How to Write a Portfolio About Section Hiring Managers Actually Remember
Hiring managers do not open your portfolio to learn your entire biography. They open it to answer three questions in the first screen: what do you do, who do you do it for, and what proof do you have? The About section is where most candidates lose that moment by listing every tool they have ever touched.
Lead With the Role You Want Next
Write the first sentence as if you are already in the job you want. "Product designer focused on onboarding for B2B SaaS" is clearer than "passionate creative who loves solving problems."
If you are switching fields, say so directly. A one-line bridge — "Former teacher now building accessible learning products" — is more memorable than a vague career story.
Trade Adjectives for One Proof Point
Words like innovative, detail-oriented, and team player do not survive a skim. Replace each adjective with a concrete result: a metric, a shipped product, or a constraint you worked inside.
One strong proof line beats a paragraph of personality. Save the longer story for a single case study and link to it from the About section.
Close With How to Work With You
End with what you are looking for and how to reach you. "Open to senior frontend roles in climate and health. Email me at…" gives the reader a next step.
Keep the whole section under 120 words. If you need more room, the rest of the portfolio should carry the evidence.
Key Takeaway
A strong About section is a positioning statement, not a memoir. Name the work you want, prove it in one line, and make the next conversation obvious.
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