RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Letting Resume Mistakes Block Your TV Production Career
Identify and correct the most common errors TV producers make on their resumes.
How This Page Helps
Help TV producers craft a polished, ATSâfriendly resume that showcases their creative leadership and production expertise.
Spot hidden formatting issues
Learn industryâspecific keyword strategies
See beforeâandâafter examples
Apply a stepâbyâstep checklist
Boost your chances with top production companies
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using vague job titlesHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers canât gauge your seniority
- ATS may not match industry keywords
How to fix
- Replace generic titles with specific ones like 'Senior TV Producer' or 'Executive Producer â Reality TV'
- Include the type of content you produced
â Before
Producer at XYZ Studios
â After
Senior TV Producer â Reality & Documentary, XYZ Studios
ATS Tip
Match the exact title used in job postings.
Detection Rules
Title lacks seniority indicator
Title not in industry keyword list
Resumly Tip
Add a descriptor to clarify scope and genre.
Listing duties instead of achievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Doesnât demonstrate impact
- ATS looks for quantifiable results
How to fix
- Use bullet points that start with action verbs and include metrics
- Show audience reach, budget size, awards
â Before
Managed production schedules and coordinated crew.
â After
Led a 30âperson crew to deliver 8 weekly episodes on time, increasing viewership by 15% and winning a Telly Award.
ATS Tip
Include numbers and award names.
Detection Rules
Bullet points start with 'Managed' without results
No numbers present
Resumly Tip
Convert duties into resultsâfocused statements.
Ignoring ATSâfriendly formattingMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Resume may be rejected before human eyes
- Formatting can scramble keywords
How to fix
- Use standard headings (Experience, Skills)
- Avoid tables, graphics, and columns
- Save as .docx or PDF with selectable text
â Before
Resume with twoâcolumn layout and embedded video link.
â After
Singleâcolumn, clean layout with plain text headings and a hyperlink to portfolio.
ATS Tip
Stick to simple fonts like Arial or Calibri, 11â12 pt.
Detection Rules
Presence of tables or columns
Embedded multimedia
Resumly Tip
Convert to singleâcolumn, plainâtext format.
Missing genreâspecific keywordsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS wonât rank you for TV production roles
- Recruiters skim for key terms
How to fix
- Research job ads for terms like 'script development', 'budget management', 'postâproduction', 'live broadcast'
- Add them naturally in experience and skills sections
â Before
Responsible for overseeing projects.
â After
Oversaw script development, budget management ($2M), and postâproduction for live broadcast events.
ATS Tip
Include at least 5 relevant keywords.
Detection Rules
Keyword count <5 for industry terms
Generic language
Resumly Tip
Insert genreâspecific buzzwords.
Omitting measurable results for budgetsLOW
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers canât assess financial stewardship
- ATS may miss 'budget' keyword
How to fix
- State budget size and cost savings
- Show ROI or profit increase
â Before
Handled budgets for shows.
â After
Managed $3.5M production budget, cutting costs by 12% while maintaining quality, resulting in a 20% profit increase.
ATS Tip
Use exact dollar figures and percentages.
Detection Rules
Budget mentioned without numbers
No costâsaving metrics
Resumly Tip
Quantify budget responsibilities.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Experience, Education, Awards & Certifications, Technical Skills
Naming: FirstName_LastName_TVProducer_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1â2 pages for midâlevel, up to 3 pages for senior
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear, singleâcolumn layout
- Include a professional summary with genre focus
- List core competencies with industry keywords
- Show achievements with numbers and awards
- Mention budget sizes and cost savings
- Add relevant software (e.g., Avid, Final Cut)
- Provide links to portfolio or showreel
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Include terms like 'production pipeline', 'budget oversight', 'script development', 'postâproduction', 'live broadcast'
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as 'Professional Experience' and 'Core Competencies'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current TV producer resume text
- Standardize headings
- Convert duties to achievements
- Insert genreâspecific keywords
- Apply ATSâsafe formatting
- Add quantifiable metrics
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