When I was in massage school, I was advised to include all of my customer service experience and every class I was taking on my resume to impress future employers. Being new to the field, I wanted to stand out. But it wasn’t until I became a recruiter that I truly learned what Massage Managers are actually looking for on a resume—and now, I’m here to share that with you.

The #1 Thing Managers Look For

The most important thing managers want to know is: how much hands-on experience do you have? Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the field for years, the tips below will help you create a strong, 1-page, massage-focused resume. Think of it as your personal brochure—highlighting you and your skills in a clean, compelling format.

Who Sees Your Resume?

Recruiters and the Hiring Team

Usually, your resume first lands in the hands of a recruiter or hiring manager. Make sure your name matches what’s on your CAMTC certificate to avoid any confusion. Use a professional email and double-check that your phone number is up to date—with space to leave voicemails.

Massage Managers

If you pass the phone screen, you’ll be invited for an interview and practical. Bring a printed copy of your resume. Most managers will skim it quickly—studies show the average resume gets just 6 seconds of attention. So make it easy to read and quick to scan. Remember, this is a brochure—not an autobiography.

What to Include in Your Resume

Contact Information

• Full Name (as shown on CAMTC certificate)
• Phone Number
• Professional Email
• Address (optional, city/state is usually enough)

CAMTC Status
In California, having a CAMTC certificate is often required to work as a massage therapist. Put this at the top of your resume. If your certification is still in process, write “Pending” to let employers know you’re on your way.

Objective (Optional)
This is a 1–2 sentence summary of your career goals. Don’t repeat what’s in other sections. Instead, share why you chose massage therapy and what you hope to accomplish in the field.

Core Competencies / Skills
In school, I was told to list every class I was taking—but be careful. For example, I once put “Pathology” on my resume without being prepared to answer questions about it. Instead, use this section to highlight enhancements or specialties you enjoy and are trained in.

Look at the company's menu of services—do they offer specific enhancements? Have you been trained in any of those? If so, include them!

Professional Experience
List your work history in reverse chronological order (most recent first). For each position, include:

• Job title
• Location
• Dates (use month/year format to avoid confusion)
• 3–5 bullet points that describe what you did (modalities used, length of services, weekly client volume, etc.)

If you're new to massage:

• Include your clinic or externship hours.
• If you worked on friends and family outside of school, list it as a private practice, even if unpaid—it's still hands-on experience!

Stick to massage-related experience where possible. If you’re currently working in a non-massage role, you can include it, but don’t let unrelated jobs overshadow your hands-on massage training.

Education

• Full name of your school + city
• Graduation date (month/year)
• Total hours completed in the program

California requires only 500 hours of massage education, but many schools offer more. Showcase your hours—it sets you apart.

If you’ve been struggling to land your dream job, I hope this guide helps you feel more confident about your resume. And if you'd like a second set of eyes on it, feel free to send it my way—I'd be happy to give feedback!

Interested in finding out more about Burke Williams?

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