ACTOR

As with any type of career search, you will need to put together a résumé. The actor's résumé will be somewhat different from your typical job résumé. It will tell more about who you are than any other type of résumé would. If you are just getting started in your acting career, chances are you will not have much to put on your résumé. Nonetheless, you need one.

Your first résumé will be sparse. It will start with your name, in big, bold letters right at the top. You will need to include your basic statistics: height, weight, eye color, and hair color. Do not lie. If you are caught misrepresenting yourself, it could damage your reputation as a serious actor. Lying also could put you in a tight spot, as you may be expected to do something that you really cannot do. Remember when Matt LeBlanc's character, Joey, on the situation comedy Friends lied on his résumé? His résumé said that he had all sorts of dance training when in fact he was a total octopus on the dance floor. He blew an important audition when the dance captain assumed Joey could teach the dance combination when he actually could not.

On your résumé you will include any experience that you have, such as the high school plays you were in. You will want to list the classes that you have taken or are taking. At the bottom of your résumé, list any special skills you may have, such as tap dancing, singing, figure skating, basketball, yodeling, juggling, baton twirling, or whatever you are good at that might help you land an acting job. List anything you can do, no matter how bizarre it is.

Eventually, as you begin to do some professional acting, you will be able to eliminate all of your high school and summer camp productions from your résumé. In the meantime, they count as real experience. One thing you do NOT want to include on your résumé is the date of the work. Do not include when you did any of your work. The fact that you did the work is enough. Also, do not include your age on your résumé. It is against the law for an agent or director to ask your age, except to ask if you are indeed over eighteen. They can ask what your age range is, or what age you play, but they cannot ask your actual age. Besides, in the eyes of the camera, the casting director, and the agent, you are as old as you look. Let the people seeking to hire you decide how old you are.

Never put your home address on your résumé. Often, head shots get thrown away and anyone can find them. The finder not only has your contact information, but a really good photo of what you look like. You also must reduce your résumé to a size no more than 8? x 10? so that it fits neatly on the back of your head shot. Never go anywhere without at least a few copies of your head shot and résumé. You never know whom you might meet and you always want to be prepared.

“As a general rule, do not list work you do as an extra on your résumé unless you are truly a featured extra. Casting directors dislike it when you list extra work. Use extra work for experience and contacts, but not for résumé filler,” says Sandy Watson.