The time is now!
It’s important to take a moment every now and then to ensure that your résumé is the best it can possibly be. So, why wait? Now is as good a time as any to revamp that old CV of yours. The good news? We recently sat down with a few production staff hiring leads to find out what they look for—their turn-ons and turn-offs—and we’re going to tell you exactly how to improve your tried-and-true work bio so that it’s ushered to the top of the pile. Just follow these ten simple steps:
1. Keep it clean and professional
What do you want your first impression to be? A clean, concise résumé helps you stand out. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but you should keep it tight and fill it only with relevant information. Avoid confusion at all costs. Sell yourself to the reader by clearly showcasing your experience and your skills. Peek at your email address (this gets overlooked a lot). Is it professional enough to match your résumé? Perhaps your personal partygirl1999@fakemail.gov account won’t leave the best first impression with recruiters. Be sure that the name on your résumé is the one you go by (if your document says “Jane Doe” but you sign emails as “Sally,” there will be some confusion). Make it easy for hiring managers to know who you are.
2. Keep your design simple
Keep your design and layout simple. Overdesigning can make your information confusing and hard to read. For example: avoid the temptation to align information like your name perpendicular to the main text so that the reader must turn their head. Don’t embellish too much or create a complex legend of yourself—it just makes life harder for recruiters and hiring managers (never a good idea!). If you need help, consider building your résumé in Microsoft Word or Canva. Want more options? Purchase a template online—there are tons of them. View your résumé through the eyes of the person who'll read it. Do they get a sense of your prior work and skillset at a glance?
And please, no headshots.
3. Keep it tight
One page is plenty. Most people just want to see your most recent, relevant, and important experience (presented efficiently, of course). With each project, ask yourself, “Is this relevant enough?” If your work history doesn’t fit on one page, include a link to IMDb (so “Hollywood” of you!) That being said, do not make people look in two places on your document for your information. Prominently display your name and contact information. If you submit a cover letter, make sure that the information matches your résumé. For example, if your cover letter says that you’re a PSL+ expert, your résumé should reflect that as well. Keep consistent with formatting, and make sure you check for typos. Don’t lose a job because your email address was off by one letter. And always, always proofreed,
That was a test. This is why you proofread.
4. Include all the right info
This is the meat. The substance. From the start, your file must be clearly labeled (we suggest: First Name Last Name_ Resume). Include your current contact information and where you’re based; this is helpful when sourcing for locations. State the roles you’ve filled as clearly as possible. When listing previous work experience, include project names, studio names, dates worked, and locations of production. Here, you can list the top two people to whom you reported (if space allows). A detailed highlight of your work history helps illustrate your experience with projects of different sizes and styles, letting the reader know you understand a variety of procedures, policies, and software. However, be economical about what you present; if you’ve graduated to “1st Assistant Accountant,” there’s no need to include every prior clerking position you’ve held. The most up-to-date jobs should reflect the position to which you’re applying.
5. Include your home base
Every recruiter and hiring manager will ask you where you’re primarily located, so remove the extra step and include this information on your résumé. In an industry like this one (where people are spread out to every corner of the map) this is vital. Be sure to include whether you’re open to remote work, travel, or distant hire. As accountants are often freelance workers, some projects will ask you to move around. It’s important to share all available information.
6. Highlight your specific experience
Do you know about local labor laws? Have you worked on an episodic production? This is your opportunity to showcase all your capabilities. Believe it or not, your formal education isn’t that important—not like skills with the newest production software. Try keeping all your programs and product expertise in a consolidated area to show the breadth of your skills in one swoop.
Oh, and don’t forget to include your union status and membership info!
7. Show your software expertise
As the industry becomes more and more reliant on digital tools, it’s imperative that you let hiring managers know from the start that you have experience that sets you apart from the competition. Be sure to include any software classes you’ve taken and the specific tools with which you’ve Having all this information presented clearly on your résumé shows that you are up to date with industry standards as well.
8. Add a reference or two
Don’t create an unnecessary step by making hiring managers come back to you for that information later in the process. If you have it ready, you can share those names and speed things up. List the people you’ve worked with most recently. It doesn’t hurt to have a few people noted and ready to go in case of necessity.
9. Send the right file
Did you know that PDFs are the preferred file type with most hiring managers? Now you do, so always send your résumé as a PDF. Other file types may mess with formatting, and not everyone has a program like Word on their device. If you want to be extra cautious (and who wouldn’t?), send the PDF to yourself first to confirm that everything is in the right place. Badly formatted documents run the risk of being passed over. Be kind to recruiters by making things easy to read; not everyone has the same Mac or PC.
10. Be ready
This isn't just a tip, it’s a mantra. Always have your résumé ready to go and easily accessible, because you never know when the next opportunity will come. Going on vacation? Brush up on how to send a PDF from your phone. Keep your résumé in a place where you can get to it from anywhere and at any time. Make a habit of keeping your credits up to date, even when you’re not looking for work.
Seems simple, right? It is. Refining your résumé every now and then will greatly improve the first impression you leave when it’s time to jump into something new. So, let’s get to work, my production accounting friends! Projects are gearing up, and they need you.
Are you a production accountant? Join our network!
Bishop Porter, Manager of Production Accountant Relations for Cast & Crew, has over 10 years of experience working at Cast & Crew OnSet in New Orleans. Having previously worked as both a production and payroll accountant, Bishop loves connecting with others in the field and hopes to be a resource for them in their job search. She loves to hear all the exciting stories from deep in the trenches of production. Join Bishop and our growing community of professional production accountants in The PAC, an exclusive Facebook group.
To be considered for future work opportunities, please join the Accountant Database by emailing your résumé to ProductionAccountingResumes@castandcrew.com.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on July 12, 2021, and was updated on May 15, 2023, to include new advice for production accountants.
