Nail Technician resume example & writing guide

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.

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.

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.

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

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.