Pick a clean, professional layout that puts your performance details first. For a Bassoonist, use reverse-chronological order so recent orchestral or chamber roles show up first. This layout helps conductors and HR scan your experience fast and helps ATS parse dates and titles.
Keep length tight. One page fits most early and mid-career players. Go to two pages only if you have many principal chairs, recordings, or long teaching history tied to the job.
Use readable fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Set body text to 10–12pt and headers to 14–16pt. Keep line spacing at 1.0–1.15 and add clear margins to create white space.
Structure sections with standard headings. Use: Contact, Summary or Role Statement, Performance Experience, Recordings, Teaching, Education, and Skills or Repertoire. Keep headings consistent and simple so humans and ATS find them easily.
Avoid complex layouts with lots of columns, embedded images, or icons. Those elements break ATS parsing and distract reviewers. Stick to standard bullets and short lines for each engagement or achievement.
Watch common mistakes. Don’t use non-standard fonts or heavy color. Don’t pack tiny text to squeeze more content. Don’t list every rehearsal or short gig. Focus on notable roles, solo appearances, recordings, and relevant teaching posts.
Highlight measurable results. Note dates, ensembles, venues, and repertoire. Use active verbs and keep each bullet to one line when possible. That makes your resume easier to read and faster to evaluate.