A LinkedIn About section in your own voice starts with your own writing, not with a prompt: you give AI a few real samples, have it describe your style as a short card, and then draft from your facts using that card, so the result sounds like you and doesn’t sound like everyone.
If you’ve ever asked a chatbot to “make my profile sound more professional,” you know the outcome. You get smooth, confident paragraphs full of phrases like “driven by a passion for excellence.” They read fine and say nothing, and they sound nothing like the person who asked. The problem isn’t that AI can’t write. It’s that, without something specific to imitate, it falls back on the average of all business writing.
This guide shows a way around that. You’ll choose writing samples, turn them into a style card, draft from a facts sheet, test the result against your own voice, and edit the opening lines, which are the part most people actually read. Examples use a fictional person, and all details are made up.
Getting a LinkedIn About section in your own voice isn’t about finding the perfect prompt. It’s about giving the tool something real to imitate and something real to say.
Contents
Why the First Two Lines Carry the Weight
On a profile, the About section is collapsed by default, with a “see more” link. Texas Tech’s career center, in its guide to the LinkedIn About section, gives the maximum length as up to 2,600 characters.
In my view, if your opening lines are generic, many readers will never see the rest. Spend your effort there.
Three Ways to Draft It
| Vague prompt | Template fill-in | Writing samples plus facts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sounds like you | Rarely | Sometimes | Yes |
| Specific details | Few | Depends | Yes, from your facts sheet |
| Risk of invented claims | High | Low | Low, with rules |
Collect Your Samples and Build a Style Card
Step One: Gather Three Writing Samples
Pick writing you did naturally, not formal writing you labored over. Good sources:
- An email to a colleague explaining something
- A message to a friend or a post you wrote about your work
- A short piece you wrote for a team, such as a project update
- Notes you wrote for yourself, if they read well
Choose three samples of about 100 to 200 words each. Variety helps. Remove names, client details, and confidential information before using them.
If you don’t have enough written material, you can record yourself explaining your work aloud for two minutes and transcribe it. Spoken language is often more natural than what we type for formal occasions.
Step Two: Turn the Samples Into a Style Card
Instead of asking AI to “match my tone,” have it describe the tone first, so you can check whether the description is accurate:
Below are three samples of my own writing.
Sample 1: [paste]
Sample 2: [paste]
Sample 3: [paste]
Please create a short "style card" describing how I write. Include:
1. Typical sentence length (short, medium, long, or mixed)
2. Level of formality, on a scale from casual to formal
3. Words and phrases I use often
4. Words and phrases I never or rarely use
5. How I handle opinions (direct, hedged, humorous, etc.)
6. Anything distinctive, such as questions, lists, or punctuation habits
Rules:
- Base the card only on the samples. Do not add traits that aren't shown.
- Quote short examples from my samples for each point.
- Keep the card under 150 words.
Treat this prompt as my suggestion: it is not taken from any official guide.
Read the card. Does it match how you think you sound? If something’s off, correct it. You may notice interesting things, such as that you use short sentences or rarely say “leverage.” The card becomes a reusable tool for any writing you do.
Here’s a fictional card:
Style card: Mostly short sentences, with an occasional longer one for explanation. Casual-professional. Uses “I” and “we” directly. Often starts with the problem before the solution. Rarely uses jargon. Never uses “leverage,” “synergy,” or “passionate.” Asks the occasional rhetorical question. Dry, light humor.
Write a Facts Sheet and Draft From Both Documents
Step Three: Write a Facts Sheet
AI should not decide what’s true about you. Create a list of facts you’re comfortable making public:
Current role and employer (optional): [..]
What I do, in plain words: [..]
Who I work with or help: [..]
Three things I've done that I'm proud of (with scale or evidence): [..]
Skills and tools I use: [..]
What I'm interested in next: [..]
How people can reach me or what to contact me about: [..]
For the “proud of” items, use evidence you can back up. If you have no exact numbers, use honest alternatives like scale, frequency, and outcomes, as described in our guide to quantifying achievements without numbers.
Step Four: Draft With Both Documents
Now combine the style card and the facts sheet:
Write a LinkedIn About section of about 200 to 250 words.
Style card: [paste]
Facts: [paste]
Structure:
- Opening of one or two sentences (under 200 characters) that states what I do and for whom, in my style
- A short paragraph on how I work
- Two or three concrete examples from my facts
- A closing line on what I'm looking for or how to reach me
Rules:
- Use ONLY the facts provided. Do not add achievements, numbers, employers, or skills.
- Follow the style card closely. Use my typical sentence length and avoid the words I never use.
- Do not use these phrases: passionate, results-driven, proven track record, dynamic, innovative, thought leader, go-getter.
- Write in first person.
- Give me three different opening lines, so I can choose.
The request for three openings is deliberate. The opening is the highest-value piece of text in your profile, and choosing among three beats accepting one.
What a University Career Center Says the About Section Is For
The UMBC Career Center: LinkedIn describes the About section as a short overview of your whole profile. For an internship or job search it recommends a keyword-rich summary that names the types of positions you want, with a focus on results and outcomes. It also suggests sending a personalized message instead of the default invitation when you request a connection, and creating a unique profile link to put on your résumé.
Step Five: The Voice Check
When you have a draft, don’t publish yet. Run these checks:
Read it aloud
If you stumble, or if it sounds like a press release, rewrite the sentence in the way you would say it to a colleague over coffee.
The swap test
Replace your name with someone else in your field. Would the opening still make sense? If so, it’s too generic. Add something that only fits you, like a specific audience, a particular kind of problem, or a documented result.
The fact check
Compare every claim in the draft against your facts sheet. Did the AI sneak in anything you didn’t provide? Delete it.
The word check
Search the draft for words from your “never use” list. If any slipped in, change them.
The friend test
Ask a colleague or friend, “Does this sound like me?” Their reaction is quick and honest.
A Sample Before and After for Your LinkedIn About Section
Here’s a fictional person who runs operations for small clinics. First, a vague prompt produces:
“I’m a passionate operations professional with a proven track record of driving efficiency and results in the healthcare space. I leverage innovative solutions to streamline workflows and deliver exceptional outcomes.”
It could describe thousands of people. Now the same person uses a style card (short sentences, dry humor, plain words) and a facts sheet. The result:
“I help small clinics stop losing appointments to scheduling chaos. Mostly that means fixing reminders, cleaning up calendars, and making sure patients actually know where to be.
I started in front-desk work, so I know where the process breaks. Last year I redesigned the reminder routine at a six-person clinic. It’s still running.
I use scheduling software, spreadsheets, and a lot of checklists. Nothing glamorous, and that’s the point.
I’m looking for an operations role at a clinic or small health group. Message me if you want to talk about scheduling.”
It’s concrete and short, and it sounds like a person. Everything in it comes from the facts sheet, and none of it is inflated.
Adjust for Different Situations
- Job search. Your target role, evidence of fit, and a clear way to contact you
- Freelancing. Who you help, the problems you solve, and how to hire you
- Career change. Your transferable strengths and what you’re moving toward, honestly framed
- Senior role. Scope of responsibility and how you work with people
- Early career. Projects, learning, and what you’re curious about
Keep the structure simple. In my view, a short, honest About section reads better than a long one.
Mistakes That Make It Sound Generic
- Opening with “I am a [adjective] professional with X years of experience”
- Listing skills in a paragraph with no examples
- Using phrases that appear on thousands of profiles
- Copying the same text into your headline, About section, and job descriptions
- Adding claims because they “sound good”
- Writing in the third person when the rest of the profile is first-person
Keep the Process Private
When you paste writing samples, remove names and confidential information. Choose samples you don’t mind sharing with a tool, and check the privacy settings of the AI service you use. Don’t paste anything that would violate your employer’s rules.
Questions About Your LinkedIn About Section
How do I write a LinkedIn About section in your own voice if I don’t write much? Record yourself speaking for a few minutes, transcribe it, and use that as a sample. Spoken explanations often capture your natural style.
Will a LinkedIn About section in your own voice look less professional? Not if you keep the sentences clear and the claims honest. In my view, a natural, plain voice reads as more confident than one stuffed with corporate phrases.
How long should the About section be? The Texas Tech guide gives 2,600 characters as the maximum. Aim for what’s useful to a reader.
Can AI copy my voice exactly? Not exactly, but a style card gets it closer than a vague request. Always edit the result.
Should I use first person or third person? First person is common and feels more direct. Pick what fits your field and stay consistent.
What if I don’t like any of the three openings? Ask for three more with a different angle, such as starting from a problem, a result, or a short story, and keep the same rules.
How often should I update it? When your focus or situation changes, and a light review every few months is a good habit.
Start With One Writing Sample
Find one email or message you’re proud of and paste it into the style card prompt. A LinkedIn About section in your own voice begins with noticing how you actually write, and once you’ve captured that, the draft stops sounding like a template and starts sounding like you.
This article offers general career-writing ideas. Examples are fictional.
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