Creating the Perfect Child Actor Resume

Supporting Young ActorsActing Tips
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Creating the Perfect Child Actor Resume


When trying to book any sort of job for your child, making sure they have a well-organized, comprehensive resume will dramatically increase their chances of getting hired. While not having a resume at all is a problem, having a poorly-crafted one can be just as detrimental.

A disorganized resume riddled with irrelevant information, or a scant, brief resume with no significant detail can limit opportunities and job offers. If you have ever sent out resumes for your child but never seem to get any opportunities, perhaps the problem lies in an unengaging, underdeveloped resume.

Since resumes are often the very first impression a potential agent or casting director will get from your child, they should be crafted to showcase their talents in the best light. A resume that has been written hurriedly or without careful consideration is not hard to spot, and will likely get cast aside immediately. In such a competitive industry, your child can't afford to not stand out.

Here's what you need to know about how to organize and craft your child actor's resume:

 

Personal Information

At the very top of the resume should be your child's name, along with your child's specific physical details and measurements: age, weight, height, eye and hair color. For these resumes, standard fonts should be used. Your child's name may be in slightly larger type than the rest of the information, but there is no need for elaborate fonts or formatting.

Beneath your child's name should also be their contact information, including their manager's contact information, if they have one. These details should be clearly separated into two columns—personal information on one side, contact information on the other. Also in this section, should be an age range of characters they can realistically play.

 

Experience

This will likely be the bulk of your child's resume. Depending on whether or not your child has experience in multiple fields, you will include one or several headings. The actual heading of "experience" is not needed, as this will be understood by casting directors. Possible headings for this section include “Film,” “Television,” “Theatre,” “Voice Over,” and “Commercials.” Some of these sections may be more specialized if your child is active in one specific field; for instance, an actor specializing in theatre could have a heading for only regional theatre roles, a heading for musical theatre roles, and so on.

In terms of formatting, this section is best organized into three columns. On the left column should be the name of the production your child was in. In the center should be the name or title of the role they played. And on the right should be the production company they were employed at for the role. This allows for a clear, easy-to-read list with all the pertinent information laid out for potential employers.

 

Training and Awards

If relevant, your child's resume should also include headings for any training they have undergone, and any awards they have received for their work. The training section should list any schools or classes your child has attended to hone their craft. Specific instructors and institutions should be named.

 

Special Skills

If the rest of your child's resume is scant, this is the section to pick up the slack. Usually formatted as a list or in three columns, this section is where any other relevant information to your child's capabilities should go. Sports they play, activities they are proficient in (such as improvisation), dancing and musical skills, dialects, experience with animals, skateboarding, acrobatics, and ability to use specific tools or machinery are all appropriate to list in Special Skills.

Writing a resume, especially for young performers new to the business, can be intimidating. But using the above tips can provide a roadmap for success. With a stellar resume, child actors have the chance to make terrific first impressions and present themselves as the shining stars they are.

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