Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Rewriting resume.

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Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-20-2012, 11:02 AM:

I'm rewriting my resume.

I'm trying to come up with a way to say that I think theaters are dead and I want to move to something else.

I can't exactly say that on a resume or a job application. How do I word that nicely so people will understand it?

I've got a lead on another job. Master Control Operator at a local TV station. Yes, it's drudge work. I don't even think MCOs jam tapes anymore. Do they? Anyway, it's somehting...

My main problem is that being a theater technician (movie theater or traditional theater) requires a pretty specialized skill set that few people understand. How can I explain what I do in a way that potential employers will understand?

When you tell most people that you work in a movie theater they think that all you do is press the "play" button. No! I install, maintain and operate industrial equipment! This ain't no DVD player!

When you tell most people that you work in a traditional theater all they think about is bright lights and applause but I came to work at 7:00 a.m. to unload trucks and set up the stage all day. I will be there until well after midnight to strike that show and get it back into the truck so the performers can move along to the next town. The customers only sat in their comfy chairs for two hours while I busted my back for 16 hours to make that show.

Frankly, I think theaters are dead. Unless you want to do community theater or unload trucks for road shows, there's nothing doing at the local, traditional theater level. Digital video has put movie theaters on life support until somebody comes along and pulls the plug. There's nothing left in theaters, especially in Erie, PA.

So, how do I relate what I do to a potential employer in a way that they can understand? How can I explain my skills as something that they can use in their business?

How can I say all of this nicely without sounding bitter and resentful?

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 02-20-2012, 11:32 AM:

Compendium of archaic skills?

I don't think an employer cares what you think about theatres. You left to pursue other opportunities in the technical fields. If they ask in an interview, "I'm just too old for this crap," is a suitable response (cleaned up if you insist).

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 02-20-2012, 11:44 AM:

Many people are changing careers as a result of the economic upheaval, so you won't be that unusual in this respect.

With that in mind, I wouldn't be in a hurry to try and "explain" why you want to change careers. Certainly not on the resume. There should be nothing negative on your resume. Simply describe yourself and your work experience in more general terms. Instead of saying something specific like "projected film and maintained a film projection booth," you could focus on the more generally applicable aspects of the job, such as "entrusted to work unsupervised...." or "responsible for providing customers with a positive experience...." and so on.

You could describe your "legit theatre" work using buzzwords like "mission critical" and "fast paced" etc.

A strong resume will get you noticed. Most times, the first person reading your resume isn't a person; it's an automated screener. Today's resume is very different from the ones we were expected to submit 10-15 years ago. Figure out the job you want, look at the job description, pull out the key words from the job posting itself and make sure those words/phrases are in your resume before you submit it.

Yes - it means tweaking your resume for each and every job you apply for!

Once you're in the interview (and only if they ask you about your motives for transitioning out of showbiz) you can provide an explanation in person. That's when you'll need to have your answer prepared (read: rehearsed).

I wouldn't suggest that you say anything like "I think theaters are dead" because the interviewer may disagree -- S/he may enjoy going to the movies (or the theatre) once or twice a week and hearing you say bad things about their passion could make them dislike you. It doesn't matter if time ultimately proves you correct. Right now, your mission isn't to be a prophet; your mission is to land a job.

So, instead, I'd recommend pointing at specific factors that changed the work experience for you. Be specific and brief - try to capture it in 100 words or less. And then cut that down to 50 words (max).

The tricky part is that you'll have to find a way to express your point without coming across as seeming negative in any way. As you point out, nobody wants to hire someone who comes across as either bitter, or resistant to change.

Plan your answer "just in case" they ask. But if they don't ask, then don't tell. You'll be opening up a tricky can of worms.

(And please don't quit your job until you have another one lined up. Suze Orman says it's taking unemployed people over a year to find jobs nowadays.)

I'm curious about 2 things:

1. What would be your 100-word (or less) explanation for leaving Exhibition?
2. What would be your ideal job right now?

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 02-20-2012, 12:22 PM:

One other general point, organize your resume to modern standards. For instance, the "objective" line near the top of the resume is arguably a dead thing now. It wastes space on fluffy "I'm a motivated team player, self starter, blah, etc." things.

Some businesses don't even look at resumes anymore. They'll look a person's Linkedin page or general online presence to get a better idea of just who exactly they're hiring.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 02-20-2012, 12:50 PM:

It is acceptable to omit the "objective" segment, or replace it with a one-sentence "overview."

The "overview" is essentially a "tag line" to make them read your resume, so tailor it to fit each job you apply for. Promote yourself as the "answer" to their "problem." Identify the "key words" in the job posting and make sure the main ones are in your overview.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 02-20-2012, 01:18 PM:

I think you could honestly say that you are:

1. a take charge, self starter

2. able to organize a group task

3. able to make a deadline

4. are misison critical

5. able to be relyed upon. Louis

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-20-2012, 03:13 PM:

No, I wouldn't say "theaters are dead." That's just the thought I'm having and I want to relate that in a more politically correct way.

Digital video has killed the technician's job at the local theaters. If I want to stay in theaters at the level I am used to, it's going to have to be in a corporate or contractor position and it's going to require a lot of travel. I can't do that, right now.

This town has no traditional theaters to speak of. The Civic Center books road shows like Trans Siberian Orchestra, Rock & Country music concerts and all that. Most of their techs are roadies. Again, I'm not prepared to live on the road. At the local level, most of the stage hands are just roughnecks who load and unload trucks.

Community theater is basically volunteer work. Any paid jobs are generally low pay work done mostly by people working in semi-retirement.

In one sentence, theater is dead. I need to do something else.

No, I don't think my skills are archaic.
Movie projectors are industrial machines. Digital video projectors are some pretty high-tech stuff. Sound systems are nearly all digital.

Stage work is a very detail oriented job. Lighting and audio systems, again, are all digital and computerized. Rigging and staging are complex jobs.

I can install, operate and repair most if not all of this stuff. Again, it's complex, detail oriented and fairly high-tech.

The problem is see is that, unless you work in the theater business, you don't understand what kind of skills it takes to do this job. Most people think working in a movie theater means that you just press "play." They think stage work is all bright lights and applause. Really! They do!

I have taken people back stage before a show and they are almost always aghast at what goes on there. The workings of my projection booth often make people heads spin.

90% of the people out there truly don't understand what kind of work we do, how much technical skill it takes and how long or hard we work for their benefit.

My problem is how to relate that to a potential employer without coming off all wrong.

As Manny mentioned, I'm probably not going to put in an "objective" section but I am certainly considering a once sentence overview.

"Experienced theater technician seeking to branch out to other related fields."

That just doesn't sound right.

[Shrug]

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 02-20-2012, 03:36 PM:

If you're leaving the theatre biz, and you truly don't think "theatre technician" will be correctly interpreted/understood, then just leave it out. Call yourself something else, or describe yourself by way of your skills.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 02-20-2012, 05:11 PM:

Perhaps it's not something to put on a resume, but rather than something to the effect that theatres are dying, you could discuss how changes in the industry are reducing the need for skilled technicians and you are trying to find new opportunities before your position is eliminated.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-20-2012, 06:42 PM:

I am trying to think of some other name besides "theater technician."

I think part of the problem is that most employers want people who can be pigeon-holed into a certain job and, by my nature, I am not a person who is easily pigeon-holed.

I can be unloading a semi trailer and discuss the differences between Cubism and Impressionism. I can recite poetry from T.S. Eliot or Robert Service while rewiring a sound rack. I have a very broad field of knowledge yet am capable of doing very specialized jobs.

I see most of my skills as transferable. I can rebuild a movie projector as easily as I can repair a car. What specific knowledge or specialized skills I don't have I can relate from another job or else I can bring myself up to speed pretty quickly.

Stop and think for a second: A movie projector with programmable automation is very much like a plastic press running on a programmable logic controller. I could not walk into a shop and run a system like that today but, give me a week and I'm sure I could surprise you. Give me a month and I'll be doing the job as well as anybody. In a year's time, I might not become an expert but I'll be as good as almost anybody you know.

The problem is, "fast learner" doesn't translate to a resume very well.

Working in a theater, traditional or movie theater, is a multifaceted job. A person could be threading a movie one minute but fixing a popcorn popper the next. One day, you'll be repairing the air conditioning. The next day, you'll be debugging the computerized ticket system. I could unload a semi truck one day, paint scenery the next and operate the lighting or sound system the day after that.

I overhauled my theater's sound system and installed a new cinema processor with Dolby Digital. Then I turned around and edited video to make a TV commercial for be broadcast the next day.

I work in a movie theater by day, create digital multimedia on my computer at night then I take traditional photographs and process the film in my own darkroom on the weekends.

When somebody asks me, "What can you do?" my answer is "Show me something I CAN'T do!"

Give me a half hour and I bet I could land any job if I only put my mind to it. My problem is that I have to explain all of this on two sheets of paper but I have to get a potential employer's attention by the time he finishes reading the top half of the first page.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 02-20-2012, 08:32 PM:

Back in the 70s I worked for Altec (ASC). At that time, based on my assumed skills, without knowing me, I was repeatedly recruited to work in maintenance for an appliance manufacturer (GE). He had hired other ex-cinema people and assumed that they were quick studies, got the job done quickly and could think on their feet. He already had three. Several thousand assembly line people there. Maintenance was seperate.

You sound like you have a similar background and from talking with you on the phone feel that you would be qualified as I was.

But, could you work for a boring large company? louis

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 02-20-2012, 09:05 PM:

Also focus on the skills you learned that are applicable to *any* job. Depending on what areas you've gotten acquainted with in a theater, you could have skills in managing/training, cash handling, equipment troubleshooting (I'm sure you have at least some of this), customer service, etc.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-20-2012, 10:41 PM:

Let's see...

Cash handling: Worked several jobs at retail, plus I grew up in a bar. Not only that, I know how to spot grifters, bill switchers and the like.

Management: Worked as a security guard in hotels; another multifaceted job. Key control, basic locksmithing, alarms, security cameras, physical security, crowd control, parking fire safety, investigation and a whole lot of other things.

Clerical/Legal: Worked as a research assistant for the Massachusetts Parole Board completing recidivism surveys on potential parolees. (Held a letter in my hands, written by the Boston Strangler, shortly before he got shanked in prison.)

Teaching/Training: Worked at a college for 15 years. Trained dozens of people to operate projectors and work in theaters over the years.

Honestly, I think I could do just about any job I put my mind to. I am a natural autodidact who grew up reading the World Book Encyclopedia under the covers in bed at night with a flashlight.

(What's an autodidact? That's a person who found a dictionary and looked up the word, "autodidact." [Wink]

)

Seriously, I don't think a day goes by where I don't look something up in the dictionary, read a book or search for things in Wikipedia.

I can do almost anything but I LIKED working in theaters. It's secure and stable enough that I know where I'll be working and what I'll generally doing on any given day but there's enough variation in the work to make every day different.

Did I ever mention that I might have a touch of A.D.D? A well known doctor and nationally recognized psychologist once told me that he thought I was and that I should get checked out but I never had any tests done. I probably do have it but, at 45 years old, what difference will it really make if I know for sure?

I'm just in a difficult spot. I've got to do something else but I don't know what and I don't know how to explain myself to a new employer. [Shrug]

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 02-20-2012, 11:00 PM:

are there any actual job postings that you want to apply for?

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-21-2012, 12:02 AM:

At this point, I have a lead on Master Control Operator at a local TV station.

It's probably going to be part time, unionized and, after initial training, a late night and weekend job until I get experience and seniority.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-21-2012, 02:59 AM:

quote: Randy Stankey
unionized

..wage will be good and job secured and guaranteed somewhat - non of this "at will" stuff.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 02-21-2012, 11:00 AM:

Randy,

It's time for you to play "mix n match."

For each of the jobs you have held, emphasize the skills that apply to the new job that you want. (In this case, the Master Control job.)

Never mind if a particular skill was only a minor aspect of the old job(s). Use the "Work Experience" segment to emphasize the skills that you have that match up with the skills required for the new job.

Start with just listing each job and the skills you want to highlight, and then go back and work out the sentence phrasing around those key words.

Now, just to be clear: I'm not suggesting a "dishonest" approach here. You're just taking the opportunity to put yourself in the best possible light so that you get an interview. That's exactly what your resume is expected to do.

Once you are in a face to face interview, you can expand and say there was much more to the job(s) than what's on the resume. In that case, you'll be saying that you've got even more skills that may benefit them.

But, for now, it's time to be brief and to the point. Think of the job posting as a "laundry list" and think of them reading your resume and saying "check, check, check..."

Start with the job posting - what skills and characteristics do they want? Then look at your work history and figure out which job matches best with each desired skill.

Best wishes!

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 02-21-2012, 06:24 PM:

Six posts above: looks like a reasonable enough resume just by itself. Louis

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 02-21-2012, 10:17 PM:

Seriously, it's just too casual to be a resume. (Obviously.)

Mind you, I kind-of agree: if Randy spoke those words in the interview, it would certainly help his case.

It's got the makings of an informal cover letter but, the truth is, that's not a resume.

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 02-22-2012, 10:23 AM:

First, you do have to tweak for each specific job, but I've always felt that you could keep the resume short, sweet, and generic, and do the specific pitch in the cover letter. One thing I never could understand, though, is that most headhunters will tell you they look for the dopey text at the beginning of the resume, such as " highly motivated self-starter with extensive experience in the ________ field looking for new challenges, etc, etc." I can't believe they really look at this stuff, but apparently they do. Hope it works out well for you.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 02-22-2012, 02:17 PM:

They do look at that first line. They really do.

Showbiz analogies: Professional story editors (aka "screenplay readers") will often bail on a script if the first 10 pages don't "grab" them. Studio executives rely on "pitches." If you botch the pitch, it doesn't matter how good the actual material may be. You're still dead in the water.

It may sound cruel or unreasonable, but people who have to process a lot of material are happier if they are provided with summaries, digests, and extracts - anything that will help them do the job faster. And a huge part of landing a job entails keeping the gatekeeper(s) happy!

To paraphrase "Jerry Maguire" Help them help you.

So, just like in showbiz, the key is to provide resume screeners with an overview that will compel them to keep reading.

To quote Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin"

quote:
Find out what they like
And how they like it
And let 'em have it just that way!