Your friends might think you just arrange flowers all day – and you do! But there's a real art and craft that goes into floral designing, one that's essential to the success of weddings, parties and events around the world. To land this job, you'll need a floral designer resume that shows you can get stuff done, even when everything's not roses and daisies.
That's where we can help. We've created 300+ guides and resume examples in dozens of fields so we know a thing or two about designing the perfect application. In this guide, along with our floral designer resume example, we'll show you how to:
- Choose the elements that make a great floral designer resume sample
- Pick the right format for your experience level
- Create an employment history section that highlights your impact
What does a floral designer do?
Floral designers are design professionals who create floral arrangements and designs for clients. They use their knowledge of composition and color to arrange flowers in a pleasing way depending on the type of event. Floral Designers typically create arrangements for weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, graduations, funerals, ceremonies, parties, and other events and gatherings. Floral designers have an in-depth understanding of flowers and plants and all of their components. They understand what flowers work well with others and they aim to create beautiful combinations. Floral Designers often work closely with other planning professionals and vendors to please the client they are working for. Floral designers must also be aware of the care needs of each flower and plant.
Many floral designers work as freelancers and contractors, taking on different projects as needed.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 51,800 employed in the U.S. in 2019 with a median salary of $29,140 per year. Although the industry is expected to lose positions in independent shops, there will be more openings in grocery stores as customers look change their flower buying habits.
How to write a floral designer resume
A resume sample for a floral designer will contain many of the sections found on a traditional resume, including:
- The resume header
- The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
A floral designer resume sample should clearly convey a candidate's ability to create beautiful floral arrangements and designs. Your resume should emphasize your impressive skill-set related to floral design and customer service. Including powerful skills like knowledge of flowers, visual design skills, customer service skills, project management skills, and creativity will improve your resume. Your ability to understand the needs and desires of customers and stick to timelines should be noted. Be sure to update your references section if you have not done that in a while. Your reputation is key and the people you list as references should be able to attest to your excellent skills and reputation as a floral designer.
You can find even more resume writing advice in our other related examples including freelancer, landscape designer and visual artist.
Choosing the best resume format for floral designers
Your employment situation as a floral designer will likely determine the best format for your resume. If you are applying for traditional employment and you already have experience in the field, a reverse chronological format that highlights your recent positions may be the best option.
However, if you are a recent graduate looking to enter the field, you may choose a functional resume format. This structure begins with a "Skills" or "Experience" section that allows you to convey your abilities without attributing them to an employer. If you work as an independent contractor and offer a variety of skills to your clients, a hybrid structure may be your best choice. This format allows you to create a Skills section at the top before including other work experience father down.
Resume summary example
This is likely the only section on your resume sample where you'll be able to speak directly to the hiring manager or potential client. In these 3-5 sentences, highlight your best skills, experiences, and accomplishments. This section should serve as an influential summary conveying the value you bring as a floral designer. Be sure to include any information you do not want a potential employer to miss. You can find the summary of our resume example below.
Passionate and experienced Floral Designer with several years of experience creating magnificent floral arrangements and displays. Driven with a passion for delivering superior floral design services to clients, and committed to adding sophistication and beauty to their events. Knowledgeable about flower arrangement preparation and care, and adept in creating traditional and modern designs. Bringing forth talent, experience, and the ability to handle all aspects of floral planning and design from conception to completion.
Employment history sample
Your employment history not only conveys your most recent positions, but also the skills and experience you have in the field. List all positions of importance and those that have transferable duties and/or required skills necessary for a Floral Designer position. Remember to use powerful action verbs that prove your talent for design. Numbers can also help quantify the amount of work you've done. See the resume sample below.
- Provided consultation with clients to understand their floral needs and desires.
- Educated clients about flower choices, management, and care.
- Created a variety of arrangements including corsages, vases, baskets, and custom containers.
- Communicated effectively with clients, team members, and vendors.
- Managed inventory and processed shipments of flowers, plants, and shop supplies.
- Created traditional, modern, and original arrangements.
Floral designer resume education example
You don't need any formal education to become a floral designer but any program or certification can help prove interest in the field. List all degrees and certifications here. Any honors or distinctions should be noted here as well. If you hold a degree higher than a bachelor's degree, you may leave out your high school. You can list certifications here, or create a separate section highlighting them. Check out our resume example below.
- 2008 IFD, Certified Floral Designer
- 2004-2008 Hunter College, Bachelor of Visual Design NY, NY
- 2000-2004 Astoria High School, High School Diploma NY, NY
CV skills example
Your CV skills section is the place to create a bullet point list of your most impressive duties. An outstanding floral designer resume should include a number of impressive skills that your employer is looking for in a candidate. Be sure to include job specific skills and a strong mix of soft and hard skills. Check out our resume example below.
- Floral Design Skills
- Small and Large Scale Floral Arrangements
- Floral Care and Management
- Project Management Skills
- Excellent Communication Skills
Resume layout and design
The design and layout of your resume speaks volumes about your professional demeanor and how seriously you take yourself. It's important to create a layout that is visually attractive, especially since you work in an industry that's all about appearances (in a good way!) If you don't have graphic design experience, a resume template can serve as a jumping off point for the layout of your resume sample. Below you'll find some tips to remember.
- Keep enough white space to make the page easy on the eyes
- Use clear section headers to separate the content
- Create an attractive header to highlight your name and contact info
- Overcrowd the page with too much text
- Forget to proofread for spelling and grammar errors before you submit
- Include unrelated or outdated information to fill the page
Key takeaways for a floral designer resume
- A resume is essential to your job search as it allows you to showcase your skills and experience as a floral designer.
- Keep your resume sample to one page by choosing only the most important sections and excluding irrelevant or outdated information.
- A section on your education or training can help show your interest in the field, especially without much experience.
- Our resume example can offer insights into how to create a functional and attractive header.
