Makeup Artist CV Guide

What to include in a Makeup Artist CV

What you include in your CV is crucial to your success and getting an interview invite. Firstly, you want to choose an organised, well-structured and easy layout for recruiters to read. You then want to showcase your qualifications, skills, experience and creativity while tailoring the content to the specific makeup artist job.

While individual CVs will vary, the main sections tend to be similar. If you look at some example CVs, you will notice that they will include headings for contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, key skills, achievements and references. Let us look at these sections in further detail and what to include.

Contact information

The first section of your CV is your contact information, which should be at the top of the document. Your details should be clear and accurate so prospective employers can contact you.

Add your full name first in bold in a slightly larger font than the rest of the text, but do not worry about your middle name(s); your first name and surname are sufficient. You can include your professional title under your name, e.g. “Makeup Artist”, and location (town, city or county), but this is optional.

Next, you should use a professional email address that avoids nicknames or slang, e.g. “[email protected]”, and provide a reliable contact number where they can reach you easily. You can also add links to your LinkedIn profile, professional website or portfolio if they are relevant and professional.

Avoid adding your home address, a photo or social media links unless required by the employer. Also, do not include personal information on your CV, such as age, date of birth, marital status, gender, national insurance number or nationality; these are generally irrelevant and could lead to bias, discrimination and privacy issues.

Professional summary

A professional summary is also known as a personal statement, executive summary, professional statement or career profile. It is a brief, impactful section at the top of the CV, underneath your contact information, that highlights your key qualifications, skills, experience, achievements and career goals. It serves as a snapshot of your professional identity, tailored to grab the attention of potential employers.

When recruiters review CVs, the professional summary is one of the first things they will read, so it is crucial it stands out and captures their interest. A well-written summary helps employers understand your value at a glance, encourages them to read the rest of your CV and makes it easier for them to see why you are a strong candidate. Essentially, it is your opportunity to make a powerful first impression.

Your summary should typically be a 3-5 line paragraph – tailored to each makeup artist role you apply for. Here are some pointers on what to include:

• Your professional title – start with a concise title that reflects your career or the role you are targeting, such as “Certified Makeup Artist”. Begin the sentence with a strong action verb to describe your work ethic or style, e.g. “Creative”, “detail-oriented”, “client-focused”, “passionate”, “award-winning”, etc.
• Years of experience – specify how many years of experience you have in your field to demonstrate your professional background.
• Qualifications – highlight your certifications, training and expertise. For example, mention if you are licenced or have specialised training, e.g. bridal makeup, airbrushing, editorial shoots or special effects.
• Key skills – highlight specialised skills like airbrushing, contouring or prosthetic application. Be selective and focus on your strongest and most relevant abilities.
• Achievements – include notable accomplishments showcasing your impact, such as awards, certifications or high-profile clients you have worked with.
• Career goals – express your aspirations in the industry, such as working with high-profile clients, becoming a lead makeup artist for film productions or opening your own studio.
• Passion – showcase your enthusiasm for makeup artistry and how it drives your creativity and dedication. For instance, emphasise your passion for empowering clients by enhancing their confidence through personalised looks.

Here is an example of a professional summary for a makeup artist:

“Creative and detail-oriented makeup artist with 5+ years of experience in bridal and editorial makeup. Proficient in airbrushing and special effects techniques, with a proven track record of enhancing client satisfaction and achieving flawless results. Awarded ‘Makeup Artist of the Year’ in 2023. Passionate about creating unique, client-focused looks that enhance natural beauty and aspiring to collaborate with industry-leading professionals”.

Education

You can choose which section comes after your professional summary – your education or work experience. If you already have experience as a makeup artist, the latter may be better first. However, if you are starting your career in makeup artistry and have more qualifications and training rather than work experience, your education can come first.

In the education section, you should tell the reader about your academic background and qualifications relevant to the makeup artist position and list them in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Here are some examples of what to include:

• Qualifications and certifications – add any specific cosmetic courses, certificates, diplomas or degrees related to makeup, beauty or aesthetics, for example, VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Makeup Artistry. Mention if your course allowed you to specialise, e.g. in special effects or bridal makeup.
• Training and workshops – include any masterclasses, short courses on specific techniques or even online training you have attended that holds industry recognition. For example, Masterclass in Airbrush Makeup, Bobbi Brown Academy (2024).
• Relevant school education – if you are starting, you can include your secondary school education, e.g. GCSE’s, especially if you took any related courses.
• Institution, dates and grades – for each qualification, provide details of the following:
  • The name of the university, college, school, academy or training provider.
  • The years you started and completed (or expect to complete) your studies.
  • Your final grade, honours, awards or notable accomplishments (where relevant).

This section is crucial as it showcases your qualifications, validates your expertise and differentiates you from other candidates. Prospective employers will also use this section to assess your suitability for the role.

Work experience/employment history

The next section we will focus on is work experience, also known as your employment history. It is where you highlight your professional background and provide details of your previous jobs, roles and achievements (in reverse chronological order). If you have limited paid work experience, you can add any volunteering roles and practical experience gained during apprenticeships, internships or other placements.

The work experience section is one of the most important, as it tells employers about your practical experience, shows how you have applied your skills in real-world scenarios and helps them assess your potential to succeed in the role. They will use this section to determine if your past roles align with the job requirements they are seeking to fill.

When adding your work experience, focus on your previous roles directly related to makeup artistry, beauty or the creative arts and concentrate on your duties relevant to the job you are applying for. Here are some pointers on what to include:

• Job titles – clearly state your previous roles, e.g. “Makeup Artist”.
• Company names – list the organisations you have worked for. If you have worked for ourself, add self-employed.
• Location – add where you worked, i.e. town, city or county.
• Dates of employment – include start and end dates for each position (month and year).
• Responsibilities
  • Summarise your primary duties and tasks in each position that demonstrate your technical skills, e.g. applying makeup for different occasions, selecting appropriate products based on skin type, collaborating with photographers, etc.
  • Add responsibilities showing versatility, like working on weddings, fashion shoots, or theatrical productions.
  • Add your responsibilities in bullet point form and begin with a strong action verb, like “applied”, “consulted”, “performed”, “enhanced”, “achieved”, etc.
• Achievements – focus on accomplishments like client satisfaction, positive reviews or contributions to high-profile projects. Quantify results when possible (e.g.”Styled makeup for 50+ clients during a bridal season”).
• Relevant skills – mention specific skills pertinent to the job you are applying for and use industry-specific keywords such as “airbrush techniques”, “bridal makeup”, or “special effects”.

Key skills and achievements

The next section, your key skills and achievements, can be included in your CV under a separate heading, or you can weave them into your work experience. It depends on your background and preference.

Key skills are the abilities and expertise that make you effective in a makeup artist role. They demonstrate your suitability for the job, help you stand out in the recruitment process and show how well you might perform in specific situations. Tailoring your key skills to match the job description is especially important when applying for makeup artist positions, as many organisations use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen CVs for keywords.

There are two main types of skills, hard and soft:

• Hard (technical) skills – are specific, measurable abilities gained through training or experience. They are often directly related to a job and can be listed on a CV or tested during an interview. Some examples of hard skills for a makeup artist include makeup application techniques, special effects makeup, skincare knowledge, product expertise, sanitation, photography makeup, colour theory, etc.
• Soft (interpersonal) skills – are behavioural traits that help you interact effectively with clients and colleagues. They are trickier to measure but equally vital. Some examples of soft skills for a makeup artist include creativity, customer service, communication, patience, attention to detail, time management, adaptability, collaboration, etc.

You should include both hard and soft skills in your CV. An example of how you can add a hard skill would be “Proficient in airbrush makeup for bridal and editorial shoots”. You can integrate your soft skills subtly by connecting them to real examples in your work experience. For example, “Demonstrated strong adaptability by handling last-minute changes during high-pressure fashion shows”.

You can also pair your achievements with your key skills, demonstrating how you have effectively applied your skills to deliver tangible results. We will look at how to focus on your achievements later.

Other information

The main sections seen in most CVs are contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, key skills, achievements and references. However, these headings are not concrete, and you can further enrich your makeup artist CV by adding sections that illustrate your creativity, continuous learning and professional involvement.

Here are some examples of additional sections and information you may want to consider adding:

• Portfolio/Lookbook – as a makeup artist’s work is highly visual, you may want potential employers to see real examples of your artistry. You can add a dedicated portfolio section, including a link to your online portfolio, professional social media pages or personal website.
• Certifications and additional training – you may want to keep your education section for any formal training and have a separate one for any specialised courses, workshops, seminars or masterclasses you have attended, e.g. special effects makeup or airbrush techniques. It can showcase your commitment to professional development.
• Professional affiliations and memberships – if you are a member of industry associations or professional organisations, e.g. in a professional makeup group or beauty council, you may want to add a section demonstrating your commitment to the field.
• Projects and collaborations – you could include a section focusing on key projects or collaborations, e.g. high-profile campaigns, unique editorial shoots or creative collaborations. Name the event, client, or publication and briefly describe your role and the outcome or any recognition received.
• Volunteer work – you can add any relevant volunteering experience, e.g. offering makeup services for charity events, community theatre productions or local fashion shows. It can reflect your passion and commitment beyond paid work.
• Personal interests and hobbies – only include this section if relevant to the makeup artist position. For example, if you are passionate about beauty trends, photography or fashion design. If you have limited experience, you could also add details of applying makeup and using various techniques on family and friends.
• Languages and technical proficiency – listing language skills may be advantageous if you work in diverse, multicultural settings or on international projects. Additionally, proficiency with relevant software (e.g. photo editing tools) can support your portfolio presentation.

If you have been self-employed, you could also include details on client testimonials and any positive feedback received.

If you add additional sections to your CV, be mindful not to add too many, as it makes the document look cluttered and more difficult to read. You want your CV to be as engaging and informative as possible, so only include details relevant to the specific makeup artist job.

References

The final section of your CV is usually the references section. It is where you provide details of 2-3 individuals (referees) who can vouch for your skills, experience and character to potential employers. They are usually previous employers, managers, supervisors, colleagues, mentors or clients you have worked with.

Having strong references is crucial, as employers may contact referees to verify the credentials listed on your CV. It also reassures them about hiring you when they receive positive feedback from trusted individuals. Recruitment is expensive, so they want to ensure they have the right person for the job.

Before completing your reference section, review the job description to see if they have asked for specific referee details at this stage. If they have not and you are struggling for space on your CV, you can add a simple statement, “References available upon request”.

If you do provide details of your referees under the reference section, you should include the following:

• Name – provide the full name of your referee.
• Position/title – mention their role (e.g. “Salon Manager” or “Fashion Photographer”).
• Company/organisation – include the name of their workplace, if applicable.
• Contact details – provide a phone number and/or email address. Ensure their contact information is up-to-date.
• Relationship – briefly describe your connection to the referee, e.g. “Former employer”, “Client”, “Supervisor during a freelance project”, etc.).

Ensure your references have agreed to be contacted and prepared to provide positive feedback. Always ask permission first before adding them to your CV. You could also give them details of the job you are applying for so they can tailor their reference accordingly.