Barber Resume Example
Pursuing a career as a barber provides opportunities for career progression and responsibilities involving maintaining cleanliness standards and cutting clients' hair. A strong resume for barber applications showcases your skills, experience and achievements and helps you stand out from other candidates. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your barber applications.
After reading this article, you'll feel confident creating a barber resume that effectively showcases your relevant skills and experience. The article will take you through the key steps of creating a resume that presents your key skills, qualities and career achievements in a format that employers favor. It will also help you tailor your resume according to your unique skills and experience level. Continue reading to find the best barber resume tips that will help you trim away the competition with a razor-sharp resume.
Core sections to include in a barber resume
A successful barber resume will typically include each of the sections listed below, with some optional sections. If you're lacking relevant work experience, you might choose to add sections that showcase your skill set earlier than in a traditional resume layout. These sections might include projects, education, hobbies and interests, skills and other optional sections.
How you choose to present your resume is up to you. There are plenty of options for a professional resume layout and format, but every application should include the following:
Resume Header and Personal Information
In your barber resume header, list your name, email address, phone number and address or location. You can also add your LinkedIn, if you have one, to help employers better understand your work history and skills. While in some countries, you might include additional personal information or a photo, these aren't necessary. Be aware of the amount of space your resume header takes up. You don't want your contact details to take space away from the main content of your resume, so keep this section as brief as possible.
Opt for a professional-looking email address based on your name. If your email address could be construed as unprofessional or inappropriate because it contains nicknames or unsuitable language, create a new, more professional email address for your job applications. Always check your contact details to make sure they're up-to-date before you send your resume.
Harper Cooper
harper.cooper@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
280 South Verde Street, Los Angeles, CA
linkedin․com/in/harper–cooper123
Resume Objective
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in barber roles. You may also see this section named as 'resume summary' or 'resume objective'. Resume summaries tend to focus on your career experience, while resume objectives cover your ambitions and plans for the future. Additionally, make sure your resume summary reflects the job description and focuses on qualities that are relevant to working as a barber.
Alternatively, use this section to emphasize your career objectives and explain how and why this role is a suitable step for you at this stage of your career.
A good resume summary is short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description, with evidence to back it up. It will also help the reader to form their first impressions of you by providing an insight into your personality and unique qualities. See below for some great examples of what to include in your barber resume summary.
Certified Barber and Hairstylist with comprehensive training and a background as a Grooming Specialist. Skilled in precision cutting, styling, and grooming techniques, committed to providing exceptional customer service and personalized grooming experiences
Barber and hairstylist with some training and experience in grooming. Have done various cutting and styling tasks, aiming to offer good service and tailored experiences
On the other hand, a resume summary can be ineffective if it lacks specific information about how your skills align with the job description, or fails to paint a picture of your unique qualities and talents. The graphic above shows some of the pitfalls to avoid when creating your resume summary.
Skills
The skills section of a barber resume is a chance to list any skills you have that match those of the job description. You could include straight razor shaving, customer service skills or any other skills that show you're a suitable candidate. Once more, review the job description and pick out any key barber skills listed that match yours. Focus on these skills and any other key transferable skills that make you a strong candidate for the job.
Listing hard skills on your barber resume
Hard skills are the key technical skills required for barber positions. They include specific industry knowledge and abilities that you could learn on the job, or through a specialist qualification. Furthermore, your hard skills list helps to show employers how competent and experienced you are at key barber duties and responsibilities. It's best to aim for four or five key hard skills that match the job description. These can really showcase your suitability for the job.
You'll make more impact with your resume hard skills list if you focus on technical skills that reflect your unique expertise and specialism, and that match the key requirements in the job description. See the graphic below for some tips on hard skills for a barber resume.
- Haircutting techniques
- Beard trimming
- Straight razor shaving
Listing soft skills on your barber resume
In your soft skills list, include any personal characteristics that make you a good fit for a barber job. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, but they're no less important. In fact, as technology develops, soft skills are growing in importance for recruiters and employers, so be sure to add several of these to your resume. In this section, add four of five transferable skills that match the job description.
The strongest resume soft skills sections include a mix of skills that match your best personal strengths, and that reflect the skills listed in the job description. See below for some examples of effective soft skills for a barber resume.
- Attention to detail
- Customer service skills
- Time management skills
Education and Qualifications
In this section list any educational qualifications or degrees that are relevant to barber roles.
Working as a barber doesn't usually require a degree. Even though a degree-level education isn't a necessity, it's still important to highlight your key educational achievements, including a Barbering License or other courses or training that showcases your haircutting techniques or beard trimming.
Enter the name and level of the qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study or graduation. You can enhance this section by adding bullet points that show any outstanding grades, awards or achievements and any specialist subjects you studied. These details can make you stand out from other candidates.
If you were a member of any clubs or societies, or volunteered for any causes while studying, you could also mention these in your education section.
Certificate in Barbering and Hairstyling, 2017 - 2020
University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
Certifications
Under certifications and licenses, add any further qualifications that show you're a good fit for the job. These could be official licenses required for the job or certifications that improve your employability. Therefore, add any necessary licenses and certifications in this section, along with valid dates so employers can see you're still qualified for the job.
Take a look at some example certifications for a barber resume below:
- Barbering License, 2022
- Master Barber Certification, 2022
- Barber Instructor Certification, 2022
Work Experience
In the next section, list your employment history focusing on the most relevant previous roles and achievements that showcase your barber skills. Mention only the most appropriate and relevant jobs you've had in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backwards. Add your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the role and your dates of employment.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to barber roles.
A good work experience section pulls the reader in with clear examples of where you've put the skills necessary for the job into good use in your career to date. This typically includes evidence of how your skills and activities contributed to positive outcomes for the organization. Take a look at the examples below for some guidance on what works best for your work experience section.
Grooming Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Shear Perfection Barber Co, Austin
- Successfully groomed over 500 customers annually, maintaining a 95% customer satisfaction rate
- Implemented a new scheduling system, reducing wait times by 30% and increasing overall efficiency
- Trained and mentored 10 junior groomers, resulting in a 20% improvement in team performance and skill levels
Grooming Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Shear Perfection Barber Co, Austin
- Provided excellent haircuts and styling services to numerous clients, ensuring high levels of satisfaction and repeat business
- Contributed to a positive salon atmosphere, fostering strong relationships with clients and team members
- Assisted in daily salon operations, supporting the team in delivering quality service and maintaining a clean environment
In the graphic above you can see a great example of what to avoid when writing your resume work experience section. Poor examples of resume work experience sections tend to be vague and fail to quantify your achievements and the impact you've made in your career to date. They may also focus on responsibilities above relevant skills and how you've used them.
Resume tip:
Tailor your resume to the job by including keywords from the job description and focusing on skills that align directly with the role’s requirements. (1) Use a professional layout with consistent headings and formatting to ensure your resume stands out visually. (2)
Optional Sections
There are several additional sections you could add to a barber resume, to improve your chances of success. Choose any optional sections that showcase essential or desirable skills or experience for barber jobs.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Add any hobbies and interests that reinforce your credentials for the position. Hobbies can help you show different sides of your personality and make your resume more memorable to hiring managers. They're ideal to include if you're a junior candidate who might lack real world barber experience. If you're thinking about adding hobbies and interests, just make sure they add something unique to your application, and showcase your personality and interests in unique and interesting ways.
Volunteer Work
This section can be valuable for a barber resume, if you've done any voluntary work that showcases your relevant skills. Add your volunteer job title or role, the name of the organization, its location and the dates you were involved.
References
Standard barber resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
References will be available upon request.
Best words to use in a barber resume
Using strong action words to make your resume resonate with the employer. Choose verbs from the suggestions below that highlight your key skills or those mentioned in the job description.
- Cut
- Style
- Trim
- Shave
- Shape
- Color
- Wash
- Dry
- Consult
- Sanitize
If you want to create a resume that stands out from the crowd, use Jobseeker's expert-designed resume templates. You can also find cover letter templates that work to get you noticed by employers.
Sample barber resume
Using each of the sections above, we've created this example barber resume, to help guide you when creating your own:
280 South Verde Street, Los Angeles, CA
•
harper.cooper@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/harper–cooper123
Experienced Barber with a Bachelor of Arts in Cosmetology and a solid background as a Hair Stylist. Skilled in a variety of cutting, styling, and grooming techniques. Adept at providing personalized consultations and delivering high-quality hair care services to a diverse clientele. Strong attention to detail and a commitment to client satisfaction.
Hair Stylist
2020
-2022
GlamourLocks Studio (Jacksonville)
- Increased client retention by 30% through personalized consultations and tailored hair care plans
- Awarded "Stylist of the Year" at the 2022 National Hairdressing Awards for innovative techniques and exceptional client service
- Successfully trained and mentored 10 junior stylists, leading to a 25% increase in overall salon productivity and client satisfaction
Haircutting techniques
Beard trimming
Straight razor shaving
Attention to detail
Customer service skills
Time management skills
Barbering License
Master Barber Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of a barber resume
- Use action words that show how you've made an impact in different barber jobs (e.g. style, color, consult).
- Tailor your resume for each application you send. Review the job description and adapt the content to reflect the specific requirements, including key skills and experience.
- Use a clear resume format with professional elements, including suitable headings, line spacing, fonts and margins, to make your resume as readable as possible for hiring managers.
- Make a strong first impression with a concise, impactful barber resume summary that showcases your key qualities.
- Read your resume carefully before sending it, to avoid errors that could prove costly to your chances.
- Don't add hobbies and outside interests unless they help you prove a skill required for the role.
- Don't write any unnecessary personal details on your resume. Details such as age, gender or nationality can lead to unintentional recruitment bias.
- Don't exaggerate, lie or hide details about yourself as these can all undermine your chances of success with barber applications.
- Don't use jargon or acronyms when you can use simple, straightforward language to say the same thing.
- Don't use passive language because it's less engaging for the reader. Change phrases like 'the target was exceeded' to 'I helped the team exceed the target'.
Tips on creating an ATS-optimized resume
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are one of the key ways recruiters and employers manage the hiring process. The systems can screen candidates by scanning and ranking resumes based on each candidate's likely suitability for the vacancy. When you're writing your barber resume, there are several things you can do to make sure your resume stands the best chance of passing the ATS stage.
Here are a few quick tips for creating an ATS-friendly resume:
- Choose a resume structure that matches the traditional, reverse-chronological layout or alternatively, the functional resume structure. This should make your resume more readable for ATS applications.
- Use of job description keywords throughout your resume will help it rank higher in the ATS scanning stage, as it will more closely match the requirements laid out in the job description.
- Include clear headings in each section that match the traditional resume structure and format. This will make it easier for the ATS software to scan your resume.
- Use a resume design that includes clean, professional design elements to give your content space to breathe. This might include clear, readable fonts, subtle color accents and simple design elements.
- Use simple, concise language to keep your resume to a maximum of one to two pages in length. This will make it easier for ATS software to read.
For tips and ideas to help you draft a professional resume to get noticed by employers, read our expert career articles and check out our detailed resume examples.
A barber resume FAQs
Accompanying your resume for barber applications, you'll want to produce a cover letter that similarly leaves a positive impression on hiring managers.
Check the job description to see whether a full, formal cover letter is necessary. In some situations, it might be more suitable to simply send a brief email to introduce yourself and accompany your resume.
For a full, traditional cover letter, follow formal letter-writing conventions with your header, address line and greetings. The main text of the letter tends to be split into three short paragraphs. Firstly, introduce yourself, confirm the role you're applying for and explain why you're applying for the barber role. In the second paragraph, highlight your skills and experience that are most relevant to the job description. The third paragraph gives you the opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and your gratitude to the employer, while leaving a call to action which encourages them to make contact with you.
If you want to impress employers with a professional cover letter, use Jobseeker's simple and beautiful cover letter templates.
For an experienced barber application, the objective of your resume is to showcase the many achievements in your career to date. As an experienced barber candidate, you'll want your resume to highlight your relevant work history. As such, consider going further back than the standard 10 to 15 years with your employment history. Consider adding any optional sections that show employers the impact you've made in your career to date. These include awards, successful projects or a dedicated achievements section.
You can use a resume headline to introduce your document and set the tone for your barber applications. Resume headlines can also help you pass the ATS stage of the selection process, by highlighting the job title and one or two key details. Write a short, snappy heading for your resume including the job title and a reference to your experience, your track record or one or two of your key skills.
Here's an example of a strong resume headline:
- Aspiring Junior Barber Seeking Opportunities
- Master Barber with Precision Skills
- Master Barber with Extensive Experience
The best resume format for you depends on two things. Firstly, it depends on your experience level. Secondly, it depends on the type and level of position you're applying for. For applicants without much relevant work experience, a functional resume format tends to be best. This places the emphasis on your key skills and relevant qualifications. Once you have some relevant work experience, and for senior positions, a reverse chronological resume format is typically best. This emphasizes your work experience, which will probably be the key thing employers want to know about.
Takeaways for your barber resume
An effective resume is a concise, professional summary of your relevant skills and career achievements, showcased through a chronology of your career history. Use a suitable resume format and tailor your resume for every application you submit.
Using the professional resume templates and resources of Jobseeker can help you create a great-looking resume that stands out from other applicants. Sign up today and follow the simple steps to get started. Jobseeker's expert-designed cover letter generator can help your applications make a strong first impression on hiring managers. Find detailed cover letter examples to complement your resume and get your application noticed.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
