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Nail Technician Resume Example & Writing Guide

  • What should your nail technician resume include?
  • How can you create a professional summary?
  • How should you describe your work experience as a nail technician?   
  • Include a fitting nail technician resume education and certifications section
  • Which key skills are relevant for a nail technician resume?
  • How to select the most impactful nail technician resume template
  • Copyable nail technician resume example
  • Key takeaways for writing a nail technician resume

Are you a talented nail technician looking to get started in your career? Maybe you’re keen to advance your career by taking on a management role or looking for a change in work setting. Either way, nailing the perfect resume is going to help you move forward.

This resume guide, along with the corresponding nail technician resume example, will cover the following topics:

  • What should a nail technician resume include?

  • Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education)

  • Adding relevant key skills to your resume

  • Choosing the right resume template for a nail technician

What should your nail technician resume include?

Creating a compelling and convincing resume can be a difficult task. As a nail technician, you’ll need to focus on what sets you apart from other candidates. Highlighting your unique expertise in nail design and care and any other experience in the beauty and wellness industry, combined with your strong attention-to-detail and client-focused approach, will help you attract the attention of hiring managers.

Your nail technician resume should contain the following elements:

  • The resume header with your contact information

  • The resume summary 

  • The employment history section

  • The resume skills section

  • The education section

How can you create a professional summary?

For your nail technician resume to be successful you’ll need to open with a strong and convincing professional summary. Including a “branding statement” at the beginning of your profile is a great way to pique the hiring manager's interest. This short, catchy statement (10 to 15 words) should outline the scope and value you can bring to your next nail technician role.  

Follow this with your professional summary which gives more specifics on your experience. One way to make this information pop is by using four key bullet points. The first two points should highlight your industry-specific experience, such as your artistry in nail design and expertise in nail care techniques. The last two points should focus on your soft skills, including client relationship building, communication, and attention to detail. 

See our adaptable nail technician resume summary below.

Nail Technician Summary Example

Dedicated and meticulous Nail Technician and Esthetician with more than eight years’ experience in sophisticated skin care regimens combined with instruction for complete heath, wellness, and satisfaction of each client in mind.

  • Employ extensive training in nail treatments to provide full range of nail services, including manicures, pedicures, and acrylics.

  • Skilled in discussing treatment options with clients to ensure they understand the details, benefits, risks, and purpose of each procedure

  • Certified to implement microdermabrasion, microneedling, chemical peels, facials, and ultherapy as well as  body treatments such as body waxing and body wrap applications.

How should you describe your work experience as a nail technician?   

The all-important professional experience section is your opportunity to show why you’re the nail technician to hire. The first thing to do is review (and re-review) the job description to cherry-pick out the key requirements of the role. Look out for skills and experience that are repeated or emphasized as these are the areas you need to focus on.

Detail your experience in reverse chronological order, starting with paragraphs that outline core responsibilities, followed by bullet pointed achievements for each role. It can often be difficult as a nail technician to provide any quantifiable achievements. Instead focus on where you’ve gone over and above in terms of excellent customer service, team leadership, process improvement, and professional development.

For example:

  • Established strong client relationships, developing a loyal customer base and driving repeat business through outstanding service and personalized recommendations.

Take a look at the adaptable nail technician resume employment history section below.

Nail Technician Employment History Example

Nail Technician at The Spa At The Edition Hotel, Florida 2015 - Present

  • Provide best in class customer service to build repeat clientele and improve spa loyalty. Explain, recommend, and sell products and services.

  • Accurately assess condition of a patient’s nail and offer informed recommendations about treatments and / or styles, including manicures, pedicures, and acrylics.

  • Established a base of loyal clientele that boosted monthly revenue by 15%.

Nail Technician and Esthetician at Bliss Spa At W South Beach, Florida 2011 - 2016

  • Administered facials, manicures, and pedicures while encouraging relaxation.

  • Conducted full body waxing and strived to ease anxieties. Stocked treatment rooms with proper supplies.

  • Ensured a consistent and welcoming atmosphere at all times utilizing a friendly professional manner. Leveraged retail product knowledge to upsell additional items.

  • Attended Forbes training, which sanctioned work in high demanding service environments and busy 4-star hotels.

Expert Tip

Focus your job application on the value you can offer a potential employer

It’s your resume, so it is going to be all about you! However, try to focus your resume on the value that you can bring. Essentially what skills and experience do you have that can help the salon or spa to grow and thrive. This will demonstrate your commitment and enthusiasm for the role and help you get a step closer to that all-important interview.  

Include a fitting nail technician resume education and certifications section

Hiring managers are going to quickly want to see that you have the right credentials to become their next nail technician. Placing this information clearly and prominently on your resume is vital. For this reason, it’s perfectly fine to have your education section precede your work experience. When crafting your education section also consider:

  • List your education in reverse order. This should include your nail technician state license, the name of the college where this was completed, and the year (if within the last five years). You’ll also want to include your highest qualification if you have a bachelor’s degree or associate’s degree. High school can be omitted unless you just graduated. 

  • Include any relevant certifications. If you’ve completed training in the beauty and wellness field then make sure to include this information too as this shows your commitment to professional development.

Nail Technician Education Example

Esthetic License at Beauty Schools Of America, Miami Beach, Florida

  • 2011

Microneedling Certification at Beauty Schools Of America, Miami Beach, Florida

  • 2011

Nail Technician License at Boca Beauty Academy, Boca Raton, Florida

  • 2010

Which key skills are relevant for a nail technician resume?

When outlining skills on a nail technician resume, make sure they are relevant to the opportunity by checking the job description or other target jobs to identify in-demand skills. In a nail technician's resume, it’s unlikely that applicant tracking systems (ATS) will apply, but you never know. By including keywords from the job description, you’ll be covered either way.

Our resume templates provide a key skills list that you can easily adapt for your own unique experience as a nail technician. Make sure to include these keywords across your resume for maximum impact. Some critical skills for a nail technician include:

  • Creative nail design

  • Nail shaping, care & hygiene

  • Polish / acrylic application

  • Client relationship management

  • Product & trend knowledge

  • Health & safety compliance

How to select the most impactful nail technician resume template

Your nail technician resume should use a clean, clear, and modern resume design that is easy for the hiring manager to read. Stick to one or two pages in terms of resume length as anything longer can fall into the remit of information overload. Reverse-chronological format is the best way to show your career progression as a nail technician, with recent and relevant experience placed more prominently. 

When exploring our many resume templates in our resume builder, start by selecting the resume layout that fits your situation best. Find inspiration with our over 100 available resume examples.

Copyable nail technician resume example

Nail Technician Resume Example

Summary example

Dedicated and meticulous Nail Technician and Esthetician with more than eight years’ experience in sophisticated skin care regimens combined with instruction for complete heath, wellness, and satisfaction of each client in mind.

  • Employ extensive training in nail treatments to provide full range of nail services, including manicures, pedicures, and acrylics.

  • Skilled in discussing treatment options with clients to ensure they understand the details, benefits, risks, and purpose of each procedure

  • Certified to implement microdermabrasion, microneedling, chemical peels, facials, and ultherapy as well as  body treatments such as body waxing and body wrap applications.

Employment history example

Nail Technician at The Spa At The Edition Hotel, Florida 2015 - Present

  • Provide best in class customer service to build repeat clientele and improve spa loyalty. Explain, recommend, and sell products and services.

  • Accurately assess condition of a patient’s nail and offer informed recommendations about treatments and / or styles, including manicures, pedicures, and acrylics.

  • Established a base of loyal clientele that boosted monthly revenue by 15%.

Nail Technician and Esthetician at Bliss Spa At W South Beach, Florida 2011 - 2016

  • Administered facials, manicures, and pedicures while encouraging relaxation.

  • Conducted full body waxing and strived to ease anxieties. Stocked treatment rooms with proper supplies.

  • Ensured a consistent and welcoming atmosphere at all times utilizing a friendly professional manner. Leveraged retail product knowledge to upsell additional items.

  • Attended Forbes training, which sanctioned work in high demanding service environments and busy 4-star hotels.

Education example

Esthetic License at Beauty Schools Of America, Miami Beach, Florida, 2011

Microneedling Certification at Beauty Schools Of America, Miami Beach, Florida, 2011

Nail Technician License at Boca Beauty Academy, Boca Raton, Florida, 2010

Skills example

  • Customer Service

  • Design Trends

  • Safety and Sterilization

  • Nail and Skin Technologies

  • Nail Enhancement Techniques

  • Manicures and Pedicures

Key takeaways for writing a nail technician resume

  1. Nail technicians are in demand according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, so having a top-notch resume ready to go will ensure you’re ready to grab the best job opportunities. 

  2. Focus on showcasing your expertise and accomplishments as a nail technician. This could include expertise in nail design, knowledge of nail care techniques, and success in attracting and retaining key clients.

  3. Don’t forget to showcase your soft skills across your resume too. Your creative outlook, relationship-building skills, and attention to detail are all something to shout about.

  4. Make your life easier by using our online resume builder to create your nail technician resume with adaptable templates and AI powered content. 

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