Entertainment Resume Examples
Use LiveCareer’s entertainment resume examples, step-by-step writing tips, and our Resume Builder to create an entertainment resume without the drama.
Our Recommended Template
Film Director
Popular Templates in the Entertainment Space
Business Manager
Actor
Promoter
Costume Designer
Table of Contents
Entertainment Resume
Entertainment Cover Letter
Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Entertainment Resume
Details matter in the entertainment world and so does a strong resume. LiveCareer’s Resume Builder takes the stress out of finding the perfect words to sum up your professional past by providing industry-specific phrases pre-written by certified resume writers that you can use to make your entertainment resume stand out from other actors, directors or producers. Use them as is, or tweak them to suit your individual needs.
- Orchestrated casting for five productions each year by holding auditions and securing ideal talent
- Accessorized all clothing for shows and photo shoots according to specific guidelines
- Motivated more than 25 actors to produce best dramatic performances through intense rehearsals
- Maintained and organized digital video files within library of 1,500 assets
- Performed a supporting role in a major film that made over $800 million at the box office
- Chose locations for filming, including setting of individual scenes and camera angles
8 Do’s and Don’ts for Writing an Entertainment Resume
- Do remember that the entertainment business is a business. While your resume should highlight your creative accomplishments, it should also encapsulate your abilities in measurable terms that demonstrate your proven ability to raise profits, generate positive reviews or otherwise contribute to a company’s overall success. Quantify your impact where you can.
- Do get creative. There are many unique points of view in the entertainment industry. Use these resume examples to learn how to showcase yours. However, if you’re applying for a role on the business end of things, such as casting director or business manager, a more traditional resume format is likely the smart choice.
- Do drop names. This is show biz, after all. If you’ve worked with recognizable talent, include them — but don’t expect name-dropping to do all the work. Instead, make a point of identifying high-profile influential mentors and colleagues, and what you learned from them.
- Do include outstanding third-party reviews where applicable. Thanks in large part to the web, third-party reviews hold an increasing amount of sway. If a past project earned glowing reviews from film, TV, newspaper or magazine critics, incorporate a snippet of that praise in your resume. Be selective, however, and only amplify the voices of reputable sources. If you’re an actor, for example, there’s a big difference between praise from Entertainment Weekly and that of a small film blog.
- Don’t list every single project you’ve ever been a part of. Your resume shouldn’t be an exercise in list-making. It should celebrate your talents and accomplishments. If you’re a director, instead of listing all of the projects you’ve helmed, group them by production company and sum up your work experience there with notes like “Collaborated with a team of seven creative directors and producers to plan, coordinate and execute three complex video productions.” This demonstrates your accomplishments and ability to be a team player.
- Don’t forget your skills. If you’re skilled with Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere or other production software, state that in the skills section of your resume. If you’re an actor who is also an accomplished singer, fluent in another language or a skilled equestrian, mention it. You never know what the next role might require.
- Don’t submit the same resume for every job. When you apply for a job, you should tailor your cover letter and resume specifically to that listing. Many entertainment professionals have a wide range of skills; the smart move is to select only the most relevant ones for each job application. Reading the job listing closely can provide important clues about what a potential employer is looking for in the hiring process.
- Don’t forget to proofread. While the entertainment industry may place a higher value on creativity and freedom of expression than many other fields, that doesn’t mean that grammar and spelling don’t matter. Trust a close friend, family member or colleague to review your resume before submitting.
Beat the ATS With These
Entertainment Resume Skills
In the entertainment industry, time is money. That’s why many studios and companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to save the production staff valuable time during the hiring and casting processes. The larger the company, the more likely it is to use an ATS.
Hiring managers identify the keywords that are most desirable in a new hire. When the company receives resumes, they’re run through an ATS, which screens each document for those predetermined words and phrases. The system eliminates from consideration resumes that don’t include the right keywords.
Including the right language can be crucial to landing an interview. Our Resume Builder offers helpful, industry-specific keywords you can use in your resume to get it past an ATS and into the hands of a hiring manager. Here are some examples:
- Location scouting
- Film editing expertise
- Production coordination
- Writer commissioning
- Proficient in Final Cut Pro
- Stunts knowledge
- Costume design
- Talent sourcing
- Contract management
- Sound editing
- Screenwriting experience
Entertainment Resumes for Every Professional Level
This entry-level resume utilizes a functional resume format that highlights the job seeker’s skills. As a video production intern, he doesn’t yet have extensive work experience. He does, however, have valuable talents that he can convey to hiring managers in measurable terms. He notes that he’s, “maintained and organized digital video files within [a] library of about 1,500 assets.” This speaks volumes about his capacity for organization. Quantifying your skills in this way shows hiring managers your potential in concrete terms.
Build My ResumeFor entertainment professionals looking to change careers or advance to the next level, a combination resume format is a wise choice. It dedicates equal space to skills and experience. For example, this applicant includes not only a professional summary but also a rundown of his most relevant skills. Together, they highlight his talent for collaborative leadership, video production oversight and other specific talents that a hiring manager may seek. This moves right into his work history, which elaborates on how he’s used those talents to benefit his past employers in measurable terms.
Build My ResumeFor the seasoned entertainment industry professional, a chronological resume format is generally the best way to highlight years of accomplishments. It places the focus squarely on the job seeker’s extensive work history. In this example, the applicant’s decade worth of experience in talent acquisition and casting occupies most of the page. It’s easy to chart how she began by coordinating casting sessions and booking audition space to collaborating with a double-digit team of producers and directors and interviewing hundreds of candidates to successfully cast projects.
Build My ResumeMore entertainment resume samples
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Resume Success Stories
Statistics and Facts About Entertainment Jobs
Popular job titles in the entertainment industry
- Actor
- Actress
- Director
- Producer
- Songwriter
- Dancer
- Choreographer
- Musician
- Vocalist
- Comedian
- Voice-over artist
- Talent agent
- Casting director
- Costume designer
- Music director
- Stage manager