Singer resume template
A clean starting structure with example content grounded in what singers actually do day to day, not generic filler. Download and replace the bracketed placeholders with your own details.
Which resume format should you use?
Reverse chronological
You have a steady work history. This is the format almost every recruiter and ATS expects by default.
Functional
You're changing fields or have gaps in your employment. Leads with skills rather than a job-by-job timeline.
Combination
You're early career or have worked consistently but for only a few employers. Blends a skills summary with a shorter chronological history.
This template uses the reverse chronological format: the one most singers should default to, since most Australian recruiters and ATS software expect it.
Professional summary
Versatile vocalist with a background in live performance, studio recording and collaborative rehearsal across contemporary, jazz and musical theatre styles. Comfortable interpreting arrangements, taking direction from musical directors and maintaining a demanding practice and vocal health routine. Looking for performance and recording work with ensembles, venues and production companies across Australia.
Key skills
- Vocal technique and repertoire interpretation across contemporary, jazz and musical theatre styles
- Live performance and stagecraft
- Studio recording and vocal comping
- Harmony and backing vocal arrangement
- Sight-singing and score reading
- Session preparation and rehearsal discipline
- Vocal health and warm-up routines
- Time and deadline management for gig and session schedules
- Written communication for briefs and creative notes
- Problem solving under performance pressure
- Logic Pro
- Pro Tools
- Ableton Live
- Melodyne
- Sibelius
Experience: example bullet points
- Performed lead and backing vocals for live shows across a range of venues, adapting set lists to crowd response and event briefs.
- Recorded session vocals for original releases and commercial projects, delivering clean takes and comps within booked studio hours.
- Rehearsed with musical directors, bands and conductors, learning arrangements quickly and contributing harmony ideas.
- Maintained a consistent practice and vocal health routine, reducing cancellations and keeping performance quality steady across a busy schedule.
- Learned six arrangements in under a week for a last-minute backing vocal call, performing them without a hitch.
Education
Typical entry is through a Bachelor of Music or Diploma of Music (Performance), though many singers build careers via private tuition, short courses and consistent live and studio work; formal study is not mandatory.
Keywords an ATS is likely to scan for
Applicant tracking systems match your resume against terms in the job ad before a person ever sees it. Only include the ones that actually apply to your experience, but if a term below matches something you've done, use the same wording the job ad uses.
- APRA AMCOS
- PPCA
- MEAA
- Musicians Australia
- Live Performance Australia
- Working with Children Check
- Public liability insurance
- ABN
- vocal health
- sight-singing
- repertoire
- session vocalist
- backing vocals
- musical director
- conductor
- recording studio
- live performance
- stagecraft
- set list
- Logic Pro
- Pro Tools
- Sibelius
Getting past ATS screening
- Match the specific skills, certifications and terms used in the job ad, not just your own wording for the same thing.
- Keep formatting simple: no tables, text boxes, columns, headers/footers or graphics. Parsers frequently drop content placed in these.
- Submit as .docx or PDF unless the job ad specifies otherwise.
- Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills) rather than creative alternatives.
- List your core skills and technical competencies in their own section so a keyword scan can find them instantly.
This is a starting point, not a guarantee of interviews. Tailor every bullet point to your own real experience and the specific job ad.