Groomer Resume examples & templates

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Adam

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Copyable resume examples

Copyable Groomer Resume examples

Ever wondered what it takes to transform a matted, anxious pup into a confident, clean companion? Professional pet grooming blends technical skill with genuine compassion in ways

few other careers can match. As the pet industry continues to boom (reaching $123.6 billion in 2021!), skilled groomers are increasingly in demand—not just for basic haircuts, but for specialized services like medicated baths, breed-specific styling, and anxiety-reducing techniques for nervous animals.

The field has evolved dramatically from its "wash and trim" roots. Today's groomers often specialize in particular breeds, creative styling, or work with challenging cases like senior pets or those with behavioral issues. Many successful groomers are embracing mobile services too, bringing fully-equipped grooming stations directly to clients' homes—a trend that picked up serious momentum during the pandemic and shows no signs of slowing down. Whether you're drawn to the artistic elements of creative grooming, the medical aspects of skin care, or simply love connecting with animals, grooming offers diverse paths for growth and specialization as pet care continues to become more sophisticated.

Junior Groomer Resume Example

Olivia Bennett

Fresno, CA 93710 | (559) 555-8721 | olivia.bennett@email.com | linkedin.com/in/oliviabennett

Recent graduate of professional pet grooming program with 18 months of hands-on experience. Skilled in handling various breeds with patience and care, maintaining a spotless grooming station, and ensuring pets leave looking their best. Known for my gentle approach with anxious animals and ability to follow detailed grooming instructions. Looking to grow my skills at a reputable grooming salon while providing excellent care to pets and peace of mind to their owners.

Experience

Junior Pet Groomer – Paws & Claws Pet Salon, Fresno, CA

November 2022 – Present

  • Groom 6-8 dogs daily under supervision, handling basic to intermediate cuts on small to medium dogs
  • Perform bathing, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and basic haircuts for various breeds
  • Built a regular clientele of 24+ repeat customers who specifically request my services
  • Maintain detailed records of each pet’s preferences, behavior patterns, and grooming history
  • Clean and disinfect work area, tools, and equipment between each appointment

Grooming Assistant – Happy Tails Grooming, Clovis, CA

March 2022 – October 2022

  • Assisted lead groomers with bathing, drying, and prep work for 10-15 animals daily
  • Learned proper handling techniques for nervous and elderly pets
  • Practiced basic trims under supervision, focusing on sanitary cuts and face trims
  • Managed appointment scheduling and client check-in/check-out process

Pet Care Volunteer – Fresno Animal Shelter

August 2021 – February 2022

  • Bathed and brushed shelter animals to improve their appearance and adoption chances
  • Assisted with basic grooming needs for 8-12 animals per shift
  • Helped socialize animals by providing gentle care and attention during grooming

Education

Professional Pet Grooming Certificate

California School of Animal Arts, Fresno, CA

Completed: January 2022

  • 500-hour program covering breed standards, grooming techniques, and animal handling
  • Specialized training in terrier and poodle cuts

Pet First Aid & CPR Certification

Pet Tech, Online Course

Completed: March 2022

Skills

  • Breed-specific cuts (basic to intermediate)
  • De-matting and de-shedding techniques
  • Nail trimming and grinding
  • Ear cleaning and plucking
  • Handling anxious or elderly pets
  • Clipper and scissor techniques
  • Bathing and drying procedures
  • Skin and coat assessment
  • Basic animal first aid
  • Customer service and communication
  • Grooming salon software (123Pet)

Mid-level Groomer Resume Example

Sarah Thornton

(480) 555-9217 | s.thornton.groomer@gmail.com | Phoenix, AZ | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahthorntongroomer

Professional Pet Groomer with 5+ years of experience handling diverse breeds and temperaments. Known for creating calm grooming experiences while maintaining high-quality styling standards. Certified in pet first aid and specialized grooming techniques for elderly and anxious animals. Built loyal client base that increased shop revenue by 27% over two years.

Experience

Lead Groomer | Paws & Claws Pet Salon | Phoenix, AZ | June 2021 – Present

  • Manage a team of 3 groomers and 2 bathers, coordinating schedules and maintaining 92% on-time appointment completion rate
  • Handle 8-12 grooms daily including specialty cuts for show dogs and breed-specific styling
  • Increased salon’s regular client base from 87 to 134 monthly clients through quality service and personalized pet care
  • Implemented new sanitation protocols that reduced skin irritation incidents by 76%
  • Train new groomers in safe handling techniques and shop-specific grooming standards

Pet Groomer | Happy Tails Grooming | Tempe, AZ | August 2019 – May 2021

  • Performed full-service grooming on 6-8 dogs daily, including bathing, drying, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and styling
  • Specialized in handling difficult-to-groom pets, becoming the go-to groomer for anxious and senior dogs
  • Created detailed pet profiles tracking health concerns, behavior patterns, and grooming preferences
  • Maintained 4.9/5 star rating from client reviews (highest in the salon)

Grooming Assistant/Bather | PetSmart | Scottsdale, AZ | March 2018 – July 2019

  • Bathed and prepped 15-20 pets daily for senior groomers
  • Performed nail trims, ear cleaning, and brush-outs independently
  • Completed PetSmart Grooming Academy training while working as a bather
  • Maintained clean, sanitized work environment throughout each shift

Education & Certifications

Certified Professional Pet Groomer | National Dog Groomers Association | 2020 Pet First Aid & CPR Certification | Pet Tech | Renewed 2022

Asian Fusion Grooming Techniques Certificate | Creative Grooming Institute | 2021

Associate Degree, Animal Science | Mesa Community College | 2018

Skills

  • Breed-specific styling & hand-scissoring
  • De-matting & detangling techniques
  • Cat grooming (all coat types)
  • Show dog preparation
  • Specialized senior pet handling
  • Grooming equipment maintenance
  • Client communication & education
  • Team leadership & scheduling
  • Grooming software (123Pet, Pawfinity)
  • Skin condition identification

Professional Development

  • Attended SuperZoo Grooming Competition & Workshops, Las Vegas, 2022
  • Member, National Dog Groomers Association of America since 2020
  • Volunteer groomer, Arizona Humane Society (monthly since 2019)

Senior / Experienced Groomer Resume Example

SAMANTHA BENNETT

Pittsburgh, PA | (412) 555-9087 | samantha.bennett@email.com | linkedin.com/in/samantha-bennett

Professional Pet Groomer with 9+ years of experience specializing in breed-specific cuts, behavioral management, and salon operations. Known for building a loyal client base through exceptional pet care and owner communication. Skilled in handling anxious animals and adapting grooming techniques to accommodate senior pets and those with special needs. Certified in pet first aid and advanced grooming techniques.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Lead Groomer & Shop Manager | Pawsitively Perfect Pet Salon | Pittsburgh, PA | Jan 2020 – Present

  • Manage team of 4 groomers and 2 bathers while maintaining personal client load of 8-10 dogs daily
  • Increased salon revenue by 32% in 2 years through service expansion and client retention strategies
  • Created and implemented standardized grooming protocols that reduced incident reports by 76%
  • Oversee inventory management, reducing product waste by 18% while ensuring all supplies remain stocked
  • Train new hires in safety protocols, breed-specific techniques, and client communication standards
  • Introduced specialized services for senior pets and animals with anxiety, growing this segment to 23% of business

Senior Groomer | Furry Friends Grooming Studio | Pittsburgh, PA | Mar 2017 – Dec 2019

  • Handled 7-9 full-service grooms daily including breed-specific cuts, de-shedding treatments, and specialty baths
  • Built personal client base of 200+ recurring customers with 87% retention rate
  • Specialized in handling difficult dogs, becoming the go-to groomer for pets with behavioral challenges
  • Maintained detailed client records documenting coat conditions, behavioral notes, and owner preferences
  • Assisted in developing pricing structure for new services, contributing to 27% revenue growth

Pet Groomer | PetSmart | Erie, PA | Aug 2014 – Feb 2017

  • Performed full-service grooming on 6-8 dogs daily including bathing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and styling
  • Consistently exceeded monthly sales goals by an average of 15% through add-on services
  • Educated pet parents on home maintenance and appropriate grooming schedules
  • Received “Groomer of the Quarter” recognition twice for outstanding customer satisfaction scores
  • Started as Bather/Assistant and promoted to full Groomer after completing certification program

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Professional Pet Grooming Certification | PetSmart Grooming Academy | 2015

Advanced Scissoring Techniques Certificate | National Dog Groomers Association | 2018

Pet First Aid & CPR Certification | Red Cross Pet First Aid | 2016, renewed 2022

Associate Degree, Business Management | Community College of Allegheny County | 2014

SKILLS

  • Breed-specific styling & AKC standards
  • De-matting & de-shedding techniques
  • Hand scissoring & precision cutting
  • Pet anxiety management
  • Salon management & scheduling
  • Inventory control & ordering
  • Client relationship building
  • Special needs pet accommodation
  • Grooming equipment maintenance
  • Pet health issue identification

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

National Dog Groomers Association of America (NDGAA), 2016 – Present
Pennsylvania Professional Pet Groomers Association, 2018 – Present

How to write a Groomer Resume

Introduction

Landing that perfect grooming position starts with a resume that shows off your skills with scissors as well as your way with nervous pets. As someone who's reviewed hundreds of groomer applications, I can tell you that salon owners and managers spend about 7-10 seconds scanning your resume before deciding whether to call you in. Those few seconds need to scream "professional pet stylist" rather than "I just like animals." Let's walk through how to create a resume that gets you in the door for that interview.

Resume Structure and Format

Keep your groomer resume clean and organized—just like your workstation should be! Aim for a single page unless you have 8+ years of varied experience. Most salon managers don't have time to flip through multiple pages.

  • Use a clean, professional font (Arial, Calibri, or Georgia work well)
  • Include clear section headings that stand out
  • Maintain consistent spacing (no cramming everything together)
  • Use bullet points rather than paragraphs for experience
  • Include plenty of white space—crowded resumes get overlooked
GROOMER TIP: Include a small, professional headshot if applying to high-end boutique salons or mobile grooming services. Many pet parents want to see who'll be handling their fur babies!

Profile/Summary Section

Your profile should be 3-4 lines that highlight your experience level, specialties, and what makes you unique as a groomer. This is your "elevator pitch" that makes the manager want to keep reading.

For example: "Certified pet stylist with 4 years of experience specializing in anxious dogs and scissor work on poodles and doodles. Known for maintaining a 92% client retention rate and completing 11-13 grooms daily without sacrificing quality or safety."

Professional Experience

This is where you shine! Focus on what you actually accomplished, not just your job duties. Any groomer can bathe dogs—how did YOU excel?

  • Start with your most recent position and work backward
  • Include the business name, your title, and dates employed
  • Focus on numbers—how many grooms per day? Retention rate?
  • Highlight specialized skills (hand-stripping, cat grooming, etc.)
  • Mention safety record and handling techniques

Example of a strong bullet point: "Maintained a perfect safety record while increasing daily groom count from 6 to 9 dogs through improved time management and bathing techniques."

Education and Certifications

Formal grooming education matters! List your training with the most impressive credentials first.

  • Grooming school or apprenticeship details
  • Certifications (NDGAA, IPG, etc.)
  • Continuing education workshops (include dates)
  • Special technique training (Asian Fusion, creative grooming)
  • First aid/CPR certification (huge plus!)

Keywords and ATS Tips

Many larger companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes before a human sees them. Include these industry terms naturally throughout your resume:

  • Breed-specific terms (especially if you specialize)
  • Equipment names (HV dryer, #30 blade, thinning shears)
  • Techniques (pattern setting, hand-stripping, deshedding)
  • Software skills (knowledge of specific booking systems)
  • Customer service terminology

Industry-specific Terms

Sprinkle these throughout your experience section to show you know the field:

  • Pattern work
  • Coat types (double-coated, silky, wire, etc.)
  • De-matting techniques
  • Line brushing
  • Sanitary trims
  • Low-stress handling

Common Mistakes to Avoid

I've seen too many promising groomers miss opportunities because of these resume blunders:

  • Focusing on loving animals instead of technical skills
  • Leaving off breed-specific experience
  • Not mentioning speed/efficiency metrics
  • Forgetting to include safety protocols and handling methods
  • Using generic terms instead of grooming-specific language

Before/After Example

BEFORE: "Groomed dogs at PetPlace for 2 years. Responsible for bathing, nail trimming, and haircuts."

AFTER: "Performed full-service grooming on 8-10 dogs daily at PetPlace (2020-2022), specializing in Poodles, Shih Tzus, and Yorkies. Maintained 95% client retention rate while executing breed-standard cuts, deshedding treatments, and handling challenging behaviors through positive reinforcement techniques."

Your resume should reflect both your technical skill and your ability to create a stress-free experience for pets in your care. With these tips, you'll be well on your way to landing that dream grooming position!

Soft skills for your Groomer resume

  • Active listening with difficult clients whose pets may be anxious (helped defuse a situation with a first-time client whose dog had previous grooming trauma)
  • Patience during complex grooming sessions, especially with senior pets who need frequent breaks
  • Clear communication about realistic styling expectations and pet health concerns
  • Time management while handling multiple appointments (typically 6-8 pets daily)
  • Problem-solving when encountering matting, skin issues, or unexpected pet behavior
  • Adaptability to different breed standards and customer preferences without compromising animal welfare

Hard skills for your Groomer resume

  • Clipper Blade Maintenance & Repair (7F through 40 blade sizes)
  • HydroSurge Bathing System Operation
  • Breed-specific Pattern Setting (AKC standards for 65+ breeds)
  • Hand Stripping & Carding Techniques
  • Salon Management Software (123Pet, DaySmart)
  • Medicated Skin Treatment Application
  • Safe Handling of Anxious/Aggressive Animals
  • Pet First Aid & CPR Certification
  • Advanced De-matting & De-shedding Techniques