Beauty Therapist CV Example

A beauty therapist CV should run to two pages and follow reverse-chronological order: personal statement, contact details, key skills, work experience, education, and additional certifications. Keep it clean, readable, and tailored to the specific salon or spa you're applying to.

Format and length

Two pages is the standard. One page works only if you're newly qualified with a single placement. Go beyond two only if you have extensive advanced training (multiple aesthetic qualifications, teaching roles) that's directly relevant.

Section-by-section pointers

Personal statement: Lead with your qualification level (NVQ Level 2 or Level 3) because it tells the salon which treatments you're trained and insured to deliver. Follow with years of experience, your treatment specialisms, and one standout metric (rebooking rate, retail performance). Close with a short line on why you love beauty therapy or why you're drawn to this particular salon.

Skills: List the specific treatments you can perform, not vague categories. Name the modality and, where relevant, the technique or brand training (e.g. "CACI non-surgical facials" not "electrical facials"; "classic and volume lash extensions" not "lash treatments"). Research the salon's treatment menu and pull out only the skills that match what they offer.

Experience: Use 3-4 bullet points per role. Each bullet should describe what you did, the outcome, and a number. Prioritise retail sales, rebooking rates, client base size, and treatment volume. Show your clinical skills (skin analysis, contraindication checks) and your hygiene discipline (sterilisation, infection control).

Education and certifications: List your core beauty therapy qualification first, then any CPD or brand training in a separate Achievements or Certifications section. Spell out what each course covered if the title isn't self-explanatory.

Extras: Include languages if you work in a tourist area or multicultural city. Mention relevant interests (skincare science, makeup artistry) only if they reinforce your commitment to the profession. Volunteering can show character but keep it brief.

Beauty therapy experience bullets must show what you delivered, the impact, and a number. Salon managers want evidence you can fill the appointment book, sell products, and keep clients coming back.

The result-plus-metric pattern

Every bullet should answer: what treatment or responsibility, what happened as a result, and how much or how many?

• Weak: "Responsible for delivering facials, waxing and nail treatments to clients."

• Strong: "Delivered 20-25 treatments per week including facials, waxing and gel nails, achieving a 35% client rebooking rate."

• Weak: "Recommended skincare products to clients after treatments."

• Strong: "Generated average retail sales of £45 per client through tailored post-treatment skincare consultations, exceeding monthly targets by 18%."

• Weak: "Maintained a clean and hygienic treatment room."

• Strong: "Maintained sterilised tools and sanitised workstations between clients, achieving 100% compliance in quarterly health and safety audits."

Role-specific before/after examples

Action verbs for beauty therapists

Use verbs that reflect both the hands-on clinical work and the commercial side of the role:

• Clinical: delivered, performed, conducted, assessed, identified, recommended, tailored, designed
• Commercial: generated, achieved, exceeded, converted, built, grew, contributed
• Hygiene and compliance: maintained, sterilised, sanitised, ensured, achieved (compliance)
• Leadership (senior roles): mentored, trained, coached, supervised, supported

Avoid passive or vague verbs like "responsible for", "involved in", "helped with". Show what you did and what changed.

Your core beauty therapy qualification is the foundation of your CV. List it in the Education section with the awarding body (VTCT, City & Guilds, CIBTAC), the level (2 or 3), and the year you qualified. If you achieved a Distinction or Merit, include it.

Level 3 is the industry standard for most salon and spa roles because it covers advanced treatments like body massage, electrical facials and electrolysis. If you hold only Level 2, you can still apply for junior or trainee roles, but make it clear you're working toward Level 3 or highlight any short courses that extend your treatment range.

CPD and brand certifications

Salons value ongoing professional development because it shows commitment and keeps your skills current. List any post-qualification training in a separate Achievements or Certifications section:

• Brand-specific training: Dermalogica Expert Skin Therapist, CACI Non-Surgical Facelift Specialist, OPI or CND nail courses
• Advanced techniques: lash extensions (classic, volume), microblading, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, LED therapy
• Specialist modalities: hot stone massage, aromatherapy, reflexology

For each certification, include the course name, the issuing body, and the year. If the course was short (one or two days), you can note that to show you're actively topping up your skills.

What to include if you're newly qualified

If you've just finished your diploma and have limited work experience, your Education section does the heavy lifting. Expand it to show:

• The modules you completed (facials, waxing, manicures, anatomy and physiology, health and safety)
• Any grades or distinctions
• Your college placement hours and the treatments you delivered
• Any awards or recognition (e.g. Student of the Year)

This gives the salon a clear picture of what you're trained to do, even without a long employment history.