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September 25, 2023
How Writing your Resume like a Screenplay can set you up for a successful job search
This article is part of our Blooming Budgets series, with Caren Rose.
Caren Rose is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in the entertainment industry. With a career spanning over two decades, she has made significant contributions in various Film and TV Production roles.
As a Production Finance Controller for an Independent Film Company, Caren excels in navigating complex financial landscapes, delivering accurate reporting and budgeting. Her expertise has made her a trusted expert for many production teams. She also works as a Key Production Accountant for prominent companies like Netflix, Sony, ABC, CBS, and HBO.
Caren focuses on sharing her industry knowledge through online courses, webinars, and tailored tips on Instagram and Facebook. Her courses specialize in Film Finance, Budgeting, Hot Costs, and Cost Reports, providing invaluable insights into the financial aspects of filmmaking.
Resumes are to put together in the best of times, but it’s even trickier when you’re desperately searching for work.
What do you include? What do you remove?
How can you convince people in only a few words that you are stellar, spectacular, exceptional and sensational and they’re making the biggest mistake of their lives if they DON’T hire you?
It’s a tall order.
To help equip experienced industry professionals with the most relevant and useful job search information, Caren Rose highlights some essential tips and tricks to give your resume a glamorous Hollywood makeover as well as tips to convey your confidence during interviews.
Well, not exactly like a screenplay. But the script structure does lend some useful metaphors to the creation of your resume:
They can’t hire you if they can’t contact you. Your full name, phone number and email address should appear near the top of your resume. With the rise of remote work, your full physical address is less relevant. Instead, add your city + state or a region so people know where you live and where you could realistically commute.
This optional section was trendy in the 2010s as a way to briefly introduce your career goals, key skills, and relevant qualifications. These days, it’s less relevant, but for certain positions it could bring context to your resume. Avoid vague language and generalities. Try and evoke an emotional response from the reader with your statement:
Low-Quality: "Detail-oriented accountant with an interest in film finance. Seeking a position to apply financial skills in the entertainment sector."
Snappier: "Numbers connoisseur with a passion for cinema, committed to delivering razor-sharp financial strategies that fuel your film projects and drive lasting success."
A well-structured resume generally includes the following components in the body: skills, experience and references.
Traditionally presented as a list of words in columns, you should dig deep to think of absolutely anything relevant to the job you’re applying for: programming or foreign languages, technical prowess, soft skills, etc.
Use this list of unique skills based on the film industry to brainstorm others that are relevant to your experience:
Experience covers (almost) everything:
Since this is Hollywood, stick to the classic screenwriting rule of show, don't tell. Even better, if you can manage it, tell a story. Here’s an example outline:
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As the head production accountant at Very Fancy Conglomerate, I've been leading a team of [# of team members] skilled financial professionals, orchestrating seamless financial operations for a variety of high-profile film projects. From indie gems to blockbuster hits, my expertise ensures the production's financial success remains at the heart of every venture.
Production Accountant, International Productions Specialist - Pleasant Productions
June 2012 - February 2020
At Pleasant Productions, I embarked on a globetrotting adventure as their go-to production accountant for international projects. The opportunity to navigate diverse tax incentives, currency fluctuations, and financial regulations across continents was a thrill I wholeheartedly embraced.
Junior Production Accountant - Sunny Film Studios
July 2006 - May 2012
Kicking off my production accounting career at Sunny Film Studios, I was the eager new junior production accountant. Here, I learned the ropes of film financing, transforming budgets into cinematic realities.
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The old adage is true – Hollywood is all about who you know. That makes your references section perhaps the most important part of your resume.
It’s tempting to add “References provided upon request” on your resume, but Caren Rose advises against it. You don’t want to give the impression that you’re hesitant to provide this information!
You should always include a list of professional references’ names and contact information when applying for a new position - it shows confidence and comfort in your previous work record.
You can also collect references on LinkedIn, which allows folks to highlight your wonderful qualities in the context of your professional relationship. Having this information available on your profile will allow prospective employers to see how people feel about you without the energy and hassle of making a phone call. If you make it easier for employers to fall in love with you – all the better!
Before you start submitting your resume, take these final steps:
Resume writing is a learnable skill. Will it always be fun? Probably not. Is it easy? It’s rarely easy to practice self-promotion unless you’re already comfortable with it.
Unlike screenplays, your resume doesn't have to be perfect to get you the job. You might be at the end of one career story about the embark on another, but you have the power to write your way into your next great role.
The Revolution Team
