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Looking to start or progress your career in music? Your resume could be the best tool you have. Here’s what you need to know about writing a music resume.
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There are few industries as competitive as the music industry. Whether you want to work with a symphony orchestra or you want to be a music teacher, the best jobs don’t always go to the best musicians. Why? Because sometimes, these talented individuals don’t have a resume that really shows off their skills. The right perfect resume can supercharge your career in music wherever you see that going. Here’s our tips for creating one.
Build my resumeThere are many who can benefit from a good music resume, including those in these professions:
Any job which requires the creation or performance of music as a major facet of its duties can use a great music resume.
It is hard to properly convey talent in a music resume, so it is important that you showcase the right skills, certifications, and achievements. You have to convince a recruiter or hiring manager that you have the skill for the role before you get an interview, and that is not easy. When writing your music resume, you should consider the skills and experience the person who’s looking to fill the position would want an ideal candidate to have, as expressed in the job description. Here are some key areas to focus on:
No matter your resume your resume format you should include either a resume summary or an objective statement. A resume summary statement is a sum-up of the skills, qualifications, and achievements that make you the best person for the job. This is best for a professional resume that includes a lot of work experience. If you have a short work history, a resume objective statement is best. This is a statement of your career goals and top skills. Neither should take up more than three lines or 6 bullet points on the page.
Your resume skills section will be crucial when it comes to impressing a music director or hiring manager. This section should be a summary of your most important technical skills and soft skills. Give priority to your technical and hard skills, of course, but if the role requires working in a group, you should also indicate soft skills that will make you a good fit for the team.
When applying for a role in music, your previous jobs and gigs will be important. You should list your work experience section in reverse chronological order and provide up to 15 years of experience. When listing previous roles, focus on achievements and examples where you’ve used your skills. For example, if you are looking to join a band or orchestra, highlight your performance successes rather than just listing the bands you have worked with. Likewise, if you want to be a music teacher, your teaching experiences should be the focus of your resume. Remember that you can also list self-employment in this section; if you have worked freelance or had solo gigs, then this can be very useful, especially if you can link to online resources.
Your education section may not always be of great importance in the music industry. However, if you are a Bachelor of Music or you have completed master classes in certain instruments, you should list these accomplishments here. Do not list your high school diploma unless you have no other education to reference.
Depending on the area of the music industry that you want to work in, your achievements and awards can be very influential. List any music awards or notable achievements you have earned in a professional, personal, or academic setting.
If you appear on any albums or recordings, or have some performances of note in your background, list them here.
If you have recognized certifications that are relevant to your field, for example, certifications to use certain music recording technology or provide tutoring, then these should be listed in reverse chronological order. You should also give as much detail as you can about the certification: for example, which organization certified the skill, when you completed certification, and if applicable, your grade (especially if it was exceptionally high).
This basic structure gives a complete and effective music teacher, producer, or musician resume – simply tailor it to suit your needs. If you want to make your resume more professional in appearance, use our resume templates via the ResumeHelp resume builder.
Build my resumeIf you want to really boost your resume, you can also consider relevant music resume samples that are relevant to the role you are applying for. Looking at these examples will give you ideas for the kinds of experience and achievements you can feature on your own resume:
These are just some of the excellent resume examples found on the ResumeHelp resume directory – take the time to browse examples before you write your resume.
If you want to ensure that your music resume really stands out, then these resume writing tips will help you to create the best resume for your needs:
Consider the job posting and look for keywords that spell out what the music position needs in terms of skills and requirements. Address those keywords in your resume by highlighting appropriate skills, certifications, and experiences you have to make a persuasive case.
The music industry is highly competitive, so if you have held prestigious positions or attended important educational institutions, this can go in your favor. For example, if you studied at the Juilliard performing arts conservatory in New York, this will be seriously eye-catching.
Your resume is not the place for humility; you are trying to sell your skills to a hiring manager or music director, so be bold. Single out achievements and awards.
The best career advice for anyone undertaking a job search in the music industry is to spend time creating the best resume possible. You can’t expect that recruiters will have seen you play, but you can convince them to give you a chance through a compelling resume.
Build my resumeHave questions? We’re here to help.
Yes – you should always match your music resume with a great cover letter. Consider cover letter writing tips to make the best first impression.
There are so many facets of the music industry and its related industries that there is no single answer to this question. However, you will always have a better chance of getting a music job if you have experience. It may be easier to get a job as a music teacher than a musical theater director with minimal experience, for example, but featuring volunteer or internship experience alongside professional experience will always be beneficial.
Yes – it is always a great idea to tailor your resume to each new job application. You should consider the job description and mirror the language used there to ensure that you address all of a potential employer’s concerns and needs.
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