Costume Designer Resume: Example and Tips
Costume designers design and create outfits for theatrical productions, movies, TV shows, ad films and commercials. Basic understanding of clothes, trends, textiles and material is a must, as well as fundamental knowledge of tailoring, design and design software.
These tips and resume examples will help you create your own impressive resume for a costume designer position.
Table of Contents
Featured Resume Example: Costume Designer
Name: ROSS ANDERSON
Address: City, State, Zip Code
Phone: 000-000-0000
E-Mail: email@email.com
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Versatile Costume Designer successful at taking on any challenge. Experienced in period dramas, contemporary periods, science fiction, fantasy and more. Exceptional seamstress and creative pattern designer.
SKILLS
- Fittings
- Alterations
- Patternmaking
- Tailoring and accessorizing
- Proficient in Adobe Illustrator
- Visual composition
- Draping specialist
WORK HISTORY
Costume Designer, 06/2017 to Current
Firebird Theater – Company Name, City, State
- Plan out costume creation four weeks ahead to align with timing of fabric shipments.
- Remain backstage during performances to monitor practical use of costumes and in case of costume-related emergencies.
- Alter costumes based on actor preferences, script changes and other production needs.
Wardrobe Assistant, 06/2015 to 05/2017
Wilco Productions – Company Name, City, State
- Determined proper shoes, jewelry, head wear and other accessories to complement designer outfits.
- Maintained positive, professional attitude during long shoots and when dealing with difficult people.
- Collaborated with hair and makeup departments to align looks with specific image plans during events.
Tailor, 10/2012 to 05/2015
Terry’s Big And Tall – Company Name, City, State
- Customized orders and clothing selections to customer’s specifications.
- Reorganized rotation schedule for window displays, doubled store foot traffic.
- Greeted customers, listened to their needs and directed them around the shop.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts : Fashion And Fabric Consultation, City, State
Top 4 Characteristics of a Best-in-Class Costume Designer Resume
- Summary In a few short, to-the-point sentences, present your top skills and work experiences. Make sure that you address the position you are applying to. For example, when applying to a traditional theater costume design position, include phrases such as “familiar with period drama costume styles.” This section should provide a snapshot of who you are as a designer. For example: “Versatile costume designer with 6 years of experience in creating period dresses and contemporary costumes.”
- Skills Emphasize your adaptability by listing technical specialties such as “alterations,” “pattern-making,” “tailoring and accessorizing,” “proficiency in Adobe Illustrator” and “expert embroidery” along with intangible skills such as “ability to collaborate with various teams,” “attention to detail” and “flexibility”.
- Work experience Mention all relevant roles you’ve had, such as assistant costume designer, seamstress or wardrobe attendant. Give employers a better understanding of your abilities by quantifying your achievements. For example: “Designed and created costumes for 20+ drama productions, completing work 15% under budget.”
- Education List your highest education qualifications (e.g., a bachelor or graduate degree), as well as any training or certifications you have that relate to costume design, such as certification as a Wardrobe Technician and Costume Design Specialist.
See Why My Perfect Resume is a 5-Star Resume Builder
Find The Right Template For Your Resume
Choosing a resume layout is like designing a costume — only the best fit will do. Use these free, professionally-designed templates for your resume.
Cool
This template features a dual-column design, presenting skills and work history in clutter-free style. The header uses bold colors to contrast with the rest of the resume’s minimalist look.
Standout
This chiseled design features section headers that pop, thanks to a “connect the dots” scheme and subtle use of color.
Bold
This layout has a strong yet straightforward presentation, featuring a sleek two-column design with clearly defined section headings.
Find even more templates at MyPerfectResume’s templates list.
Do’s and Don’ts For Your Resume
- DO proofread the resume before submission Just as you will be expected to be meticulous in your costume designs, be meticulous in presenting an error-free resume. Give your document a thorough read-through before sending it in, and be on the lookout for grammar or spelling errors. Proofing your resume also gives you a chance to see if you have missed any important information or key skills. Having someone else read and proof your resume is important to gain a second opinion.
- DO quantify your achievements and experience Use numbers and figures when describing your work experience and accomplishment to add more value. You can quantify your experience, the impact of your work in an organization or achievements. For example: “designed 5 outfits that were featured in Lifestyle Weekly” or “created costumes for theatre show with cast of 40, earning positive mentions in local newspaper theatre reviews.”
- DO use action verbs Instead of using passive verbs to describe your work achievements, energize your resume with action verbs, which paint you as a take-charge, proactive worker. Incorporate verbs like leading, organizing, collaborating, designing, developing and researching with your achievements. For example: “Dedicated and driven costume designer with an experience of 7 years in designing period costumes.”
- DON’T pack your resume with unnecessary info The majority of resumes are only one page long for a reason — on average, recruiters will usually only spend a few seconds scanning them. Make the most of those seconds by including only the important details about your skills and achievements, making sure that all the info you include addresses the job’s requirements. Limit your work history to the past 10 years at most, unless you’ve gained a major achievement or recognition for previous work beyond that timespan.
- DON’T forget soft skills Although technical skills like fitting, tailoring, and costume construction are essential for a costume designer, be sure to also mention soft skills that give employers an understanding of how effective you will be at work, such as adaptability, versatility, planning and management capabilities, creativity, communication skills, flexibility, multitasking and teamwork.
- DON’T use the same resume for every job application Costume designers on a movie set will have different responsibilities compared to designers in the theater. Go through the job description of every job posting to note which skills and training are required, and adapt your resume to address these needs. For example, a costume designer for a fashion shoot should emphasize knowledge of current trends or celebrity styling.
Pair Your Resume With a Matching Cover Letter
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