building a resume

[jonhirsh]

edited: i removed my resume so i can continue to edit and change it and let others have there resumes picked over and have sugestions made.

so keep this post alive.

JH

ps. if you would really badley like to see it just email me and i will give it to you

[The_Guest]

All it tells me is your contact and the shows you've done. You didn't state anything about your education. Include more accomplishments rather than a list of just the shows you've done. So, you've done shows, but with who? For all I know you did them in your basement. It's good you have a lot of shows under your belt, but think about why would you want to hire you? Have you had any extra training or education? Are you up to date on the latest codes, policies, and regulations of the union? Are you apart of a union? How do I know that I'm going to be able to trust you to rig up stuff? How are you with power? Am I willing to trust you with my and staff's lives? How do I know you can handle programming? Do you have any names and contacts that'll tell me nice things about you? Have you worked under or with some respected members of the industry? Also include something about who you are or what you do?Previous employment? Previous employer contact info? Make sure you cut down on fluff and keep things concise. While still having some detail. It helps to keep it one page, because a lot of people don't have the time or money to check out the second page.

BTW, Do you really want to through out all your contact info on the internet like that?

[jonhirsh]

Thank you for the suggestion, theses are the things i need to know.
I will added that information and yes i know its just a giant list of shows thats all i thought i needed. what would one want to know about each production ie (date, theatre, producer, designer...) what is crucial to pass on.


as for contact info with every post i put up on any forum i always identify my self and put all my info with it so as to be as attached the post as possible. i feel that posting anonymously is wrong so i have already given away all this information anyway.

Oh and education and certifications are at the bottom atleast i put them there.


thanks so much if others have resumes they should post them so we can all have an understanding of a guideline of which we can creat these documents.

JH

[Sombra2]

i noticed one thing the email address isn't the same as your website. i would look into getting your email address to have the same domain as your website address, that way it easier for employers.

[Mayhem]

My suggestions are as follows:

1. Contact details (as stated an email address that is part of you web looks a lot more professional). Also include the categories listed on your drivers licence.

2. Employment (current and previous)

3. Education (most recent listed first).

4. List of skills (with examples). Include other skills that will be helpful such as computer and communication skills.

5. Professional memberships

6. References

I would also then submit your portfolio of shows (similar to what you have now) but with a little more info.

By submitting this as a separate list, you can keep your resume short and concise. The gig list shows that you have had experience over a number of years but most employers would probably prefer to see a list of skills and references that they can contact.

Also - read the news post about not including personal interests, as this may work against you (I know that you have not done so - but this is a general comment for others reading this post).

Where possible, I would aim for no more than 3 pages for your resume. Remember that it is a summary document that should provide enough information to attract the attention of the person looking at it. If you can attract their attention, you stand a better chance of gaining an interview and it is here that you can then expand.

Good luck.

[mixsa]

and also, double triple double check spelling!
very important

[foeglass]

put your education and skills at the top. As others have said, that is msot important usually. Also, depending on where yousend your resume you may want to keep your information to that of the job you are applying for. ex. If I were applying for Technical director, I don't know if my history of Acting would be needed. It would help to keep it shorter.

[wolf825]

Hiya, Most have said the key things already...but a few obvious things have been overlooked. First--its too freekin long...and by being so detailed you have made it too too vague for a specific target because its over informative. The format is backwards--education goes first typically, then list your show credits but not so detailed in my opinion and not so over-completely. A few highlights here and there--done. Do some highlights only...on your work history, awards, training etc and leave your show credits last or as a second page, and also unless you have specific permission and have told your reference people to expect phone calls on your behalf for the next 5 years or whatever--just note that 'references are available upon request'. If they ask for references and letters of reccommendation in the original advertisement or posting, fine...but otherwise let them ask for them or present them a list upon an interview stage of the hiring process.. If you send out 50 resumes with the same references listed--those reference folks may get mad if they get 50 calls about you disrupting their work.. Best to list references as an option to be submitted upon request...IMO...

Also I see hundreds of resumes a year and most seem to miss this point...the KEY thing that should be the very first line in your resume after your contact info, is your GOAL or OBJECTIVE. Know what that is? WHY are you submitting your resume to this company in the first place--is it to get a job in audio, lights, TV or is it for secratary or just sweeping floors?? Or are you just hoping to fill ANY position available...? See the point here--the last option to fill any position available is not logical--because when you send in a resume to a Lighting company they don't care about your sound or TV background...and so on and vica versa. Tailor your resume for the company it is going to and for the position you are wanting with them--and then let your resume explain WHY you are best qualified for it in the factoids of education, work history and shows that follow. Or tailor a Lighting Resume, a Sound resume, a TV resume etc--but its a waste of paper and time to send sound info to a lighting company, and vica versa. Unless the company does both--and then again only keep it specific to the target and a small mention of your other abilities. OVER-qualification or a hugely wide variety of skills listed can make a company look at you and think you don't stay in one thing or do one thing well cause you hop from this to that..plus if they are a sound company and you send them a resume with 2 pages of lighting before the sound--they will put your resume in the "round file" and move on to the next person. Keep it short, sweet and to the point and directed at the company or position you wish to land.. 2pages, 3 MAX. My full resume is over 8 pages--but I typically send out tailored resumes professionally presented that are 2 or 3 pages MAX and leave everything else for the interview. During the interview process is when you can let things loose about all the other things you can do and give them more info and so forth...

FWIW and not tryin to be harsh on ya--your resume would be "round-filed" by me (a.k.a. trash can) because of these omissions I mentioned and its sheer length. Sometimes an employer has 50 or more resumes to get thru-make the statements and impressions on teh first page. An employer does not, and will not, want to go looking thru your resume for information--he wants it presented to interest him to read more, on the first page with the WHO are you, WHY are you sending this, and WHAT are your qualifications... Remember--an employer does not care who you are--they want the information upfront and something to MAKE them take more time to look over YOUR resume over the next one in more detail and depth...

my two cents...and if anyone wants to see my resume for a format example, I'll gladly post an old one or PM it... Hope this helps...good luck...

-w

[jonhirsh]

Thank you all so much. and yes i would love if you could post an old one of your resumes.

as for it being to long i do agree, this is a first draft with everything so now i can take things away but thank you for the comments. everything helps.


as for the email not being the same they are actualy the same site the company just went under an name change and as you know its hard to weine people off your old adress. but the web adressess itsonlymagic.net and blackhorseproductions.ca both go to the same place.


Do you think that affter takeing out the sections of useless information, putting in a equipment owended under the equipment used section would be usefull for freelance gigs?

as well if you put education first do you keep it to just a few key clasess and certifications? or do you put all of your education down?



thanks so much

JH

[wolf825]

Originally Posted by jonhirsh

Thank you all so much. and yes i would love if you could post an old one of your resumes.

Do you think that affter takeing out the sections of useless information, putting in a equipment owended under the equipment used section would be usefull for freelance gigs?

as well if you put education first do you keep it to just a few key clasess and certifications? or do you put all of your education down?

thanks so much

JH

Ok...I'll dig out an old resume when I get home tonite..

On to your questions--putting in an Equipment Owned section can be a bonus or "filler", but IMO is not needed for full time work.. For full time work--that can say to an employer that you will want to spend time doing your own thing making money with your own gear on the side--and employers may shy away from you for fear you will take some of the smaller clientele from them or try and write in YOUR gear to suppliment to a show and charge them for using your gear--a conflict of interest--even tho you wouldn't, but it happens.. Most employers will want to have your dedication FIRST and foremost to them, with no distraction. So unless you are specifically looking for a freelance gig--don't bother with listing gear you own. A company won't want to be charged extra or take on the liability of you using YOUR gear on their shows and insurance. Now--if you have your own Hog or GrandMA or InnovaSunn console etc--that can be good to mention that as a freelance programmer or audio guy you carried your own high-tech in-demand console, as it can show a profeciency with some high tech equipment--and that could be of benefit to you to make note of...but saying you own 60 mic cables, a common lighting or sound console, 100 par cans and a ton of mic's or speaker cabinets--nahh..don't mention it IMO...

As for education--thats a funny topic as it changes with your age... If you are older (say over 35 like me) then suddenly no one cares what high school you went to 15 or 20 years ago.. But under 35--list the high school & graduation still. Don';t bother with the awards or chess club president titles--keep it short, High school name, graduated 1999 or whenever, and move on. It shows you completed something. College and formal training/trade skills/certifications, and your experience is usually what is key most of the times to list IMO. Also keep in mind, there is General Education for a topic, and then there is Professional Training when putting together resumes...try not to mix the two or label them wrong. Same for Work History--there is casual and there is professional.. Keep it in order... Don't have to be specific with exact down-to-the-month dates--but years for a general timeline of what you have been doing, work well too... If you have HUGE gaps in your work history between jobs--be vague on dates.. Also use the "power words" in a resume like "Qualifications" and "Professional Experience" and "Objective" "Industry or Professional Certifications or Training" and so on....

-w