Simon Hall...
I commonly have to send out a biography when I’m working somewhere new, and that always brings a dilemma.
Whether to include a fun fact, or not?
There are five that I generally rotate.
I won’t bore you with all of them, but my favourites are:
- I once played football for the same manager who coached the legendary Pele (although to far less impressive effect).
- I lived next door but one to the musician who played probably the most famous saxophone solo in the history of pop music, that beautiful piece on Baker Street.
The other three involve a very strange place to be the writer in residence, my apparently magical power over freshwater fish, and being pulled out of a ditch by King Charles III.
But those are for another time.
The key point is when, or indeed if, to include a fun fact in your bio.
Why should you do so?
Because it can add life, colour, interest and character to what may otherwise be a very dull biography.
People work with you not just because of your expertise, but because of what you're like as a human…
A fun fact can help to give a sense of that, rather than just presenting a list of achievements and experience.
However strange mine may be, they certainly seem to give a feeling of my nature.
The risk is that a fun fact may undermine your credibility.
If it lands in front of someone lacking a sense of humour, it could even be fatal in terms of your prospects for some work.
So, what guides me when deciding whether to include a fun fact or not?
Much of it is simple practicality.
If I’m pitching for work at an old school, upright and traditional type organisation, like a bank, or insurance company, I would probably not.
If it was with a modern, cool and down with the kids company like a tech firm, I most likely would.
But here’s the curiosity:
The old wisdom has it that if in doubt you should leave it out.
Not so, in my view, with fun facts.
If in doubt, I would usually put one in.
Why?
Well, because it goes back to giving a very clear sense of my character.
Wherever I might work, and whoever for, it will still be me that turns up.
And this curious specimen of humanity has a character which is quirky, playful, humorous, and more besides.
If that’s not what the company in question wants, then fair enough.
It’s probably not a place I want to work either.
And it’s always an unpleasant experience, trying to do a good job somewhere you feel uncomfortable.
In summary, the vast majority of times I've sent a biography out…
It has included a fun fact.
And I can’t recall it ever causing me a problem, or denying me an opportunity.
At least, not one that I felt was worth taking.
Ps. Finally, as I suspect it may be nagging you…
That piscine fun fact was that I once got 10/10 in for identifying freshwater fish in a pub quiz picture round.
How about that for talent?
It may even be the greatest achievement of my life!
