Crafting the narrative of your career as a scriptwriter is as important as penning a compelling script.
Your resume needs to capture the essence of your storytelling prowess and industry experience.
To get you started, we’ve put together a guide with invaluable tips and a handy Scriptwriter resume example.
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Scriptwriter Resume Example
This Scriptwriter resume example demonstrates the ideal format and content for your application.
Its professional layout ensures that recruiters can quickly and efficiently digest the information.
Follow our detailed guide below to craft your own stand out Scriptwriter resume.
Scriptwriter resume structure & format
Resume structure
Crafting a resume that grabs attention requires clear structure.
Ensure your resume features the following:
- Contact details: Essential contact information.
- Resume summary: A snapshot of your skills aimed to catch the recruiter’s eye.
- Core skills: A bullet-point list highlighting skills crucial for Scriptwriter jobs.
- Work experience: A reverse chronological list of your professional roles.
- Education: Your academic and professional training details.
- Additional info: Optional details like extracurricular activities that might appeal to employers.
How to format your Scriptwriter resume
The layout of your resume is crucial in making it appealing and accessible to hiring managers.
Keep these key points in mind when arranging your resume format.
- Resume length: Keep your resume concise, aiming for 1 to 2 pages. With recruiters swamped by resumes daily, keeping it brief can help you stand out.
- Font & colour scheme: Use a simple font which is easy to read and avoid elaborate ones which might make reading difficult. Go for black-text-on-white background, but feel free to add a splash of colour in the design to help your resume stand out.
- Page layout: Split your page into distinct sections using bold headings or borders, making it easy for readers to locate the information they need at a glance.
- Break text up: Make use of bullet points and short paragraphs to breakup text, simplifying the info for busy recruiters to digest.
- Photos: Photos are not mandatory in Australia but you can add a small headshot to the top if you like.
Quick tip: Achieving a professional look for your resume can be difficult and time-consuming. If you want to create an attractive resume quickly, try our Resume Builder and use one of our eye-catching professional resume templates.
Contact Details
Seeing who you are and how you can be contacted is essential for potential employers, so it’s critical that your contact details section is both clear and accurate.
Include these four crucial elements at the top of your resume, but ensure they don’t take up excessive space:
- Your name and professional title: Choose a title that aligns with your career objectives, such as IT Support Specialist or Video Editor.
- Email address: Use a professional email address (e.g. aaron.davis.work@gmail.com). Avoid using old or informal emails like big.boy.aaron@gmail.com.
- Phone number: Provide your mobile number for easy accessibility. Make sure to double-check that the number is correct.
- Location: Specify the broader area where you are seeking employment, such as Cairns, Perth etc.
Optionally, you may consider adding the following details:
- Webpage links: Include links to professional sites like LinkedIn or your personal portfolio, ensuring they are current and professionally relevant.
- Photograph: While not typically required, a professional photograph may be advantageous in creative fields. If you decide to use one, ensure it is compact on the page, and professional in appearance.
Refrain from adding personal data such as your date of birth, full address, or gender. These are not necessary for recruitment decisions and simply clutter your resume.
Scriptwriter Resume Summary
Your resume summary is a short introductory paragraph at the top of the page, designed to give recruiters a high-level overview of your suitability.
If you want to hook recruiters attention and encourage them to read more of your resume, do the following:
- Keep it short: Aim for a concise summary of 3 to 5 sentences, ensuring it can be quickly scanned. You can elaborate on details later, in the work experience section.
- Tailor to target jobs: Fill your summary with as many keywords from the job adverts you are targeting as possible. This will ensure recruiters instantly see your suitability.
- Avoid using cliches: Thinking about calling yourself a “hard working team player who thinks outside the box“? Don’t! These phrases are meaningless and don’t provide employers with the facts they want.
Scriptwriter resume summary example
What to include in your Scriptwriter resume summary
- Summary of your experience: What kind of companies have you worked for? What types of jobs have you done? Give employers a clear picture of your experience.
- Relevant skills: Showcase your key skills, emphasising those tailored for Scriptwriter roles.
- Qualifications: Ensure to briefly note any qualifications relevant to Scriptwriter roles, indicating your suitability for the position.
- Benefits of hiring you: Employers want to know what value you will bring them, whether it’s increasing their revenue or helping them to complete projects ahead of schedule.
Quick tip: Choose from hundreds of pre-written summaries across all industries, and add one to your resume with one-click in our Resume Builder. All written by recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset and style.
Core skills section
Make your resume more noticeable with a dedicated core skills section.
Use bullet points to highlight the skills most in demand for Scriptwriter positions, and keep descriptions brief, ideally under four words, for easy scanning by busy hiring managers.
Skills for your Scriptwriter resume
Screenwriting Expertise – Crafting compelling and original scripts for film, television, or theatre, with strong narrative structure and character development.
Dialogue Writing – Creating authentic and engaging dialogue that captures the voice of each character and drives the story forward.
Script Formatting – Applying industry-standard formatting to ensure scripts are professionally presented and easily readable for actors, directors, and producers.
Story Development – Building detailed outlines and treatments that serve as blueprints for the narrative arc and key plot points.
Genre Proficiency – Demonstrating a deep understanding of different genres to tailor scriptwriting approaches to specific audience expectations and market demands.
Script Editing – Revising and refining scripts based on feedback, with an emphasis on pacing, tone, and clarity to enhance the overall storytelling.
Research Skills – Conducting thorough research to inform script details, ensuring accuracy and authenticity in the portrayal of various settings, professions, and time periods.
Pitching and Presentation – Crafting persuasive pitches and presentations to sell script ideas to producers, networks, and studios.
Software Proficiency – Utilising scriptwriting software such as Final Draft or Celtx to streamline the writing process and collaborate effectively with production teams.
Intellectual Property Knowledge – Understanding copyright laws and industry regulations to protect original work and navigate legal considerations in scriptwriting.
Quick tip: Our Resume Builder contains thousands of in-demand skills for every profession that can be added to your resume in seconds – saving you time and greatly improving your chances of landing job interviews and getting hired.
Work experience section
Your work experience section is your chance to show employers what value you can bring to them.
List your previous jobs in reverse chronological order, focusing on your last 3-5 years of experience.
Structuring your jobs
To clearly convey what you accomplished in each role, format your experiences as follows.
Outline
Introduce each job with a concise 1 to 2 line outline that covers the employer’s business, your role within the structure, and the key goals of your position.
Key responsibilities
Outline your primary duties in 5-8 bullet points, focusing on essential skills, tools, and expertise.
Ensure each point is succinct, indicating your interactions within the company and your contributions to its success.
Key achievements
Finish each role’s section with 1-3 standout achievements that positively influenced your employer.
Use concrete metrics to illustrate these successes, whether they involve enhancing efficiency, saving costs, or driving project advancements.
Example job for Scriptwriter resume
Outline
Produce high-quality scripts for up to 3 productions, while collaborating with directors, actors, and producers to bring each performance to life, for the creative team at the Australian National Theatre.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop engaging and thought-provoking play scripts that resonate with audiences.
- Research and analyse historical, cultural, and social contexts to inform script development.
- Attend rehearsals to make script revisions and provide creative input.
- Proofread and edit scripts to ensure accuracy and consistency.
Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our Resume Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.
Education section
Your resume should feature an education section near the end.
This part should be a bullet-pointed list of your qualifications, with a focus on those that are significant for Scriptwriter roles.
Keep it brief if you are an experienced candidate. If you’re new to the field, use this section to elaborate on the skills and knowledge you’ve obtained through your educational pursuits.
This section can include:
- University degrees
- Industry specific qualifications for Scriptwriter jobs
- Vocational education and training (VET) diplomas
- Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE)
Additional information (optional)
At the end of your resume, you can consider incorporating a section for additional information.
This part is suitable for hobbies, interests, awards, publications, or technical skills that could enhance your appeal to employers.
When adding content here, ensure it is either directly relevant to your profession or exceptionally impressive.
Avoid listing everyday activities like watching television or casual socialising, as they are unlikely to influence hiring decisions.
Although creating a standout Scriptwriter resume is no small feat, following these steps will help you produce a resume that not only draws responses from recruiters but also results in a significant number of interviews.
Remember to thoroughly proofread your resume and adapt it to each specific job to ensure it remains relevant.
Good luck with your job search!