Audio Engineer Resume Example
A career as an audio engineer typically involves mixing audio tracks and operating sound equipment. To succeed in your applications for audio engineer roles, you'll need a resume that reflects your relevant skills and experience. In this article, we'll explain how to write a winning resume for audio engineer applications that best showcases your skills and experience.
This comprehensive guide will give you all the tools you need to craft an audio engineer resume that positions you strongly against other candidates. The article will take you through the key steps of creating a resume that presents your key skills, qualities and career achievements in a format that employers favor. It will also help you tailor your resume according to your unique skills and experience level. Read on to learn tips from Jobseeker's careers experts that will help you fine-tune your resume for success.
Main sections of an audio engineer resume
The key sections to include in an audio engineer resume are similar to those for any role or profession.
If you have no work experience as an audio engineer or have just started in the industry, you could consider using a functional or skills-based format, which emphasizes your skills and education. Focus the content of your resume on your soft and transferable skills, and any hard or technical skills you've learned from your studies or career to date. You can also mention any relevant internships, training courses or voluntary roles you've taken on.
When applying for mid-level audio engineer positions, it's typically best to opt for a reverse-chronological resume format. This is because work experience tends to be the most important resume section for this level. Rather than simply listing your responsibilities in each role, show the impact you made and offer evidence that demonstrates the skills and experience listed in the job description.
As a highly experienced candidate, you'll want your audio engineer resume to showcase your depth of relevant work experience, as well as other achievements. Use a reverse-chronological format and add additional sections to prove you're a strong candidate. Senior resumes are often longer than resumes for junior roles. This is because you may choose to include extra sections, such as awards, professional memberships, publications, conferences or certifications on your resume.
While the content and format of your resume may vary depending on your experience levels, it's important to always include the following sections:
Resume Header
In your audio engineer resume header, list your name, email address, phone number and address or location. You can also add your LinkedIn, if you have one, to help employers better understand your work history and skills. While in some countries, you might include additional personal information or a photo, these aren't necessary. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Opt for a professional-looking email address based on your name. If your email address could be construed as unprofessional or inappropriate because it contains nicknames or unsuitable language, create a new, more professional email address for your job applications. Always check your contact details to make sure they're up-to-date before you send your resume.
Audrey Bennett
audrey.bennett@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
7 Eccles Street, Dublin, OH
linkedin․com/in/audrey–bennett123
Resume Profile
The next section is the resume summary. The section might also be called 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. This is a brief introduction to you, your key skills and your career achievements and ambitions. While a resume summary focuses on your career achievements and experience, a resume objective typically focuses on your ambitions for the future. Additionally, make sure your resume summary reflects the job description and focuses on qualities that are relevant to working as an audio engineer.
Alternatively, write a paragraph that concentrates on your career objectives and how this role fits with your wider ambitions and progression.
The best resume summaries reflect the job description and focus on qualities that are relevant to working as an audio engineer, while highlighting elements of your personality that make you an ideal candidate. They also quantify the information provided with evidence. See below for some great examples of what to include in your audio engineer resume summary.
Bachelor of Science in Audio Engineering with extensive experience as an Audio Engineer Specialist. Proven expertise in sound design, mixing, mastering, and live sound reinforcement. Adept at utilizing industry-standard software and equipment to deliver high-quality audio for various applications, including music production, film, and live events. Strong problem-solving skills and a keen ear for detail ensure exceptional audio results
Worked in audio with a science degree. Have done things with sound like designing, mixing, and making it better for different uses. Used tools and software that are common in the field to make audio sound good for music, movies, and events. Good at solving issues and paying attention to details to make sure the sound is nice
Conversely, a bad resume summary might be too generic, lacking focus on the specifics of the job description. It will also fail to provide any useful insights on what makes you a unique candidate. See above for some examples of things to avoid when writing your audio engineer resume summary.
Work History
In the next section, list your employment history focusing on the most relevant previous roles and achievements that showcase your audio engineer skills. List each relevant role in reverse-chronological order starting with your current or most recent role. Add your job title, the organization name, its location and the dates you worked there.
Add some bullet points under each job entry, explaining your achievements in the role, so the reader can see how you contributed towards success for the company. Provide evidence of your impact and make sure each point addresses a requirement listed in the job description.
A good work experience section pulls the reader in with clear examples of where you've put the skills necessary for the job into good use in your career to date. This typically includes evidence of how your skills and activities contributed to positive outcomes for the organization. Take a look at the examples below for some guidance on what works best for your work experience section.
Audio Engineer Specialist, January 2022 - Present
SonicWave Studios, St. Louis
- Engineered and mixed Grammy-winning album for renowned artist, achieving superior sound quality and commercial success
- Developed and implemented innovative sound design for award-winning video game, enhancing user experience and gameplay immersion
- Led audio post-production for a top-grossing film, ensuring seamless audio integration and exceptional sound clarity
Audio Engineer Specialist, January 2022 - Present
SonicWave Studios, St. Louis
- Worked on various audio projects, contributing to overall sound quality and team success
- Assisted in sound design for multiple media formats, improving user engagement
- Participated in audio production tasks, supporting project goals and timelines
See above for some of the pitfalls to avoid with your resume work experience section. Ineffective work experience sections tend to focus too much on everyday responsibilities over skills and achievements. If you use vague descriptions of activities and fail to back up your achievements with evidence, you're likely to fail to make an impact on the reader.
Portfolio and Work Samples
Samples of your previous work as an audio engineer can help to prove your track record to employers. If you have a personal website or portfolio, or other examples of your previous work online, add a link to it in this section.
Portfolios and work examples are most useful for roles in creative sectors, such as graphic design and web development. You could either include a link to your portfolio or website in your resume header, or add a separate section towards the end of your resume with links to published work. Conversely, for non-creative careers, it's still worth adding examples of your best work to this section, if you have them available online.
Education and Qualifications
In your education section, include details of your most relevant audio engineer qualifications and educational achievements.
Opportunities as an audio engineer and similar roles in the sector usually require a specialist degree. If you have a Bachelor of Science in Audio Engineering degree, be sure to mention this in your resume. You might also want to list any qualifications that highlight your MIDI programming or audio signal processing.
Include any qualifications relevant to the role. For each, add the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study. You can enhance this section by adding bullet points that show any outstanding grades, awards or achievements and any specialist subjects you studied. These details can make you stand out from other candidates.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Bachelor of Science in Audio Engineering, 2017 - 2020
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Skills
Listing your key skills can help to prove your suitability for audio engineer jobs. These could be live sound mixing, time management skills or various other relevant skills. Again, refer to the audio engineer job description for an indication of the types of skills the employer is looking for, and make sure your skills section reflects these.
Showcasing hard skills on your audio engineer resume
Under hard skills, add any specialist skills you possess that are specifically required for audio engineer jobs. These tend to be technical skills and industry knowledge essential to the position. Furthermore, it's important to show these skills in an audio engineer resume as they provide a strong indication of your experience in the sector. Add up to five key hard skills that show you're an ideal candidate for the role. It can also be beneficial to add context to each skill, showing how you've used it to positive effect in your career to date.
Your resume hard skills list should reflect your unique and specific industry expertise and experience, while also fulfilling the requirements listed in the job description. See the examples below for an idea of what an effective audio engineer resume hard skills list looks like.
- Audio signal processing
- DAW proficiency
- Microphone placement techniques
Listing soft skills on your audio engineer resume
Soft skills are your transferable skills and personal qualities that make you a good match for an audio engineer position and the organization. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, and can often apply to multiple jobs and industries. In fact, as technology develops, soft skills are growing in importance for recruiters and employers, so be sure to add several of these to your resume. In this section, add four of five transferable skills that match the job description.
A good soft skills section would include skills that match the job description, and also reflect your key strengths and qualities. See the graphic below for an indication of what to include in a strong soft skills section for an audio engineer resume.
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Effective communication skills
Jobseeker Tip:
Tailor your creative resume to emphasize your expertise in specialized techniques, such as 3D printing for sculpture or digital animation for film. (1) Include a portfolio link with detailed examples that demonstrate your process and the finished product. (2)
Certifications and Training
Your certifications section is the place to mention any relevant professional audio engineer certifications, licenses or qualifications. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as an audio engineer. Therefore, list any official licenses and certifications, along with their dates, so employers can assess whether you've got the necessary qualifications to work as an audio engineer.
Read on to see some relevant example certifications for an audio engineer resume:
- Avid Pro Tools, 2022
- Apple Logic Pro, 2022
- Dante Certification Level, 2022
Optional Sections
As well as the main sections of an audio engineer resume, optional sections can help you prove your credentials to employers. Pick from the optional sections below to help show the employer you have the skills and experience for the job.
Hobbies and Interests
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. These are particularly useful for your resume if you're short of work experience and need to showcase a particular skill or experience. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Voluntary Work
Adding voluntary roles can be a useful way of showing relevant experience and skills for audio engineer roles beyond your main employment history. Include the title of your volunteer role, who you volunteered for, as well as the dates you carried out the work. Provide brief details of your responsibilities and the impact you made.
References
Standard audio engineer resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Before adding any referees to your resume, ask them for their assistance and prepare them for contact by the employer.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best action words for your audio engineer resume
Start each bullet point in your work experience section with a strong verb to show actions you took. Add strong verbs from the list below to create a greater impact with your work experience section.
- Record
- Mix
- Edit
- Master
- Synchronize
- Calibrate
- Troubleshoot
- Optimize
- Configure
- Monitor
For help creating an eye-catching resume design to catch the attention of hiring managers, see Jobseeker's professional resume layouts. You can also use our clear, effective cover letter templates to complete your application.
Example of an audio engineer resume
The audio engineer resume example below incorporates all the information from above into a full-designed resume template, so you can see how a final resume will look:
7 Eccles Street, Dublin, OH
•
audrey.bennett@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/audrey–bennett123
Bachelor of Science in Audio Engineering with extensive experience as an Audio Engineer Specialist. Proficient in sound design, mixing, mastering, and live sound reinforcement. Adept at using industry-standard software and equipment to deliver high-quality audio for various applications, including music production, film, television, and live events. Strong problem-solving skills and a keen ear for detail, ensuring optimal sound performance and client satisfaction.
Audio Engineer Specialist
2020
-2022
SonicCraft Solutions (Philadelphia)
- Successfully mixed and mastered Grammy-winning album, enhancing overall sound quality and listener experience
- Engineered live sound for international tours, ensuring flawless audio for audiences of up to 50,000 attendees
- Developed custom audio plugins, improving workflow efficiency and sound processing for industry-leading studios
Audio signal processing
DAW proficiency
Microphone placement techniques
Attention to detail
Problem-solving abilities
Effective communication skills
Avid Pro Tools
Apple Logic Pro
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Key tips for an audio engineer resume
- Use a professional resume format with clear headings, a defined structure and consistent margins for optimum readability.
- Mention your key educational achievements, such as degrees and professional qualifications, along with grades such as your GPA, if they're high.
- Keep your audio engineer resume as brief as possible. Aim for one page for an entry-level role, and two pages for more senior jobs.
- Quantify your career achievements by including evidence of your impact throughout your resume.
- Tailor your resume for each application you send. Review the job description and adapt the content to reflect the specific requirements, including key skills and experience.
- Don't lie or exaggerate any information on your audio engineer resume, as this can cause you problems further down the line.
- Don't include personal details beyond your name, location and contact details. Adding your age, gender, nationality or a photo can create unwanted hiring bias.
- Don't use jargon or acronyms when you can use simple, straightforward language to say the same thing.
- Don't fill your resume with unnecessary details. Focus everything on showing you're right for the job.
- Don't list work experience that has no relation to the role you're applying for. It wastes space and is unlikely to impress hiring managers.
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are one of the key ways recruiters and employers manage the hiring process. The systems can screen candidates by scanning and ranking resumes based on each candidate's likely suitability for the vacancy. When writing your audio engineer resume, a few simple tips can help you pass the ATS stage with a higher-ranking resume, giving you a better chance of success with your applications.
Follow these guidelines to create the best ATS-friendly resume:
- Use a traditional resume layout, such as a reverse-chronological or functional format. This will mean your resume includes all the necessary sections, in the expected order.
- Add keywords that match the job description throughout your resume, as ATS applications scan for these and well-placed, considered use can help your resume rank more highly.
- Include clear headings that make it easy to identify each section of your resume. This will help any ATS software navigate your resume during the scanning process.
- Adopt a resume design that uses clear, professional design principles and leaves white space for your content to breathe. Use the most readable fonts and incorporate subtle design elements to enhance the readability of your document.
- Make sure your resume is as concise as possible, so ATS applications can easily scan and identify the required details.
If you need help creating a professional resume, take a look at our expert career articles and variety of resume examples created by careers experts.
FAQs for an audio engineer resume
It's not typically a good idea to add a personal photo to your resume. A photo can help your resume to look more visually engaging, but it also risks introducing unwanted bias into the recruitment process.
Circumstances where it may be necessary to include a personal photo in your resume tend to be for creative roles that require public appearances. This could be appearing on camera, acting, modelling, meeting with clients or public speaking engagements.
Accompanying your resume for audio engineer applications, you'll want to produce a cover letter that similarly leaves a positive impression on hiring managers.
In some situations, a full, professional cover letter may not be necessary. Check the job advert and decide whether to write a formal cover letter, or if a brief email is more suitable.
If you choose to write a full cover letter, follow traditional letter-writing conventions surrounding greetings, sign-offs and use of professional language. The body of the cover letter tends to be three paragraphs. The first introduces yourself and the role you're applying for, giving reasons for your application. The second briefly covers your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to audio engineer roles. Finally, the third paragraph re-emphasizes your interest in the role and leaves a call to action, encouraging the employer to reach out to you.
If you want to impress employers with a professional cover letter, use Jobseeker's simple and beautiful cover letter templates.
There are plenty of ways to still make a positive impression with your audio engineer resume, even if you lack relevant work experience. Use a functional resume format instead of the standard reverse-chronological structure. This emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience. Additional resume sections such as volunteer work, hobbies and interests, certifications and internships can all help you showcase your relevant skills. These can be more prominent in your resume if you haven't got a lot of work experience.
Selecting a font for your resume helps to set the tone for your document, and is one of the most important design decisions you'll have to make. Go for a font that gives your resume a professional, readable look and feel, including serif or sans serif font groups. Select a font size that makes your resume easy-to-read (typically size 10 to 12). Creative resumes tend to use fonts from the sans serif font family. These are often dynamic, modern-looking fonts, so are likely to be more suitable for an audio engineer resume.
The most suitable resume format for you depends on two crucial factors. Firstly, whether you have a body of relevant work experience. Secondly, the type of job and its seniority level. If you don't have much experience, for example if you're applying for a graduate role or changing careers, you might consider a functional resume format. This focuses on your skills and education above your work experience. For more senior roles where you have plenty of relevant experience, use a reverse chronological format. This resume structure places work experience at the heart of the document, using it as a showcase for your skills and achievements.
Key takeaways for your audio engineer resume
If you want to catch the eye of employers and recruiters, you need a professional resume that showcases your best skills and career achievements. Use a suitable resume format and tailor your resume for every application you submit.
Use Jobseeker's resume templates, other tools and resources to create an application that impresses employers. Sign up today to access a wealth of valuable resume and cover letter resources. Jobseeker's expert-designed cover letter generator can help your applications make a strong first impression on hiring managers. Find detailed cover letter examples to complement your resume and get your application noticed.
Sources:
(1) Careers for creative people, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/creative-careers.htm
(2) Occupational Outlook Handbook, Craft and Fine Arts, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/craft-and-fine-artists.htm
