Crafting a CV as a massage therapist can often be daunting when attempting to stand out against numerous qualified candidates. Our guide provides expert tips to enhance your CV, ensuring you effectively highlight your unique skills and experiences to potential employers.
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
How complex should the format of your massage therapist CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your massage therapist CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
PRO TIP
Incorporate a touch of colour in headers or section breaks, but keep it professional and ensure it doesn’t detract from readability, especially in more conservative industries.
The top sections on a massage therapist CV
- Professional Summary showcases your passion for massage therapy and key skills.
- Qualifications & Certifications indicate your expertise and legal ability to practice.
- Relevant Experience highlights your hands-on experience with clients.
- Technical Skills and Modalities outline specific techniques you're trained in.
- Client Testimonials provide real-world endorsements of your work.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your certification and education background in massage therapy, ensuring to mention any specialisations such as sports massage or reflexology, as employers seek therapists with the right credentials.
- Detail your hands-on experience with various massage techniques and client scenarios to illustrate your versatility and skill in providing tailored treatments.
- Emphasise your strong interpersonal and communication skills, showing that you are capable of creating a comfortable environment and effectively discussing treatment plans with clients.
- Include any experience or knowledge you have in complementary therapies or wellness methodologies, as a holistic approach can be very attractive to employers within the wellness industry.
- Demonstrate your commitment to professional development by listing any additional courses or workshops you have attended, showcasing your dedication to staying updated with the latest practices in massage therapy.
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Making a good first impression with your massage therapist CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for massage therapist:
- Senior Massage Therapist | Expert in Sports & Rehabilitative Techniques | NVQ Level 4 | 10+ Years Experience
- Remedial Massage Specialist | Deep Tissue & Holistic Therapy | ITEC Certified | 8 Years Professional Practice
- Lead Therapeutic Masseuse | Swedish & Aromatherapy Focus | BTEC Level 5 Professional Diploma | 15+ Years Expertise
- Advanced Reflexologist | Targeted Pain Relief & Stress Management | Level 3 Diploma | 6 Years in Service
- Licensed Massage Practitioner | Pediatric & Prenatal Massage | CPD Accredited | Committed 5-Year Track Record
- Clinical Massage Therapist | Neuromuscular & Trigger Point Therapy | HND Health & Beauty | 12 Years Dedicated Experience
Opting between a massage therapist CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your massage therapist CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a massage therapist job:
- A seasoned massage therapist with over 8 years of experience in a luxury spa setting, adept in a range of techniques including deep tissue, Swedish, and hot stone massage. Pride in having boosted client retention by 30% through exceptional skill and personalised care plans.
- Dedicated and client-focused registered nurse transitioning to massage therapy after 5 years in the healthcare sector. Proven track record of patient care excellence and deep understanding of anatomy, coupled with a recently acquired diploma in holistic massage therapy.
- Formerly a personal trainer with 7 years' expertise in fitness and wellness, now pursuing a career in massage therapy. Holds a comprehensive knowledge of muscle groups, injury prevention, and rehabilitation, complemented by an ITEC certification in sports massage.
- Highly empathetic and intuitive professional with 10 years of hands-on experience in therapeutic massage, specialising in techniques for chronic pain relief. Recognised for increasing repeat business by 25% through personalised therapy programs and innovative treatment techniques.
- As a recent graduate from the London School of Massage, my objective is to leverage my comprehensive knowledge of therapeutic massage and unwavering commitment to fostering wellbeing through targeted treatment strategies.
- My goal is to embark on a dynamic and fulfilling career in massage therapy, utilizing my passion for holistic health and recently obtained certification in aromatherapy and reflexology to provide exceptional client-centred treatment.
How to meet job requirements with your massage therapist CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Provided therapeutic massage services to over 200 clients, successfully tailoring techniques to address individual needs and health objectives.
- Maintained detailed client records, logging session notes including treatment provided, client’s response, and recommended follow-up treatments.
- Designed and implemented customised client wellness plans, incorporating a range of modalities such as deep tissue, Swedish, and hot stone massage.
- Collaborated with healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists and chiropractors, to develop integrated treatment plans for mutual clients.
- Completed a minimum of 20 continuing professional development hours per year, focusing on emerging massage therapies to enhance services offered.
- Managed and sanitised massage equipment and therapy spaces, ensuring a clean and safe environment for clients in line with regulatory guidelines.
- Assisted in the marketing and promotion of massage services, contributing to a 30% increase in client base over a 12-month period.
- Demonstrated expertise in specialised techniques such as trigger point therapy and myofascial release, receiving commendation from clients for effective pain relief.
- Actively requested client feedback to monitor satisfaction levels and implemented process improvements, resulting in a 95% client retention rate.
- Provided highly-customized therapeutic massage treatments to over 1,200 clients, increasing repeat client base by 35% within the first year.
- Developed and implemented a successful referral program that enhanced client acquisition rates by 40% by leveraging satisfied customer testimonials.
- Collaborated with healthcare professionals to integrate massage therapy into patient care plans, reducing recovery time for post-injury clients by an average of 20%.
- Streamlined massage therapy session protocols, increasing efficiency without compromising client satisfaction, noted by a 20% uptick in positive reviews.
- Facilitated massage therapy workshops for wellness events that attracted over 500 participants, enhancing the company's community presence.
- Pioneered a wellness blog focused on the benefits of massage, gaining over 2,500 subscribers and driving a 15% increase in online bookings.
- Implemented a client feedback system that improved treatment personalization, resulting in a 50% client retention rate.
- Spearheaded the adoption of therapeutic essential oils, contributing to a 25% increase in average service ticket size.
- Managed a team of 10 massage therapists, overseeing scheduling and continuous education that improved team service delivery by 30%.
- Engaged in over 3,000 therapeutic massage sessions, with a 90% satisfaction rate as reported through client surveys.
- Played a key role in the development of the company's premier sports massage program that increased athlete client retention by 40%.
- Crafted and led a community outreach program that partnered with local businesses and increased monthly client intake by 30%.
- Achieved a consistent 95% booking rate by providing top-tier massage services and establishing a strong rapport with clients.
- Contributed to a team effort that received a regional
What to add in your massage therapist CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
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Talk about any positive changes you helped bring about in your previous jobs, like improving a process or helping increase efficiency.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your massage therapist CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your massage therapist CV:
Deep tissue massage
Swedish massage
Sports massage
Myofascial release
Trigger point therapy
Prenatal massage
Hot stone therapy
Reflexology
Lymphatic drainage
Aromatherapy
Communication
Empathy
Professionalism
Time management
Active listening
Problem-solving
Adaptability
Customer service
Self-motivation
Stress management
PRO TIP
Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your massage therapist CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your massage therapist CV:
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
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Key takeaways
What matters most in your massage therapist CV-writing process is for you to create a personalised application. One that matches the role and also showcases your unique qualities and talents.
- Use the format to supplement the actual content, to stand out, and to ensure your CV experience is easy to comprehend and follows a logic;
- Invest time in building a succinct CV top one third. One that includes a header (with your contact details and headline), a summary or an objective statement (select the one that best fits your experience), and - potentially - a dedicated skills section or achievements (to fit both hard skills and soft skills requirements);
- Prioritise your most relevant (and senior) experience closer to the top of your CV. Always ensure you're following the "power verb, skill, and achievement" format for your bullets;
- Integrate both your technical and communication background across different sections of your CV to meet the job requirements;
- List your relevant education and certificates to fill in gaps in your CV history and prove to recrutiers you have relevant technical know-how.
