A CV is like a messenger you send ahead to big you up

Get Into Theatre checks the pulse of your CV and writes a prescription to improve its health. The CV clinic is open for surgery. Send yours to info@getintotheatre.org

Below you can see our experts’ assessment of our latest CV. You can find other CVs in our previous clinics section in the right hand column of this page.

Basic CV tips

• Keep your CV to two pages
• Make it functional–a CV is not a place to experiment with fancy paper, trendy fonts and all the colours of the rainbow
• Always include a brief synopsis (about three sentences) at the top introducing yourself and outlining your career objectives
• Unless you’re applying for an acting job, don’t add a picture
• Don’t just list your work experience. Make sure you include some bulletpoints about what you learned/ achieved through it
• Check spelling and grammar really carefully.

Covering letter

The purpose of a covering letter is to introduce yourself and communicate something of your personality. It can also be used to highlight the most important parts of your CV. A covering letter demonstrates that you can write in sentences and spell and use grammar–so make sure you look through it carefully (in fact get someone else to double-check it) before you send it off.

It is not necessary to handwrite a covering letter these days, despite what your parents might tell you. But do take time to lay it out well–and make sure you include a contact phone number and email address.

Check out our sample covering letter

Some other useful CV and letter writing advice sites:

• Connexions
• Great CVs
• Guardian jobs
• The Stage How To… write a CV
• The Site

Latest CV

Drama student hoping to find a job

This drama and screen studies student hopes her CV will impress when it comes to getting a job next year. She wants to work in theatre or television, but doesn’t say in what capacity.

General feedback

Your CV shows that for someone who is still at university, you have a tremendous amount of good experience–in administration, props-making, camerawork, promotion, sound and lighting design and operation, film making, working with children and paid front of house and box office work.

You are right to put this info up-front at the start of CV and include your educational details (fantastic as they are) on the second page. It is your work experience that will always set you apart.

But whilst your range of experience is extremely positive, it could also be your downfall.

What this CV lacks is focus and a sense of purpose in your career search. You say you want to work in theatre or TV–but what do you want to do? Do you want a technical role? A creative one? Are you a performer? Do you see yourself working in education or marketing?

Suggestions for improvement

I would suggest that instead of having just one CV , you are going to need to create different versions, targeted specifically for each job you are going to apply for.

If you are going for a job in theatre education or youth work, play up your experience of working with young people, your admin experience and all the volutnary work you have done.

If it’s a job in sound or lighting, you’ve got plenty of experience to draw on etc

I would also suggest writing a short profile section at the top of your CV which introduces you and your career aims. This would help to give your CV focus and tailor it to a job.

Summary: A CV showing a wide range of experience which will look great to potential employers. But don’t lose focus on where you are heading.