
What to Put on a Resume (20+ Best Things to Include)
What to put on a resume? There are 5 must-have sections you need to include in a resume and some extra ones. Read on and learn what should be on your resume.
Okay maestro, so you know a half-step from a harmony and you’d give Jennifer Higdon a run for her treble staff. Now make it sharp with this professional music resume sample.
The music resume sample below is Alice Farnham-level.
But consider this—
A musician resume doesn’t have to be a magnum opus.
It just needs the right notes from your past repertoire.
Set a rhythm between accomplishments and skills, and you’ll come off sounding like a young Bob Dylan or Lera Auerbach.
We’ll show you what that looks like. Then we’ll show you how.
In this guide:
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Are you trying to write a music resume for college applications, or for after college? See these guides:
Looking a different resume example?
If you’re a music teacher, these guides can help:
Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Examples for Over 200 Jobs.
Let's start with a perfect resume for a musician:
Lexi Montes
Viola Player
Personal Info
Phone: 407-546-7973
Email: leximontes@gmail.com
leximontes.bandcamp.com
LinkedIn.com/in/leximontes
Summary
Talented violist seeking a position with the The Florida Orchestra. Studied under Daniel Sweaney and Victoria Chiang at the University of Florida. Recipient of the John Canarina Music Fellowship and received the Frances Millikan Reitz Music Award. Versed in orchestra and chamber music.
Experience
Orchestra Experience
University of Florida
2015–2019
Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras
2011–2015
Musical Theater and Opera
University of Florida
2015–2019
Chamber Experience
Florida Chamber Music Project
2015–2019
Summary of Works
2018–2019
2017–2018
2016–2017
Awards
Education
Bachelor of Music, University of Florida
2015–2019
Teachers
Music Skills: orchestra, chamber, pit orchestra, opera, musical theater
Soft Skills: interpersonal skills, communication, collaboration, strong work ethic
Here’s how to write a music resume that works like Ariane Matiakh:
Lucky you:
The wrong resume formatting seems discordant.
But get it right, and your resume for music jobs will play like Du bist die Ruh.
Use these tips:
Expert Hint: There are only 42,000 full-time musicians in the United States. You’ve chosen a career as hard to get into as the NBA. Don’t play the wrong notes by skimping on your music resume formatting.
The fear is real.
In the music world, attention spans are short. Catch them fast or they’ll change the station.
So—
Write a career objective or career summary that rocks like John Coltrane.
Include:
Want to write yours fast? Then write it at the end.
See these music resume examples:
Careful:
The second of those music industry resume samples isn’t exactly Achy Breaky Heart. But the details in the first are Charles-Mingus-level.
Now—what if your music experience is still in the Chopsticks phase?
See this entry-level music resume for college example:
Hmm...
The second of those entry-level music resume for college examples doesn’t have perfect pitch. It makes lots of noise, but lacks detail.
Expert Hint: A study in The journal of Neuroscience found that professional musicians who practice more show actual changes in their brain-structures. You can’t submit a brain scan with your resume for music jobs. But you can disclose the number of hours you’ve practiced in a year or lifetime.
What do music job hiring managers care most about?
Should your resume for music focus on your works? Performances?
What about your compositions? Work experience?
Don’t break your fretboard.
Here’s the answer:
Each job is different. A music education resume needs work experience, while a performance resume must show performances.
See these music resume examples:
Experience
Orchestra Experience
University of Florida
2015–2019
Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras
2011–2015
Musical Theater and Opera
University of Florida
2015–2019
Should you show all your performances on a music performance resume?
Nope. Like the music resume example above, choose the few this job cares about.
Now—
What about works?
See these resume for music jobs samples:
Summary of Works
2018–2019
2017–2018
2016–2017
Got it?
List the year, the name of the piece, and the composer’s first initial and last name.
But don’t stop there.
If you studied under an impressive teacher, show that like this music resume example does:
Teachers
Are you a composer? This musical resume example is your Stradivarius:
Original Compositions
What about resume work experience in music-related jobs like audio engineer or music teacher? How do you show that on a music resume?
That’s next.
Expert Hint: If you’re a musician looking for new inspiration, utilizing royalty-free music resources is a great way to freshen up your creative process. These resources can provide you with high-quality samples, loops and tracks that you can build upon or use as the foundation for an entirely new song.
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.
What music skills go best on resumes?
See this list:
Performance Skills | Soft Skills |
Symphony | Interpersonal Skills |
Pit Orchestra | Collaboration |
Chamber Music | Leadership |
Concertos | Communication |
Opera | Creativity |
Quartets | Physical Stamina |
Ensembles | Work Ethic |
Instrument-Specifc Skills | Active Learning |
Band | Adaptability |
Orchestra | Positive Attitude |
Technical Skills | Music Teaching Skills |
Audio Recording Software | Classroom Management |
Acoustics | Instruction |
Track Mixing | Technique |
Electronics | Assessment |
Pro Tools | Music Theory |
Digital Audio | Training |
Acid Pro 7 | Music History |
Pitch, Timing, Rhythm | Testing |
Live Audio | Grading |
Recording Studio Equipment | Career Guidance |
But wait a beat.
Music jobs are like compositions. Each has its own needs.
Ignore that, and you might as well play Mendelssohn on the kazoo.
Custom-fit your resume for music positions. Do it by finding the right skills to put on a resume and resume keywords in the job ad.
Do it like these music resume examples:
Let’s say you’re applying for a teaching job that needs skills in classroom management, live performance, fundraising, and cost-cutting.
This musician resume sample has symphonic form:
Albert N. Frappier High School
Music Teacher
2016–2019
Are you a sound engineer or other professional? See the next of our music industry resume samples. The job it’s targeting wants sills in mixing live audio and packing.
Crunchy Soundz Productions
Audio Engineer
2016–2019
But—
Is your music career just in its opening bars?
Don’t worry. An entry-level resume can have get a standing O. Just add your best achievements.
See these entry-level music resume for college examples:
They’re for a job that wants classroom management, grading, and live performance.
Teacher’s Assistant
Quirion Davis High School
2016–2019
Teacher’s Assistant
Quirion Davis High School
2016–2019
The second of those music resume samples sounds boxy. It lacks shimmer. The first has the music skills they’re looking for!
Expert Hint: A study in the journal Music Perception shows jazz musicians improvise through a system of generating possibilities within the genre and arbitrary choice. The deeper your education and experience accomplishments, the more hiring managers will trust you’ll keep working through the changes.
Showtime.
Your resume for music jobs needs a resume education section.
But don’t settle for listing your music degree and school.
To get up to Leonard Cohen level, add a few skills.
Let’s say you’re applying to a music job that wants a performance violist with leadership skills.
This music industry resume sample stands out:
Education
Bachelor of Music, University of Florida
2015–2019
You’re almost to the coda.
But let’s make your music resume as memorable as Für Elise.
How?
By adding a few talent clues that don’t fit in your education section.
Try adding one of these:
See these music resume examples:
Awards
Additional Activities
Additional Activities
That first music industry resume sample has the right tonality. The details give it scale.
Expert Hint: Write a cover letter for your resume for music jobs. To make it perform like Sally Beamish, put your soul into why the job matters to you.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Here’s how to write a music resume:
Got questions on how to write good resumes for music jobs? Not sure how to put musician on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!
What to put on a resume? There are 5 must-have sections you need to include in a resume and some extra ones. Read on and learn what should be on your resume.
Writing a resume is hard work, but with our best resume tips and advice, it's a piece of cake. Here are over 50 of our professional resume dos and don'ts, along with resume mistakes to avoid.
It's time to find your first job. Worry not, this guide will show you how to nail an entry-level or beginner resume and wow the hiring manager.