RESUME MISTAKES
Turn Your Talent Into a Winning Resume
Avoid common pitfalls and showcase your performance experience like a pro.
How This Page Helps
Help entertainers create resumes that capture their unique skills, experience, and personality while passing ATS filters and impressing casting directors.
Identify the 7 most common resume errors for performers
Learn actionable fixes tailored to stage, screen, and music
Optimize for ATS used by talent agencies
Craft compelling performance summaries
Download a ready-to-use resume template
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using a generic objective statementMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Casting directors skim quickly and see no relevance
- Objective provides no measurable value
- ATS may ignore vague language
How to fix
- Replace objective with a 2‑sentence performance summary
- Include specific genres, years of experience, and standout skills
- Add keywords from the job posting
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a position in the entertainment industry.
✓ After
Summary: Versatile stage actor with 5 years of Broadway experience, known for dynamic character work and strong vocal range.
ATS Tip
Swap objective for a keyword‑rich summary that highlights role‑specific skills.
Detection Rules
Contains the word 'objective'
Less than 30 words
Resumly Tip
Swap objective for a performance‑focused summary that includes key skills.
Listing every gig chronologically without relevanceHIGH
Why it hurts
- Long lists dilute impact of marquee roles
- Hiring managers lose focus on recent, relevant work
- ATS may truncate older entries
How to fix
- Prioritize the last 10 years and most notable productions
- Group similar roles under a single heading
- Quantify achievements (e.g., audience size, awards)
❌ Before
2010 Community theater – Lead, 2009 School play – Supporting, 2008 Local improv – Performer, ... (15+ entries)
✓ After
2022 Broadway – Lead, "Hamilton" – Role: Eliza (8 shows/week, 5‑star reviews) 2020 Off‑Broadway – Featured, "Dear Evan Hansen" (Award nomination)
ATS Tip
Focus on relevant keywords and recent dates; remove outdated entries.
Detection Rules
More than 10 entries older than 5 years
No bullet points with achievements
Resumly Tip
Trim older gigs and highlight award‑winning performances.
Using vague language and buzzwordsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Doesn't convey concrete talent or results
- ATS may not match generic terms to specific role requirements
- Casting directors seek measurable impact
How to fix
- Replace buzzwords with specific actions (e.g., "performed" → "delivered a 30‑minute solo"),
- Add numbers: audience size, ticket sales, viewership
❌ Before
Responsible for various performances and collaborations.
✓ After
Delivered a 30‑minute solo in front of 2,000‑person audience, increasing ticket sales by 12% for the season.
ATS Tip
Use action verbs and quantifiable metrics that match industry keywords.
Detection Rules
Contains words like 'responsible', 'team player', 'dynamic' without specifics
Resumly Tip
Swap vague buzzwords for concrete achievements and numbers.
Incorrect formatting of dates and locationsLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS cannot parse inconsistent date formats
- Hiring managers may question professionalism
How to fix
- Standardize dates to MM/YYYY
- List city and state (or country) consistently
- Align dates to the right for easy scanning
❌ Before
June 2018 – March 2020 – New York City – Broadway Show
✓ After
Broadway Show – New York, NY 06/2018 – 03/2020
ATS Tip
Consistent MM/YYYY format ensures ATS reads employment periods correctly.
Detection Rules
Dates not in MM/YYYY
Location includes street address
Resumly Tip
Standardize date and location formatting for ATS readability.
Submitting as an image‑only PDF that ATS can’t readHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS cannot extract text, causing the resume to be discarded
- Keywords are invisible to parsing algorithms
How to fix
- Export resume as searchable PDF or DOCX
- Avoid embedding text in images or graphics
- Run a text‑extract test before sending
❌ Before
[Image of a stylized resume with decorative fonts]
✓ After
Searchable PDF generated from Word template, preserving design but with selectable text.
ATS Tip
Use PDF/A or DOCX formats; ensure text layers are selectable.
Detection Rules
File type is .png, .jpg, or scanned PDF
Text selection fails in PDF viewer
Resumly Tip
Convert to a searchable PDF or DOCX to ensure ATS can read your content.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Performance Experience, Education & Training, Skills, Awards & Recognitions, Professional Affiliations
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Entertainer_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1–2 pages (max 2)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear, bold header with name and contact information
- Write a 2‑sentence performance summary with industry keywords
- List relevant gigs with role, production, dates, and achievements
- Include training, certifications, and special skills (e.g., dance, instrument)
- Add awards, union memberships, and professional affiliations
- Proofread for spelling and consistency
- Save as a searchable PDF
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Workday, JazzHR, Greenhouse
Keyword Strategy: Stage actor, musical theater, choreography, vocal range, improv, union SAG-AFTRA
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Summary', 'Performance Experience', 'Education & Training'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current entertainer resume text
- Convert objective to summary
- Trim outdated gigs
- Add quantifiable achievements
- Standardize date format
- Insert industry keywords
Ready to shine? Let Resumly polish your entertainer resume today!
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