include hobbies, unless relevant for the role. Maybe if you've done a marathon/ got a sports award etc it shows commitement. I had someone include home brew and watching TV as a hobby!!! Hmm

iklboo · 21/08/2020 18:10

PLEASE do it in the style of a Raymond Chandler novel!

'Spade poured his third boubon of the day and took a deep draw on his cigarette. Business had been slow, but he couldn't get that damn dame bmachine from last night out of his mind. She had smelled of cheap perfume and wild adventures, pleasures, promises and heartbreak. She could also type 120 words per minute and was proficient in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. She could work well on her own or as part of a team and had great organisational skills. Plus legs that went on forever and a body that just wouldn't quit'.

CMOTDibbler · 21/08/2020 18:14

I did one recently as I was presenting to a group and they wanted it that way as it makes it easier for the person reading it out to introduce you.

Its much more concise than a CV, and more like an edited highlights. Think about the way they introduce people on Mastermind for instance.

I do include one hobby thing usually as people like it, and it seems pretty normal unless its a very formal presentation, but choose carefully. If you don't have anything that fits with your professional persona, I wouldn't put anything - 'CMOT is a keen open water swimmer, and enjoys participating in paratriathlon' works and is a conversation opener 'CMOT spends her free time chatting on MNet and talking to her chickens' possibly not

Carpathian2 · 21/08/2020 18:15

@iklboo

That's hilarious. I dare the OP to use it 🤣

PaternosterLoft · 21/08/2020 18:18

She knows that her bio lacks depth
But it just can't be helped
She has nothing interesting to say
So she writes about herself
But she doesn't want to seem self-obsessed
So she writes in third person
In an attempt to seem more rock'n'roll
But she suspects it's not working

In the style of Tim Minchin Grin

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 21/08/2020 18:24

please finish with

and if BMachine were a biscuit it would be a PeekFreans Lemon Puff because nobody likes a bloody Garibaldi.

AdaColeman · 21/08/2020 18:28

Grin Grin ikl You get the job! Start as soon as you like Doll!

iklboo · 21/08/2020 18:53

Thanks Ada

Smallsteps88 · 21/08/2020 19:17

@PaternosterLoft

She knows that her bio lacks depth But it just can't be helped She has nothing interesting to say So she writes about herself But she doesn't want to seem self-obsessed So she writes in third person In an attempt to seem more rock'n'roll But she suspects it's not working

In the style of Tim Minchin Grin

This song was exactly what came to mind when I read the OP! Grin
Redcrayons · 21/08/2020 19:50

We got an entire CV written in the 3rd person once, and it just sounded ludicrous.." Smithers did this and Smithers did that and Smithers has excellent communication skills

I went to a job centre CV workshop and they told us to do this. I did it for the personal statement, but kept it to Me/I for the experience bit.

PLEASE do it in the style of a Raymond Chandler novel
Seconded! It would make me laugh.

Original poster
bmachine · 21/08/2020 21:13

Thanks guys..some great comments here

i think I've got to the bottom of it

They want a face on colour headshot plus this bio among other things..im sure they want it to put on the website/social media if we are successful...at least thats what ill be structuring it for as it makes the most sense in the context of this application/company

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