The ideal resume
A resume (or curriculum vitae in some education fields) is the first thing a prospective employer learns about a job seeker and it can mean the difference between getting a foot in the door of that ideal band job, or becoming shredder fodder.
A resume, particularly if there are many applicants, can receive a cursory 30 seconds maximum viewing to determine if it's even worth reading, so it must be well-designed to the eye and succinct. Every word should count. It goes without saying it should be grammatically correct with no typos or misspelled words. Always get an edit!
The resume must be the job applicant in a nutshell. At the top is pertinent contact information: name, mailing address, contact numbers and e-mail address. Contacting an applicant for an interview should be as easy as possible for the potential employer.
Next is often a career objective though there is disagreement about their inclusion. If included, the Objective should be short and specific, not "I'm looking for a position in the field of music that will utilize my skills and experience." Duh. That's why the president of the school board or music organization is holding your resume. Better is to say you are looking for a rewarding position teaching band skills and love of the arts to high-school-aged youth. This may be too narrow for a job seeker who is interested in several possible positions, so it is either better to leave off your objective and state it as the lead in your cover letter, or tailor a resume specifically for each potential job. Both will show the potential employer that the applicant has a definite goal and the specific skills to make the job an ideal fit.
In the main part of the resume, a common practice is to list past positions in reverse chronological order. This works well if the past positions have been relevant to the job sought, with no major breaks in time. Job seekers with little past employment generally lead with education and skills, such as a BS in piano with a minor in theater and demonstrated proficiency in several brasses. Add a cumulative grade average if it's noteworthy and list a membership in school and community bands here. Brief descriptions of past duties should be short and begin with an action verb, like: Played first chair violin a large community orchestra, or managed a music store which supplied three local schools.
An alternative design is to list skills and where the experience was obtained. Such as: band director, followed by where and when. This downplays any large gaps in employment and the stint with the department store can be downplayed or left off.
In all designs, relevant skills and knowledge gained in current and previous jobs as well as major accomplishments should be highlighted. Brief details show the qualities the applicant possesses and the benefits to the further growth of the prospective company.
The last section is usually education. This section can be as brief as schools where degrees were earned, or majors and even courses if the extra relevancy is needed and if its only been a few years since education was completed. Any extra-high school or -college training or certificates should be included here.
One other section which can be included is professional accomplishments. If relevant, this can include organization membership and positions held, committees and boards served, and any studies or papers written or published.
References may be included on a separate sheet; "References upon request" may be stated at the end of the resume, or for a short resume, three references may be listed. These are ideally past supervisors of similar positions, but a past supervisor in an unrelated job plus professionals in a relevant field who know you well may be included.
Ideally, resumes should be tailored to each prospective job, as jobs even in the same field may have diverse requirements and preferences. A well-polished resume is a necessary first step which must be passed before the interview and hiring process.
Most importantly, while some items may be highlighted and others downplayed, all should be verifiably accurate. An inaccuracy early on can eliminate a candidate from consideration; one discovered later may result in the loss of a job and professional integrity.
If you are seeking a band related job on bandjobs.org, the new employment exchange from the USSBA, you will be able to upload a resume or type one in when you create your account.
