Biodata Format for Job: Sections, Sample and When to Use It
A biodata for a job is a 1–2 page document that lists your personal details first — name, date of birth, parents' names, address — followed by education, skills, languages and a signed declaration. Use it for local jobs and employers who ask for a biodata; send a resume to companies, MNCs and job portals.
Skip the formatting — build it on a template that is already ATS-safe.
Build free resumeWhat is a biodata for a job?
A biodata is a one- or two-page document that puts your personal details first: your name, date of birth, parents' names, address, religion or nationality if asked, education and languages. The word is short for "biographical data". In India it is still common for local jobs, shops and small businesses, schools, security, driver, factory and office-assistant roles, and anywhere an employer simply says "send your biodata".
It is different from a resume. A resume is built to show what you can do; a biodata is built to show who you are. That difference decides which one you should send, so it is worth getting clear before you write either.
Biodata vs resume vs CV: which one should you send?
Send a biodata when the employer asks for one or the job is local and personal details matter. Send a resume to companies, MNCs and job portals. Send a CV only for academic, research or teaching jobs. The full comparison is in our guide on resume vs CV; here is the short version.
| Biodata | Resume | CV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leads with | Personal details | Skills and experience | Full academic record |
| Length | 1–2 pages | 1 page for freshers | 2 pages or more |
| Photo | Usually yes | Usually no | Sometimes |
| Date of birth, parents' names | Yes | No | No |
| Best for | Local jobs, small employers, some government and school forms | Private companies, MNCs, job portals | Research, teaching, higher studies abroad |
If you are applying through Naukri, LinkedIn or a company careers page, you need a resume. Start from our resume format for freshers or build one in a free template on Cheatcode's resume builder.
Biodata format for a job: the sections in order
Keep this order. An employer reading a biodata expects to find the same things in the same places.
- Heading: write "BIODATA" in capitals at the top centre.
- Photo: a passport-size photo at the top right.
- Personal details: full name, father's name, mother's name, date of birth, gender, marital status, nationality.
- Contact details: mobile number, email address, permanent address with PIN code.
- Career objective: one or two lines on the job you want. This is optional.
- Educational qualifications: a table with exam, board or university, year of passing and percentage or CGPA.
- Experience: job title, employer, city and dates, newest first. Freshers can list internships, part-time work or projects here, or skip the section.
- Skills: computer skills (MS Office, Tally, typing speed), technical skills and certificates.
- Languages known: say which you can read, write and speak.
- Hobbies: two or three, only if they say something about you. See hobbies in a resume for which ones help.
- Declaration: one line confirming the details are true, then place, date and your signature. Our guide to the declaration in a resume has wordings you can copy.
Sample biodata format for a job
This is a sample with made-up details. Replace each line with your own.
BIODATA
Name: Priya Sharma
Father's name: Rajesh Sharma
Mother's name: Sunita Sharma
Date of birth: 14 March 2004
Gender: Female
Marital status: Unmarried
Nationality: IndianMobile: 98XXXXXX10
Email: priya.sharma@email.com
Address: House No. 21, Shastri Nagar, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh – 208005Career objective: To work as an office assistant where I can use my computer and communication skills and grow with the organisation.
Education: B.Com, CSJM University, 2025, 68%. Class 12 (Commerce), UP Board, 2022, 74%. Class 10, UP Board, 2020, 79%.
Skills: MS Word, MS Excel, Tally ERP 9, typing 35 words per minute in English.
Languages known: Hindi and English (read, write, speak).
Hobbies: Reading, cooking.
Declaration: I hereby declare that the information given above is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Place: Kanpur Date: ____ Signature: ____
How to write the education table
Put the highest qualification first and give the same four facts for each row. Employers compare percentages quickly, so do not leave the column blank.
| Exam | Board / University | Year | Percentage / CGPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Com | CSJM University, Kanpur | 2025 | 68% |
| Class 12 | UP Board | 2022 | 74% |
| Class 10 | UP Board | 2020 | 79% |
If you have only passed Class 12, that is fine. Our 12th pass resume format shows how to fill the page with skills and certificates instead of degrees.
Biodata for freshers with no experience
Most people writing a biodata for their first job worry about the empty experience section. You do not need to fill it with anything invented. Use what you actually have:
- An internship, apprenticeship or training, even if it was unpaid.
- Part-time or family-business work: billing at a shop, tuition, data entry.
- A college project, with one line on what you did.
- Certificates: a computer course (CCC, DCA, Tally), a typing certificate, an NCC or NSS certificate.
If none of these apply, drop the experience heading completely and let education and skills carry the page. The same approach works for resumes, as explained in how to write a fresher resume without experience.
Photo, signature and file format
Use a recent passport-size photo with a light, plain background and formal clothes; a selfie or a cropped group photo looks careless. Sign the declaration by hand on a printed copy, or add a scanned signature to the digital file. Our guide on photo on a resume in India covers when a photo helps and when it hurts.
Save the final document as a PDF. A Word file can lose its layout on a phone, and most employers will read your biodata on WhatsApp or email first. Name the file properly, for example Priya-Sharma-Biodata.pdf, and keep two printed copies for walk-in interviews.
Common biodata mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Spelling mistakes in your own name or email | Read the personal details aloud once before sending |
| No mobile number, or a number that is often switched off | Give a number you will answer, with WhatsApp on it |
| Copying a sample word for word, including its objective | Write the objective for the job you are actually applying to |
| Three pages of hobbies and family details | Keep it to one page, two at most |
| Sending a biodata to an MNC or IT company | Send a resume there instead |
| Fancy fonts and coloured borders | Use one plain font, black text, clear headings |
What to leave out of a biodata
Some details do not belong on a biodata you hand to a stranger, even if old samples include them:
- Aadhaar, PAN or bank account numbers: an employer asks for these after selecting you, on their own joining form. Printing them on a biodata that gets forwarded around is a fraud risk.
- Caste and religion: leave them out unless the employer's form specifically asks.
- Height, weight and complexion: these belong on a marriage biodata, not a job biodata, unless the job (for example security or police) lists physical standards.
- Expected salary: discuss it in the interview, not on paper.
When to turn your biodata into a resume
As soon as you start applying to companies rather than local employers, switch to a resume. Remove date of birth, parents' names and religion, move skills and projects to the top, and keep it to one page. Large employers often screen applications with ATS software that looks for skills and job keywords, not personal details. You can paste your biodata details into a template on Cheatcode's free resume builder and download a resume PDF in a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is biodata the same as a resume?
No. A biodata lists personal details first, such as date of birth, parents' names and address, and is used for local and small-employer jobs. A resume leads with skills, projects and experience, and is what companies, MNCs and job portals expect.
Should I attach a photo to my biodata?
Yes, a passport-size photo at the top right is normal on a biodata in India. Use a recent photo with a plain background and formal clothes. On a resume for a private company, leave the photo out unless the job post asks for one.
What should a fresher write in a biodata?
Personal details, contact number, address, education with board or university, year and percentage, any course or certificate, languages known, and a short declaration. If you have done an internship, part-time work or a project, add it under experience.
Can I send a biodata to an MNC or IT company?
It is better not to. Recruiters at large companies and on portals like Naukri screen for skills and keywords, and many use ATS software. Send a one-page resume there instead, and keep the biodata for jobs that ask for one.
In which format should I save my biodata?
Save it as a PDF so the layout does not move when someone opens it on a phone. Name the file with your name, for example Ravi-Kumar-Biodata.pdf, and keep a printed copy for walk-ins.
