Sample Resume for a Actor

Actors perform in stage, radio, television, video, or motion pictures. It's hard for most actors to find steady work. Only a few become famous "stars." Some well-known, skilled actors may be in supporting roles. Others work as "extras," with no lines or only one or two lines. They also teach in high school or college drama departments, acting conservatories, or public programs.

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Sample Actor Resume

Smith Anderson,
1347, West 32 Street,
San Diego, MA 12061,
(123)-486 7325.

Resume Objective:

Special Features :

Hair: Lt.Brown/Grey
Eyes: Green
Height:5'9"

Education:

Downtown State University, University of Maryland
Joan See
Eric Morris
Walt Witcover
The Actors Ensemble

Skills and Certifications:

• Classical Singing
• Computer Skills

EXPERIENCE:

Description for Actor

JOB TITLE:
Actor
JOB PURPOSE:
Employment of actors, producers, and directors is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Although a growing number of people will aspire to enter these professions, many will leave the field early because the work—when it is available—is hard, the hours are long, and the pay is low. Competition for jobs will be stiff, in part because the large number of highly trained and talented actors auditioning for roles generally exceeds the number of parts that become available. Only performers with the most stamina and talent will find regular employment.

Expanding cable and satellite television operations, increasing production and distribution of major studio and independent films, and continued growth and development of interactive media, such as direct-for-Web movies and videos, should increase demand for actors, producers, and directors. However, greater emphasis on national, rather than local, entertainment productions may restrict employment opportunities in the broadcasting industry.

Venues for live entertainment, such as Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters, touring productions, and repertory theaters in many major metropolitan areas, as well as theme parks and resorts, are expected to offer many job opportunities. However, prospects in these venues are more variable, because they fluctuate with economic conditions.

REPORTS TO: Director, Manager, Senior Actor

LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Persons who become actors, producers, and directors follow many paths. Employers generally look for people with the creative instincts, innate talent, and intellectual capacity to perform. Actors should possess a passion for performing and enjoy entertaining others. Most aspiring actors participate in high school and college plays, work in college radio stations, or perform with local community theater groups. Local and regional theater experience and work in summer stock, on cruise lines, or in theme parks helps many young actors hone their skills and earn qualifying credits toward membership in one of the actors’ unions.

Union membership and work experience in smaller communities may lead to work in larger cities, notably New York or Los Angeles. In television and film, actors and directors typically start in smaller television markets or with independent movie production companies and then work their way up to larger media markets and major studio productions. Intense competition, however, can be expected at each level, because ever more applicants will be vying for increasingly fewer numbers of available positions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Actors follow many paths. They should love acting and entertaining others. Most new actors play a part in high school and college plays, work in college radio stations, or act with local groups. Some have local experience and work in summer plays, on cruise lines, or in theme parks. This helps many young actors sharpen their skills and earn needed credits for membership in one of the actors' unions. Union membership and work experience in smaller communities may lead to work in larger cities, mainly New York or Los Angeles. Actors usually work their way up to larger parts and productions.

Actors usually train at an acting school or in a college program. However, some people enter the field without it. Those who want a bachelor's degree take classes in radio and television broadcasting, communications, film, theater, drama, or dramatic literature. Many continue their college training and get a master's degree in fine arts. Training may include classes in stage speech and movement, directing, playwriting, and design, as well as acting workshops.

Actors often work with a drama coach. They research their roles so they can understand the story's setting and background. Sometimes they learn a foreign language or train with a coach to develop a certain accent to make their characters realistic.

Actors need a lot of talent in order to play different parts. Skills such as singing, dancing, skating, or juggling may be important. Actors must have self control and be able to follow directions. Modeling experience also may be helpful. Physical appearance, such as the right size, weight, or facial look, often determines who gets selected for certain roles.

Duties and responsibilities:

Actors, producers, and directors express ideas and create images in theater, film, radio, television, and other performing arts media. They interpret a writer’s script to entertain, inform, or instruct an audience. Although the most famous actors, producers, and directors work in film, network television, or theater in New York or Los Angeles, far more work in local or regional television studios, theaters, or film production companies preparing advertising, public-relations, or independent, small-scale movie productions.

Actors perform in stage, radio, television, video, or motion picture productions. They also work in cabarets, nightclubs, theme parks, commercials, and “industrial” films produced for training and educational purposes. Most actors struggle to find steady work; only a few ever achieve recognition as stars. Some well-known, experienced performers may be cast in supporting roles. Others work as “extras,” with no lines to deliver, or make brief, cameo appearances, speaking only one or two lines. Some actors do voiceover and narration work for advertisements, animated features, books on tape, and other electronic media, including computer games. They also teach in high school or university drama departments, acting conservatories, or public programs.

Evening and weekend work is a regular part of a stage actor’s life. On weekends, more than one performance may be held per day. Actors and directors working on movies or television programs—especially those who shoot on location—may work in the early morning or late evening hours to film night scenes or tape scenes inside public facilities outside of normal business hours.

Actors should be in good physical condition and have the necessary stamina and coordination to move about theater stages and large movie and television studio lots. They also need to maneuver about complex technical sets while staying in character and projecting their voices audibly. Actors must be fit to endure heat from stage or studio lights and the weight of heavy costumes. Producers and directors ensure the safety of actors by conducting extra rehearsals on the set so that the actors can learn the layout of set pieces and props, by allowing time for warmups and stretching exercises to guard against physical and vocal injuries, and by providing an adequate number of breaks to prevent heat exhaustion and dehydration.

Find Employees in New York City, New York

Time loads of Actor

Most acting jobs only last a short period of time—from 1 day to a few months—which means that actors can have a long time between jobs. Some actors have other jobs in order to make enough money.

Actors work long and irregular hours. They may do one show at night and another during the day. They also might travel with a particular job. Evening and weekend work is a regular part of an actor's life.

How to Write A Good Resume Objective

1. Avoid job titles - Resume Objective.

Job titles such as "Secretary" or "Market Manager" can involve very different activities in different organizations. The same job can often have different titles in different organizations and using such a title may very well limit your being considered for such jobs as "Office Manager" or "Marketing Assistant." It is best to use broad categories of jobs rather than specific titles, so that you can be considered for a wide variety of jobs related to the skills you have. For example, instead of "Secretary" you could say "Responsible Office Management or Clerical Position" if that is what you would really consider - and qualify for.

2. Define a "bracket of responsibility" to include the possibility of upward mobility - Resume Objective.

While you may be willing to accept a specific job drawing on your current skills keep yourself open for jobs that require higher levels of responsibility and pay. Use categories of skills and titles so that the person reviewing your resume might consider you for other openings.

In effect, you should define a 'bracket of responsibility' in your objective that includes the range of jobs that you are willing to accept. This bracket should include the lower range of jobs that you would consider as well as those requiring higher levels of responsibility, up to and including those that you think you could handle. Even if you have not handled those higher levels of responsibility in the past, many employers may consider you for them if you have the skills to support the objective.

3. Include your most important skills - Resume Objective.

What are the most important skills needed for the job you want? Consider including one or more of these as being required in the job that you seek. The implication here is that if you are looking for a job that requires 'Organizational Skills,' then you have those skills. Of course, your interview (and resume) should support those skills with specific examples.

4. Include specifics if these are important to you - Resume Objective.

If you have substantial experience in a particular industry (such as 'Computer Controlled Machine Tools') or have a narrow and specific objective that you really want (such as 'Art Therapist with the Mentally Handicapped'), then it is OK to state this. But, in so doing, realize that by narrowing your alternatives down you will often not be considered for other jobs for which you might qualify. Still, if that is what you want, it just may be worth pursuing (though I would still encourage you to have a second, more general objective just in case).

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Finalize Your Resume Objective Statement

The most important is that you can clearly state what sort of a job you want and know what kinds of skills and experiences are needed to do well in that job. Even if you decide to change your job objective later, it is very important that you decide on one now for effective marketing.

Don’t be afraid to interview for jobs that seem far outside your skill set. If you don’t force yourself to reach higher you will never be considered. Don’t expect lady luck to come knocking when you could have opened the door and walked thru. Ask about opportunities for advancement. Apply for jobs above your last experience and challenge yourself.

Having spent years working with highly paid executives it is obvious most executives are learning as they go. Few know exactly what they are doing. What they do know is how to take chances, accept risk and turn everyday events into income producing opportunities. Make yourself reach for that next level up. You too can make it to the top of your field/company. See you there.