Nail Technician CV: Tips and Examples

Nail bars, beauty salons, hair salons, spas or a mobile business: the nail industry keeps growing, and so does the competition. To stand out, your CV needs to highlight your techniques, your training and the quality of your work. Here is how to write a nail technician CV that gets you noticed.

Choose the right job title

Use the job title from the advert, and add your speciality if it is in demand:

  • Nail Technician
  • Nail Artist
  • Nail Stylist
  • Beauty Therapist and Nail Technician
  • Mobile Nail Technician
  • Nail Bar Manager

Below your job title, add a short personal profile of two or three lines. Example: "Qualified nail technician with 4 years' experience in a busy nail bar, specialising in gel extensions and nail art. Fast, precise and focused on client satisfaction."

Skills to include on a nail technician CV

Nail enhancement techniques

  • Tips and sculpted nails using forms
  • Gel (UV/LED) and acrylic extensions
  • Polygel / acrygel
  • Gel polish
  • Infills, repairs and safe removal
  • Filing and shaping (almond, ballerina/coffin, square, stiletto…)
  • French manicure, baby boomer and ombré

Nail art

  • Freehand designs
  • Rhinestones, foils, stickers, chrome and mirror effects
  • 3D nail art
  • Themed designs for weddings, holidays and events

Health, safety and hygiene

Employers pay close attention to this: cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising tools, following hygiene protocols, keeping the workstation well ventilated, handling chemicals safely, spotting contraindications (damaged nails, fungal infections) and referring clients when needed.

Client care and salon tasks

  • Welcoming clients and advising on shape, length and colour
  • Aftercare advice
  • Selling retail products (cuticle oils, treatments, polishes)
  • Managing bookings and the appointment diary online
  • Taking payments and stock control
  • Photographing work and running social media

Personal qualities

Precision, patience, creativity, an eye for detail, speed, a polished appearance and a love of trends. Pick three or four that genuinely describe you.

Nail technician qualifications

Requirements differ from one country to another. List your qualifications with the training provider and the year, using their official names:

  • United Kingdom: Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Nail Services or Nail Technology (VTCT, City & Guilds), or a Nail Services apprenticeship. Some local councils also require a special treatment licence for salons.
  • United States: a state nail technician or manicurist licence, obtained after completing the required training hours and passing the state board exam. Include your licence number and state.
  • Australia: Certificate III in Nail Technology.
  • Other countries: give the official name of your certificate and, if you are applying abroad, a short description of what it covers (for example, "certified training in gel and acrylic nail enhancements, 200 hours").

Brand training (gel systems, acrylics, gel polish) and advanced nail art courses are worth listing too. Mention any competitions you have entered: a placing, even at regional level, is a great selling point.

Describe your experience in detail

For each job, give the business name, town, dates and the services you provided, with figures where possible:

Nail Technician, Nail Studio, London (2022–2025): gel and acrylic extensions, gel polish, nail art; 6–8 clients per day; full set time reduced to 1 hour 15 minutes; 45% of clients rebooked for monthly infills.

Also mention the type of setting: nail bar, beauty salon, spa, hair salon, department store counter, self-employed or mobile, events.

Your portfolio: a must-have

In this job, your work speaks louder than any description. Add a link to your professional Instagram account or online portfolio on your CV. Choose sharp, well-lit photos that show the range of your techniques. Bring a few printed photos or a tablet to the interview, and be ready for a trade test: many salons ask candidates to do a set of nails on a model.

Starting out or changing careers

Many nail technicians come to the job from another career. If that's you:

  • put your nail training at the top of your CV;
  • showcase your practice work (on models, friends and family) in your portfolio;
  • highlight transferable skills from previous jobs: customer service, sales, precision and reliability.

Should you add a photo?

It depends on the country. In the UK, US, Canada, Ireland and Australia, leave the photo off: employers generally prefer CVs without one to avoid any risk of discrimination. Let your portfolio show your style instead. In much of continental Europe, the Middle East and Asia, a professional photo is common, especially in the beauty industry.

A modern CV with a touch of colour suits the industry, as long as it stays easy to read. Send it as a PDF.

Nail technician CV FAQs

Do I need a qualification to work as a nail technician?

It depends on where you work. In the US, a state licence is compulsory. In the UK, there is no single legal requirement, but most salons and insurers expect a recognised qualification. Whatever the country, a recognised certificate makes your CV much stronger.

How long should my CV be?

One page is plenty. Your portfolio does the rest.

Is a CV the same as a résumé?

Almost. In the United States and Canada, it is called a résumé and is usually printed on Letter-size paper rather than A4. The advice in this article applies in the same way.

Should I send a cover letter?

Yes, especially for a first job or a career change: a few tailored lines explain your background and why you want to work at that particular salon.