As you get ready to apply for all the acting jobs that are suitable for you, you may wonder if you need to include a cover letter in your job application. While a cover letter may not always be requested, it is advised that you submit one anyway. You see, a cover letter will set you apart from all the competition currently in the acting industry, allowing you to stand out to that all-important casting director.
A cover letter is a means of backing up the skills, education and experience you have noted within your resume. When it comes to something as experience-based as acting, it is more important than ever to exemplify these qualities. A cover letter allows you to do this before an official interview occurs.
We will show you how to create the perfect cover letter with writing tips and a professional cover letter template for guidance. A template is a great accompaniment to our cover letter builder.
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When writing a cover letter, you want to create the most perfect structure. The best way to do this is by including these sections , which all have important functions:
The header includes your contact information such as phone number, email address, address and any links to your professional networking profiles such as LinkedIn. Following your contact information, insert a professional salutation. Locate the hiring manager's name and use "Dear Mr./Ms.," or if their name is unavailable, you can use "Dear hiring manager." These terms are better than using vague salutations such as "To whom it may concern."
This section is an opportunity to introduce yourself to the hiring manager. You want to create an incentive for your potential employer to keep reading. Make sure you quickly highlight what makes you stand out by mentioning your acting career experience and goals with this application, actively mentioning the job title and company name.
For example, "Having performed on New York's Broadway for the past three years, I have had the privilege of studying and performing as a range of characters in different settings, making me an adaptable and reliable performer."
Your second paragraph should include information about recent acting experiences that are relevant to the role you are applying for. This can also refer to education, voluntary work, internships or a current job or acting role. You should refer to the job description to write this paragraph and create the most effective cover letter. The hiring manager will have included job requirements and desired skills within the job description, and if you possess these skills, this section is where you need to present this information.
For example, in an acting resume, you will have mentioned skills such as improvisation and memorization, but you won't have explained when you used those skills. Your cover letter gives you an opportunity to explain.
The final section of any cover letter should always include a call to action and a closing statement to round off the letter professionally. A sentence such as, "I look forward to discussing this position in further detail with you" allows the casting director to see your confidence while also giving them a nudge to take you to the job interview stage.
Using a cover letter will create a stronger job application than if you were only to use a resume. This is because a cover letter lets you talk about your acting experience in more detail, giving the casting director first-hand examples of when you have used the required skills.
The length of a cover letter should usually be 3/4 of a page. This length ensures that you have made enough points on a range of experiences while not allowing yourself to ramble about any irrelevant details that aren't important to this role.
You can create a cover letter using this acting cover letter sample even if you don't have a lot of experience. Instead, tailor your cover letter to mention the relevant skills and knowledge you do have, whether transferable skills from a volunteer acting role, paid job or time in theater-related education, allowing you to transfer your specific knowledge on acting.