The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” — J.P. Morgan

As the summer is ending, I’m feeling refreshed and have revamped my job search efforts. Today I spend my days applying to roles, networking with recruiters, and interviewing as I’m looking for my next gig. I’ve always been good at resume writing. Through the years, my resume has landed me interviews at some impressive companies such as NBCUniversal, A24, The Oprah Winfrey Network, and of course Legendary Entertainment and The Tonight Show. 

Last week I had an interview with a media company, and at the beginning of our meeting, the recruiter expressed that out of 800 applicants, I was one of the top 15. I think that part of that is because I have a Master’s degree and have had some experiences throughout college, but I believe that I stood out primarily because of how my resume is written. I’m always looking to share and help others, so I’d like to share some resume hacks to help you land interviews in the entertainment industry. 

1. Tailor Your Resume every time 

For every job application I apply to, I tailor my resume every single time. Of course, this takes work, but I know the kind of jobs that I desire and how competitive they are to land. Whenever I apply for a job, I read the job description thoroughly and ensure that my resume matches the role with no exceptions. It would be much easier to use a standard, “good” resume for all applications, but that’s lazy and won’t increase my chances of standing out. Every time you apply for a job, you should be writing a new resume for each application you submit. It takes a lot of time, but it is worth it. 

Now that we understand that we have to edit our resumes for each application, let’s discuss what we should change. 

2. Put the Job Title At The Top of Your Resume 

Right under my name on my resume, I always place the job title I’m applying to directly underneath it. I do this for two reasons. First: this lets recruiters know that I made an effort in my application to tailor my resume for this specifically. Second, many jobs in the entertainment industry get hundreds of applications, so most companies use the Applicant Tracking System (or ATS) to filter out resumes. I learned recently that over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS of some kind, according to research conducted by Jobscan. A way to filter through the ATS robots is by placing the job title under my name. 

3. Have a 2-3 Sentence Objective Summary

After my name, a job title that I’m looking to secure, and contact information, the next section of my resume is my objective summary. These two to three sentences serve as a pitch to what my resume hopes to do. By including this in my resume, I provide another way to have aspects of the job role on my resume and use keywords found in the job description. Again, each objective summary should be different for every job you apply to make your resume stand out.

4. Write Stellar Bullet Points 

Bullet points are the place on your resume where you can showcase what you have done using numbers, powerful keywords, and action verbs. So often, when I read people’s resumes, they have dry, uninspiring bullet points. Look for ways to add numbers and keywords from the job post to make your bullet points stand out. 

5. Have a Two-Bullet Skill Section 

Every resume should have a skill section consisting of two skill types: technical skills and soft skills. Your technical skills are where you put what software and programs you can use. Instead of merely listing them like:

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• Final Cut Pro

Make them bullet points as well like: 

• Well versed in Microsoft Office Suite (Powerpoint, Outlook, and Word)
• Ability to work with several operating systems, including Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux
• Proficient in usage of social media apps such as Instagram and Facebook specializing in ad management and data analytics

Your soft skills are another opportunity to hack the ATS system and include keywords from the job post. Suppose the job posting states that it’s looking for someone who works well under pressure. If the role is looking for someone who works great on a team, including that on the resume. Take advantage of every opportunity to showcase to the ATS and recruiter that there is no one better for the role than you by using your soft skills section on your resume effiectively. 

6. Practice Modesty When Needed 

It can be exciting to share all the cool and exciting things you’ve done in your life on a resume, but if it isn’t relevant to the job, feel free to leave it out. For me, I’m an author with three books, but if I’m looking to land a job as a production assistant, showcasing that I am an author isn’t relevant. It makes more sense to put a production internship on my resume or list something a tad more appropriate. For you, find accomplishments and stats that align with the job because you don’t want the recruiter to be distracted by something irrelevant to the role. 

7. Keep It Clean 

A resume should be clean. Your resume should be free of typos and grammatical errors. Unless you are applying for a graphics or animator position, it should consist of standard colors and fonts. My two favorites are Times New Roman and Georgia at 12points. You should also always upload your resume as a PDF and not a word document. Make sure that before submitting your resume you read it, line by line to get rid of spelling errors and make sure it is clean. 

In conclusion, writing a resume is like dating; everyone has their preferences and what they are looking for in a candidate. These are some of my hacks that have helped me break through the door and land interviews. If you would like for me to review or write your resume, please reach out, and I’d be happy to send over rates and help as many people as I can. Implement these hacks into your resume today, and watch how you will be able to land interviews much faster.