Job hunting is always stressful, but this past year has made finding a job as a lash artist even more challenging than usual. Sometimes, it can feel like you’re sending applications out into the void, to beauty salons and lash businesses who may never even glance at them.
One of the most important things to have on hand when applying for lash stylist jobs is a succinct resume outlining all of your education, qualifications, and job experience as a beauty professional.
However, don’t feel hopeless! Your perfect lash stylist job is out there — it just has to find you. What better way to get noticed than by getting your resume front and center on a salon manager’s desk? LashBeePro’s co-founders have rounded up the top dozen items they look for when hiring lash artists and other members of the ever-expanding LBP team!
Mandatory Checklist Items
1. Make sure it’s only one page.
Unless you’ve been doing lashes for multiple decades, a resume should never be more than one page. Employers are usually sifting through many applications, and resumes that are longer than a page almost always get tossed out without a second glance. (It’s fine to cheat by toying with margins and font sizes — just make sure the writing isn’ttoo small, or pushing up against the edge of the paper!)
2. Name and Contact Information
This should be a no-brainer! At the very top of your resume, include your full name. We recommend doing so in all caps. In a smaller font underneath your name, add your basic contact information. Use an email address you check frequently, and your cell phone number if you feel comfortable doing so. (Some employers like to call with their job offers, so keep that in mind!)
3. Links to social media / examples of your lash work
One of the most important methods to building a regular client base is developing a solid social media presence, particularly on Instagram.
“Active Instagram accounts are a must-have for lash artists. I always scope an applicant’s work online as one of the first steps in evaluating their application,” says LashBeePro CEO and co-founder Erin Soletski. “If they can make that step easy for me, even better.”
If you haven’t created an account yet, start one now and post at least 3-4 professional pictures of your best lash sets — whether they’re practice or on real clients! We recommend including your handle in your contact information. Don’t have a great social presence just yet? Include a link to an online portfolio if you have one, or send 4-5 photos in with your resume.
An added bonus of including your social media links is to let salon managers see how you promote yourself, and thus how you could help build their salon’s books in the future.
Unsure if your grid is up to par? Check out our own Instagram and this blog post for lash inspo!
4. Academics
Make sure you have your academic credentials listed at the top of your resume, right under your name and contact information. Include the cosmetology or esthetician courses you completed, the company with whom you became lash certified, and any university or post-high school programs you may have attended. If you have room, write a brief description of any specializations you undertook, whether it’s a major in college or a focus on brows and makeup in cosmetology school. If you are mentioning multiple academic institutions, try not to devote more than one line to each.
5. Professional / Career Summary / Blurb
If you were in a magazine or a featured guest on a panel, what would your mini bio say? Under your academic information and just before your career history, write a two-line (three at most) summary of what kind of lash artist you are, why you’re passionate about lashes, and even what kind of lashes you specialize in. Is Russian or Mega Volume your specialty? Clients can’t get enough of your lash lifts or colored lash creations? This is a great opportunity to showcase that you aren’t just bullets on a resume, but that you’re bringing something uniquelyyou to the table.
6. Awards and Recognitions
Did you win lash artist of the month at your last job, or graduate with distinction from cosmetology school? Make sure potential employers know! This is the space to hype up all the amazing skills you’ve accumulated since you entered the beauty industry.
7. Specific Lash Experience
This is the most important — and should be the longest — part of your resume. List every job or internship you’ve had relevant to the position you’re applying for, including the name of your employer, your specific title, and the approximate dates you worked there. List your responsibilities in bullet form, using specific language that paints a clear yet flattering picture of your day-to-day at the salon. For instance, instead of writing
- Provided lash services to clients
you may want to state that you
- Evaluated individual clients’ needs to create best lash extension looks for their lifestyle
Each bullet should be no more than one line long. Brevity is key!
8. Hard Skills
Let’s be honest, most managers will skim your resume instead of taking the time to carefully comb through each word you write. You need to make sure they’ll walk away from a thirty-second scan absolutely certain you possess all the lash skills directly relevant to the position. You don’t need to list these eye-catching “buzzwords” in a separate section, but do ensure they’re included in the bullets under each entry for your job history. See a few examples:
- Createdtailored classicand volume lash sets for eachclient’s needs and lifestyle
- Increased average lashretention by 1 week byresearching best adhesives for salon environment
- Analyzed effect of addingvolume lash setsto salon book;implemented new pricing structure accordingly
- Served an average of Xnumber of clients per week for full sets, fills, and lash lifts
- Successfullysold aftercareretail products to 30% of salon’s clients in Jan. - Mar. 2021
9. Soft Skills
These are the skills that aren’t directly related to your lashing abilities, but to the moretangential aspects of being a lash artist. In your work experience bullets, we recommend highlighting your people skills as they pertain to clients. These include your ability to walk them through lash cleansing regimens, persuade them to consider the best lash styles for their face shape, or even keep conversations flowing effortlessly with chatty clients during a full volume set! Salon managers want to know that their lash stylists can engage with all types of clients for hours on end if need be, and can work with even the most difficult, resistant clients.
10. Professional Development
Have you attended any webinars or conferences on the state of the lash industry? Taking a volume lash training class or a salon and spa management course? Let the salons you’re applying for know! Salon managers want to see that their employees are taking their future seriously, whether that’s by staying abreast of the latest developments in lash extension trends or by preparing for future management roles.
“It’s incredibly important to list out every single one of your lash certifications and courses you’ve taken,” says Soletski. “If you’ve taken a lot of classes, that’s usually going to look super impressive to salon employers.”
Optionals
11. Extracurriculars / Volunteering
If you’ve finished the mandatory parts of your resume and find yourself with a few lines left on the page, feel free to mention any extracurricular activities you currently participate in. Do you play softball in your spare time? Volunteer with seniors on weekends? Take the chance to show employers that you’re well-rounded and willing to take on tasks that aren’t directly related to lashing. (For hiring managers at smaller salons where running the business is more all-hands-on-deck, this can help you stand out even more.)
12. References
We don’t necessarily recommend including separate contact information to your former employers, managers, and lash businesses on your resume. However, if you have room and feel compelled to do so, include your supervisor’s name and position within the job description, just between your job title/place of employment and the first bullet point. Otherwise, simply add a line that states that you have references available upon request.
13. Hobbies / Fun Facts / Additional Skills
If after all is said and done, you still have room on your resume, feel free to humanize yourself by including a few fun facts about yourself! Do you love horror movies? Are you training to mountain climb in the Sierra Nevadas? Let salon hirers know that you’ve got interesting things to talk about, and that you’re fun to work with and be around.
If you have another useful skill, such as fluency in another language or accounting experience, this is an excellent place to include this information.
Job-Hunting Tips
14. Cast a wide net
Just because a job description doesn’t match exactly what you want doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t apply — or that you wouldn’t be happy in it! If an open position matches most of your skills and some of your interests, you should apply even if it’s not your dream position. For instance, if you’re hoping to land a lash artist position and stumble across a lash salon with an opening for brows, you should apply if the latter is within your skillset! You never know; you just may be offered the opportunity to transfer jobs down the line.
Even if you interview for and eventually decline the position, stay in touch with the employers. They may eventually have an opening for a lash stylist position and contact you for the hire.
15. Shoot your shot
Apply to jobs even if you don’t feel 100% qualified. Studies show that men often apply to jobs when they’re only 60% qualified for positions, while women tend not to apply unless they meet 100% of the position requirements. The lash industry is dominated by women, and we encourage every bad-a** woman in this field to be confident in what they have to offer!
So don’t be afraid to apply for your dream job, even if you’re just starting out! You’d be surprised at the number of employers who are willing to train new hires on the job, especially because each salon and spa has its own unique way of operating. Furthermore, even if you interview with and don’t get the job, you’ll have made a new connection in the beauty industry that may help you out in the future.
16. Be persistent when communicating with employers
Follow up with each employer if you haven’t heard back from them within five business days to ask for updates regarding your candidacy. Express gratitude and send thank-you emails after every interview or communication.— these demonstrate that you'll bring the same level of gratitude to the salon floor and treat customers well, too! If there are relevant changes to your resume or situation while you are waiting to hear back from the position, shoot your point person an email update. Not only does persistence keep you top-of-mind for hiring managers, it’s an impressive trait that shows you are communicative and passionate about the position.
17. Network with other lash professionals
There are hundreds of Facebook groups dedicated to business tips, industry trends, and plain old community for lash stylists, makeup artists, and the beauty industry at large! Find one or two catering to lash artists in your geographic area and join them. Attend local beauty trade shows and meet other artists in your region. Follow stylists in your area on Instagram and write supportive comments on their posts or send a DM to meet up for a local happy hour. You never know when a new connection can lead to a job opportunity, or teach you an awesome trick that helps you nail an interview!
18. Self-care
Job searches are incredibly labor- and time-intensive. You need to make sure to take care of yourself, and make time for friends, family, and downtime — even if it feels like every second you’re not applying to jobs is wasting time. Nobody writes their best application or kills an interview when they’re sleep-deprived, dehydrated, or lonely from not having seen their best friends in weeks. Self-care isvital to a successful job search, so be kind to yourself.
19. Don’t be afraid to take on non-lash-related temporary work
Financial difficulties are no joke, and you need to do what’s necessary to ensure that bills are paid and food is on the table. Furthermore, do not feel like you’re only allowed to earn money from lashing, or like having non-lash- or beauty-related jobs on your resume will prevent you from landing the lash stylist position of your dreams. If you must work another job to keep your finances in control, that’s totally fine! Plus, you’ll learn skills atany job that you can transfer over to a salon environment, whether that’s customer service tips from sales jobs or team management training in restaurant settings.
20. Take advantage of technology
Cold-email salons you’re interested in working for. Even if they’re not directly hiring, they may know another that is or keep you top-of-mind for future openings. Message salon managers on LinkedIn with a brief introduction, letting them know that you’re a lash artist with XYZ standout skills you can bring to the table. DM lash artists or studios on Instagram and Facebook, especially if they’re advertising for jobs on those platforms. Make sure that every message you send emphasizes what value-add you bring to the position, rather than simply stating what you hope to get out of the job.
21. Build your personal brand
Solidify your social media presence! Make sure you have an active, public Instagram feed where you regularly post and demonstrate your finest work. (Offer to do discounted lash extensions, lifts, and tints for your friends and family so that you always have new content to post!) In one of the most visual industries in the world, a lash artist’s Instagram grid is one of the first things most hiring managers look at.
If you have a website, your Instagram and website should coalesce aesthetically; one should feel like an extension of the other. Consider creating a blog filled with tips and tricks aimed at clients to show both hiring managers and potential clients that you’re an authority on the lash industry.
You may even want to consider becoming a brand ambassador for a lash company to demonstrate your passion on social media. The company should send you free or discounted lash trays, prep liquids and adhesives, and tweezers and tools to help up your lash game and give you additional Insta-worthy content as you search for a new position.
22. Appearance matters
Lash artists are a part of the beauty industry, and the way you present yourself to hiring managers during interviews sayseverything about the kind of stylist you are. This doesn’t mean you have to dress in expensive, designer suits or dresses, but itdoesmean you should be meticulously professional with what you’ve got.
Always make sure to look impeccable and clean. Your nails should be cut short, or manicured with short French tips at the fanciest. If your hair is longer than shoulder-length, consider tying it back into a clean, sleek ponytail or bun. Your makeup doesn’t need to be over-the-top, but should be just enough to look neat and professional. Think some BB cream, top and bottom eyeliner + mascara, and groomed brows to show that you take care of the parts of your own body that you will be working on with clients!
23. Organize your job search materials
When you’re sending out dozens — if not hundreds — of resumes out into the nether, it’s important to keep track of the jobs you’ve applied to so that you don’t pick up the phone one day and accidentally slip out the wrong salon name to a hiring manager! We recommend keeping a simple Excel spreadsheet on a pinned tab or bookmark on your computer, tablet, or phone during the job search, with a column for the position/company, one for the contact person (if you’ve been in talks with them), and one for brief notes and research.
24. Research the science behind lash extensions
This is especially important for lash artists who are only just breaking into the industry! To stand out from the crowd, any extra knowledge you can demonstrate is a plus — and the science behind and current trends dominating the lash industry are the best way to do so. Refresh yourself on what cyanocrylates in adhesives are, how their molecules work in adhesives. Intimately familiarize yourself with different types of adhesives, how they operate in different humidity levels, and what tools and bond strengtheners you can use to ensure they cure quickly and perfectly. Research common ingredients in various prep liquids, the difference between regular and flat lashes, and the difference between handmade and pre-made volume fans. Even if you’re not directly asked about them in interviews, being armed with this information will give you confidence...and there’s no harm in dropping knowledge in an interview!
25. Be knowledgeable about lash styles
Know the different styles that go with what face and eye shapes, and the different types of lash extensions (classic, volume, mega-volume, the types of extensions you can use for each style and their pros/cons). Don’t be surprised if a late-stage or final round interview has you do a mock consultation with a fake client; you’ll want to be prepared to put your experience to the test!
26. Have opinions on the latest trends and technologies
Salon hiring managers want to know that they’re hiring someone who’s passionate about the lash industry! A great way to demonstrate it is to keep as up-to-date as possible with the latest trends in the industry, such as bottom lash extensions, M curl lashes, holiday makeup looks, or the latest tweezers the best lash artists in the country are using to up their game. To start, follow Instagram accounts run by big lash supply companies and famous lash artists. If you have time and can afford it, attend conventions and webinars (though many of the latter should be free!). Read blogs run by lash studios and supply makers. Develop opinions on your favorite lash brands, their best products, and why you love them.
27. Practice your other beauty skills
If you’re able, learn how to do lash lifts and lash tints. Brush up on skills you may have learned in cosmetology and esthetician courses, including waxing, brows, makeup, and hair. Watch YouTube videos to perfect the skills you’re working on and maybe even learn a handy shortcut or two. If you haven’t practiced lash extensions in awhile or are fresh out of lash training, consider purchasing practice kits to level up your lash sets. If you are worried you don’t remember some of the basics, consider taking a refresher training course aimed at stylists who have already previously trained in lash extensions. Having a wide-ranging, well-practiced skillset will make you more marketable to more salons!
28. Consider opening your own business
The best part of being a lash artist is that you don’t need anyone to tell you you can do lashes in order to do them! If you have some money saved up and you like the idea of being your own boss and setting your own hours, consider opening up a home lash studio. It’ll take some initial investing — like purchasing a starter kit and your own studio lighting — to get started. But if you have clients who love you and would follow you anywhere, you may already have the most important things it takes to get started.
We hope these tips help you launch the lash artist career of your dreams! Leave a comment below if you find any of our advice helpful — and if it even lands you a job!