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C.5 Developing a
Résumé
Résumés
are your calling-cards. They
allow an employer, casting director, or
admissions committee the ability to see quickly what your skills
preparation
has been, where you have found employment, and what range of
experiences you
bring with you.
You
may be initially frustrated with a lack of employment
history listings, but remember that your schooling has generally been
your
employment up to this point. Anyone
looking at your résumé will know
that—and accept that—immediately.
And don’t forget all those summer and
work-study jobs; they can be seen as augmenting your theatre skills if you can indicate your awareness of
learning beyond specific job task.
It’s
important that you sell yourself in your résumé. But don’t
exaggerate or outright lie about
your training and experience. Your
honesty and integrity should not be compromised.
Taking
care to present
a perspective showing a balance between puffing yourself and simple
presentation of your background will go far toward earning
you careful
consideration for the job.
What
you want to do is leave the interview or casting call
with a sense of having presented yourself and your abilities
forthrightly. Your
suitability for the specific job or role
is not your decision, but presenting yourself well is.
Your résumé is not
your job interview, but it is what you leave behind to be
studied when you
are being considered. Make
it clean,
simple, and readable.
Next
Section: C5a:
Format for Actors
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