Creating a polished acting resume is essential for every actor’s career. Therefore, you want to ensure that it’s well-designed, filled correctly, and concludes on a strong note—an impressive “special skills” section. This portion is likely the most open-ended part of the whole resume, and it can be challenging to determine what details to add to this section. There are many modern resume examples available online to help you get started and draft a standard resume for yourself.
Are salsa dancing, horseback riding, or winning with the high school soccer team facts to add to the “special skills” section? The particular talents will help you stand out in the casting calls in Orlando or another important audition and propel your resume to the top of the pile. But if this part of an actor’s resume seems complicated to fill out, this quick guide will show you what skills to include, what to avoid, and which skills are the most important for becoming a successful actor.
Special Skills Section of the Acting Resume
At the bottom of their resumes, actors are often expected to add a section labeled “special skills or talents,” which contains any abilities that could be useful for a role. Actors often have special skills for resume building, like doing a particular type of dance or playing a certain instrument, speaking a foreign language or dialect, playing a sport, or doing stage combat.
Talents to Include
What talents to put on an acting resume? Include any abilities that will set you apart from the other candidates and make you stand out from the crowd. Think about the ways in which the needs of the project could intersect with your personal interests and passions. Consider adding the following:
- Foreign languages and accents;
- Dancing or singing;
- Unusual athletic abilities;
- Musical instruments.
Those are the talents casting directors and agents usually look for.
Skills That Don’t Belong on a Resume
Not all your passions can belong in your acting resume’s special abilities section. Common hobbies or activities that don’t require unique crafts—being an ardent reader, a sushi fan, or a puppy lover—can be crossed out. However, if your hobby or interest is more specific and could help you perform on the stage—perhaps you’re a chef or carpenter—they’re worth adding.
Skills Important for an Actor
Let’s imagine there’s a role you really want to play, but the main character needs to have a talent you don’t have. It’s not impossible to master a particular skill well enough to use it passably on stage or screen; it just depends on what it is.
However, if you want to advance in your acting career, it may behoove you to take a broader view of the talents you need to succeed and focus on developing those first. Ask yourself, “Where do I want to go in my career, and what abilities do I need to get there?” rather than attempting to figure out what they want. Starting with the goal in mind, you’ll have a clearer picture of what steps to take next. For instance, having a background in improv or stand-up comedy can serve you well if you want to act in comedy films.
Conclusion
An impressive special skills section on your acting resume can be the key to standing out in casting calls and propelling your resume to the top of the pile. However, it can be challenging to determine what details to include. To create a strong special skills section, include talents that will set you apart from other candidates and align with the needs of the project, such as foreign languages and accents, dancing or singing, unusual athletic abilities, and musical instruments. Avoid including common hobbies or activities that don’t require unique crafts.
Additionally, it’s essential to focus on developing the talents and skills to help you achieve your career goals, such as having a background in improv or stand-up comedy if you want to act in comedy films.
