Here are a few tips for actors submitting resumes:

Actors need to think in terms of a resume packet rather than just submitting a resume. In that packet should be a cover letter, a resume, and a picture.

Should introduce you, drop any names of people that might have directed you towards a project, and show knowledge of what the project is about.

A picture is a must. The picture needs to be 8 ½ x 11 and every hair must be in place. Don’t send in a snapshot, get the picture professionally done.

Depending upon the actor’s experience, the resume will either be similar to the functional resume shown on page 176, or for people more recently out of school, it will also contain elements of the college graduation resume on pages 165 and 166 of Surviving the 15-Second Resume Read.

Like other resumes, poor presentation and poor fonts will make someone need to work hard to decide if you have what they are looking for. This can cause you to loose an opportunity. To counter that, use the formatting information in Chapter Four of Surviving the 15-Second Resume Read. This will allow you to create a resume that is inviting to read.

Get right to the point on your resume by using clean, tight writing.

• Do say what you did in class if you don’t have other experience, but if you have a long list, edit it to a few important items.
• Do join unions and put those affiliations on that resume.
• Do put down special skills such as accents you do well, physical talents like jumping on the trampoline, and horseback riding skills. But make sure you can do these well.
• Put those specialized skills in a separate category and label them so they are easy to find at a glance.

• Don’t put a street address on the resume. Use a post office box. Too often resumes end up in the trash and someone searching through a trash dumpster will have a picture of you. Don’t give them your home address.
• Never make up stories. It’ll catch up with you. Too often people will know if you really did what you claim and this kind of behavior can be the kiss of death for more than the project at hand.