Thursday, August 27, 2015
Bad Singing and Fire Eating: Actors on Their ‘Special Skills'
The New York Times: Look past the eyes, hair and height. Keep scanning down, after the college “Hamlet” and the regional “Little Shop of Horrors.” There, at the bottom of almost any actor’s résumé, in small letters, is a list of tricks that reads like an especially manic night at “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Acrobatics, martial arts, hula hoop: just some of the unusual and quirky kinds of expertise found under the category of Special Skills.
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I think there is merit in including special skills on a resume. To a certain degree, everyone does it. These skills are some of the things that define your personality outside of the work you do. Without them, you are merely So-and-So from Timbuktu that has worked at x and y companies that left no impression at the interview or audition. Some of the talents may not show additional skill or control that applies to the job, but they do state a part of your life that you enjoy outside of work. In many cases, the skills listed on resumes have direct implications to the job at hand, such as the examples in the article: I can swallow fire for a circus act, I can sing off-key if called for, etc. For technicians, special skills could include off-the-wall computer programs that the company might use or a unique technique to build something. If the interviewer then asks you about your special skill, that simple fact about yourself can strike up an entire story about how you learned that skill and maybe how you could apply it at your new job.
With a bachelor's degree (or higher!) now a fairly standard requirement for many openings in the modern job market, it no longer serves as the same distinguishing marker it did in decades past. With college graduates an ever-increasing population, the successful application of novel ways to distinguish oneself is not just a nice touch, but an unspoken requisite. While these unique talents featured in the article are showcased in an arena more hospitable to such bizarre special skills, their individuality speaks to the new quest for a resume to truly tell a fulsome story or carry an applicant's voice.
As someone mere years away from entering the punishing cycle of job applications and career questing, it feels as though I - and my peers - have been handed the task of making ourselves special in a pool where everyone is special. Toss air quotes around the word "special", and we might as well be back in kindergarten, fighting for the teacher's attention. While it was disheartening to hear about those who caught the attention of potential employers, and still walked away without a job, it was nice to know they weren't quite empty handed, having gleaned valuable feedback and a better sense of what stuck with those in charge of casting.
A lot of today's job hunt is centered around standing out in a crowd, and for a professional actor, standing out in a sea of head shots makes or breaks your career. While the education/ degree you've received certainly plays a large role on a resume, it's important to have things that differentiate you from the resume beneath. Even though, technically, each one is different, you're ultimately wanting to have you audition or interview stick in the minds of your possible employer. These quirky little additions could make or break your next gig. Plus, it gives you a sense of who the person is; what they're capable of and what they're looking to get out of the experience (even if it's just the next paycheck). For me, it gives me a chance to peek into someone's personality and glimpse who they are. However, I hope they don't go too far because we are, ultimately, professionals and a resume is a professional document.
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