Salon Receptionist Resume Example & Template

Salon Receptionists greet clients as they enter the business. They also answer all phone and email inquiries, schedule appointments, and inform stylists of cancellations or schedule changes. They are a vital part of keeping the salon up and running!

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for Salon Receptionists are growing at 4%, and currently pay around $30,000 per year. 

Without further ado, let’s dive-in!

In this article, we’ll discuss:

1. Which format is right for your resume
2. How to write a resume summary 
3. Describing your work experience
4. Listing your skills
5. Including your education 
6. Naming your certifications
7. Choosing the right template

Salon Receptionist Sample Resume 

Salon Receptionist, Rapunzel’s Hair Salon

• Answered the phone, took messages, and directed incoming calls to the correct individual
• Received and distributed all internal mail to stylists
• Ensured all clients were checked in and out in the Electronic Verification System
• Maintained an accurate online client database, including organizing paperwork, data entry, scanning, printing, and faxing documents
• Handled incoming and outgoing correspondence
• Scheduled appointments according to client and stylist availability 
• Balanced daily deposits and completed credit card processing
• Greeted clients who were coming and going, and directed them appropriately
• Presented all salon policies and obtained signatures on needed forms 
• Scheduled follow-up appointments for clients who needed additional procedures and treatments 
• Ordered office supplies and stocked the supplies upon arrival
• Responsible for petty cash supply
• Maintained reading materials for clients’ entertainment as they waited, including ordering subscriptions from magazines related to beauty, health, and fashion  
• Maintained cleanliness of the lobby and front office area
• Monitored the clients as they waited in the lobby for their appointments
• Exhibited and maintained a high degree of professionalism and decorum in all situations in addition to confidentiality, flexibility and accountability

Salon Receptionist, La Paloma Beauty Services

• Answered the telephone and took messages or forwarded calls
• Scheduled and confirmed appointments and maintained calendars
• Greeted clients and other visitors
• Checked in clients and directed or escorted them to their destinations
• Informed stylists of clients’ arrivals or cancellations
• Entered client information into the salon's database
• Copied, filed, and maintained paper and electronic documents
• Ensured the reception area was stocked with magazines, water, and refreshments
• Used office automation equipment such as computers, modems, printers, copiers, and fax machines and software
• Assisted stylists with the preparation of appointments as needed, including light cleaning
• Collected payments and posted them to the clients’ accounts in an accurate and timely manner

1. Choose the Right Format for a Salon Receptionist Resume

The first step to drafting your resume is deciding which resume format to use. This depends on your career experience and skillset. 

You have 3 main options for your resume:

1. Reverse-Chronological -- this is the most commonly used resume format. With this structure, place your most recent jobs first, followed by the next most recent job, and ending with your oldest position. 

Tip: only include jobs relevant to the position to which you’re applying, so leave out any former jobs that don’t fit. Do include related previous work experiences such as Receptionist, Hostess, Cashier, or Office Assistant. 

2. Functional -- this format is best for people who have been out of the workforce for a while, perhaps because they had to care for children or an elderly parent. This format will have headers like “Customer Service” and “Administrative Support” with their respective skills listed in bullet points below. At the very end of the resume, include a brief timeline of your work experience.  

Tip: Read our advice on How to Explain Employment Gaps on a Resume. 

3. Hybrid / Combination -- this format is a mix of both Functional and Reverse-Chronological. It provides more detailed work experience descriptions that would typically be seen in the latter, while still offering a bulleted list of skills.  

Tip: When in doubt, choose the Reverse-Chronological resume format. For more details, check out our guide on How to Write Your Resume in Reverse-Chronological Order. 

For a Salon Receptionist, hiring managers want to glance at your resume and get a sense of the following:

• Your administrative abilities, such as scheduling appointments and making copies  
• Customer Service skills, like answering emails and phone calls and greeting customers
• A passion for or experience with beauty related services. While this isn’t completely necessary, it will help you stand out from other applicants. In other words, you need to explain why you want to work at a salon, as opposed to a different kind of office or business. 

The best format for a Salon Receptionist is either the Reverse-Chronological resume format or the Functional Resume format. The former shows the trajectory of your career -- how you’ve grown professionally and expanded your work experience and knowledge base. The latter, the Functional Resume format, shows employers your skills and abilities. 

Check out our advice on How to Show Your Job Promotions on a Resume for more details. 

 2. Write a Strong Salon Receptionist Resume Summary

Did you know that hiring managers only look at resumes for six seconds on average?

One of the best ways to succeed in that short glance is to include a resume summary. 

But first --- what is a resume summary?

A resume summary is one or two sentences at the top of your paper that summarizes your entire resume. It’s the punch line that gets the resume reviewer wanting to know more.

For a Salon Receptionist career, include the following points in your summary

• The amount of time you’ve worked performing administrative or customer service duties
• An adjective or two conveying your personality, such as “enthusiastic,” “friendly” “passionate,” “organized” or “detail-oriented” 

Here is an example of a bad resume summary: 

Experienced receptionist with a passion for beauty. Strong customer skills and administrative abilities. 

While this isn’t necessarily a bad resume summary, it is a little weak. First off, it’s vague. All receptionists should have customer service skills and administrative abilities. There is also nothing that sets you apart from the crowd. 

Here is an example of a good resume summary: 

Friendly and organized receptionist with three years of experience performing customer service and administrative duties for salons. Stylist-in-training seeking a position at a salon to learn the business from the ground up. 

This is a good resume summary because it’s more specific. The hiring manager now knows that you are “friendly” and “organized.” You also demonstrated that you have three years of experience, which is good for them to know. To top it off, you’re showing why you want the job -- because you plan on working in beauty. 

This last sentence where you say that you’re “seeking a position” is called a Resume Objective. 

A Resume Objective is optional, but it can help employers understand what you want from them and what you can offer. Put another way, a resume objective clarifies your intentions to employers. Plus, it can help to show why you are a good fit for the job.

For more information, checkout our guide on How to Write a Killer Resume Summary. Or, browse our Resume Summary Examples. 

3. Describe Your Work Experience as a Salon Receptionist

The next step to drafting your resume is to list your work experience. This includes the name of your position (See: The Right Way to List Job Titles on a Resume), the name of the location at which you worked, and the length of time in which you worked. 

Furthermore, write your resume experience in a way that anyone in your industry will understand. Don't use company-specific language.

For example, let’s say you worked at a place that called appointments “time slots.” Not everyone is going to know what this means, so it’s best to stick with the common phrase “scheduled appointments” instead of “scheduled time slots.” Otherwise a hiring manager may not know what you’re talking about, and if the manager is confused, they’re more likely to throw out your resume and move onto the next.   

You should also quantify your resume whenever possible. This means adding a number -- such as a dollar amount or percentage -- to your accomplishments. Quantifying your resume gives the hiring manager a more concrete idea of your workplace performance. For example, say that you “scheduled 12 appointments a day,” “improved customer retention by 20% by sending out weekly emails with salon updates” or “saved the business $30,000 by switching to a new calendar software.”   

Tip: One way to quantify your resume is by listing your accomplishments and awards. For example, you could say that you were awarded “Employee of the Month” at your last job for your outstanding customer service skills. 

For more information on how to format your work experience, check out our guide on How to Describe Work Experience. 

Don’t have any work experience? We have a guide for Writing a Resume with No Work Experience!

4. List Your Skills

Skills show the hiring manager what you can do for the company -- without taking up too much space in the “work experience” part of your resume.

There are two types of skills -- soft and hard. “Soft” skills are those that are not quantifiable and are more indicative of your personality. Examples include organization, problem-solving, and communication. In contrast, “hard” skills are those that are learned through formal education. Examples include computer technology, programming or foreign languages, and certifications.  

Salon Receptionists should have a variety of soft and hard skills. Not only do you need to be great at communication, customer service, and organization, but you should also know how to use computer software like Excel and Word, and how to bill your customers.  

Relevant Hard Skills

• Billing
• Bookkeeping 
• Calendar Management
• Data Entry 
• Google Suite
• Math Skills
• Microsoft Office
• POS Software
• Scheduling 
• Writing

Relevant Soft Skills

• Attentive
• Critical Thinking
• Customer Service
• Dependable
• Detailed
• Organization
• Problem-Solving
• Time Management

If you want a more complete list of skills, read our guide on 100+ Key Skills for a Resume in 2021 with Examples for any Job.

5. Include an Education Section 

Salon Receptionists generally require a high school diploma or GED. Most people learn the necessary skills on the job, such as instructions on office procedures, proper phone etiquette, and the use of billing and appointment scheduling software. 

For those unfamiliar with computer programs, consider taking a course on typing or spreadsheet applications. 

To summarize, requirements to be a salon receptionist generally involve the following:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Computer skills and knowledge
• Friendly and customer-oriented demeanor
• Complete a background check

Still uncertain on what to include in this section? Review our guide on How to List Education on Your Resume in 2021. 

6. Mention Certifications Relevant to the Job

Certifications show employers that you’re expanding on your skills and diversifying your experiences. Not only are you more knowledgeable, but you’re also more employable. 

Certification programs include:

• Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate
• Microsoft Office Specialist: PowerPoint Associate 2019
• Microsoft Office Specialist: Microsoft Word 2016
• Microsoft Office Specialist: Outlook Associate (Outlook and Outlook 2019)
• Certified Administrative Assistant (CAA) 
• Office Procedures

If you’re training to be a Cosmetologist or Hair Stylist, include those certifications!

For more information on certifications, check out our guide on How to Include Certifications on Your Resume the Right Way.

7. Pick the Right Template

Now it’s time for the fun part -- picking the aesthetics of your resume! 

Here at EasyResume, we offer several different templates. 

• Academic: these resumes are professionally structured with minimal aesthetics in order to provide a clear and concise glimpse of your experiences. This is best for current students or those looking to pursue a career in an academic field as a researcher or teacher. 
• Creative: these resumes are bold and colorful with eye-catching fonts to help you stand out from the crowd. This is best for those in creative fields like marketing and art. 
• Elegant: these resumes are contemporary and stylish in a way that highlights you and your experiences. This is best for those in fields that prefer austerity, such as the healthcare and finance industries. 
• Modern: these resumes have sleek designs that are fresh and bold with tasteful fonts and clean lines. This is best for individuals applying to startups or to companies with a young audience or product.
• Professional: these resumes have a clean, crisp look that incorporates only one or two accent colors. The focus is solely on the text, pulling the recruiter into your experiences and accomplishments. This is best for individuals applying to straight-laced companies that mandate a suit-and-tie dress code.  

Your resume template should reflect the job to which you’re applying. For a Salon Receptionist career, try a Modern or Professional format to reflect your administrative skills. Or, step a bit out of the box and go for an Elegant or Creative format to reflect the aesthetics of your job!

If you want to create your own template, read how with our Step-by-Step Guide on How to Create a Resume Template in Microsoft Word. 

8. Takeaways

We’ve done it! Almost. 

Now it’s time to get down to business -- actually creating the resume. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

• Research the job description to locate keywords
• Use a Reverse-Chronological or Functional resume layout
• Write your resume summary, including the amount of time you’ve worked performing administrative or customer service duties and an adjective or two conveying your personality
• Include your education and relevant certifications
• Write your experience section in a way that any outsider could understand. Talk more about the how and why of your responsibilities. Quantify your results.
• Pick a resume template that fits the position to which you’re applying, like Professional, Elegant, Modern or Creative.

Start from our resume example to save time.

You’ll soon be well on your way to helping clients feel their best!