25+ Sample Bio Data Form Templates

What Is a Biodata Form?

Biodata is a short word for biographical data. Biographical refers to any work that deals with someone’s life. Meanwhile, data refers to any gathered information. Combine both terms. You have the biodata form—a document that collects any person’s details down from the name, birth date, gender, nationality, marital status, names of family members, physical attributes, educational background, work experience, and so much more. And this form is often an alternative for a resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

Did you know that around 130.6 million Americans were employed full-time in 2019?

On another note, the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) reported that around 56.4 million students in the US would attend the elementary to high school department in fall 2020.

Why Is a Biodata Form Important?

Aside from being a replacement to your CV or sample resume, biodata has a bunch of important functions. One example is for evaluation. The factual information about your profile is collated in the biodata. So when you request or apply for something, the bits of details from the form will serve as criteria in profiling and evaluating you. That reason explains why lots of applicants for employment are asked to submit the biodata for compliance. And once employers learn and compare each applicant’s background, it will be easy to choose who deserves to fill a position in the company.

Besides a job application, biodata forms serve as marriage requirements. India, Pakistan, and other South Asian countries even arrange the matrimonial biodata to assess if a person is appropriate to be someone’s lifetime partner. Hence, the form may gather as many details as it can get, including eye color, hobbies, likes, dislikes, and more. But, the biodata is tailored according to categories and format instead of just enumerating fact after fact. And it depends on whoever prepares the biodata form of how much data the document should collect.

Biodata Checklist: What Are Asked in the Form?

Indeed, the biodata form gathers your info. So what exactly are some of the things asked in that document? Remember that everything required to disclose in the form may vary. But, there are common factors realized in any basic biodata. And in this section, we will give you a checklist on the typical factors asked from a biodata form.

Name: Of course, it is a no-brainer that the first way to discover one’s identity is by name. And in a biodata, the complete legal name shall be asked. If anyone who fills out the biodata form has a preferred title to be addressed with, it should be written.Birth Date: Profiling generally involves the date of birth—from the month, day, and year. Although some people find this criterion for assessment as age discrimination, there is no denying that organizations and companies need to know one’s age. Because if age is a certain age is part of the qualifications, the applicant should meet the standards.Contact Information: The contact details from telephone numbers, mobile numbers, and email addresses cannot be forgotten. This segment is vital for the sake of reaching out. For example, a manager may need to call an employee to deliver some news. Hence, the form contains the contact list. More so, who to call for an emergency.Address: Applicants may also be tasked to provide their residential address and current address. And they need to write the exact addresses if strictly required. Also, some businesses need to know the state of residence, especially if an individual’s geographic location is integral to evaluate.Name of Family Members: Family background is also essential for profiling. An example is for school matters. If a student is absent for too long, the teacher would know the parents’ names and contact info. On the other hand, other businesses want to know if a new applicant has children to know what insurance to cover and other reasons.Educational or Employment Background: Next, educational background, work experience, or both will be necessary. Expect the biodata form to ask which schools the applicant is from. The same goes for knowing from what jobs and which companies the applicant worked before.Skills, Hobbies, or Interests: Job applications typically inquire about skills. This section provides details if the applicant has excellent and relevant skills to offer for the job. And in other cases, non-job-related skills, hobbies, and interests can still be added. Who knows? Someone who applied for a call center may be skilled in painting. Thus, that person can be assigned for creative works involved in the business.Marital Status: Is an applicant single, married, or perhaps, widowed? The marital status also matters, particularly in profiling more accurately. And the answers given here should be honest because a marriage certificate may be asked for proof that one is married or not.Disability: It is crucial to know if applicants have physical challenges or disabilities. Determining this part is necessary in case an organization needs to prepare in meeting someone’s specific needs. Hence, there will be adjustments to cater to people with challenges.Religion: Although providing your religion is not always required in an employment biodata, sometimes it will be necessary. An example is when a student enrolls at a Catholic school or if someone wishes to be part of a church group.Race: An applicant’s race or nationality is also part of a biodata. Most organizations or companies with multiracial societies ask this for clarification. And, it is a no-no to discriminate anyone’s racial background.Physical Features: Profiling may indicate physical features. Take a model or flight attendant applicant, for example. He or she will have to indicate his or her height. Other biodata is even quite specific in terms of face shape, skin color, weight, and more.Affiliations: Do applicants belong to any political affiliation or church group? Sometimes those affiliations have to be noted. And it is expected that assessors may contact such groups for proof that applicants are part of them or not.Genotype or Blood Type: The blood type or genotype details are also commonly asked, particularly in medical biodata. This section pictures a more accurate profile of applicants. Some may require to show a genogram, family medical history, and so forth.

What Are the Types of Biodata?

Biodata can be used for various functions. And it only makes sense that there are different types of biodata too. Generally, there are five main categories of biodata—personal, job, medical, educational, and marriage biodata. What are they? And how do they differ from each other? Without further ado, here are the types of biodata:

Personal Biodata

From the name itself, personal biodata involves personal information of an individual. And this example is the most common type because the biodata serves its purpose, which is for profiling. This sheet can also be considered as general biodata since it can work for most applications. While this type is an all-purpose biodata or mostly for personal use, please don’t assume that it will be the same as what businesses or institutions require.

Job Biodata

Statista’s research survey confirmed that around 130.6 million of US citizens were employed full-time in 2019. Do you think employers with a hundred employees can memorize all the personal info of each worker? Of course not. Hence, job or employment biodata exists to collect all the employee details. Personal details highlight more on skills, professional competencies, and more job-driven data. But, job biodata is more formal than personal biodata.

Medical Biodata

Hospitals and medical services may seek medical biodata. Expect a person’s medical information to be the main focus of this type. Examples of what to ask include genotype, allergies, rhesus factor, disabilities, and other health conditions. And if there are confidential health matters recorded in the biodata, a confidentiality agreement is often at work.

Educational Biodata

In America, approximately 56.4 million students would attend the elementary, middle school, and high school in fall 2020. And just like employment, it won’t be easy to keep track of every person’s background. Thus, schools require educational biodata from all students for compliance. Educational history, awards, and certifications are often tackled here too.

Marriage Biodata

As mentioned before, South Asian countries commonly use the matrimonial biodata or resume. And the marriage biodata form can ask plenty of elements regarding the married partners’ names, contact info, and more. Pictures are even required to provide each person’s face shape, height, weight, or complexion. Also, the form may incorporate lifestyle descriptions.

How to Create a Biodata Form

You already learned the biodata form’s meaning, importance, common elements, and types. So, you are more than ready to make the biodata form itself. And it is not even that difficult as you download from our collection of downloadable and printable biodata form templates. All you have to do is choose a template, download, and fill in every blank to complete the form. And if you want to make a simple biodata into an excellent one, we got you covered. Follow these easy steps on how to create the biodata form:

Step 1: Determine the Biodata’s Purpose or Type

Yes, you plan to make a biodata form. But what is it specifically for? For employment, education, or maybe marriage? Recall those types of biodata discussed earlier to finalize the purpose. That way, you will already know what labels to set and how the format should be since you will base the form’s result according to its type or purpose.

Step 2: Insert the Necessary Elements to Ask

Next, review the common elements asked in a biodata, as previously discussed. This step means you indicate the elements like the name, address, birth date, and more in the document. And just like questionnaires, include the blanks or boxes where applicants will provide their data. Be sure to pick the vital and relevant elements only because it is useless to add unnecessary info while forgetting the essential ones in the biodata.

Step 3: Organize the Elements According to Categories

The biodata should not be littered with all the elements to ask without any organization. There should be clarity in the presentation and arrangement, as well. An example is to create categories. You could put the name, age, birth date, and the like under the “Personal Background” category. Next, you place the job-related elements under the “Employment Record” category. Continue the rest for educational background, character reference, and more.

Step 4: Provide Clear Instructions

Note the instructions for applicants when they fill out the biodata form. That way, no applicant will have to use the form wrongly. Maybe some people get confused about where to input particular information. And if some questions have options, others might wonder if their chosen answers should be encircled, underlined, or checked. So, guide applicants right from the get-go to the finish by incorporating clear instructions.

FAQs

How many pages should a biodata have?

A biodata usually has a single page, but sometimes it could reach up to three pages. And the number of pages depends on how many details are required from the form.

What is not a biodata?

Biodata forms may ask for various information. A biodata doesn’t ask for anyone’s bank accounts, passwords, and other sensitive or personal account details. Otherwise, scams are bound to happen.

How do I collect people’s biodata?

There are plenty of ways available on how to collect people’s biodata. And the basic three to gather biodata are through paper forms, online sheets, and interviews.

Indeed, it takes time to know people. And if knowing a person is required right away, the only way is to have a sheet that contains all the essential details for identification. This sheet is what any applicant will use to provide his or her background. Instead of giving applicants a burden to discuss who they are, it is much easier to outline what they must provide—by encouraging applicants to fill out a biodata form.