Your job-winning edge over well-qualified peers comes from an audio engineer resume that hits all the right notes. It selectively amplifies the perfect mix of experience and expertise that you know will resonate with hiring managers.
Resume.io has job search resources to help you make that kind of impression. That includes more than 350 occupation-specific writing guides with corresponding resume examples.
For audio engineers pursuing their dream job, we’ve created the guide you’re looking at now. Stay with us as we take you through a proven resume-writing process, backed by sample wording from an audio engineer resume. What we’ll be covering:
- An overview of what audio engineers do and their diverse job opportunities
- Power on: getting started with your audio engineer resume, including the structure and format
- Sounding like the ideal hire in each resume section: header, summary, work history, education and skills
- Looks matter too: layout and design tips for great visual appeal
What does an audio engineer do?
The tasks of an audio engineer cover a vast spectrum of job opportunities, industries and career path options. From its early beginnings as mainly a mechanical occupation, involving microphones and other sound-capturing equipment, audio engineering has evolved in step with digital technology, as most fields have in recent decades. The requirements for technical proficiency have become increasingly complex and sophisticated, alongside many avenues for creative fulfillment.
Everywhere there’s a need for sound to be produced, recorded, synchronized, mixed, edited, reproduced or transmitted, you’ll find audio engineers playing a vital role — sometimes multiple roles. From microphones, converters and mixing consoles to music sequencers, digital audio workstations and dynamic range compressors, their tools of the trade have diverse, specialized applications.
This equipment may be used to record, synchronize, mix, edit or reproduce the sound components for our modern gamut of multimedia end uses. Those we take for granted in our everyday lives range from film, television, theater, and recorded music to on-location news reporting and live concerts, sporting events and conferences.
Pay rates for audio engineers vary depending on experience and expertise. The online earnings data source Payscale reports an annual average salary range from $26,000 to $104,000. Glassdoor puts the median annual salary at $53,716.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which categorizes audio engineers with broadcast sound and video technicians, the median annual wage was $49,050 in May 2021. For this same employment category the BLS projects 21% job growth from 2020 to 2030 — much faster than the occupational average.
How to write an audio engineer resume
Your audio engineer resume acts as a synthesizer when it comes to selectively showcasing your most highly sought qualifications as an audio engineer. This will be different for each job you pursue, fine-tuned to the employer’s explicit requirements and expectations.
Nothing more or less than what fits that hiring circumstance is the goal of a resume that fits on a single page. These are the essential elements:
- Header
- Summary (sometimes called profile or personal statement)
- Employment history
- Education
- Skills
To modify each customized version of your resume to the target employer, scrutinize the posted job requirements closely. Certain keywords will likely stand out — including those specific to your audio engineering skills. Matching these keywords precisely in your resume wording is also the key to applicant tracking systems (ATS) optimization. This gives your resume the best chance of passing through the digital filters that are typically used by hiring organizations to screen online applications.
Choosing the best resume format for an audio engineer
If you are a self-employed audio engineer seeking independent contract positions, you may want to consider organizing your work experience highlights according to specialized skills, projects or clients. Take a look at our tips and examples for using the functional resume format to learn more.
Otherwise, for audio engineers who have worked primarily as employees, the most commonly used chronological resume format is ideal. Your employment history is simply outlined in bullet points below employer headings, in reverse chronological order from most recent to earliest dates.
For more ideas, check out these writing guides and resume examples for other professionals you might interact with as an audio engineer: musician resume example, voice actor resume sample, cinematographer resume sample, screenwriter resume example, stage manager resume sample, film producer resume example, and theater resume sample.
Resume header
Your resume header serves the dual purpose of being attractive and functional. It directs attention to the place on the page where your name, occupation and contact information are easily remembered and retrieved. The white-space separation from black body text makes the page look easier on the eyes and inviting to read.
A distinctive header design also sets your job application apart from all the rest. Double this identity impact with a visually matched resume and cover letter pair.
Resume summary example
Just as it sounds, the summary is where your audio engineering experience and skills are summed up in just a few compact statements. The qualifications needing to stand out in this up-front value proposition are those most relevant to the position and employer. And they should be pitched as being directly beneficial to the hiring organization.
A sense of your personality should also come across in this resume section — sometimes called the profile or personal statement — with hints of purpose and passion. Use conversational language and a confident tone to express why you strive for excellence and mastery in every task, and you are easy to get along with.
Below is an audio engineer resume summary example you can customize.
Highly experienced and dynamic Audio Engineer with 8+ years of radio and podcast experience. Skilled with recording, mixing, and mastering a wide variety of musical genres and styles including orchestral, rock, hip hop, EDM, swing, underscore, and sound design.
Employment history sample
As we keep emphasizing, your resume’s effectiveness hinges on the extent that you can zero in on the work experience that hiring managers are most interested in. Choose relatable examples that speak to the employer’s needs for the kind of audio engineering expertise you possess.
Craft concise, results-oriented descriptions of accomplishments, not job descriptions. The “STAR” method can help you consolidate four pieces of information in a single statement: situation, task, action and result. Wherever possible, use facts and figures to quantify beneficial outcomes such as improved quality, efficiencies and satisfaction ratings.
Below is an audio engineer employment history resume resume sample you can modify.
Senior Audio Engineer at Dumbo Media, New York
Oct 2018 - Present
- Managed the total operation of audio mixing during live broadcasts and recorded shows.
- Consistently demonstrated high aesthetic and technical standards commensurate with Dumbo Media's commitment to quality products and services.
- Set up the sound and recording equipment and adjusted arrangements as needed.
- Operated and maintained audio devices and resources.
- Successfully executed every step of podcast production, from running recording sessions to mixing and mastering the final products.
- Assisted composers and project managers with prep for remote recording sessions as needed.
Audio Engineer at New York Sound, New York
Oct 2015 - Sep 2018
- Worked directly with creative teams to facilitate the production of a variety of live, VOD, and various video content.
- Partnered with cross-functional departments to support and elevate the production level and of projects.
- Identified any technical issues or sound related issues and troubleshot effectively.
- Worked closely with the editorial department to optimize audio quality.
- Remained relevant on current production technologies and worked hard to always meet department goals.
CV skills example
There’s no question that your technical abilities as an audio engineer take precedence on your CV skills list. Be sure to revisit the employer’s job posting to double-check you’ve covered all the essential hard skills in this hiring situation. It’s a further opportunity to replicate keywords, as an ATS screening safeguard and to show your awareness of employer priorities.
Don’t make the mistake of disregarding the soft skills that equip audio engineers to thrive working independently or collaboratively. Problem-solving and critical thinking are commonly cited, and of course, communication skills. The latter includes being an excellent listener in more ways than one!
Check out an audio engineer CV sample for the skills section below.
- Audio Engineering
- Mastering
- Mixing
- Audio Editing
- Sound Design
- Knowledge of FMOD, ADX2, and Wwise
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Complex Problem Solving
- Digital Audio Workstations
Audio engineer resume education example
Your resume’s education section should also be organized in reverse chronological order, from highest to lowest level of post-secondary graduation. In addition to any university or college training you have in audio engineering and sound recording, be sure to outline your educational background in fields such as fine arts, broadcasting, music or electrical engineering.
High school information should only be included in the absence of post-secondary graduation.
This resume section is also the place to list apprenticeships and other on-the-job training, certifications, and any relevant forms of continuing education and professional development.
Below is the education section from an audio engineering resume example.
SUNY at Purchase, New York
Sep 2010 - May 2014
- Bachelor of Science in Audio Engineering
Resume layout and design
Cluttered and chaotic is hardly the impression you would want to give prospective employers about your work habits or surroundings in an audio engineering role. Make sure your resume document sends the right message by being visually spotless and orderly.
- A suitable resume layout and design can ensure readers effortlessly find what they’re looking for in the place they expect. One section connects logically and smoothly with the next.
- A well-proportioned balance is achieved by white space in the margins and between lines offsetting the text-dense segments.
- Reader-friendliness guides every choice of fonts for body text and titles, as well as sparing graphic touches.
A professionally-designed resume template can save you time and guesswork when it comes to making a great layout. For audio engineers, a simple, clean look can help you stand out as a well-organized candidate.
Proofreading — multiple times — is not only to catch misspellings, punctuation errors, grammar gaffes and formatting blips. Watch for inconsistent capitalization, periods ending bullet points, date formats and more.
Key takeaways for an audio engineer resume
- With an exceptional range of career options in a dynamic labor market, audio engineers need an outstanding resume that projects their most sought-after qualifications.
- The attributes showcased in your resume should be synchronized with the requirements of each specific job being pursued, emphasizing directly relevant experience and skills.
- Scrutinize the posted job description to determine the best mix of skills and work experience to pinpoint in your customized resume. It also helps with optimal keyword use to avoid ATS rejection.
- Clean, uncluttered and orderly is how your resume document should look, harmonizing with how great it sounds. Our resume sample can help you get started.
