How to write a production assistant CV (with template)

Updated 13 April 2023

Production assistants are professionals who assist with the general creation of TV and film content, often running errands on set, assisting directors and production staff or acting as a go-between between cast and crew. The role requires a well-crafted CV, as production assistants may change jobs frequently depending on the production and crew. If you're interested in this type of job, you may benefit from learning how to create a production assistant CV. In this article, we discuss how to write a CV for a production role and provide a template and example for you to follow.

What does a production assistant do?

Production assistants are professionals in the film and TV industry responsible for various tasks, including directing traffic around a set and communicating with actors about their roles. The role requires flexibility and in-depth knowledge of how film and TV sets function. They work closely with the head of production to ensure that the directors have everything they require to begin a day of shooting. Production assistants may work on a contract basis, depending on the agency they work with and its relationships with production crews.

How to write a production assistant CV

You can follow this guide for general tips on how to write a production assistant CV:

1. Insert your contact information

One of the most important details to include in your CV is your contact information. Insert your contact details at the very top of the document in a bold and easy-to-read heading so a hiring manager can refer to it quickly in case they want to follow up with you regarding the application. Ideally, include two different ways the hiring manager can contact you. You can include your name, location, professional email address and phone number.

2. Include a professional summary

A professional summary, also known as an executive summary, is a short passage that condenses your professional skill set, achievements and traits into a few sentences so that a hiring manager can quickly assess what you're like as an employee. Try to keep the professional summary to around two to three sentences. A hiring manager may read hundreds of CVs in a day, so if you can keep your professional summary impactful and concise, it can help to make your application look more attractive.

Include your strongest character traits, explain what makes you a valuable employee and convey why you're looking to apply for the role. Using action words and positive vocabulary can improve your chances of impressing a hiring manager. Alternatively, you may wish to briefly describe your work experience, such as discussing how many years you've worked in the industry and what your primary duty was in a previous role. You may want to include some notable productions in which you worked as a production assistant.

3. List your professional experience

The professional experience section is a key part of your CV, where you highlight your qualifications and demonstrate how you can be a valuable prospect for the role. Under each job you list, you can include bullet points detailing the primary duties during your tenure. Since production assistants are typically contract-based employees, you could list your notable contributions to the film and TV industry as a production assistant under one heading for concision.

4. Briefly include your relevant skills

The skills section is typically brief and lists your skills and knowledge in bullet-point format. You may choose to include both hard and soft skills and, optionally, a proficiency level. Soft skills are interpersonal ones that provide professional flexibility in multiple work environments, such as active listening or leadership skills. Hard skills are industry-specific and help to develop an individual's technical abilities. Some skills you can include in a production assistant application include:

audio equipment setup understanding
Google Drive knowledge
work well under pressure
multitasking
camera, light and audio boom experience
analysis and research skills
determination and diligence
administrative skills

5. Mention your educational background

If you're applying for an entry-level job and have minimal personal experience, the education section is important to include on your CV. You can list the institution's name, location, years you attended and degree you earned in this section. If you took a master's course in the same institution, you could include it as a separate category in the education section.

6. List any certifications and achievements

If you have any outstanding achievements in the industry or as part of your education, you can include them near the bottom of your CV. These achievements could relate to your schoolwork, such as completing a project and earning recognition from an institution. If you have significant work experience, it may mean that you earned a major award for a production you worked on, which you can include in the certifications and achievements section.

6. Proofread your document

Before submitting your CV to companies or agencies, proofread it well to avoid mistakes. You could want to send it to a family member or friend for a neutral perspective on the document to see if it requires any changes. Review the language and vocabulary to ensure that it shows you to be confident and reliable. Make sure that the formatting remains consistent across many platforms. You can even print out the document to see how it looks on paper. Once you've proofread the document, you're free to submit it to any openings.

CV template for a production assistant

Here's a template you can use as inspiration for your CV:

[First name] [Last name]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City]

Professional Summary
[Two or three sentences that highlight experience, relevant skills or industry-specific achievements and certifications as a professional.]

Experience
[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

Education
[Degree and major], [Name of school or university]

Product assistant CV example

Below is an example CV using the template above:

John Wall
07440 014321 | john.wall@email.co.uk | London

Professional Summary
Diligent and attentive production assistant with six years of experience in a world-renowned studio in London. Excellent people-management skills to help directors and the head of production arrange the necessary cast and crew for shooting. Helped develop new segment research templates that reduced time-to-post-production by 10%, allowing other resources to receive more budget.

Experience
Junior Production Assistant | May 2015–Current
Keyman Studios, London

supported the head of production and the rest of the team throughout all stages of the production cycle, from development to post-production
managed accommodation and bookings for special guests and executives visiting London for the production
assisted the production team with location scouting, creating talent contracts and managing extras on set
took notes on actor preferences regarding diet, accommodation and other supplementary details
communicated with local business owners and tenants for permission and to give notice regarding the production and shooting schedule

Junior Editor | May 2013–April 2015
Jolly King Studios, London

Organised and categorised all footage to prepare for editing
Collaborated with the editing team on colour correction and creating a cohesive colour palette for the scene
Assured all cuts were consistent and relevant to the director's artistic interpretation

Education
BA in Film and TV, University of Film Arts London

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

Disclaimer: The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.