Many actors ask me why they can’t just upload their resume as a Word doc on to their Actors Compass site. We strive to make AC as painless as possible. However, there are certain measures we urge you to take that may seem like a nuisance but are for your own good. Sharing your resume online as a PDF rather than a Word doc is one of these measures. I’m sorry, you just have to deal. You’ll thank us in the end, I promise.
In the first part of this series last week, I talked about what should and should not go into your actor resume. This week, I want to show you how to format your resume content so that (a) it looks professional and (b) grabs the attention that it deserves. You should know that I use Microsoft Word on a Mac to edit my resume. You’ll have to translate these instructions to your computer setup if you use something else. Thankfully tools in all text editing software are pretty similar. Alright, here we go!
In my work as a web developer creating acting sites, I often spend a lot of time helping clients format their bios, images, resumes, etc. This, on top of spending time on my OWN actor branding package! One of the most common questions I receive is: “Can you format my resume so it doesn’t look so sucky?” Yes, “sucky” is an official industry term. Fortunately, the answer to this question is yes. Today, I will focus on the content of your resume so it highlights the best of who you are and what you offer.
You got your hair did, you put on your prettiest outfit, and you smiled real nice for the camera. Make sure that your beautiful head shots are properly optimized so that they load properly on your site. Here’s how:
Look at the file size of the image you want to optimize (select image file and then right click > Get Info, or select ⌘ + I). If the file is larger than 500 KB (for instance, 2.3 MB is huge), it needs to be optimized. Also, if either the width or height is larger than 1500 pixels, it’s way too big and needs to be optimized.
Create a copy of the image file! You do NOT want to edit your original images. Give the copy a unique name so you don’t destroy the original file by accident.
Open the image in an image editor (both Preview on Mac or Picture Manager and PC […]
You know what it’s like when you go to a bad website. It takes like 0.05 second for you to say, “ew.” Seriously. It’s been proven. Google did a study a few years ago and they found out that it literally takes 1/20 of a second for someone to form a decision about your website. So now that you have your actor website, you have to make sure that everything is shipshape. Here are some important do’s and dont’s to keep in mind as you get everything together for your awesome site.
DO’s
MAKE SURE THEY SEE YOU
Put an image of yourself on every page of your site. When agents and casting are looking at your resume, they don’t want to have to click away to remember what you look like.
MAKE IT EASY TO CONTACT YOU
Make sure you provide a way for that casting agent to get a hold of you easily […]
