Writing a CV or resume as a music producer can be a unique challenge. This article aims to guide you through the process, offering practical tips and examples. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to polish your existing CV, we’ll cover what to include, how to present your skills and experiences, and how to make your resume stand out in the competitive music industry. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to create a CV that accurately reflects your abilities and achievements as a music producer.
Contents
Read The Job Description / Advert
The first step is, of course, to read the job description. We need to know what the firm is looking for so that we can properly highlight these characteristics in our CV. So read back over the job description and try to pinpoint the important points. A lot of times a firm will call things “required”; if you see this, you need to make sure you include that in your CV. Similarly, if certain things are repeated throughout the advert, this indicates they are of high importance, so we will want to make sure our CV shows that as well.
When performing this analysis, take care to copy the ‘exact’ words and phrases that are being used by the hiring manager. We will want to pepper these into our CV later.
Music Producer Job Description Example
Music Producer Wanted
We are seeking a talented and creative Music Producer to join our dynamic team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about music production, with the skills and experience to produce high-quality music across various genres.
Key Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with artists and stakeholders to understand their vision and translate it into compelling musical productions.
- Oversee all aspects of music production, from pre-production planning to post-production editing.
- Utilize a range of software and hardware, including DAWs like Ableton Live, Pro Tools, or Logic Pro, to create and refine musical pieces.
- Manage recording sessions, ensuring all equipment is set up correctly and efficiently.
- Edit, mix, and master tracks to achieve the desired sound.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest trends in music production, technology, and the music industry.
- Work within allocated budgets and timelines, ensuring the efficient use of resources.
- Provide guidance and feedback to artists and other team members, fostering a collaborative and positive studio environment.
- Coordinate with other professionals such as sound engineers, arrangers, and musicians as required.
Qualifications:
- Proven experience in music production, with a portfolio showcasing your work.
- Strong technical skills in using various music production software and equipment.
- Excellent ear for music and sound, with an ability to innovate and experiment.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to work collaboratively with artists and teams.
- Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing requirements.
- Bachelor’s degree in Music Production, Audio Engineering, or related field is preferred but not essential.
What We Offer:
- A creative and supportive work environment with opportunities to grow and develop your skills.
- Exposure to a variety of projects and genres of music.
- A competitive remuneration package, commensurate with experience and skills.
- Opportunities for professional development and networking within the music industry.
This role is perfect for someone who is passionate about music production and is looking to take their career to the next level in a supportive and creative environment. If you are an innovative, dedicated, and collaborative individual, we would love to hear from you.
Research The Company
Time to put on your detective hat and do some research on your target company. Look at their website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms. You are looking for any piece of intel that will give you the leg up.
- Find out about recent work/projects they have undertaken or will be embarking on (highlight your experience in these areas on your CV)
- Find out what software/processes they use and make sure you include your proficiency in them in your CV
- Learn what interview questions you might expect should you make it that far
See if you know anyone who works there and/or connect (LinkedIn) with people ahead of the interview. A little nepotism could never hurt, and you might be able to glean more information about the role/hiring process in the meantime.
Find A Good CV Template
When selecting a CV template, it’s essential to opt for a simple design and structure. Not only are straightforward layouts more compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), but they also make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to quickly identify and understand key details. A clutter-free and organized CV ensures that your most important information stands out, facilitating a smoother review process for potential employers.
This is the CV template that we recommend (click here)
Write 2 Or 3 Bullet Points As A ‘Professional Summary’
A handy approach is to craft three sentences: the first highlighting your qualifications and experience, the second showcasing your biggest professional achievement, and the third detailing your most recent experience.
Music Producer Professional Summary Example
With over a decade of experience in music production, expertise in electronic and pop genres has been honed, along with proficiency in using industry-standard software like Ableton Live, Pro Tools, and Logic Pro. Managing multiple projects with varying budgets and tight deadlines has become a second nature.
Notable achievements include spearheading the production of the platinum-selling album “Echoes in the Void,” an accomplishment that involved intricate sound engineering and innovative mixing techniques, contributing significantly to the album’s critical and commercial success.
Recently collaborated with emerging indie label Harmonic Waves, leading to a remarkable increase in their streaming platform presence. This success was driven by pioneering sound design techniques and effective marketing campaigns, showcasing a blend of technical expertise and business acumen in the music production realm.
Detail Your Employment History
Begin by listing your employment history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. This allows potential employers to see your recent experience upfront, which holds greater value. Keep in mind that brevity is key.
As you go further back in time, reduce the level of detail to ensure your CV doesn’t exceed two pages. Employers are less likely to read lengthy CVs.
When describing your role as a Music Producer on your CV, don’t just mention your duties. Use them to highlight your successes. For example, instead of saying “Managed recording sessions,” you could say “Skillfully directed over 30 recording sessions, enhancing the final sound quality and consistently meeting artist and label expectations.” This approach not only shows your responsibility but also demonstrates your expertise in creating high-quality music and your ability to satisfy key stakeholders in the music industry. It’s a more effective way to present your experience and accomplishments.
Detail Your Education History
Keep your CV concise, aiming for a two-page limit. The education section can often be streamlined.
Highlight the most relevant qualifications. For instance, if you have a degree, your A-levels become less significant. Similarly, if you’re in the U.S., having an MBA overshadows your high school GPA.
Unless an older educational milestone is crucial for the job or highly pertinent, focus on showcasing your Bachelor’s degree, post-graduate studies, or professional certifications. If you lack these, mention your latest qualifications. Remember, having a Master’s suggests you’ve finished school, so no need to state the obvious. Only include your educational background if it’s pertinent to the job.
CV Structure
Tactically structure your CV to the ‘most wanted’ attributes of the job description. For example, if the job description values “qualified”, then place your qualifications first; if they want someone with RECENT experience, put your last job up top. If they want multiple years of experience, highlight your tenure.
We always recommend that you have a Professional Summary up top (after your name/contact info), as it will be the first thing that anyone reads. As discussed earlier, this should be tailored towards the job advert and showcase your experience and skills in what the employer is looking for.
A fairly typical structure would go:
- Name and contact info
- Professional Summary
- Current (or most recent employment)
- Education & Professional Qualifications
- Employment History
WHAT NOT TO DO
Now that we’ve discussed what you should be including in your CV, let’s look at some things that you should avoid doing.
- Do not include personal history or likes. Employers are not going to care about your hobbies, so unless you have some inside information that the hiring manager only hires people who play a particular sport, for example, then leave your extracurricular activities off your CV. This does not extend to things like volunteer or charity work. Definitely include that if you have the space.
- Do not list your skillset and the tools/applications you have experience with. It takes up valuable space and is often obvious (Skilled in Excel…?). Instead, include these in your achievements section (Example: “Used Asana to manage and coordinate tasks for a remote team of 25 members”).
- Do not include references or “references available on request”. If employers want a reference, they will ask you for them; otherwise, this is just wasted space on your CV.
- Do not include a photo of yourself unless specifically asked. In many countries, including the UK and US, you should not include a photo of yourself on your CV/resume. Companies don’t want you to do it, as it opens them up to liability, and there is absolutely nothing for you to gain by doing so – plus, you are making it easier for firms to discriminate against you, either implicitly or explicitly.
- Do not use any fancy graphic or artistic CV format. Most CVs come in a standard format, allowing Application Tracking Software, recruiters and hiring managers to easily pick out the key pieces of information they need quickly based on their experience. If you throw them a CV in an artistic format, they are more likely to get annoyed and throw your application away. This is not a situation where standing out is good. You want your skills/experience to be noted, not your CV format.
- Do not include your previous salaries. This will severely impact your negotiation abilities down the line.
Music Producer CV Tips – Recap
Let’s recap what we’ve discussed so far:
Understand Your Audience Understand the specific needs and preferences of the music industry. Tailor your CV to reflect the genres, technologies, and skills most relevant to the positions you are targeting. 🎯
Highlight Technical Proficiencies Clearly showcase your skills with various music production software and equipment. Mention specific tools like Ableton Live, Pro Tools, or Logic Pro. 🎧
Showcase Your Portfolio Include a section or a link to your portfolio. Let your work speak for itself by providing examples of projects you’ve worked on, especially those that have gained recognition or were commercially successful. 🌟
Detail Your Creative Process Give insight into your creative approach. Briefly describe how you approach projects, solve creative challenges, or collaborate with artists and teams. 🎶
Quantify Achievements Where possible, use numbers to quantify your achievements. For example, mention the number of albums worked on, increases in streaming numbers due to your production, or any awards won. 🔢
Keep It Concise Music industry professionals are busy. Keep your CV concise, focused, and relevant. Avoid unnecessary details that don’t add value to your candidacy. ✂️
Professional Summary Start with a strong professional summary that encapsulates your experience, key skills, and what you bring to the table as a music producer. 📝
Continuous Learning Mention any ongoing learning or recent courses you’ve completed. This shows you’re keeping up with the latest trends and technologies in music production. 📚
Reference Collaboration and Communication Skills Highlight your ability to work with diverse teams and artists. Good collaboration and communication are crucial in music production. 👥
Proofread and Format Make sure your CV is free of errors and well-formatted. A clean, professional-looking CV reflects your attention to detail. 🖌️
Music Producer CV Sample
Below is an example CV from someone with a number of years experience in the field. For an editable .DOCX version, click here.
