Although the job market may be improving overall, the cosmetology industry remains a highly competitive market. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cosmetology industry is expected to see about a 13 percent growth from 2012 to 2022, which is about the same as most occupations. The growth may be positive, but it also means that some level of competition will remain for at least the next decade.
It is essential to have a dynamite resume to stand out. Your resume typically imparts the first impression the prospective employer will have about you; therefore you want to ensure it accurately reflects who you are, while also making you a lucrative candidate for the position. By following a few simple tips, you can ensure that you will have a strong resume to help you secure your dream cosmetology job.
What a Resume Does
Your resume is an essential first step towards your new job
A resume simply provides a quick overview of you, your talents, and your experience for potential employers. Most hiring managers only spend a few seconds looking at each resume, if they even take the time to look at every resume that lands on their desk. To help get through the initial scan, your resume should include an idea of your desired position, your relevant education and experience, any training, and your special skills and abilities that separate you from the rest of the applicants.
A strong resume gives a comprehensive picture of your potential and talents
You should also include certain words and phrases from the job description or that will be popular in the industry, because many larger companies utilize a computerized algorithm that looks for specific words or experience to narrow down the pile of resumes. According Glassdoor.com, about 50 percent of the applications are weeded out using talent-management software before a real person even looks at the resume.
Have an Objective
At the top of your resume, you should include a clear objective that describes the position you desire. This description should be tailored to the position to which you are applying. Reading the job posting can help you to make any necessary adjustments to your objective. You do not necessarily need to mention the company or position by name, but you should tweak your language to ensure it matches the position to which you are applying.
Relevant Work Experience
Detail your work experience to impress potential employers
The next section should be a listing of your relevant work experience starting with the most recent. You can include volunteer work or internships in addition to paid work, but they should be applicable to the position. Typically, this means only listing your cosmetology experience, but if you have other work experience with associated skills, such as customer service, then you can include it. However, do not simply list your job titles and the company. Add some bullet points that describe your work, especially in how it provides relevant experience to the position to which you are applying, and be sure to highlight any accomplishments.
Education and Skills
After your work experience, you should list your education, including beauty school and any continuing education courses you may have done. You can also include any professional licenses, certifications, or special education or training in this section, including any one-day courses you may have taken.
Don’t forget to add short courses such as the latest makeup trends
If you made good grades or were awarded any honors or other awards, then you should list them. Under the education, you can include a skills section if you feel you have any relevant skills that have yet to be listed, such as the ability to speak multiple languages. Do not list any references on the resume; instead, simply include a sentence that says something like references upon request.
Proofread
The last action you should take is to check and recheck your resume to ensure that there are no errors, including proofreading for any spelling or grammar errors. If you are not a strong writer or editor, than ask a friend or co-worker to proofread for you. You also want to be sure that there are no formatting issues or other problems that would cause the resume to look unprofessional.
Having a dynamite resume is simply the first step in ensuring that you get the job you want, but it is an important one. Without a strong resume, you will never make it past the reject pile for an interview.