Dream of landing a great role in the music industry? The first step to success if a killer CV.
A properly formatted, well-written and tailored CV will seriously increase your chances of landing an interview.
But if you’re not sure where to start, this guide will steer you in the right direction.
It contains everything you need to put forward a job-winning application, including a tried-and-tested example musician CV.
Here’s what I’ll cover in the guide:
The example CV above should give you a could idea of how to layout your CV for maximum impact.
This candidate puts forward their key skills and experience in a punchy profile and core skills list, allowing the reader to see their potential from the start.
The clearly-formatted headings also mean it’s easy for recruiters to scan through the document and pinpoint the information they’re seeking.
With recruiters potentially reading hundreds of CVs per role, they don’t have long to review each application.
That’s why, above anything, your music CV should be well-presented, clear and concise.
By using my simple structure and format tricks, you can ensure your CV is easy to read and has a professional appearance.
Break your key information up into the following CV sections:
Next, we’ll go through each CV section in greater detail, so you understand exactly what you need to include:
Kick-off your CV by listing your contact details.
These only need to be basic at this stage – there’s no point wasting space with excessive detail.
Here’s what you should include:
At the very top of your CV, you should write a personal profile (or personal statement for junior or graduate applicants).
This should be a well-rounded summary of your music skills, experience and achievements to date.
Recruiters normally read this first, so your aim should be to hook their attention and entice them into the rest of your CV.
Tips to consider when creating your profile:
Quick tip: Spelling and grammar mistakes could make your CV look unprofessional. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder, to check it over for errors.
Next, prove your suitability for the role by listing your core music skills and specialisms.
Format these into 2-3 columns of bullet points for maximum impact.
Your list should be tailored to the role, highlighting the skills, techniques, software and disciplines mentioned in the job advertisement.
Next up is your work experience section, which some music professionals might find difficult.
Depending on the nature of your job, you might have what’s referred to as a ‘mosaic career’ – ie, numerous short-term roles and contracts.
But busy recruiter or casting directors don’t want to read about every contract you’ve ever had, so you need to be selective.
What’s the solution? Try to prioritise space and go into the most detail for your biggest and most relevant jobs/contracts.
If you run out of space, just list the name of the show or company you worked on/for, along with the dates, for your oldest or most irrelevant roles.
For musicians/performers, another option is to highlight longer contracts in a work experience section, but then include a ‘Performances’ section underneath, where you provide a snappy list of the key shows you’ve been part of.
Ultimately, no matter what your career path looks like, it’s best to focus on relevancy to the target role.
Quick tip: If you write or compose music, add an ‘Original Compositions‘ section and cite your stand out pieces or albums.
If you want to keep recruiter’s attention hooked, your work experience needs to be snappy and easy to digest.
My 3-step role structure, as outlined below, will allow them to scan through your career history without missing on critical information:
Outline
Start with a well-rounded overview of the company you worked for, what the role or contract entailed and who you worked alongside.
“Lead violinist in the string section of a major orchestra, performing for audiences ranging from 100-8,000.”
Key responsibilities
Share a punchy list of your key duties, using short bullet points for ease of reading.
Key achievements
To impress recruiters even further, create a list of your key achievements within the role.
This might be results, feedback, awards or ratings, or anything else that added value to the employer, a client or the audience.
If you can, quantify your examples using hard facts and figures.
After your work experience, use the education section to display your qualifications.
Start with your sector-specific music qualifications, such as your degree, a music BTEC, music A-Level, or specific instrument theory and practical grades.
You should share the institution or governing body, your grades and the dates of study.
Then, give a brief overview of your other qualifications, especially if they’re in some way relevant to the role.
Quick tip: Junior and graduate candidates should add more detail to this section. If there were any aspects of a course – such as an assignment, placement or project – that are particularly relevant to the role you’re applying for, discuss them in further detail.
This is an optional section, but it can be particularly useful in the music industry.
Musicians or other professionals in the music industry need to be passionate about the sector. Therefore, any hobby, side project or interest that showcases your commitment to music, or has helped you gain relevant skills, should be discussed.
For example, perhaps you’re part of a performing arts or music club, are learning a new instrument, produce music in your spare time or write songs.
Careers in the music industry are varied, and the skillset need for a musician, sound engineer and music teacher will vary. Therefore, it’s essential to tailor your CV skills to your target role.
However, some common music skills include:
Instruments – It comes as no surprise that the ability to play an instrument is often vital, whether that’s piano, guitar, violin, cello, bass…
Music theory – The ability to read and write music, as well as understanding of the practises, methods, concepts and terms used in creating and performing.
Performance – Dedication to practise to achieve performance standards, as well as the confidence to perform in front of audiences.
Technical skills – Sound engineers and music producers will require a wide range of technical skills, such as sound design, editing and ghost production.
Teaching – Teaching clients or fellow musicians various elements of general musicianship, such as theory and instrumental technique.
Communication – Whether it’s working with organisations, venues, bandmates or artists, most music professions require solid communication and interpersonal skills.
If music is your dream career path, a flawless CV is an essential stepping stone to landing the best roles and contracts.
If you focus on tailoring your skills and experience to the job requirements and ensure your CV has a professional appearance, it’s sure to get attention.
Good luck with your job search.
