Cosmetology Resume: Sample and Complete Writing Guide [20+ Tips]

Cosmetology Resume Sample & Template

Are you more of a stylist or makeup artist? We’ve got special guides for that:

• Makeup Artist Resume
• Hair Stylist Resume

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Sample Cosmetology Resume—See more templates and create your resume here.

Here’s how to write a cosmetology resume that gets jobs:

1. Beautifully Format Your Cosmetology Resume

You’d never let a client walk away with makeup in her teeth.

You shouldn’t send in a hastily-formatted cosmetology resume either.

To look your best:

• Choose the best of the three resume formats for the job. That’s the reverse chronological resume layout. Use it to show off your newest cuts first.
• Personal information on a resume goes in resume headers. Those are top sections with names, business titles (Cosmetologist), and license info.
• Use the most on-fleek resume font size—12 point—but keep it presentable with blank space as the setting for your words.
• Separate the sections of your resume with big headings for readability.
• You may wonder if the best CV format is PDF or Word. It’s PDF, but if the cosmetologist job description says, “no PDFs,” use Word.

Pro Tip: What’s the right resume length for a cosmetologist resume? One page. The trick is to fit all the most gorgeous moments from your career onto that single sheet, then snip the rest.

2. Make a Cosmetologist Resume Objective or Resume Summary

Want more interviews?

Prove your cosmetology resume is one of the good ones.

Put your best face forward with a professional resume profile.

That’s where you show the best features of your career so far.

If you’ve been in this field for 2 years or more, it’s a resume summary statement. That’s an elevator pitch for your work life.

Writing an entry-level resume for cosmetology,? Use a cosmetologist resume objective and focus on your beauty skills.

They key to either is to add a couple key work accomplishments.

Pro Tip: Writing an entry-level resume for cosmetology jobs? Show job-related skills like people skills, creativity, or customer service by mentioning your work achievements.

3. Write a Cosmetologist Job Description for Your Resume

Which cosmetologist would they rather hire?

One who’s been “responsible” for doing the job?

Or one who’s done it well?

Show you’re the second kind of cosmetologist.

Here’s how to write work experience in a resume:

• For every job, list the business name, “Cosmetologist,” and dates you started & stopped.
• List bullet points to show what you did in the salon or business.
• Clip in some achievements that show your cosmetology skills.
• Tailoring your resume means matching your achievements to the job posting. So if the job ad wants upselling, “Upsold $3,000 a week in products” would work.
• Add numbers like “$3,000” or “98%” to show your accomplishments are mall-hair-sized.
• Use resume action words to hold their attention.

Pro Tip: Need to show cosmetology experience on a resume? Spot the skills the new job needs, then show how you used them in your cosmetology job to help the company.

4. Primp Your Cosmetology Resume Education Section

A cosmetology resume needs to show your schooling in a special way.

Here’s how to show your cosmetology education on a resume:

• Show the name of your school, plus your degree and dates.
• Add your cosmetology certificate.
• Include other bullets that show you went above and beyond, like, “Excelled in laser hair removal classes.”

Pro Tip: Your cosmetology resume education section is a way to prove more skills in your resume. That’s where those education bullet points come in.

5. Prove Cosmetology Skills in Your Resume

Use this cosmetology resume skills list:

Cosmetology Resume Skills

Hard Skills:

• Makeup application
• Cutting/Styling
• Waxing
• Customer service
• Skin care
• Perming/straightening
• Retail
• Coloring
• Facial treatments
• Assessments
• Sales
• Up-selling
• Training
• Product knowledge
• Booking appointments

Soft Skills:

• Interpersonal skills
• Listening
• Verbal and written communication
• Creativity
• Attention to detail
• Collaboration
• Presentable
• Learning
• Time management
• Patience
• Work ethic
• Stamina

But—

Don’t show all those hard and soft skills.

List (and prove) the ones this cosmetologist job wants. (Find them in the job ad.)

Pro Tip: Every section in your cosmetologist resume is another chance to prove the skills you list. Each achievement is another brick of evidence that you can do the job.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.

Create my resume now

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

6. Add Other Sections to Your Cosmetology Resume

How can you stand above all the other applicants?

With “other” sections in your cosmetology resume.

That’s where you show passion and energy.

You can use:

• Activities
• Lists of interests
• Volunteer experience
• Associations
• Freelance work
• Groups you belong to
• Kudos from employers
• Language skills
• Fitness

Add your cosmetologist certification in a section right under your education.

Pro Tip: If you’ve got lots of cosmetology experience with great accomplishments, you don’t need as many “other sections.” But you should still add a few to show your passion.

7. Send a Cover Letter With Your Cosmetology Resume

Do I need a cover letter for my cosmetology resume?

Yes!

Most employers like them.

But you can’t just send a generic one. You have to show your cosmetology passion in it.

Use these cover letter formatting tips:

• Write a cover letter opening that makes the salon manager wake up and notice you.
• Talk about your passion and tie it to this cosmetology job.
• Show how you’ll fill their needs by mentioning your best styling or makeup accomplishments.
• When ending a cover letter, give them a reason to call you. That can be a promise to tell them more about how you’ll help.
• How long is a cover letter? Half a page is plenty.

Pro Tip: A follow-up email after job application can be the thing that gets you the interview. Hiring managers are busy and will appreciate your persistence.

That’s it!

That’s how to write a resume for cosmetology positions.

Need more help with how to write a cosmetology resume? Got a few key tips for cosmetologist resume writers? Give us a shout in the comments. We’d love to talk!