Question:
I'm looking for some sort of standard for writing a music resume. I have a
music degree so obviously that should go on there, but was does the rest of the
resume look like. How much is devoted to performance experience, teaching
experience, and education? Any other sections to include? Also I play
multiple instruments so i am wondering how to divide it up. I may need
separate resumes if I am applying say to a musical director position, a cruise
line, or am giving a resume to someone for jazz gigs.
Answer:
- A resume is in actuality nothing more than a sales pitch for yourself!
Don't make it your life story. You should always tailor it to the
job you are applying for. We all have a wide variety of experiences
that can be background for a wide variety of later jobs if you
look at them right. Don't be afraid to stretch the truth a bit...
just don't stretch it too far (fake degrees etc.).
Thus if you apply for a given job, take your experiences and
qualifications and write them up *as they apply to the job in
question*. So take what you have be it just ordinary gigs,
education and teaching and then ask how that applies to
the job in question. If it's MD stress working with musicians,
if it's a cruise gig, stress working with and popularity with
the public, if its a jazz thing, gather up all your jazz experience
and put it into one pile. The people who are considering hiring
people only want to know what you can do for them anyway. What
other things you can also do, just detracts and may even make
them skeptical.
Writing good resumes is a real skill like any sales pitch,
so if the job is important consider getting help!
