RESUME MISTAKES
Turn Your Acting Resume into a Casting Call Magnet
Identify common pitfalls and apply proven fixes to land more auditions.
How This Page Helps
Help actors create a compelling, industry‑standard resume that showcases talent, experience, and professionalism.
Spot vague role descriptions
Eliminate irrelevant non‑acting jobs
Format for casting directors' quick scan
Use the right industry keywords
Present training and awards effectively
Align with ATS used by casting agencies
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Listing every high school playLOW
Why it hurts
- Clutters resume
- Dilutes professional experience
- Casting directors have limited time
How to fix
- Keep only professional, paid, or notable productions
- Group early experiences under a brief 'Early Training' section
- Highlight roles that demonstrate relevant skills
❌ Before
High School Musical – Lead (2010) – Lincoln High School
✓ After
Musical Theatre – Lead (2010) – Lincoln High School (included under Early Training)
ATS Tip
Use concise titles and dates; avoid excessive line items that may be filtered out.
Detection Rules
More than 3 entries before age 18
Includes school name without professional context
Resumly Tip
Trim early roles to a single line or remove them if they don't add value.
Using a generic objective statementMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Doesn't convey unique brand
- Wastes prime space
- May be ignored by ATS
How to fix
- Replace with a brief professional summary highlighting key achievements
- Include specific genres or mediums you excel in
- Add measurable outcomes (e.g., 'Performed in 20+ regional productions')
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking acting opportunities to grow my career.
✓ After
Professional Summary: Versatile actor with 5 years of stage and on‑camera experience, known for strong comedic timing and award‑winning performances in regional theatre.
ATS Tip
Start with keywords like 'actor', 'stage', 'on‑camera', 'comedy'.
Detection Rules
Contains word 'objective'
Length > 1 sentence
Resumly Tip
Swap objective for a 2‑sentence summary that sells your brand.
Listing unrelated day‑job experience without relevanceMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Distracts from acting credentials
- Consumes valuable space
- May confuse casting directors
How to fix
- Only include non‑acting jobs if they demonstrate transferable skills (e.g., public speaking, choreography)
- Otherwise omit them
- If kept, label under 'Additional Experience' with brief bullet points
❌ Before
Barista – Starbucks, 2018‑2020 – Managed cash register and prepared drinks.
✓ After
Additional Experience: Barista – Developed strong customer service and multitasking skills, valuable for fast‑paced set environments.
ATS Tip
Limit unrelated roles to one line each or remove.
Detection Rules
Job titles unrelated to performing arts
More than 2 unrelated entries
Resumly Tip
Focus resume on performance‑related work; keep other jobs to a minimum.
Incorrect date or location formattingHIGH
Why it hurts
- Creates confusion
- Looks unprofessional
- May cause ATS parsing errors
How to fix
- Use consistent month/year format (e.g., Jan 2022 – Dec 2023)
- List city, state for each production
- Align dates chronologically
❌ Before
Theatre Production – June 2021 – New York
✓ After
Theatre Production – Jun 2021 – New York, NY
ATS Tip
Standardize dates to three‑letter month and four‑digit year.
Detection Rules
Dates not in MM/YYYY or Mon YYYY format
Location missing state abbreviation
Inconsistent date styles
Resumly Tip
Adopt a uniform date and location style across the resume.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header (Name, Contact), Professional Summary, Performance Experience, Training & Education, Special Skills, Awards & Recognitions, Additional Experience (optional)
Naming: FirstName_LastName_ActorResume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages; 500‑800 words
Date Format: Mon YYYY (e.g., Jan 2023)
Location Format: City, State (US) or City, Country (International)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear, legible font (e.g., Arial 11‑12 pt)
- Include a professional headshot only if requested
- List only relevant acting credits
- Show dates in consistent format
- Highlight training from accredited institutions
- Add 2‑3 industry keywords
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
- Save as PDF with proper file name
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Casting Networks, Backstage, Actor's Access, Greenhouse (for production companies)
Keyword Strategy: Actor, stage, on‑camera, comedy, drama, musical, improv, lead, supporting, ensemble
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Summary', 'Performance Experience', 'Training', 'Awards'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current actor resume text
- Trim early non‑professional roles
- Convert objective to summary
- Standardize dates and locations
- Add relevant keywords
- Reformat sections to industry standard
Ready to land your next role? Let Resumly polish your resume today!
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