Makeup Artist Resume Sample

People marvel at the beauty of models and actors, whether they grace the screen, the runway, or the red carpet. Their looks often seem unparalleled, with the rest of us lamenting our misfortune in the genetic lottery.

However, they have a secret: They are wearing a lot of makeup, which they don’t apply themselves. This is the job of makeup artists.

A makeup artist is a person who applies makeup to the human body in order to alter or enhance the appearance of the subject. They find work in a range of entertainment industries, including theater, television, film, and modeling. They can also provide personal beauty services for weddings and various other social events.

Competition for these positions is fierce, but with the rise of Netflix, Amazon Prime, Instagram, and other online media applications, the job outlook is promising. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be a 19.2% growth in employment opportunities for those in the entertainment sector by the year 2024.

Although the projected growth for the personal beauty field is not as significant at 9.8%, it is clear that the future is a beautiful one for makeup artists.

To get a position in either the entertainment or personal beauty industry (as a freelancer or otherwise), you will need a great resume. Below, we provide workable, industry specific writing tips that you can apply to perfect your own.

1. Use a Summary of Qualifications

The top of your resume is prime real estate. It is the first place a hiring manager looks when reviewing your application. The most common way to start is with a career objective, which is usually three sentences that state your experience and why you would be a good fit for the target company. However, times have changed, and formatting has evolved to accommodate different types of jobs and job seekers.

For those seeking employment as a makeup artist, we recommend using a summary of qualifications (commonly referred to as a qualifications summary). A summary of qualifications consists of four to six bullet points in which you outline your years of experience, education, licenses, and special skills. It is a way to put all of your cards on the table and show the hiring manager what you have to offer. This is also a way to make your resume stand out amongst a sea of other candidates.

To write a summary of qualifications, try to include bullets for:

• How many years of experience you have in related fields

• What kind of education or degree you have

• What special skills you have that are related to the job you are applying for

• Relevant licenses/certifications

Take a closer look at the summary of qualifications from our sample:

– Dedicated Makeup Artist with over 5 years of experience in television, film, and salons

– Licensed Cosmetologist specializing in theatrical and special effects makeup

– Proficient with airbrushing tools and techniques

– Possess degrees in Cosmetology and Theatre from accredited schools

The applicant hits all of the major points here. We can see her experience, licenses, special skills, and education — all laid out in a concise, bulleted list.

This method demonstrates to hiring managers that you respect their time, and are serious about landing the position.

2. Use Numbers to Quantify Your Experience

There is always going to be competition for jobs, so we’ve extensively researched how to make resumes stand out to employers. One way we’ve found to work consistently well is to quantify your professional experience. This means to include numbers — specifically, in your experience section.

Let’s take a look at a few examples from the sample above:

– Performed makeup applications for the talent of 3 feature films

– Oversaw cosmetic operations for 6 episodes of the miniseries The Underlying Dream

– Provided hair and makeup services for 7+ clients daily

– Maintained a 96% customer satisfaction rate

Her use of numbers in these descriptions make her seem competent and detail-oriented. She also did a nice job of quantifying a variety of tasks. Let’s take a look at these bullets again, but without the numbers:

– Performed makeup applications for the talent of feature films

– Oversaw cosmetic operations for episodes of the miniseries The Underlying Dream

– Provided hair and makeup services for clients daily

– Maintained a customer satisfaction rate

Compared to the ones shown in the sample, these seem vague, less authoritative, and less meaningful. This is what you want to avoid.

Quantifying the bullets of your professional experience section will give your resume that something extra that will appeal to hiring managers. If you need help coming up with some numbers, try asking yourself a few questions:

• How many clients did you provide services for? Daily? Weekly?

• How many services did you provide?

• How many television/film/stage productions have you worked on?

• How many cast members were you responsible for?

• Did you have repeat customers? What percent of them kept coming back?

• How often did you provide your services?

• Did you work on prosthetics of any kind? How many?

3. Emphasize Special Skills

Between the entertainment and personal beauty service industries, there are hundreds, if not thousands of different cosmetic techniques used. A great way to set yourself apart from other candidates is to emphasize any special skills that you have acquired.

Both the summary of qualifications and the additional skills section are excellent places in which to outline your special skills. In the sample above, the applicant has used both sections to great effect:

– Licensed Cosmetologist specializing in theatrical and special effects makeup

– Proficient with airbrushing tools and techniques

In her summary of qualifications, she emphasizes her specialization in theatrical and special effects makeup, while also stating her proficiency with airbrushing techniques. These are industry specific skills that will boost her chances of landing an interview.

– Knowledge of prosthetic makeup & techniques

In the additional skills section, she takes the opportunity to mention her knowledge of prosthetic makeup. This is not a skill that most people in the industry have, so it is beneficial for her to include it because it sets her application apart from others.

Still having trouble making yours the way you want it? See if our custom resume builder can help you make something you can be confident in.