Lighting Technician CV Example [+ A 2024 Illuminating Guide]

Sobhan Mohmand, CV Writing Expert          4 Nov 2023

Are you looking to write your perfect Lighting Technician CV?

Lighting technicians play a crucial role in creating captivating visual experiences in various entertainment industries, from theatre and film to concerts and events.

Crafting an exceptional CV is vital to showcase your skills, qualifications and achievements in this specialised field. Your CV should not only highlight your technical abilities but also demonstrate your adaptability and creativity.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process step by step, offer valuable tips and provide you with real examples to help you create a standout CV that will illuminate your career prospects. Let’s begin!

• Lighting technician CV example
• Download CV template (Word format)
• How to format your CV
• How to write a perfect CV (a step-by-step guide)
• Personal profile statement example
• Duties to add to your CV
• Useful skills to add to your CV
• Tips on making your CV more effective

CV Example

Preview

What makes this CV good and effective?

• Tailored to the job: The candidate tailors the CV to the lighting technician role by emphasising their relevant experience in lighting design, equipment operation and troubleshooting.
• Ideal length: The CV is a suitable length (i.e. it does not exceeding two pages), offering a comprehensive overview of the candidate’s qualifications and experience without unnecessary details.
• Logical layout: • The CV follows a clear and professional structure, starting with personal details, personal profile, work experience, qualifications, skills and references.
• Chronological order: The candidate’s work experience and qualifications are listed in reverse chronological order, making it easy for the reader to see the candidate’s most recent and relevant roles first.
• Clear language: The CV has a professional tone, avoiding jargon or technical terms that might be unclear to a non-specialist reader. This is very important because not all hiring managers will be familiar with the terminologies and jargon of the industry.
• White space: The CV features a well-balanced use of white space, making it visually appealing and easy to navigate.

Download CV template

Download

Are you writing your CV from scratch or is your CV template outdated? Download this professional CV template to impress employers!

• Free
• Save time and effort
• Guaranteed correct CV structure
• Word document (.docx) format
• Fully customisable

How to save your CV as a PDF document:

• Click on File > Save As > Select “PDF” from the drop-down menu.

How to format your CV

• Utilise a clear structure: Organise your CV into sections, such as personal details, personal profile, work experience, qualifications, skills and references, ensuring that it’s easy to navigate. Consider using a ready-made CV template from here and here.
• Prioritise work experience: Place your work experience section near the top, as this is the most crucial aspect of your CV for a lighting technician role.
• Highlight achievements: Include bullet points under each job role that showcase your accomplishments, like “Successfully executed complex lighting designs for a major theatre production.”
• Quantify results: Where possible, use numbers to quantify your achievements, such as “Reduced equipment setup time by 25%.”
• Avoid irrelevant details: Omit any information that isn’t directly related to the job, such as unrelated work experience or personal hobbies.
• Check for errors: Proofread your CV thoroughly to eliminate any spelling or grammatical errors that may diminish its professionalism. Consider using an online grammar checker and/or ask a family member or friend to review your CV for you.

How to Write a Lighting Technician CV

Personal details

Your CV’s personal details section is where you provide essential information about yourself. It should include your full name, contact details (phone number and email address), and your address.

Make sure to double-check the accuracy of this information, as it is how potential employers will get in touch with you. Employers are busy people and it’s unlikely that they will keep trying to contact you if they fail in the first couple of attempts!

• Ethan Clark
• 12 Sheffield Lane, Manchester, M1 2DP
• Mob: 07890 123456       Email: [email protected]

Personal profile

Your personal profile in a CV is your chance to introduce yourself to potential employers.

It’s a short paragraph that highlights your key strengths, experience and career goals.

This section is crucial because it provides employers with a snapshot of who you are and what you can offer, helping them quickly assess if you’re a good fit for the role.

If your personal profile is good, they will probably continue reading the rest of your CV. However, if it doesn’t grab their attention, they might quickly move on to other applicants, missing the chance to discover your full potential and what you can offer to the role. So, make sure your personal profile shines as it’s your first opportunity to make a strong impression.

Lighting technician personal profile example:

With over 5 years of experience as a Lighting Technician in the entertainment industry, I have demonstrated expertise in designing and executing complex lighting setups for major theatre productions. My proficiency in operating DMX lighting control systems has consistently delivered striking visual effects that enhance audience experiences. I excel in troubleshooting and maintaining equipment, ensuring seamless performances and events.

Achievements

In your CV’s achievements section, you highlight specific accomplishments and successes from your career, education or life that demonstrate your skills and contributions.

Read more: A list of best achievements to put on a CV.

• Achieved a promotion to Lead Lighting Technician within 2 years due to outstanding performance and leadership skills.
• Graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in Lighting Technology from a renowned university.
• Implemented cost-effective lighting upgrades in a corporate setting, resulting in a 20% reduction in energy consumption.
• Mentored junior lighting technicians, supporting their professional development and growth in the field.

Employment and work experience

The employment section of your CV summarises your work history, detailing your previous job roles, responsibilities and accomplishments.

Guidelines:

• Start with your most recent job and work backwards.
• Include job title, company name, dates of employment, and location.
• Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities and achievements.
• Focus on quantifiable results and specific accomplishments.
• Tailor the section to match the Lighting Technician job requirements.
• Keep the descriptions concise and to the point.

Lighting technician duties to add to your CV

1. Designing and implementing lighting schemes for diverse entertainment productions.
2. Operating and maintaining lighting equipment, including control systems and fixtures.
3. Collaborating with lighting designers and directors to execute their creative vision.
4. Troubleshooting and resolving lighting system malfunctions during live events.
5. Rigging and safely installing lighting fixtures and cabling.
6. Conducting routine maintenance to ensure the optimal performance of lighting equipment.
7. Adhering to safety protocols and regulations to create a secure working environment.
8. Programming and controlling lighting cues to synchronise with performances or events.
9. Training and supervising junior lighting technicians and crew members.
10. Staying up-to-date with emerging lighting technologies and techniques to enhance performance quality.

Educational background

The education section of your CV provides information about your academic background, including details about the qualifications you’ve obtained and the institutions you’ve attended.

Include a range of qualifications, such as degrees, A-Levels, GCSEs, diplomas etc.

For each entry, you should include the name of the institution, the location, the dates of attendance and the qualifications you earned. Including a list of the subjects studied will be beneficial, too.

Professional training and qualifications

The professional training and qualifications section of your CV provides a comprehensive list of relevant courses, certifications and training you have completed, enhancing your qualifications for the lighting technician role.

You could include qualifications such as technical courses in lighting design, safety certifications, equipment operation training and any relevant industry-specific workshops you’ve completed to demonstrate your expertise in the field.

• Level 4 Certificate in Lighting Technology – Lighting Institute of London
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Certified – National Safety Authority
• Advanced Rigging Techniques – Technical Training UK
• DMX Lighting Control Course – British Lighting Association
• First Aid at Work Certification – St. John Ambulance
• Electrical Wiring Regulations (17th Edition) – City & Guilds
• Fire Safety Awareness – British Safety Council

Skills and competencies

The skills section is where you showcase the specific abilities and expertise that make you a valuable candidate for the role.

This section should include technical skills, such as proficiency in lighting control systems (e.g., DMX), rigging techniques, and equipment operation.

It should also cover soft skills, like problem-solving, attention to detail, teamwork and adaptability, which are crucial for success in the field.

Additionally, you can mention any additional skills like knowledge of lighting software (e.g., GrandMA, ETC EOS), safety awareness and creativity in lighting design.

• Technical skills: Proficient in DMX lighting control systems, with hands-on experience in programming complex lighting cues for live events and productions.
• Safety and compliance: Exceptional safety awareness, consistently adhering to industry regulations and best practices to create a secure working environment for both crew and performers.
• Communication and teamwork: Excellent communication skills, fostering effective collaboration with lighting designers, directors and fellow crew members to achieve the desired visual effects.

10 useful lighting technician skills to add to your CV

1. Rigging techniques: Skilled in safely rigging and installing lighting fixtures, ensuring secure setups for performances.
2. Equipment operation: Expertise in the operation of various lighting fixtures, consoles and accessories.
3. Lighting design: Ability to create and implement visually appealing lighting schemes to enhance the atmosphere of productions and events.
4. Problem-solving: Effective at troubleshooting and resolving lighting system malfunctions during live events.
5. Creativity: A creative approach to lighting design, contributing to captivating visual effects.
6. Technical knowledge: In-depth understanding of lighting technology and equipment, allowing for efficient operation and maintenance.
7. Adaptability: The capacity to adapt to various lighting equipment and systems.
8. Time management: Efficiently manage time and resources to meet production schedules and deadlines.
9. Electrical knowledge: Understanding of electrical principles relevant to lighting systems.
10. Maintenance: Conduct routine maintenance to ensure lighting equipment is in optimal condition.

Hobbies & interests

The hobbies and interests section of your CV is a brief overview of your personal interests and extracurricular activities, providing employers with insights into your personality and how you spend your time outside of work.

You might include hobbies such as “Amateur Theatre Acting” to showcase your creativity, public speaking skills and ability to work effectively in a team. Another example could be “Photography” to highlight your attention to detail, visual creativity and technical skills, which can be applicable to roles involving lighting and visual design.

Related: Best hobbies to include on a CV (examples).

Referees

In this section, you can provide the names and contact details of individuals who can vouch for your professional character, education and work history.

Typically, referees should be individuals who have directly supervised or worked with you, such as former managers, colleagues, teachers or mentors.

You should include their full name, job title, company name, email address and a contact phone number.

Related: How to write references for a CV.

Note: If you do not wish to disclose your references on your CV, you should write, “References are available upon request.”

Tips to make your CV more effective

• Highlight key skills: Showcase your technical skills such as DMX programming, fixture maintenance and rigging expertise prominently in your CV. For example, “Utilise advanced DMX programming techniques to create dynamic lighting effects.”
• Use industry terminology: Employ lighting industry terminology to demonstrate your familiarity with the field, e.g., “Proficient in using intelligent lighting fixtures.”
• Include a tailored cover letter: Write a tailored cover letter for each application, explaining your passion for the role and your unique contributions.
• Demonstrate passion: Convey your genuine passion for lighting design and your commitment to creating memorable experiences through impactful lighting solutions.
• Commit to continuous learning: Demonstrate your commitment to staying updated with industry trends and technology, e.g., “Regularly attend lighting design workshops and seminars.”