Best Barber Resume Examples For 2024 (Template & Guide)

Barber Resume: Choose A Format

The first step when writing a barber resume is to choose an appropriate template and structure for your document.

You’ll want to choose a format that allows you to highlight your best qualities and skills in an easy-to-scan manner so that employers can see you’re qualified for the job.

You can choose from three different types of resume formats: chronological, functional, and combination.

Chronological Resumes For Barbers

The option that tends to be most preferred by employers is the chronological resume format. This layout spotlights your relevant professional experience by including a detailed work history section that appears near the top of your document.

You can use the work experience section to list all of your past barbering (or barbering-related) jobs in reverse chronological order (meaning your most recent job is listed first).

Each job that you list should include the name and location of the employer, your job title, your dates of employment, and your key responsibilities and achievements while in that role.

Under each role, your duties and accomplishments can be listed as bullets. Each bullet point should begin with a strong action verb and include quantifiable metrics where possible.

The use of figures is important in providing concrete evidence of your unique accomplishments.

Everything about the chronological resume format appeals to employers because it allows them to analyze the potential value you offer as a barber quickly. This means chronological resumes are more friendly for most applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Functional Resumes For Barbers

In a functional resume, you would emphasize your skills over your work experience by prioritizing a comprehensive skills section and keeping your work history section relatively short.

If you are a fairly new barber, or have no work experience at all, then this resume format might be a good choice for you.

The downside to functional resumes is that they aren’t easily scanned by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and so might never make it in front of human eyes.

Employers also tend to have reservations about functional resumes because they don’t provide much detail about an applicant’s professional experience. So, only use this format if, like stated above, your work experience is very thin and you believe that the chronological format will disadvantage you.

Combination Resumes For Barbers

A combination resume is, like the name suggests, a meeting point between the chronological and functional resume formats. It combines the two by placing equal emphasis on skills and work experience, making it possible to call attention to both your professional history and your most notable abilities.

A combination resume might work well if your work experience is relevant to barbering but you also have certain above-average skills that you really want to highlight.

For instance, if you feel you might be up against candidates with deeper work histories than yours but know that you have exceptional interpersonal and sales skills, then you might opt for a combination format so that you can give equal limelight to the latter.

A combination resume might also be a good idea if your work experience is impressive but unrelated to barbering (that is, if you’re shifting career focus). In this way, you can highlight transferable skills while also showcasing your many years of experience working in professional environments.

Choosing a Resume Format

It’s important to choose the right resume format so that you can give prominence to your strengths and downplay your gaps or weaknesses.

If you’re unsure which option to choose, the chronological format is usually a safe choice.

Wondering how to fill in your work history section if you lack experience? You can always include apprenticeships, internships, volunteer work, or practical training from your studies.

Also, consider featuring jobs that aren’t directly related to barbering but that have equipped you with good transferable skills.

For instance, perhaps you worked as a server for many years while saving up for your barber education. You might think such work experience isn’t relevant to a barbering application.

Still, there are many interpersonal skills, such as friendly service and conflict resolution, that you could highlight as being relevant to both industries.

If you have no work experience to speak of or there are prominent gaps in your work history, consider using the functional resume format while keeping its drawbacks in mind.

Similarly, if you’re making a career change, the combination format could be a good option as you could use it to highlight skills from your previous profession that will still be valuable in a barber role.

How To Write A Barber Resume

After choosing your barber resume template and format, you need to build a resume outline and populate it with the relevant information.

Writing a resume involves six steps: you’ll need to craft content for the five primary resume sections, and then if you feel there’s further information you would like to add, you can insert an additional section or two at the bottom of the document.

The five key sections of a resume are:

• • • • • Contact Information
        • Summary or Objective
        • Work History
        • Skills
        • Education

The information you provide under each section works together to paint a complete picture about why you are the right person to hire for the barber position in question!

Contact Information

In this section you must provide your full name, daytime phone number, professional email address and approximate address (i.e. your town or city and state).

You should also include a link to your website or online portfolio if you have one.

Don’t forget to insert your LinkedIn and other social media handles if you publish photos or videos of your work in a professional manner on one or more of these platforms.

Pro Tip: Employers often check LinkedIn, so it’s a good idea to maintain a presence on this platform.

Finally, always ensure your contact information has been written accurately, appears at the top of your resume, and remains up-to-date.

The contact information on a barber resume might look something like this:

Shaun Smith
Phoenix, AZ
s.smith@fake.mail.com
602-549-9484
fake.linkedin.com/in/ssmith/

Summary or Objective

Immediately below your contact information, you’ll craft either a resume summary or a resume objective.

A resume summary briefly outlines your most relevant work experience, achievements, and skills pertaining to barbering. It serves as an introduction to your professional identity and the value you can offer.

Writing a barber resume summary (versus a resume objective) is a good option if you already have a decent amount of work experience under your belt.

A good barber resume summary could look something like this:

“Versatile barber colorist with a decade of experience in providing creative and personalized hair coloring solutions. Particularly skilled in highlights and lowlights. Strong technical skills are complemented by excellent client communication and time management abilities. Dedicated to staying current on local and international color trends.”

Note that to keep this paragraph short and punchy, you can just use verbal phrases and remove first-person pronouns and subjects, as shown above.

A barber resume objective, on the other hand, focuses on your motivations for applying, your passion for the role, and your career goals. This option is ideal if you have limited or no experience, there is a sizable gap in your recent work history, or you are making a career change.

It helps to contextualize your intentions and argue that you are qualified for the job (despite limitations) and eager to make a success of it.

Here is an example of an aspiring barber colorist’s resume objective:

“Passionate barber colorist seeking an opportunity to apply color principles learned in fine art and barbering studies to men’s hair coloring. Committed to honing skills in various color applications while aiming to blend artistic vision with technical precision. Enthusiastic about creating personalized looks that enhance clients’ style and confidence.”

Regardless of whether you choose a summary or objective, be sure to include the keywords that are most relevant to the job at hand. Look at the language used in the job description to guide you.

For instance, if the job ad calls for “beard trimming skills,” be sure to include that phrase in your barber resume. Good keyword placement is critical in ensuring your resume is not overlooked if run through an ATS. The right keywords are also likely to jump out to an employer.

Work History

Most employers will want to see that you have sharpened your skills by working at other establishments.

So, provide an overview of your barbering experience by detailing your work history in reverse chronological order (that is, put your current or most recent job first and then work your way backwards in time).

Each entry in your list should contain your job title, the name and location of the barbershop or place where you worked, your dates of employment (month and year), and finally, three to five bullet points describing your key responsibilities and achievements in that role.

Note that you should start each bullet point with a strong action verb, like “Revitalized,” “Designed,” or “Sculpted”.

Also, whenever possible, include verifiable numbers and metrics that back up your claims, such as your average number of regular clients per month, an online review score, or what percentage of the salon’s monthly revenue you personally generated.

Quantifying your experience and accomplishments on your barber resume is especially helpful in standing out with employers because they can specifically see what type of value you offer.

Here’s what an entry in the work history section of a master barber resume might look like:

Head Barber | Sharp Cuts Barbershop – St Louis, MO 06/2016 to 01/2022

• • • • • Led a team of skilled barbers in providing top-notch grooming services to a diverse clientele.
        • Applied a wide range of haircutting techniques, including fades, tapers, and classic styles.
        • Developed and maintained strong relationships with clients, resulting in a high rate of repeat business and a rating of 4.7 stars on TrustPilot.
        • Implemented innovative marketing strategies, such as themed haircut events and social media promotions, contributing to a 20% increase in customer traffic.
        • Trained junior barbers in advanced cutting and styling techniques, fostering a culture of continuous skills development within the team.

Skills

When applying for a barber position, use your resume skills section to list your most relevant hard skills and soft skills. You’ll want to include around eight key competencies that show you’re qualified for the job.

Be sure to tailor your choice of skills according to the particular barber position advertised. That said, also try to show a good range of skills and include perennial must-haves within your field, such as good client communication.

Some of the most popular or important barber hard and soft skills to put on your barber resume include:

Top 5 Hard Skills for Barber Resumes

• • • • • Hair Cutting and Styling: Proficiency in various cutting and styling techniques, including fades, layers, and texturizing, is the cornerstone of a barber’s skill set, helping to ensure that clients receive well-executed services that enhance their appearance.

• • • • • Coloring Techniques: Expertise in hair coloring, be it creating subtle highlights or doing color corrections, broadens a barber’s service offering, allowing them to meet the diverse preferences of clients.

• • • • • Scissor Cutting: Mastery of scissor techniques is critical for precision in hair cutting, enabling barbers to create clean lines, well-defined layers, and textured styles that align with clients’ expectations.

• • • • • Safety and Hygiene Knowledge: Barbers must know how to adhere to strict safety and sanitation practices – including proper tool sterilization – to ensure a clean and incident-free environment for both clients and themselves.

• • • • • Product Knowledge: Familiarity with various hair care and grooming products and tools is vital for barbers to provide effective advice and ensure that they’re using the most suitable options for their clients’ hair types and styles.

Top 5 Soft Skills for Barber Resumes

• • • • • Relationship Building: The ability to build good relationships with colleagues and clients is paramount in the barbering profession. Establishing a connection fosters trust and loyalty, creating a positive and comfortable environment for customers.

• • • • • Communication: Barbers must be able to interpret client requests, understand their style preferences, address any concerns, and manage their expectations.

• • • • • Time Management: Efficient scheduling and personal time management is crucial in a barber’s daily operations to accommodate appointments, meet clients’ needs, and maintain a smooth workflow.

• • • • • Continuous Learning: Barbers who are committed to learning about new products, tools, trends, and techniques are good at staying current with industry developments, ensuring they can offer the latest styles and services to their clients.

• • • • • Creativity: Successful barbers bring artistic flair to their work and think outside the box when conceptualizing hairstyles or suggesting solutions to enhance clients’ overall look.

So, what would a skills list look like on a resume? A sample resume for a barber stylist, for instance, might include a skills section that looks something like this:

Skills

• • • • • Hair Coloring: Proficient in applying various coloring methods to achieve desired outcomes

• • • • • Beard Grooming: Seasoned in shaping and trimming facial hair while maintaining clean lines

• • • • • Communication: Skilled at asking follow-up questions to ensure clients’ requests are fully understood

• • • • • Time Management: Adept at estimating task time requirements and adjusting workspeed to keep to schedule

If space is an issue, you could also shorten and simplify the skills section above to read:

Skills

• • • • • Hair coloring expertise
        • Beard grooming & shaping
        • Client communication
        • Time & calendar management

When deciding how much detail to include in your skills section, base your call on the amount of space you have to play with and whether or not you feel the extra information is really important.

Education

The education section of your resume is where you detail your formal barber training.

Note that you might only want to include your highest or most recent qualifications if their scope clearly covers that of more introductory programs.

If you decide to list more than one program, do so in reverse chronological order, with the most recent qualification at the top.

Be sure to specify the name and location of the barber (or cosmetology) school and/or training program you attended, and include the month and year that you graduated.

You could also include your state license number in your education section (or opt to feature it under your contact information).

The education section on a young barber’s resume might look like this:

Barbering Program
American Beauty College
Palmdale, CA
05/2012

State License Number: BAR123456

In addition to your primary education, you can also list any ongoing professional training you’re undertaking, such as a certification or specialization course. Be sure to indicate the start date and, if relevant, show that the course is currently underway by using the word “present” (for instance, “2023 – present”).

Pro Tip: If you’ve only recently graduated and don’t have a long work history section, you can plump up your education section by mentioning any awards received or relevant coursework completed during your studies.

Additional Sections

You can include additional sections in your resume if they add significant value and don’t make your resume too long.

Bear in mind that often the information in these extra sections can be included in one of the standard resume sections; only create a separate additional section if you want the information to stand out more prominently.

As a barber, you might decide to include the following sorts of additional sections in your resume:

• • • • • Certifications
        • Volunteer Experience
        • Professional Associations
        • Awards and Honors
        • Languages

If you are a fresh graduate who did well in school, you might want to also include a “School Awards and Achievements” section where you describe your most successful projects and final-year awards.

Consider if you can mention courses and accolades that relate directly to one or more skills or keywords mentioned in the job listing.

Top 4 Certifications for Barbers

There are various certifications available to barbers who are keen to update and diversify their skills or specialize in an area of expertise.

Each certification is a feather in your cap and adds to your credibility as a professional.

If you’ve completed many certifications, only include the most recent, relevant, or impressive in your resume.

Certifications are particularly important for barber resumes as the field is dynamic and ever-evolving, while also involving very specific tools, so an employer will want to know that you are properly skilled and committed to keeping up with changes.

Here are some well-known and highly respected barber certifications you could pursue to add to your resume:

• • • • • Professional Barber Certification: Issued by the American Barber Association, this credential recognizes barbers who are dedicated to excellence and have been actively practicing the craft of barbering for between one and seven years.

• • • • • BarberSAFE Professional Shave Certification: This certification is the industry standard for barbers committed to providing safe and sanitary shaving services that meet the standards set out by the Center for Disease Control.

• • • • • Master Barber Certification: Presented by Rogue Barbers, this credential is valuable if you want to demonstrate that you have advanced grooming skills and the ability to achieve a superior men’s cut.

• • • • • Board of Certified Hair Colorists Certification: Achieving this certification indicates that you have gone above and beyond to develop expert competency in hair coloring.

8 Tips For Writing A Barber Resume

Spotlight Specific Core Skills: Emphasize your expertise in various key barbering tasks, such as cutting, styling, coloring, and texturizing. Don’t forget to also highlight any unique specializations you’ve pursued.

Tailor Your Resume: Tweak your resume for each job application, ensuring the content speaks to the barbershop’s specific requirements as stated in the job listing. For instance, you’ll want to adjust your skills section so that the abilities mentioned in the job description appear in your resume. Remember, a customized resume indicates that you are genuinely interested in the job and taking your application seriously.

Include Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description to ensure your resume performs well if it is passed through an ATS. Keywords are also likely to grab the attention of hiring managers reading your resume.

Focus on Accomplishments: Be sure to mention concrete and quantifiable achievements, like the number of satisfied clients you’ve served or an “Employee of the Month” award you’ve received. Numbers and figures translate well on barber resumes because they make your impact tangible – of course, it’s essential that they can be corroborated though.

Incorporate Strong Action Verbs: Carefully select powerful action verbs to better convey your barbering experience and skills. A phrase like “Conceptualized innovative clipper designs” is bound to have more of an impact on readers than something like, “Came up with innovative clipper designs”.

Highlight Software Proficiency: Many employers will want to know that you can thrive as a barber in the age of technology. If you use specific software for appointment scheduling, client management, or inventory tracking, mention your familiarity with these tools.

Use Color Strategically: It’s important to opt for a clean and professional resume design that reflects the polished image you want to convey as a barber. That said, you might want to add a touch of personality and showcase your creativity through a strategic use of color. Consider incorporating muted shades that align with the tone of the industry to add accents or make section headers stand out.

Proofread and Edit: Step away from your resume for at least a day so that you can come back to it with fresh eyes. Then, imagine you know nothing about yourself and read through the document – does it summarize your experience, skills, and attributes adequately? Also check your grammar, spelling, and formatting for mistakes and inconsistencies, or ask someone else to help you do this. Nobody wants to hire a barber who does not pay attention to detail.