Discussion on the Stagecraft Mailing List has turned to résumés (to some, proper use of the acute accent diacritical mark is just being pretentious), and I found this gem written by a leading industry professional:
Another gem:
A particularly helpful post:
For those who think what happens here stays here:
I particularly like the sentiment expressed in the portion I've bolded.And now a word from an employer. Granted, I'm not a theatre manager but
I've been working in this business for a very long (too long?) time and have
seen many different styles of resumes.
My preference:
One page.
Job history
School history*
References.
That's what I need. I do not care what font it is written in nor do I care
if there's some cute little icon at the top.
I need information and I want it in a quick and easily accessible format. I
have other things to do and if your resume gets in my way of doing those
things then I'm maybe going to think you will also.
One grammar or spelling mistake and you're outta there. If you cannot spend
the time to proofread your resume and have your friend and his/her friend
proofread your resume, then how attentive are you going to be with the
paperwork I'm going to give you?
*I do not care about every show you did in college where you were the third
electrician from the left or even if you were the ME. Give me a
representative list and you'll do fine.
Be quick and be precise and you will get my attention.
Another gem:
We've had many threads on the topic, primarily in the Education forum, but have yet to amass the collected wisdom in a centralized location.The main purpose of a resume is to help the employer determine if you are qualified for the job - and hopefully show that you are the best qualified applicant. To that end, clearly and concisely give your qualifications for the position for which you are applying. That may mean that you create a new resume for every job that you apply for. If you don't think you are well qualified for the position, or don't think it is worth your time to revise your resume to best show your qualifications for the job, don't waste your time applying for the job - many qualified people who do care will make the effort. Proof read your resume and ask others to proof it for you. Don't fill your resume with bullsh*t. It should be truthful and professionally worded.
A particularly helpful post:
Don't be discouraged if you haven't worked on certain theatre elements but have on others. There are many varieties of fly systems, many varieties of theatre jobs backstage, and all of it comes with on-the-job training, especially when you are young. Odds are when you get hired, you'll be viewed as a fresh stagehand and won't be given major responsibilities right away. My advice for resumes/interviews:
1) Honesty - don't ever lie on your resume or in your interview. IF you don't know something or have never done it, don't say yes right away. Say "no, but I'm willing to learn" or "no, but it's something I'm planning to pursue". Dishonesty is caught quickly, and you'll be let go quickly.
2) Resume should be one page (front only) - employers want to see direct information - worked at xx high school as a xx tech for xx shows. Odds are, they won't have seen your high school's production of Cats, nor will there be an online review.
3) Designer information is relative, but better communicated in a portfolio - it's ok to have an online portfolio out there for them to reference where you expand upon your experience and show background.
4) Relevant experience is key. I worked hard in high school, but shows I did in a high school 14 years ago mean nothing today. If I were 20, then that high school experience means more - show that you are always busy, that you have no gaps in your work (don't let the employer wonder why you didn't work from 2006-2010 and which prison you were doing time in). Volunteer work is fine to include, as well, in a separate section if it's not directly related to your career path.
5) Abilities: have a tail section that says you can program xx consoles, repair fixtures, use photoshop, apply makeup, etc
6) Contact information - keep it professional - [email protected] is not a professional email address for a resume. It's ok to use your name or what you do, but make your email easy to remember if you meet someone in passing.
7) Your name and contact info should be the largest items on the page on your resume, hands down.
8) References should be up-to-date, always. When you apply for a job, email your references so they have a heads up and know ahead of time what you are applying for. The last thing you need is a reference to be foggy on who you are or why this employer is contacting them.
9) Spell Check. Seriously, never, ever have bad spelling or poor grammar on a resume - there's no way to get a quicker trip to the 'no' stack than show that your resume was not important enough for you to do correctly.
10) Dress professionally, no matter the field you are pursuing. Treat yourself with respect for an interview, even if you'll be wearing jeans and a tee shirt every day at work. Dress for the job you want, not the one you currently have.
11) Networking is key. Cold resumes are the hardest sell, but if you know people and make friends, you are far more likely to get further quicker. Don't be a jerk, and never, ever burn bridges. Our community is ultimately very small - people will or won't remember you if you work hard and treat everyone with respect - they will know that the job was done, and effectively. They will remember you if you get kicked off a gig by shooting off your mouth. Approach everything you do like the boss is watching, and you'll go far. Hard work pays off. Make sure every boss you have will write you a solid reference, and keep making friends in the industry.
For those who think what happens here stays here:
Thread search results for resume and portfolio.A word on websites and personal URL's:
If you send me a link to your website or your email has a personal domain attached, you best believe I will look at all of it. I also check your profile on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn. Bear in mind that in this here century your online presence is public and available to your employers. I have surprised more than one candidate during an interview by asking them questions about their website.
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