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Table of contents

Model resume examples
Related resume examples
Choose the right resume format for your model resume
How to write a model resume in 5 simple steps
Add a cover letter
Key takeaways for your model resume
Commonly asked question about resume writing

As a model, you earn your living by being the face for different companies and brands. But when you are applying for jobs, do you even wonder whether your resume is representing you well?

Sure, looks aren’t everything but the way you present your skills and experience on your resume can make or break your career. If you have been seeing the ugly side of the job search, maybe what you need is a resume makeover.

With the help of some easy-to-follow instructions on how to write a resume for your career in modeling and some expert model resume examples for reference, the task of giving your resume a makeover can be much simpler than you think. Here, you’ll learn exactly what you need to know to write an impressive model resume in a matter of minutes.

Keep reading to find:

Examples of model resumes for applicants with and without experience.
What makes a model resume example great.
Tips and tricks for writing your resume, including how to study a model job description for resume keywords.
What to include in every section of your model resume.
How to choose the right resume template and format for the role.

Ready to write a model resume now? Use our professional AI Resume Builder for step-by-step help writing every section.

Model resume examples

Entry-level model resume example

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What makes this a great entry-level model resume sample:

Includes a headshot
This candidate wisely included a headshot on his resume. Considering the nature of the work, adding a headshot to a model resume is never a bad idea.
Smart use of color
This candidate strategically used the color orange to accentuate the section headers and frame the top of the resume. It also adds a some intrigue and style in a way that could be memorable.
Prominently highlights skills
By including a skills section near the top of the resume, this applicant can show off a range of skills, from soft skills like communication to hard skills like photo shoots.

Experienced model resume example

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What makes this a great experienced model resume sample:

Excellent professional summary
This applicant makes the most of her varied experience with a professional summary. Summaries give the candidate a chance to touch on career high points they want to share up font.
Work history is robust
By devoting a big portion of the resume to work history, this candidate can share her major accomplishments going back to 2012. The formatting is helpful in guiding the reader’s eyes.
Focus on the impact
Sharing job duties is one thing; showing the impact of your work is another. Many of the bullet points on this resume include a metric, like sales increases, to prove their modeling career has value.

Choose the right resume format for your model resume

To land the model job you want, you need to get the right information in front of a recruiter. How do you accomplish that? By choosing the resume format that puts your best foot forward. The resume format you choose should be based on your level of experience in the field of modeling.

Here’s how to decide which one is right for you:

The chronological resume format works best for experienced applicants who have five or more years of relevant experience as a model.
The combination resume format is great for midlevel applicants who have a few years of modeling experience.
The functional resume format is perfect for applicants with little to no direct work experience as a working model.

Visit our guide to learn more about how to format a resume for more information on how to best showcase your skills, training and experience.

Now that you’ve chosen the perfect format, it’s time to pick your resume template.

Choose the right resume template for your resume

Create your resume

While every resume will have the same basic sections — a professional summary or resume objective, skills, work history and education — you can customize the look and feel of your resume by selecting the right resume template.

While there are many different resume designs, a versatile simple resume template may be the way to go. Its minimalist design makes your skills and experience the star of the show over fussy design elements.

For a more colorful resume, try a creative or modern resume. These have more flair and allow you to show off your personality.

Now let’s dive into the writing process.

How to write a model resume in 5 simple steps

Modeling is a competitive field so your resume has to convey not just your modeling experience but your creativity and skills to get noticed. While there are some basic rules for writing a great resume, savvy job seekers know that the key to getting noticed is to skip the generic resume content and write a resume that is specific to the industry and the role they seek.

Let’s go through how to accomplish just that, step by step.

Step 1

Study the model job description

A well-written model resume is customized to include keywords that show employers that you have what it takes to perform the role. Why is this important?

Many employers run resumes through applicant tracking systems (ATS) that screen out unqualified candidates based on preset keywords. If your resume doesn’t contain the right keywords, you’ll be eliminated before a human ever sees your resume. To make your resume ATS-friendly, you’ll need to customize it to the model job description to improve your chances of landing a job interview.

But how do you know which keywords to use? Don’t worry — it’s easy.

While every model role is different, a good job ad should tell you everything you need to know about which keywords to add to your model resume. The key to success is to study the job description and make a list of critical keywords.

For example, if the job description for the modeling role you seek asks for experience with runway work, communication, acting and horseback riding, you’ll want to be sure to use those exact words in your resume content. Remember, an ATS doesn’t understand nuance to do your best to use the exact words and phrases from the job description on your resume.

Look for opportunities in your professional summary, skills section and work experience section to add the keywords you’ve identified. Then, go through your resume and make sure what you wrote matches the wording in the job description so that the ATS recognizes it.

It may sound like a lot, but once you get used to the process, it should only take you a few minutes to do and will get your model resume better results than if you don’t tailor it.

Step 2

Write a professional summary or resume objective

Depending on your level of experience, your model resume should include either a professional summary or a resume objective to start. Think of this section as your resume profile, where you provide potential employers with a summary of your most relevant skills and experience and some professional highlights.

Candidates with less experience should choose a resume objective, which states your transferable skills and your career goals. Applicants with more direct experience in a model role should use a professional summary, which outlines your skills and experience and highlights some of your most notable professional accomplishments.

Let’s look at how each of these would appear on a model resume.

Model professional summary example:

Detail-oriented and experienced hand model with a proven record of showcasing products and concepts through the artistry of hands. Keen understanding of the importance of precision and elegance in hand modeling. Versatile range of gestures and expressions unique to each project. Featured in various advertising campaigns, editorial spreads, and promotional materials for diverse industries, including beauty, jewelry, and lifestyle. Dedicated to delivering images that captivate and communicate the desired message.

Model resume objective example:

Motivated and accomplished catalog model with a strong track record in effectively showcasing diverse products for print and online catalogs. Demonstrates exceptional posing, expression, and adaptability to convey the unique qualities of each item. Adept at collaborating with creative teams to produce visually compelling and marketable images that align with brand aesthetics. Known for professionalism and reliability in delivering high-quality results within set timelines. Seeking a challenging role that leverages modeling expertise to contribute to the success of catalog projects and elevate brand visibility through captivating imagery.

Step 3

Highlight your most relevant model skills

Regardless of your experience level, hiring managers will be looking closely at the model resume skills you list. Skills for a model resume should be added to your resume skills section and peppered into your professional summary (or resume objective) and your work experience section.

It’s critical that you provide employers with a solid mix of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are the measurable skills needed to perform a job, like posing. These skills are easily taught in a classroom. Soft skills, like communication, are behaviors and personality traits, which make them difficult to measure.

Below, we provide a side-by-side list of hard and soft skills to help you see the difference between the two.

Key skills for a model resume include:

Hard Skills

Makeup and styling
Photogenic presence
Fashion knowledge
Runway techniques
Posture and movement

Soft Skills

Confidence
Professionalism
Versatility
Charisma
Creativity

Here’s an example of a strong resume skills section for a model:

Physical Attributes:

Height: 5’10”
Size: 2-4
Hair: Brown, Long
Eyes: Blue

Skills:

Proficient in various runway walks, including high fashion and commercial styles.
Ability to showcase garments with poise, confidence, and fluidity.
Versatile posing skills for both editorial and commercial shoots.
Expressive facial features for conveying a range of emotions and moods.
Punctual and reliable for fittings, rehearsals, and events.
Ability to adapt to various creative directions and work efficiently in diverse environments.

Pro tip

When writing your skills section, adding skills you might have like computer skills and other technical abilities, such as fashion knowledge, is great. However, soft skills count, too, in this field. As a model, you’ll work in a very collaborative environment where skills like professionalism and adaptability count. When you write this section, try to find a mix of hard and soft skills to show that you are a well balanced applicant.

Step 4

Write a strong model work experience section

While the required background and experience will be different for each role, the key to getting noticed is writing a work experience section that demonstrates what you will bring to the table.

Think about your work experience in terms of projects that challenged you, obstacles you’ve overcome and professional wins you’ve enjoyed over the course of your career. Describing your work experience in these terms helps show off the impact of your work rather than just your job duties.

Sample model work history entry:

Model, Elite Model Management
New York, NY
March 2019 – December 2022

Featured in high-profile runway shows for renowned brands, including Donna Karan and Marc Jacobs.
Executed various runway walks, demonstrating adaptability to different fashion styles.
Posed for numerous editorial and commercial photoshoots for fashion magazines and brands.
Collaborated with photographers and stylists to achieve desired visual concepts.
Specialized in fit modeling for 12 designers between 2020-2022, ensuring garments fit perfectly and met design specifications.

Pro tip

Make your model credentials pop by using action words, data and metrics to capture the attention of a hiring manager.

Step 5

Showcase your education and training

While there is no educational requirement to be hired as a model, if you have a high school diploma, a college degree or special training, you should showcase your education on your resume. There is no need to list your year of graduation unless you are a very recent grad.

How to list your education:

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design
California College of the Arts, San Francisco
May 2024

Optional sections for your model resume

Hobbies and interests

Featuring personal projects or hobbies, especially those tied to creativity, fashion or design, offers a more comprehensive view of your passion for the creative world.

How to feature hobbies and interests on your resume:

Horseback riding
Drawing & sketching
Reading historical novels

Awards and honors

Adding honors and awards to your resume is a smart way to show off your abilities, achievements and qualifications. Being a model is all about creativity and presentation so including awards for exceptional performance can be a real boon to your resume by showing the employer you are an outstanding performer, which ultimately will increase your chances of landing the job.

How to showcase awards and honors on your resume:

Face of 2020 Award, Elite Model Management
Summa cum laude, Fairfield High School, Fairfield, CT

Languages

Knowing more than one language is highly prized in today’s job market. Being multilingual expands your communication abilities, giving you the ability to effectively interact with a wider range of clients, photographers.

Ultimately, all else being equal, if a job opening comes down to two candidates for a modeling job and one of them lists multiple languages on their resume, the multilingual candidate will be more attractive to the employer.

How to showcase languages on your resume:

Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese
Proficient in English and French

Add a cover letter

Create your cover letter

Adding a cover letter to your modeling application can help you stand out. Why? Because it gives you extra space to convince the employer that you’re the right person for the job.

Learning how to write a cover letter starts with studying our cover letter examples to learn how to express your unique candidacy in a compelling way and how to format your cover letter for success.

Or, if you want a job-specific cover letter in a matter of minutes, use our professional Cover Letter Builder, which offers professionally written text suggestions for every section. Use the wording as-is or customize it to suit your needs.

Key takeaways for your model resume

Personalize your resume for each opportunity

Tailor your resume to align with the specific requirements of each job ad to which you apply, making note of the critical skills and experience outlined in the job description.
Select the appropriate resume format

Decide what you’d like to emphasize the most on your model resume – such as strong skills, an impressive work history or both — and then select the format that will help you put your best foot forward.
Choose an appropriate resume template

If you’re applying for a job at a conservative company, you’ll want to choose a conservative resume design. For less traditional work environments, your resume template can be more colorful and creative.
Follow our steps for a standout resume

Take care to write all five sections of your resume in a way that is specific to the job you seek. Your professional summary, skills, work experience and education section should all contain information that is targeted to the job ad.
Include both hard and soft skills

Being a model requires a mix of technical and personal skills to do the job well. Study our list of hard and soft skills to be sure that you include a balance of both types in your resume.
Make your work experience section shine

Don’t just write a boring list of job duties. Instead, write bullet points that contain action verbs, data and metrics to show the impact of your work.
Go the extra mile

Including a well-written model cover letter can increase your chances of landing a job interview, so take the chance to include one with your application.

Commonly asked question about resume writing

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Heather is the Content Strategy Manager for Resume Now and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than ten years of experience writing about job search and career topics. She is based in San Francisco.