A biodata is a one or two page document that leads with your personal details — date of birth, father's name, marital status and address — followed by your education, experience and a signed declaration. Indian employers still ask for it in government, banking, teaching and clerical hiring. The format below is the one those recruiters expect.
Biodata Format for Job (Copy This)
Replace the bracketed fields. Keep the section order — recruiters scan these in a fixed sequence and reordering them slows the read.
[Passport-size photo]
BIODATA
PERSONAL DETAILS
Name : [Full Name]
Father's Name : [Father's Full Name]
Date of Birth : [DD/MM/YYYY]
Gender : [Gender]
Marital Status : [Single / Married]
Nationality : Indian
Languages Known : [English, Hindi, ...]
Address : [Full postal address with PIN]
Phone : [10-digit number]
Email : [name@email.com]
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
[Degree] | [University / Board] | [Year] | [% or CGPA]
[Class 12] | [Board] | [Year] | [%]
[Class 10] | [Board] | [Year] | [%]
WORK EXPERIENCE
[Designation], [Company] ([Month Year] - [Month Year])
- [Responsibility or achievement]
- [Responsibility or achievement]
SKILLS
- [Skill 1], [Skill 2], [Skill 3]
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the information furnished above is true to the
best of my knowledge and belief.
Place : [City]
Date : [DD/MM/YYYY] [Signature]
[Full Name]
Biodata vs Resume vs CV: The Difference That Costs Freshers Interviews
This is the most common mistake we see. All three are employment documents and they are not interchangeable. Sending the wrong one signals you did not read the posting.
- Biodata — leads with personal details (DOB, father's name, marital status). One to two pages. Includes a photograph and a signed declaration. Asked for by government departments, banks, schools, and clerical or administrative roles.
- Resume — leads with skills and work history. One to two pages. No photograph, no personal details, no declaration. Expected by private companies, startups and anything screened by an ATS. See which software skills to list on a resume if you are applying to tech roles.
- CV — a full academic record: publications, research, conferences, references. Runs to several pages. Used for academic, research and some overseas applications.
The practical rule: send exactly what the posting asks for. If it says biodata, send biodata with the photo and declaration. If it says resume or CV and you send a biodata leading with your marital status, it reads as outdated to a private-sector recruiter.
5 Biodata Samples by Role
The five sections stay the same. What changes is what you put under experience and skills.
1. Fresher (No Work Experience)
Do not leave the experience section blank. Replace it with projects, internships or training:
WORK EXPERIENCE
Fresher
PROJECTS / INTERNSHIPS
[Project Title], [College / Company] ([Month Year] - [Month Year])
- [What you built or did]
- [Tool, method or result]
2. Teacher
WORK EXPERIENCE
[Subject] Teacher, [School Name] ([Month Year] - [Month Year])
- Handled classes [X] to [Y], [number] students per section
- Prepared lesson plans and conducted internal assessments
SKILLS
- Classroom management, lesson planning, [board] curriculum, MS Office
3. Bank / Clerical Role
WORK EXPERIENCE
[Designation], [Bank / Company] ([Month Year] - [Month Year])
- Handled cash transactions, customer onboarding and KYC verification
- Maintained daily reconciliation records
SKILLS
- Tally, MS Excel, data entry ([speed] wpm), customer service
4. Accountant
WORK EXPERIENCE
Accountant, [Company Name] ([Month Year] - [Month Year])
- Bookkeeping, GST filing and monthly reconciliation
- Supported statutory audit and TDS returns
SKILLS
- Tally ERP, GST filing, MS Excel, TDS, bank reconciliation
5. Marriage Biodata (Different Document — Do Not Confuse)
Searches for "biodata format" often mix two unrelated documents. A marriage biodata includes family background, gotra, height, complexion and horoscope details. A job biodata includes none of those. If you are applying for a job, use the format at the top of this page and leave every family or personal-preference field out.
Formatting Rules Recruiters Notice
- One or two pages maximum — a three-page biodata for a clerical role reads as padding.
- Photograph top right — passport size, plain background, formal clothing.
- Reverse chronological education — highest qualification first, Class 10 last.
- Consistent date format — pick DD/MM/YYYY and use it everywhere.
- Sign the declaration — an unsigned biodata looks like a draft.
- Save as PDF — Word files reflow on the recruiter's machine and break your alignment.
- Name the file properly — 'Rahul-Sharma-Biodata.pdf', not 'biodata final 2.pdf'.
6 Mistakes That Get a Biodata Rejected
- Name spelled differently from your Aadhaar or PAN
- Missing declaration and signature
- No photograph when the posting asked for one
- Marks or CGPA left blank for any qualification
- Gaps in education with no explanation
- A casual email address instead of a professional one
The education gap one matters more than people expect. If you took a year out, write "[Year]: preparing for [exam]" rather than leaving a hole a recruiter has to guess about.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct biodata format for a job?
Five sections in order: personal details, educational qualifications, work experience, skills, and a signed declaration. Photograph at the top right, one to two pages.
Is a photograph mandatory in biodata?
For biodata, yes — Indian employers who request biodata generally expect one. For a resume sent to a private company, leave it out.
What should a fresher write under work experience?
Write "Fresher" and follow it with a projects or internships section. Never leave the heading with nothing underneath it.
Should biodata be in Word or PDF?
Prepare it in Word so you can edit it, then send PDF. PDF preserves your alignment; Word files reflow on the recruiter's machine and can break the layout.
Biodata Ready? The Hard Part Is Finding the Right Roles
A well-formatted biodata gets you past the first filter. Finding openings that actually match your qualifications — before a hundred other people apply — is the part that eats your evenings.
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