Are you looking for a printable biodata form in the Philippines? We’ve got you covered.!

Although most employers in the country request resumes or CVs from applicants, there are still those who rely on the good old biodata to find the right candidate. Whether you’re applying for a skilled position or someone who was asked to supplement your resume, this guide to biodata (with a free printable template) will help you start on the right foot. 

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What Is Biodata?

Short for “biographical data,” a biodata contains a thorough list of personal information that will help recruiters or employers see if the applicant meets the minimum qualifications for the job. It’s a less polished resume because it features details like age, civil status, religion, and other personal information typically excluded in resumes.

Although a biodata also provides the applicant’s employment history, it typically doesn’t detail the responsibilities involved in the job and what accomplishments the applicant achieved during his/her tenure. For this reason, the biodata is considered outdated in Western countries and is mainly used for job applications in developing nations in Asia like the Philippines and India. 

Is Resume and Biodata the Same?

The resume and biodata are used for job applications, but these documents have notable differences, as summarized in the table below. 

A resume concisely summarizes your career, with details about your skills, education, and employment background. It’s usually one page long and tailor-fit for the job you’re applying for. Since the highlight of the resume is your employment history, you don’t need to put your complete personal details except your contact information so the employer or hiring manager will know how to reach you. Resumes are preferred by most employers in the Philippines, especially those who hire college graduates. 

Meanwhile, a biodata is a generic form that contains more detailed information about the person. It summarizes your career and provides a comprehensive list of your personal information, which includes your address, age, gender, religion, citizenship, employment record, skills, hobbies, and even complexion. For this reason, it’s common for a biodata to run for up to three pages, although one-page biodata is the norm. 

The biodata and resume offer almost the same information regarding educational background and work history. However, the professional history you put on your resume is much more detailed, as you need to emphasize your responsibilities and achievements to win the job you’re applying for. It’s also customized to the particular position you’re submitting the resume for, so unrelated jobs are excluded. In addition, while resumes feature your education and employment background in reverse chronological order, they’re usually presented in biodata in chronological order. 

What Is the Format of Biodata?

In the Philippines, a biodata is a one- to three-page document that gives the employer or hiring manager an overview of the applicant’s background. When a position requires a biodata, there’s usually no specific template indicated, so the applicant is expected to buy or obtain a ready-made biodata from a nearby bookstore. Biodata prepared or written from scratch are uncommon in the country, although applicants aren’t discouraged from having one. 

The data included are usually divided into four categories: Personal Information, Educational Background, Employment Record, and Character References. 

1. Personal Information

This section makes up the bulk of the biodata. It contains the applicant’s name, contact information, and other specific details not present in a typical resume. These personal data include gender, date and place of birth, marital status, religion, height, weight, and names of your spouse (if married) and other dependents. 

Other biodata templates include minor details like hobbies to help the employer or recruiting manager better understand your interests and what you’re like. 

2. Educational Background

If the position requires the applicant to reach a certain educational level, this part will instantly give the employer an idea of whether you’re qualified. A biodata will usually ask you to provide and list your educational attainment chronologically–from elementary to college. In addition to the school’s name, you will also provide the years you attended and the degree/s you obtained in college. 

There’s also a section where you can list all the skills you’ve learned in school; this is a chance for you to highlight any skill and its corresponding certification, especially if it’s relevant to the job you’re applying for. For example, you can indicate that you’re adept at using certain computer applications, mentioning how many years you’ve used them to prove your proficiency. Just ensure you cut the fluff by not including clichés like “reliable,” “organized,” “detail-oriented,” and other similar words that don’t achieve anything at all. 

If there’s a space provided, you can also highlight any special award or accomplishment you achieved in each educational level. This will show the recruiter you have the work ethic and high skills/intelligence needed for the job. 

3. Employment Record

Like in the previous section, you’ll also list your work experience chronologically, starting from your first job and ending with your most recent experience.

If the biodata has a limited space for work history, you can cherry-pick the ones most related to the job you’re applying for and throw away the rest. Otherwise, provide a complete account of your work history to give the employer a proper perspective of how long you’ve been working and your career trajectory.

On the other hand, students or fresh graduates with little to no experience can also include any volunteer work or internship they’ve participated in. Aside from the company’s name, you should provide basic details like the company address, your position in the said company, and the years of employment. 

Other biodata templates allow you to also list your accomplishments and key responsibilities in each position and company you previously served. If this is the biodata given to you, leverage it to convince the recruiter that you have the skills and experience to deliver what’s needed in the job. 

4. Character References

This part should only contain the names and contact information of people who have agreed to be used as your character references for background checking. Ask their permission before writing their names on this section, and ensure they know that someone from the company you’re applying to may contact them to verify your identity and work background.

Although there’s no hard and fast rule when choosing the people you’ll include as character references, it’s recommended that you pick trusted people from your former workplace who can vouch for your performance and professionalism.