Free Biodata Resume Templates and Writing Guide

What is a Biodata Resume?

A biodata resume differs from a standard resume by including personal information about the applicant alongside their professional training and accomplishments. This specialized resume is typically used for both employment and marriage opportunities in some South Asian countries, including:

Career Biodata Resume Versus Marriage Biodata Resume

Career-focused

For an employer, the biodata format serves as a personal and professional profile summary. It’s a window into the life of the individual that gives the reader insight into who they are. A career biodata resume will typically include the following information:

• Objective: Let the recipient know your overall career/life objective, and why you should be considered for the position.
• Personal details: Includes general information such as your name, postal address, date of birth, gender, parents’ names, religion, and more. Also list your hobbies, interests, passions, strengths, characteristics and anything else that helps the recipient understand who you are and what you want to accomplish in life.
• Educational background: List, in chronological order, your academic profile and achievements, particularly those that are relevant to what you are applying for.
• Experience: List, in chronological order, your occupational history, as well as skills obtained, awards received and other professional achievements.

From the biodata, the recipient will be looking to answer questions like:

Marriage-focused

The biodata format is used for more than just a resume or CV replacement/enhancement. A marriage biodata, also known as a matrimonial biodata or a marriage resume, are still used in countries where arranged marriages are common, such as India and Pakistan.

A matrimonial biodata includes extensive personal information about the individual, and is designed to help the recipient determine whether or not the individual would be an appropriate marriage partner.

Compare Against Resumes and CVs

Make Your Biodata Resume in Under an Hour

If you’d like to build a beautiful biodata resume in minutes, you can use our Resume Builder to get started. We’ll teach you how to add custom biodata resume sections below, but using our builder will also unlock these beautiful, but professional templates.

How to Make Your Biodata Using our Builder

Our builder follows a combination resume format, you can add optional sections and customizable sections to create a detailed professional or marriage biodata resume. We’ll walk you through the process.

• Name (built-in section)
• Contact information (built-in section)
• Personal information (new customized section)
• Summary statement (built-in section)
• Skills (built-in section)
• Work experience (built-in section)
• Interests and hobbies (optional built-in section)
• Affiliations (optional built-in section)

How to format your name and contact information

This section of a biodata resume follows the same structure and layout as an average resume and is an automatic process in our builder. Simply fill in the blanks for the following details and the builder will autoformat this information for you.

• First and last name
• Full mailing address
• Phone number
• Email

How to add personal information

This information is unique to the biodata resume and is not an automatic feature in our builder. However, our builder does allow you to add custom sections once you complete your contact info, work experience, skills, education, and summary statement sections.

To create this section, visit your Hloom dashboard and click the resume you wish to upgrade to a biodata resume. You’ll see a left-hand menu next to your resume preview with the following options.

• Spell check

• Resume sections

  - Heading

  - Professional summary

  - Skills

  - Work history

  - Education

• Add a section
• Download

Click the “Add a section,” option. You’ll see a right-hand option to “Add Your Own.” Click that choice, write “Personal Information” in the open text box, and click next.

In the open text box, choose the bullet list text format option and include the following information in this order:

How to personalize your summary statement

This section of a biodata resume follows the same structure and layout as an average resume and is an automatic process in our builder. If you’re writing a professional resume, focus on what skills and achievement you bring to the hiring manager. If you’re writing a marriage biodata, describe your expectations and what you can provide in the marriage.

How to build up your skills

This section of a biodata resume follows the same structure and layout as an average resume and is an automatic process in our builder. Choose six to eight skills to feature in this section, then move on to the next resume section.

How to display your work experience

This section of a biodata resume follows the same structure and layout as an average resume and is an automatic process in our builder. Unlike a Western resume, which limits your work history to the last 10 years, you’ll want to note your entire professional history in reverse-chronological order.

Start with your current or most recent position and work backwards. Highlight crucial promotions or career advancements in the last 10 years.

Where to add interests and hobbies

This information is not an automatic feature in our builder. However, our builder does allow you to add custom sections once you complete the standard sections.

To create this section, visit your Hloom dashboard and click the resume you wish to upgrade to a biodata resume. You’ll see a left-hand menu next to your resume preview with the following options:

• Spell check

• Resume sections

  - Heading

  - Professional summary

  - Skills

  - Work history

  - Education

• Add a section
• Download

Click the “Add a section,” option. You’ll see a right-hand option to “Add Your Own.” Click that choice, write “Interests and Hobbies” in the open text box, and click next.

Choose the bullet list text format and include a list of your various hobbies or personal interests, as well as your level of experience (beginner, intermediate or expert.)

Where to include affiliations

This information is not an automatic feature in our builder, but is commonly requested and has a pre-built option in our additional sections options.

To add this section, visit your Hloom dashboard and click the resume you wish to upgrade to a biodata resume. You’ll see a left-hand menu next to your resume preview with the following options:

• Spell check

• Resume sections

  - Heading

  - Professional summary

  - Skills

  - Work history

  - Education

• Add a section
• Download

Click the “Add a section,” option. You’ll see a left-hand option to add “Affiliations.” Click that choice and click next. Our builder offers an autofill option with various well known organizations as well as an open text box that allows you to add unlisted organizations.

Now you are ready to try out our builder. Click here to start editing your biodata resume.

Biodata Resume FAQ

In which countries do I need a biodata resume?

Biodata resumes are used in very few regions. You’ll likely find and need a biodata resume in the following countries:

• India
• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka
• Bangladesh

Is a biodata resume better than a resume or a CV?

A biodata isn’t better than a resume or a CV because they are used for different purposes. However, a biodata is your best choice if:

• You’re looking for career opportunities in the aforementioned countries.
• An open job opportunity explicitly requests a biodata resume.
• A personal opportunity that explicitly requests a biodata resume.

Resumes are typically used in the United States and are best for professional opportunities, summarize your career-related accomplishments, and are typically one- to two-pages long.

CVs are typically used in the United States for academic, research, medical, federal, or entertainment-related careers and are the international standard for career opportunities. These documents are highly detailed and can vary in length depending on each applicant’s experience, but can include multiple pages.

How long should my biodata resume be?

Your biodata resume is similar to a resume and is between one- to three-pages long, based on the length of your professional experience and the amount of personal information you include.