There’s a World of Opportunity in the Beauty Industry
Providing beauty services that enhance the appearance of your clients is a very gratifying, exciting and challenging career choice. And, the Job Outlook for well-trained beauty professionals has never been better. In fact, a career in the beauty industry is virtually recession proof because both women and men want to look good and feel good as they age – whether the economy is booming or weak. With the aging of 78 million baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964), the demand for beauty and wellness services will be very strong for decades to come.
Key Success Factors
Not everyone can be successful as a beauty industry professional. The three most critical skills you’ll need to succeed as a beauty services practitioner are:
- people skills
- a sense of style and artistry
- a commitment to lifelong learning
The Client is Everything
Outstanding customer service skills are integral to success in the beauty industry. To build and maintain a loyal client base, you’ll need to establish trust and credibility, as well as a personal rapport, with your clients. Each client will have different wants and needs, so good listening and communications skills are paramount. Make your clients feel special and strive everyday to exceed their expectations.
You will often be required to exert diplomacy skills by being sensitive to your clients’ feelings when she asks for an unflattering hair style. So, if you’d prefer to work alone rather than interact with the public everyday – if you’re not a “people person” and a natural conversationalist – a beauty career may not be the right career path for you.
Style and Artistry
To be a successful beauty professional requires more than just technical excellence; you need to have a sense of style and fashion. If you’re creative and inventive, have the ability to come up with creative solutions and visualize how something will look -- then a beauty career is right for you. As a beauty industry professional, you’ll be expressing your creativity every day!
Lifelong Learning
Don’t think that graduating from a beauty school and passing the state licensing exam is the end of your education. You’ll need to always be fine tuning your skills with Advanced Training courses, workshops and demonstrations.
And, you’ll need to keep up with the latest fashion trends, beauty products, hair styles and the latest technologies as they change. A commitment to lifelong learning, especially attending beauty industry trade shows, is essential as fashion and beauty trends change quickly.
Reality Check
Despite the glamorous aura and great earnings potential, a career in the beauty industry is very physically demanding. Good health and stamina are important, as beauty professionals frequently work long hours, especially nights and weekends, either standing all day (hairstylists) or sitting (manicurists).
Additionally, beauty professionals are exposed daily to chemicals and fumes and must strictly adhere to safety and hygiene practices at all times to protect themselves, their clientele and co-workers.
Summary
If you have what it takes to become a successful beauty professional and you understand there are a few drawbacks, a career in the beauty is financially rewarding, personally gratifying and stable.
The work environment is clean with good lighting and ventilation. There’s a positive atmosphere as clients receive services that make them look better, and therefore, feel better about themselves.
If your lifestyle requires flexibility, national statistics indicate that 33% of salon employees work part-time (20-35 hours) and 20% work low time (less than 20 hours).
To learn more about careers in the beauty industry, you can receive a FREE Career Guide into the Professional Beauty Industry by visiting www.gotobeautyschool.com/contact.html.
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