Hairdressing CV Example

While hairdressers are always in demand, the hair and beauty industry can be tough to break into. To land a job in a top salon, you’ll need to impress a hiring team with your CV to stand out from other applicants.

Put the same thought and care that you would into styling a client’s hair into your hairdressing CV. It should be targeted and well-rounded, showcasing your unique personality and technical haircare skills.

Check out these 3 tips to style a hairdressing CV that lands your next job interview:

1. Showcase your hairdressing skills

One reason hairdressing is so challenging is that it demands you to use many different skills at once. Here are just some of the hard skills and soft skills employers expect to see on a hairdresser’s CV:

• Hair colouring, perming, straightening, and blow-drying
• Creativity and artistry
• Customer service skills, including politeness, patience, and active listening
• Product sales and upselling techniques
• Physical stamina and energy
• Time management and organisational skills

Fill the skills section of your CV with a mix of these skills. Also try to sprinkle them throughout your entire CV in sections like work experience and education.

But don’t just list these skills on your CV. Instead, show how you’ve applied your skills by using hard numbers and examples. Adding this real-world data proves to an employer that you can apply your skills on the salon floor and get measurable results.

Here’s an example from a hair and beauty CV that uses a specific percentage to prove sales skills:

Recommended salon-approved hair products to clients, resulting in a 23% increase in sales

But what if you’re writing a hairdressing apprenticeship CV and don’t have any salon-specific skills yet? Here’s what you can do:

Highlight any relevant skills you’ve picked up via education or volunteer work on your CV. Also, show your soft skills like clear communication, teamwork, and approachability to increase your chances of getting an interview.

2. List hair and beauty certifications in your personal statement

If you have a hairdressing licence or certification, clearly list it in your CV’s personal statement. This section is the first part of your CV an employer will see, and showing your official haircare qualifications right away helps ensure the recruiter reads the rest of your application.

Only mention your most job-relevant qualifications in your personal statement. You can add any additional hair and beauty certifications to the education section or a dedicated certifications section later in your hairdressing CV.

While much of hairdressing is about learning on your feet, extra qualifications show that you keep your knowledge and skills up to date. And expanding your skills beyond hairstyling also makes you a more appealing candidate, and can help you negotiate a higher salary if you get a job offer.

3. Target your hairdressing CV at a specific job advert

To maximise your chances of getting a job interview, tailor your hairdressing CV to the job description to show an employer that you’re a perfect fit for the role.

Many salons use application tracking systems (ATS), a program that scans applications for skills-based keywords from the job advert. If your CV doesn’t include these keywords, it can get rejected before it even makes it into the hands of your employer.

So read the job description and underline key phrases, and then incorporate them into your CV to show that you’re a great match.

Below is a real-life example of a hairdresser job description. The underlined words should be included in a hairdressing CV targeting this position:

If you were targeting this job, you should prioritise the styling techniques the salon is looking for, plus any experience you have working with children.