Top Costume Designer sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers & results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a memorable experience section: Costume Designer resume edition
Writing a Strong Experience Section for Your Costume Designer Resume:
- List your previous jobs in chronological or reverse-chronological format;
- Use no more than 4-6 bullets per position;
- Mention only relevant work experience;
- Describe the tasks you were responsible for and how you managed to exceed expectations;
- Show you’re able to take charge by choosing action verbs over buzzwords.
We’ve gathered the most impressive Costume Designer experience sections from real Enhancv resumes. Check them out for some additional inspiration!
- Designed costumes for 5 main stage productions, resulting in an increase in ticket sales by 15% compared to the previous season.
- Mentored 3 highly qualified student designers, resulting in their successful transition to professional careers in the field.
- Developed costume designs that were used in a national touring production, resulting in positive reviews from critics and audiences alike.
- Managed budgets ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 per production, resulting in no overspending and consistent fiscal responsibility.
- Collaborated with directors and other designers to create cohesive and visually stunning productions, resulting in positive feedback from audiences and critics.
- Instructed courses in costume design for undergraduate students, resulting in an increase in enrollment by 20% over two years.
- Mentored 5 student designers, resulting in their designs being featured in main stage productions and regional competitions.
- Contributed to the development of a new costume design curriculum, resulting in a more comprehensive and up-to-date program.
- Participated in recruitment activities, resulting in a diverse and talented cohort of students.
- Served on university committees, including the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, resulting in the implementation of new initiatives and programs.
- Designed and oversaw the creation of costumes for a variety of television series, including ABC's 'How to Get Away with Murder'
- Managed costume budgets ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 per season
- Collaborated with producers and directors to ensure costumes aligned with the vision of each project
- Developed relationships with vendors and secured cost-effective materials without compromising quality
- Received multiple industry award nominations for excellence in costume design
- Provided guidance to assistant designers and costume production teams
- Collaborated with production teams to create unique and visually compelling costumes that aligned with project budgets
- Developed a reputation for creating striking and memorable costumes that received positive industry feedback
- Managed costume budgets ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 per project
- Sourced materials from a range of vendors to achieve the desired look and feel of each costume
- Communicated effectively with directors and producers to ensure costumes met the vision of each project
- Provided guidance to costume production teams and ensured costumes were delivered on schedule
- Created costume designs for cast of 25, including leading roles and ensemble performers.
- Managed all aspects of costume shop, including hiring and supervising staff, maintaining budget, and overseeing costume construction.
- Collaborated with director and production team to ensure costumes aligned with creative vision of the show.
- Sourced fabrics and materials within budget, negotiating prices with vendors resulting in 10% cost savings.
- Maintained open communication with cast and crew, resolving issues promptly and maintaining positive morale on set.
- Oversaw construction of costumes for a range of productions, including period pieces and contemporary works.
- Managed a team of 5 costume technicians, delegating tasks and ensuring deadlines were met.
- Maintained inventory of all costume pieces and accessories, ensuring efficient use of resources.
- Collaborated with designers and directors to ensure costumes aligned with creative vision of the show.
- Ensured costumes fit actors properly, making alterations as needed resulting in a 100% success rate for costume fittings.
- Designed costumes for a range of productions, including musicals, comedies, and dramas.
- Sourced fabrics and materials within budget, negotiating prices with vendors resulting in 15% cost savings.
- Managed all aspects of costume construction, including creating patterns, cutting and sewing fabrics, and adding finishing touches.
- Collaborated with director and production team to ensure costumes aligned with creative vision of the show.
- Maintained open communication with cast and crew, resolving issues promptly and maintaining positive morale on set.
PRO TIP
Show off real numbers that display your accomplishments in past roles. Instead of listing out your responsibilities as Costume Designer, talk about the measurable impact you made to their business. Did you boost their revenue? Increase customer retention? Mention your proudest points on your resume.
Action Verbs for your Costume Designer Resume
Recommended reads:
Top Costume Designer Skills for Your Resume
Checklist for your Costume Designer skills section:
- Include all relevant skills from the job description to pass ATS;
- Focus on skills that show your expertise;
- List your technical skills in a clear and concise manner;
- Leave room for transferable skills related to teamwork, communication, negotiation, and conflict management.
Top skills for your costume designer resume
Sewing
Patternmaking
Textile knowledge
Costume history
Draping
Computer-aided design (CAD)
Budget management
Collaboration
Time management
Fabric manipulation
Attention to detail
Creativity
Problem-solving
Communication
Flexibility
Adaptability
Organization
Teamwork
Leadership
Cultural awareness
PRO TIP
When describing your experience, don’t go too far from its terminology. Recruiters use ATS systems to filter resumes based on them having certain keywords, so make sure you use at least a few keywords mentioned in the job description.
Recommended reads:
Costume Designer resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist: What to include in your Costume Designer resume summary:
- Years of experience;
- Highlight top 3 skills and proficiencies;
- One big professional accomplishment you’re most proud of, that you can tie with the aforementioned skills;
- Use short, direct sentences - but no more than three - to keep the HRs interested.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Read the job description carefully and understand what the hiring company is exactly looking for. After that, write your summary accordingly while highlighting your potential and ability to be the best at that job.
Recommended reads:
Costume Designer Resume Format 101
If a couple of years ago Costume Designer resumes could be text files with no graphic elements, today’s recruiters need a bit more to remember you.
And yet, you can still choose between three basic resume formats:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
But when it comes to choosing the right format for your Costume Designer resume, there are two factors to keep in mind: your experience and whether you’re looking for an industry change.
The reverse-chronological format is the most common one. That being said, it gives recruiters exactly what they’re used to in terms of order and information. However, it’s not suitable for applicants with employment gaps or not enough experience.
We at Enhancv suggest the functional skills-based resume format for people with limited work experience who find reverse-chronological resumes irrelevant. This format showcases the applicant’s most significant accomplishments, skills, and strengths.
More tips on perfecting your resume style and layout:
- Choose a traditional 12p font;
- Make sure your resume margins are no bigger than an inch;
- Go for a one-page template. If you have broad experience and can’t fit your resume on one page, choose a two-page resume template
- Save your resume as PDF to avoid formatting issues and unauthorized editing.
Read this: Ways to make your Costume Designer resume stand out
