make up work experience

How to Get Makeup Artist Work Experience

In our post on the personal characteristics you'll need to be a makeup artist, we talked about how important EXPERIENCE is. If you didn't read that post, we'll catch you up: it's super important.

Use Your Personal Network

This one is important.

Did you know that two out of every five jobs is found through a personal connection? It's true! 41% percent of jobs are found by talking to someone you know . Some people even believe that it's actually 80% ! The point is that your personal network is a very powerful tool you can use to become a makeup artist.

Here's the good news: almost everyone has a personal network that they can reach out to. Have friends from school? Tell them you're going to find their perfect look. Do you have sisters? Offer to do their chores if they'll let you work on them. Do you have a cool and supportive dad? Tell him you want to make him look like a movie star. Got a mom? Get her in the makeup chair. Does she have friends? Invite them offer for coffee and makeovers. There are a ton of people you can ask, and most of them would be happy to sit for you.

It's totally understandable that you feel a little awkward reaching out to them. That's normal. You don't want to be pushy. But here's the wonderful thing: very often, people want to help you. Not always---maybe not even frequently---but if you tell people, "It's my dream career to be a makeup artist. I'm trying to get as much practice as I can. Can I give a free makeover?" they'll say "Sure!" And if they say no, who cares? On to the next person.

And most of the time, it's totally fun. Giving your mom's friends makeovers will most likely be totally ridiculous and fun. And if you mess up, so what? Every day, you're getting better. You're learning. You're getting closer to living the dream!

By the way, networking is super-important, and we've written a couple of posts about it.

Makeup Artist Work Experience

Go to School

One of the best ways to learn the ropes is to get formal training. Education is one of the best ways to gain experience. You will be surrounded by people who share your passion, and be instructed by teachers who have "been there and done that." You'll be introduced to formal techniques and be able to experiment new ones.

There are very few schools that are solely dedicate to makeup, so if you have one of those in your area, that's fantastic. Cosmetology and esthetician schools are also a good option, even though you won't solely focus on makeup, and will instead learn about a broad range of topics.

We have a "Find a School" function on the page that will help you find training programs in your area. Check it out! The schools you find may be the bridge to getting you the career you need.

Get Yourself a Job at the Makeup Counter

Ok, yes, fine, we're obsessed with getting jobs at makeup counters. One of our readers informed us that we talk about getting jobs at the makeup counter on almost every post we publish. But there's a reason for that! It's so such a fantastic way to develop your skills. Women of all ages, skin colors, facial shapes, and skin consistencies come to you and ask you to convert their look. It is, really, some of the best experience you can get.

And what happens if you apply for a job at a makeup counter, and you get rejected? First off, that's their loss, because you're fantastic. Second, it's not the end of the world. This lady tried to get a job at a makeup counter and got denied, and she is now worth millions of dollars.

Do Your Friends' Makeup Before Special Events

Life is full of big moments: weddings, awards programs, quinceaneras, bat mitzvahs, graduations, religious ceremonies, family reunions, you name it. There are dozens of opportunities where family and friends gather and want to look their best. Anticipate these events, reach out to people before they happen, and offer your services.

How does that shake out? If you're in high school, do all your friends before the prom . If you're graduating, offer to have everyone from your neighborhood sit before the ceremony. If you're in a sorority, offer to do your sisters' makeup free of charge before formals. If you've just graduated college and all your friends are trying to find employment, offer to do their faces before they head off to the job interview. If you're in your late twenties and all your friends are getting married, offer the bride to do the bridal party's makeup . If it's a big event and people want to look special, it's an opportunity for you to gain some experience.

Connect with Local Artists and University Students

If there's a college near you, there is an arts department with budding actors, dancers, and performers. All of those students will need head shots to start their careers, and most of them---being college students---will have a limited budget to spend on photographers, makeup artists, etc.

That's where you come in! Offer to prepare them for the shoot offer your work at a greatly reduced fee (or free; people looooove free). You can do the same for students who are shooting independent movies, music videos, or art films. You can reach out the arts director at the school, post flyers around campus, or find online forums on the university's website. Students are usually also at the beginning of their careers, so you don't have to be nervous that your work isn't perfect.

Speaking of performing arts and theatre, summer stage and local theatre productions are a great way to gain experience. Check out your town or county's website and see if they have performances coming up, and find out how to get involved.

Become a Makeup Artist's Assistant

Basically, being an assistant (sometimes—but not frequently—also called an apprentice) is the same thing as an internship. You spend your time following around a professional, and learn "on the job." The good news is, you'll learn a great deal in a short period of time, but that bad news is you most likely won't get paid.

This can be tricky, especially if you need a steady income, but if you're able to offer your services for free to someone who is already a makeup artist in your area, you'll be able to get a LOT of exposure to their business. You'll learn a lot of new makeup techniques, but most importantly, you'll see how they run their business---how they negotiate prices with clients, set up their schedules, and find work.

Next to getting an education, an apprenticeship is a great option—and, if you have ambitions to work in fashion with designers and beauty magazines, becoming an assistant is one of the best ways to get your career started. Many MUAs who work in fashion started as assistants.

Get Creative!

The best thing---and one of the most challenging things---about being a makeup artist is that YOU are in control of your career. Your ability to gain experience is limited to your ability to dream up ways to gain experience. For example, you could...

Always be looking for opportunities. You may not be able to think of anything now (and if you can, that's awesome!) but if you can't, you'll probably have some great ideas occur to you over the next few days. Keep thinking about and things will pop into your brain.

This Sounds Terrifying to Me

Starting a career is tough. And putting yourself out there and contacting other people and risking rejection from other people—that's really tough.

But you know what? You can do this! If you talk to professional makeup artists, they'll tell you about all the weird and imaginative ways they got experience and broke into the business. And if they did it, so can you!

Find a way. You can do it!

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Makeup Artist Resume Sample & Template

Makeup artists need to carefully blend time-tested techniques with their own personal creativity to produce results that perfectly meet client needs, while still being uniquely their own. The best makeup artists apply a special touch to their work that's difficult, if not impossible, for others to perfectly mimic. If you can successfully develop an original flair that sets you apart from the competition, you can build a great career as a makeup artist.

While many makeup artists freelance, there are some outstanding benefits to working with an established company, including access to an existing client list, a worthy name to work under, and a fully equipped studio. The competition is fierce for top spots in this field, but the following makeup artist resume sample can give you an idea of the qualifications and experience you'll need to get your dream job.

If you feel like your makeup artist resume is looking a bit thin, consider working for a lesser-known business or doing a bit of freelance work while you pursue other jobs. This will give you the experience you need to really create a name for yourself in the world of makeup and fashion.

Common Mistakes for Makeup Artist Resumes

Successful makeup artist careers are built on diversity and flexibility. One of the biggest mistakes you can make with your resume is focusing too closely on a single type of makeup application. As you'll see in the makeup artist resume template below, it looks much better when you can highlight a broad range of accomplishments. Don't limit yourself to listing your experience with brides if you've also worked on theatrical productions and modeling shoots. Each venue requires a different set of skills, and those skills show that you're capable of working with many different types of faces and styles.

While your makeup artist resume is an important tool for landing a job, this is one career that requires you to include other items as well. A well-rounded portfolio is invaluable for a makeup artist. If you're not collecting photos of your work, you're making a big mistake. Ideally, you'll collect samples of your makeup artistry to showcase your developing skills. If you don't already have some photos, consider hiring a photographer and a model or two to create a portfolio now. There are many skills in this field that simply don't translate well to words.

Makeup Artist Resume Sample

Betty Beatty 864 Graceful Lane Vancouver, BC 123-456-789 | [email protected]

Work Experience

2012 - Present Vancouver, BC

Makeup Artist | Downtown Theatre Company

2010 - 2012 Vancouver, BC

Freelance Makeup Artist | Self-Employed

2008 - 2010 Vancouver, BC

Assistant Makeup Artist | Hair and Makeup Inc.

2006 - 2008 Vancouver, BC

Blanche Macdonald Centre Associate Diploma in Makeup

Additional Skills & Interest

3Makeup Artists Positions to Consider

Are you ready to apply for a makeup artist job? Check out the following links to start searching for exciting job positions in your area.

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6 ways to get experience as a makeup artist.

6 Ways to Get Experience As a Makeup Artist

So you want to be a professional makeup artist, huh? Beyond paying for a formal education, building a kit that will ensure you're ready for any client or occasion can be a bit of an investment. This is especially true if you have a preference for prestige brands, such as RCMA makeup .

The good news? When it comes to getting experience, you won't need to pay a single red cent. To help you find new ways to improve your craft, here are six ways to get experience as a makeup artist.

1. Make Photographer Friends The trajectory towards becoming a professional photographer and becoming a professional makeup artist aren't all that different. You need some training and you need some experience, but above all, you need to build a portfolio. This is where it can be a good idea to befriend a photographer who's in the same stage of their career as you are. Offer your services for free in exchange for the image files to use for your own portfolio. This is commonly known as TFP which means trade for press, trade for print, trade for photos, or time for (the aforementioned).

2. Recruit Your Friends Your friends will always be down for a free makeover. Who wouldn’t be! Make your friends aware that you're always up for giving them a free service before they go out or before they have a big event. And if they get asked who did their makeup, they’ll sing your praises and your reputation will start to spread.

3. Get Online Whether it's through your own YouTube channel, an Instagram account or a blog, joining an online community where you can practice your skills and interact with other makeup lovers is a fantastic way to hone your craft. You'll also learn as you go, improve your technique and build your reputation as an authority in the industry.

4. Practice On Yourself You don't need a place to go for an excuse to do your makeup. When you have some down time, ditch the Netflix and the couch and sit down in front of a mirror. Practicing on yourself is a simple but effective way to get experience and improve your skills.

5. Always Be Ready With a Business Card Even if you're brand new in your career, have a business card. Whenever you meet new people, let them know that you are a makeup artist who is new to the industry and looking to build your portfolio. There are many people, such as brides on a budget, who are desperate for an inexpensive or free makeup artist. Any good businessperson knows that every interaction is a potential for a new professional connection to be made.

6. Complete an Internship or Apprenticeship No one likes working for free, but sometimes in order to advance your career or gain the experience needed to take that next step as a makeup artist, it’s necessary. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find an internship that pays. Bonus! A great many professional makeup artists who have amazing careers will tell you that assisting a senior artist is where they learned the most about the business, and attribute it as one of the most important steps in building their career.

As a future makeup artist, you should always be on the lookout for opportunities to hone your skill, build your resume and make new industry connections. In the meanwhile, make sure to come to us as you're building your makeup arsenal. Join Frends Beauty today to save 10% on your first purchase.

©2019 Frends Beauty, All Rights Reserved

Makeup Artist Job Description

Makeup artists are beauty practitioners who offer general makeup services or work in prosthetic design. Their primary duties include enhancing facial aesthetics through makeup, creating custom looks for clients, and working with actors on movie sets.

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Makeup Artist Job Description Template

We are looking for artistic candidates with excellent communication skills for the position of makeup artist. Makeup artists are responsible for consulting with clients and creating custom looks based on their specifications, determining which materials and colors are the most suitable, and having knowledge of different color palettes and design styles, among other duties.

Makeup Artists will need to create unique designs for their clients, requiring them to stay updated on the latest trends in fashion and beauty.

Makeup Artist Responsibilities:

Makeup Artist Requirements:

Related Articles:

Makeup artist interview questions, special effects makeup artist job description, special effects makeup artist interview questions, esthetician job description, esthetician interview questions, makeup artist cover letter.

Accessibility links

Can I be a TV make-up artist?

This guide covers getting in and noticed in the industry, essential kit you need and basic make-up tutorials.

make up work experience

Is it for me?

What are the essentials that a TV make-up artist needs to know? And how do aspiring artists break into the industry?

Jenny Martin is a make-up artist on BBC One's continuing medical drama Doctors and has more than 10 years' experience.

She explains what is expected of a TV make-up artist – from preparing your kit to assisting on set.

What kit's essential?

Foundations, primers, concealers, blushers, brushes, lipsticks, mascaras, hair grips... the list goes on. Being a make-up artist means your make-up kit is HUGE. Surely you can't carry all that around all the time?

Hair and make-up teams on productions can either be separate or together, depending on the production's scale and budget. So, who does what?

Juniors and trainees

They are responsible for setting up and maintaining the hair and make-up stations. They prepare all the equipment and observe senior staff to learn.

make-up artist holding up a mirror

Make-up artist

The make-up artist creates looks and hairstyles to meet the requirements of the make-up designer.

make-up artist using an air-brush

Make-up supervisor

They are the make-up designer's right-hand person. They help manage the team, book staff and are often responsible for the principal actors on the production.

make-up artist uses a comb to arrange hair

Make-up designer

Essentially the head of department and works with the director on the look and feel of the production. They manage budgets and decide on the supplies required.

make-up artist applies eye-liner with a brush

What's a typical day?

Jenny takes us through an average day for her on Doctors

Cast of Doctors

Make-up plan

Jenny preps by going through all the actors' looks for the day

Document showing a make-up plan

Jenny runs through the day schedule

Here she is running through the production schedule for the day to see when and where she'll be needed

Jenny looking at the day schedule

Jenny on standby on-set

Jenny watches on set in case any of the actors need a touch-up between takes

Jenny on standby on-set whilst looking at the schedule

Jenny doing a few touch-ups between takes

Jenny doing touch-ups between takes

How do I make a cut and bruise?

Jenny demonstrates how to easily create realistic cuts and bruises with some standard make-up essentials

Jenny's top tips for anyone starting out as a TV make-up artist

Where next?

make up work experience

Interview Tips

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Get on-the-job training to use as previous experience

How to make up work experience if you’re a recent graduate with a college degree

How to make up work experience if you’re changing careers, tips for making up work experience that’s relevant to the job you want, what to do if your work experience is in a different industry like professional makeup artist , the benefits of making up your work experience.

Make up work experience by taking on freelance projects or starting your own business

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Makeup Artist Resume Objective Examples

Want to use this resume?

Customize this Resume

There are plenty of opportunities to land a Makeup Artist job position, but it won’t just be handed to you. Crafting a Makeup Artist Resume Objective that catches the attention of hiring managers is paramount to getting the job, and LiveCareer is here to help you stand out from the competition.

City, State, Zip Code

Home: 000-000-0000 | Cell: 000-000-0000

[email protected]

Highly dedicated and skilled Makeup Artist with an exceptional record of customer service and client satisfaction. Adept at perceiving individual clients’ unique skin tone and corresponding makeup needs and recommending products accordingly. Abel to work well independently or as part of a cosmetology professional team.

Skills to Put in a Makeup Artist Resume Objective

Putting your resume at the top of the stack should be your goal while looking for a job. One way to do that is with a well-written objective statement that includes some of your hard and soft skills. This means a hiring manager who only spends a few seconds on each submission will get a good idea of your skillset and professional capabilities and is more likely to continue reading your submission.

In your makeup artist resume, draw attention to your customer service skills and artistic ability. You also want to draw inspiration from the job description by looking for required and preferred skills. Any of these skills that apply to you are good options for inclusion in your objective statement.

Look at these hard and soft skills to get an idea of what to put in your makeup artist resume objective statement:

View All Resume Objectives Resumes

Makeup Artist Resume Objectives

When you look for jobs as a makeup artist, it is critical that your resume objective shines a light on your specific skills and talents. This is often what employers see first when they pick up your resume. For this reason, you need to make sure that your objective specifically states what kind of position you are looking for.

What the Makeup Artist Resume Objectives Should Tell Employers

As a makeup artist, you can work in a variety of different settings. Although the setting may be different, your responsibilities will likely include consulting with clients, applying makeup, suggesting products to use, and making recommendations for makeup application. Some of the skills that you may want to emphasize in your resume, especially in your objective, are your ability to specifically meet a client’s needs while also helping them look and feel their best.

Sample Makeup Artist Resume Objectives

When you draft your resume, it is always a good idea to name the exact company that you would like to work for. This way, you illustrate to potential employers that you show a specific interest in their business and what they do.

1. Acquire a position working in ABC salon that could benefit from a makeup artist who knows how to assess client needs and provide them with beneficial cosmetic solutions.

2. Looking for a position with ABC salon in order to use extensive knowledge working with a variety of different cosmetic products and solutions in order to meet client needs.

3. Skilled makeup artist looking for an opportunity with ABC salon to help clients with their makeup and other cosmetic needs before weddings, dances, and other special events.

4. Obtain a position working for ABC salon as a makeup artist that provides an opportunity to give beauty-related services to a varied client base.

5. Searching for a role with ABC salon that requires extensive experience and knowledge of the makeup and beauty industry in addition to excellent customer service skills.

Head over to LiveCareer’s Resume Builder for more help with writing a resume objective.

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COMMENTS

How to Get Makeup Artist Work Experience
How to Get Makeup Artist Work Experience · Use Your Personal Network · Go to School · Get Yourself a Job at the Makeup Counter · Do Your Friends' Makeup Before
Makeup Artist Resume Sample & Template
If you feel like your makeup artist resume is looking a bit thin, consider working for a lesser-known business or doing a bit of freelance work while you pursue
6 Ways to Get Experience As a Makeup Artist
6 Ways to Get Experience As a Makeup Artist · 1. Make Photographer Friends · 2. Recruit Your Friends · 3. Get Online · 4. Practice On Yourself · 5. Always Be Ready
What Does a Makeup Artist Do? (And How To Become One)
Some makeup artists choose to train under licensed or experienced artists to gain experience. Others start in the industry by working at
Makeup Internship Jobs, Employment
342 Makeup Internship jobs available on Indeed.com. Apply to Makeup Artist, Intern, Sales Intern and more!
Makeup Artist Job Description
Makeup Artist Responsibilities: · Enhancing facial aesthetics through makeup. · Consulting with clients and creating custom looks based on their specifications.
Makeup Artist Job Description Sample Template
Generally, makeup artists must complete a diploma from a vocational school in cosmetology or makeup with at least 3 years of experience within their chosen
Can I be a TV make-up artist?
Jenny Martin is a make-up artist on BBC One's continuing medical drama Doctors and has more than 10 years' experience. She explains what is expected of a TV
Can You Make Up Work Experience? Simple And Creative
You can make up work experience by getting on-the-job training from a potential employer. Just be honest about your skills and experience level
Makeup Artist Resume Objective Examples
Summary: Confident and accomplished Makeup Artist with 22 years of experience in film, television runway and editorial areas. Possessing professional demeanor