34
« on: Sep 02, 2008, 08:20 am »
Hi Mike, and welcome to SMNetwork!
My first reaction as I read your post is that the thing holding you back from getting the jobs you want is not the job title for this particular line. I wonder if you're putting too much weight on this item. It sounds like you have some solid experience at a variety of places. Perhaps this one just sticks in your head because you know how much work you did for what sounds like little recognition. But a new boss will hire you based on all your experience, not just one line that stands out as really good.
I would disagree with your brother, and recommend that you write whatever the theatre considers your title, no matter how awkward. Theatre is a small world, and either someone has seen the show and can look at the program with your credit, or they will call the theatre and ask about you. It is important that your title matches, or at least sounds right in line with, what the theatre called your position. It is not a good thing when the hirer calls the old boss and the conversation goes like this: "Mike? Yeah, he worked for us and he was great. But I think he was an assistant to the stage management, not an Equity PA or anything... what did you say it said on his resume?" This gets you off on the wrong foot with all parties.
How about something more vague, like "Stage Management Team"? It says you worked with SMs without saying exact title or rank. The hiring company can ask you about it and you can explain exactly what you did.
Meanwhile, remember that your resume will shine when it's filled with a variety of positions with strong shows at great theatres. This particular job title is a drop in the bucket, and I would say it's pretty unlikely that the semantics here are keeping you from getting hired or anything. Take a long, hard look at your resume and play with some different presentations to see what works best for your work history and for the jobs you're going after. If titles are important to you, you may have to spend some time taking good jobs at the theatres where you say you wouldn't learn as much, just so you can get those beefy titles - if that's what you want. I don't know Atlanta theatres, but I wonder if you'll hit the non-union ceiling soon and will need to think about going union or moving to another city. Just a thought.