INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Production Assistant positions are at a 21% growth rate, which is much faster than average. With that said, there are currently 138,700 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 28,600 to 167,300 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Production Assistant jobs was $50,000 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $26,770, and the highest 10% more than $99,480.
Our conclusion? The Production Assistant job market is wide open for candidates.
Top Production Assistant sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write a Production Assistant resume experience section
Production Assistant Resume’s Job Experience Checklist:
- Use 4-6 bullet points per job title;
- Don’t go further than a decade behind when describing your job history, unless you’re applying for an executive position;
- Combine job responsibilities as well as achievements with numbers in results when you describe your past work;
- Start each sentence with a power verb and avoid overused buzzwords;
- Use either C-A-R or S-T-A-R methodology, when describing your experience.
The work experience samples below come from real Production Assistant resumes that got people hired at top companies. You can use them as an inspiration to build your own resume:
- Served as Production Assistant for Truth vs. Hype, a weekly documentary program on NDTV 24*7
- Worked at the Production Control Room doing the studio camera and auto cue along with other technical jobs
- Worked at the Input Department doing News Research
- Collected bytes and reported for ‘homeless in winters’
- Did field camera with Out Broadcasting Van (OB Van)
- Production Assistant and Home Video Support for 'The Rising Stars of Comedy', comedy show at NDTV Prime
- Assisted the news team in shooting/editing news footage
- Creating and proofreading subtitles for news segments
- Rendered and checked on exports meeting broadcast regulations
- Assisted the news team in shooting/editing news footage
- Creating and proofreading subtitles for news segments
- Rendered and checked on exports meeting broadcast regulations
- Responded to client inquiries regarding ongoing jobs, media files, transcripts, quotes and bookings and liaising with the UK office to ensure delivery of transcripts and translations to clients
- Took bookings for transcripts, post production scripts, translations, closed captions & subtitles, and accurate database input as well as preparation of costings and vigilance of job deadlines
- Carried out administrative and production tasks including sales reports, meetings, training, managing and scheduling typists & translators
- Work with Buyer to raise the purchase order sheet and enter in the system. Keep critical path updated
- Negotiate the cost price
- Daily communicate with both local and overseas suppliers regarding samples and production delivery to maintain the delivery schedule
- Attend fitting session to help technician team write the fitting comments, and provide the feedback to suppliers
- Maintain shipment samples and sample library
- Inspect new stock
- Assisted production coordinator for the Center for Broadcasting and Digital Media with various client requests and NJTV productions.
- Maintained schedule of equipment rentals, returns, and repairs.
- Prepare media equipment packages for students and class production needs, including set up for early morning pickups.
- Handled ordering of tools and materials for the artists in residency.
- Edited artist’s statements and catalogs to promote artists' careers within the inter-residency network (Prague, Paris, Dakar, Oslo).
- Promoted public events through social media, focused on reaching out to the expat community.
- Hosted live on radio and a short 3- minute competition giveaway.
- Produced, Directed and Edited a 30-second commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcjlWywZd84&feature=youtu.be
- Production Assistant and Casting Director on two 20-minute live television shows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKU8FsAaZYw and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWqSIQFVNSk
- Assisted with the operations and day-to-day management of the primary sound stage.
- Reviewed edited footage for additional treatment and participated in editorial sessions.
- Transported and entertained talent.
- Weekly re-versioning sessions preparing material for on air for three Pay-TV channels (TV1000 Russian Kino, TV1000 Action and TV1000 Balkan)
- Ensuring legal clearance of promos for on-air use and according to technical standards
- Liaising closely with on air contacts in countries/territories to ensure optimal quality and on time delivery
- Assisting promo producers in researching and obtaining promotional footage
- Distribution of TV and Web spots for markets across Europe
- Scheduling channel branding, continuity elements, on-air promotion and timing the transmission schedules for two Pay-TV channels
- Creating promo placement charts. Analysing data to optimise promo usages for various promo campaigns
- Assist to the Programme Manager and Pay-TV team with ad hoc tasks such as creating a promoting wish list, writing and updating the inventory list, requests for channel branding elements
- Produced live events for NCAA Division I Football, Baseball and Basketball
- Handled script writing, creative development, graphics for video boards and post-production editing services
- Produced the FSU coach’s show with legendary Bobby Bowden which appeared on local, regional and national cable channels
- Won ADDY award for first copywriting assignment (marketing campaign for Vision 21 Telecommunications).
- Handled PR for Chicago stop of Cafe de Colombia International Waterski Tour.
- Hired talent, scouted locations & organized photoshoots for Mastercraft Ski Boats.
- Learned to buy media, do press checks, sell hunting knives, pitch new accounts, fix copy machines, answer phones and the power of direct mail.
- Maintain professional and technical knowledge of current audio and video production techniques.
- Report to manager any problems or issues that arise related to production duties including production equipment, software and tools.
- Assist with scheduling, editing and exporting music logs.
- Assist with copy writing and editing for audio/video production.
- Experience with digital audio recording systems and techniques.
- Managed the tape room of a busy commercials facility in Wellington.
- Provided continuous support for editors, 3D Animators and VFX artists.
- Liaised with producers, advertising agencies and clients.
- Producing and Production Assistant - Call sheets & shot lists (Creating, editing and distributing), location scouting, casting
- Pre-Production, Production & Post-Production
- Negotiating talent contracts (with talent agent)
- Some costume, makeup, lighting & set design experience
- Actor (inc. 3 series of an international TV production)
PRO TIP
Make sure to relate your experience to your job description, but never lie. That’s not tolerated and will show up in the face-to-face interview later on.
Action Verbs for your Production Assistant Resume
Recommended reads:
Production Assistant Resume Skills’ Tips & Tricks to Impress Recruiters
Resume Skills Section Checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top Skills for your Production Assistant resume
- PowerTrapper/Layout
- Nexus Manager
- NexusRIP
- PackEdge
- DeskPack
- Automation Engine
- FlexRIP
- Windows Server 2008/2012
- Windows 7,8,10
- App-V
- Communication
- Planning and organisation
- Prioritization
- Efficiency
- Responsibility
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Customer service
- Phone Etiquette
- Discretion
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:
Production Assistant Resume Header: Tips, Red Flags, and Best Practices
CHECKLIST For Your Production Assistant Resume Header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Production Assistant resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
Production Assistant Resume Summary Best Practices
Checklist: What to include in your Production Assistant 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
You’re not going to get hired simply because of a good summary or objective. However, your recruiter can bump you up in front of similarly experienced candidates who didn’t demonstrate such passion and drive.
Recommended reads:
Listing Your Education, Certifications and Courses
Resume Education Section Checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top Certifications for your Production Assistant resume
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Production Assistant Resume: Additional Writing & Formatting Tips
There are three basic resume formats you can choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional resume format;
- Hybrid (or Combination) resume format;
The most optimal format for your particular case will depend on your years of experience, as well as whether you’re switching industries or not.
Reverse chronological resumes are best suited for experienced individuals who are sticking to their industry. The experience section takes a central place, and its bullets contain your responsibilities and achievements, coupled with numbers and results.
Functional resumes are used by less experienced jobseekers or career changers. Note that it’s not a format that recruiters prefer, as most are used to the classic chronological alignment. Instead of a list of job titles, functional resumes focus on your skills, and through what experiences you gained them.
Hybrid resumes are great for both experienced and entry-level candidates, as well as career changers. They combine the best of both worlds - most often in a double column format, where one side of the content is focused on your experience, whereas the other - on your skills, strengths, and proudest moments.
Production Assistant Resume Summary best practices
Here are more resume tips regarding your layout and style:
- Clear and legible 12p resume font size;
- Use 10’’ resume margins - that’s default for a great resume design;
- Use a one-page template resume length if you’ve got less than 10 years of experience; otherwise, opt for a two-page resume;
- Save your resume as PDF before sending it to the recruiter.
To take it a step further, check out how your resume can stand out without leaning too much on the creative side.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Test your draft Production Assistant resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Other sections to include in your resume
Depending on the type of company (corporation or start-up; innovative or traditional), job seniority level and your location, you may want to include more sections to your Production Assistant resume:
Production Assistant Resume: How to Make Yours More Creative & Stand Out
When you send your resume to a potential employer, chances are it's the fiftieth one they've seen that day. That's why you need to make your Production Assistant resume stand out for the right reasons. That means showing your personality, not just your professional experience. Employers are far more likely to remember a candidate who seems like a genuine person and not a robot. Do this by including your passions (which is also a great place to demonstrate skills on a resume), share your favorite books, or even what your usual day looks like.
What Makes a Great Production Assistant Resume: Key Takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
