In the United States today, there are just over 12 thousand employed audio engineers, with over 90% of them being male. Interestingly, this is one of the few professions where women outearn men and earn 106% of what men earn. The profession is definitely particular and requires a blend of natural talent and a cultivated skill set.
The majority of audio engineers do have a degree or diploma in audio engineering so recruiters will be looking to see that on your resume. A degree will also help you negotiate for a higher salary. Beyond that, recruiters will be looking to see a strong technical skill set, years of successful experience, and notable accomplishments. Use this guide to help you structure a winning resume and get you that initial interview.
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An audio engineer deals with the mechanics of recorded sounds. In other words, they work on recorded sound to make it sound a specific way. In the music industry, you may work with a music producer to mix, master, and reproduce music. Outside of the music industry, you can find audio engineers engineering sound for video games, live events, or recorded audiobooks, among others.
Above everything, this position requires experience and natural talent. Including as much as you can of the former, and showing evidence of the latter, should be your aim for your resume. Take a look at this resume sample.
If you want to be an audio engineer in music, showing a strong background in music and a progression up the ladder to an audio engineering position, is highly beneficial. This applicant shows a successful progression from audio coordinator to audio engineer.
Show recruiters that you are current and can use the best and most advanced tools in the market by listing these tools on your resume. If you are not familiar with a certain tool, do a crash course to get familiar with it before adding it to your list.
Getting an entry-level position in this profession requires notable natural talent. You will manage the recording, mixing, and mastering of recorded sound. You may also be an apprentice or assistant to a more established audio engineer. If this is the case, be sure to learn as much from them as possible and get as much practical experience as possible. As this is an entry-level position, recruiters will not expect to see a lot of concrete experience. Take a look at this resume to see how this applicant filled out their experience section.
You may not have years of experience in audio engineering, but you may have other experience in projects or positions related to sound manipulation. If so, include all those positions. They will give you transferable skills needed in audio engineering and are therefore relevant.
You may not have been given a chance to audio engineer professionally, but that is not an excuse to have no skills or education listed on your resume. While you wait for your big break, get as many music/audio engineering-related certifications as you can. It will show recruiters your dedication to the profession and your strong skill set.
Many audio engineers are freelancers and choose to work with a couple of studios and music producers or work on their own as a one-stop shop. To work in this position will require a lot of groundwork to build up a clientele, but as you become more established, you are bound to have your pick of jobs. In this position, you will be working as an independent contractor and not as an employee.
You will need your own recording studio or close connections to a recording studio you can use. Thriving in this position requires great talent, great interpersonal skills, and a go-getter attitude. Here is a recruiter-approved resume sample.
Your resume should prove that you are highly experienced and successful. So include how many clients you have worked with, how many songs or files you completed, or how many producers you have worked with.
If you worked on a song or album that won a prestigious award like a Grammy, be sure to include that and highlight it. Attaching yourself to projects of that caliber says a lot about your level of skill.
We spoke to hiring managers who recruit Audio Engineers at companies like Sony Music, Universal Studios, and Apple. They shared with us what they look for in resumes that stand out. The following tips will help your resume get noticed and increase your chances of landing an interview.
Audio Engineers use a variety of software and equipment in their work. Highlight your proficiency in the following:
Avoid simply listing the software or equipment without context, like this:
Instead, provide specific examples of how you've used these tools in your work.
A resume summary, also known as a professional summary or summary statement, is an optional section that appears at the top of your resume. It's a brief paragraph, typically 3-5 sentences long, that highlights your most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements. While a summary is not mandatory, it can be a valuable addition for audio engineers, especially those with extensive experience or looking to transition into a new role.
When writing your summary, focus on showcasing your unique value proposition and what sets you apart from other candidates. Tailor it to the specific audio engineer position you're applying for and emphasize the skills and experience that are most relevant. Avoid using generic statements or buzzwords that don't add any real substance.
The work experience section is the heart of your resume. It's where you show employers what you've accomplished in previous roles and how you can contribute to their organization. When writing your work experience section as an audio engineer, focus on highlighting your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and the impact you've made in previous roles.
Action verbs help us understand the functions of your job, the successes you have had, and the tasks you have completed. Strong action verbs can elevate your resume and help you stand out from the crowd. For an audio engineer, your action verbs should highlight experience in all the stages of audio engineering as well as highlight your experience working with multiple teams.
We have compiled some useful action verbs for you to use.
For more related action verbs, visit Engineering Action Verbs.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
Audio engineering is a very technical position requiring very specific skills. While soft skills like an ear for music/sound, and great communication skills are very useful for the job, the skills section of your resume should be filled with more hard skills needed for the job. You should try to include the skills used in each part of the audio engineering process and any other skills that would be useful in that field.
Here are some hard skill options to give you an idea of what your skills section should include. Feel free to add those that resonate with you to the skills section of your resume.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Audio Engineer job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
