Congratulations! You just finished beauty school. Now what?
In a perfect world, you would go to cosmetology school, learn to maximize your talents, get your license, and easily land a job at a high-end beauty salon.
However, that is often not the reality.
Do not despair. You don’t have to resign yourself to spending your days living paycheck to paycheck. There are a few things you can do to get a great job and I’ll show you how.
1. Examine your goals. This is a simple step, and one of the most overlooked. You need to set career goals, but you need to look within yourself first. What did you enjoy the most about beauty school or barbershop? Do you have a talent for creating precision cuts? Are you more creative with color? Can you apply makeup as if you were an artist painting on a canvas? You need to identify your creative strengths and work with them. If there’s something you don’t enjoy doing at all, then there’s no reason you have to do it long-term. Recognize your own strengths and market them. Do you want to be a master stylist one day? Is it your dream to be a top colorist? You should think about these things when you start your job search. When you first start school, you should have a road map of where you want to go and how you are going to get there. The sooner the better. When you set short-term and long-term goals, it keeps you focused and on the prize.
2. Look at the part. Appearance matters in the beauty industry. When you head to salons, shops, or spas for interviews, you’ll want to walk in like you already work there. Make sure your hair and makeup are on trend and that you are dressed for the occasion. You want the salon hiring team to be able to picture you on the salon floor, right when they meet you. This will make you appear more knowledgeable, professional, and confident. You may have heard this advice mentioned above in the corporate world. Interviewees are often advised to dress as if they already have the position they are applying for. The same can easily be applied to the beauty industry.
3. Keep learning. What? You’re probably thinking… I just completed 18 months of school, but the truth is that learning never ends. You need to keep learning. This industry is constantly evolving. Make it a point to regularly enroll in advanced classes. For example, if you’re sitting through your interview and telling the hiring professional that you just finished an advanced cutting class and will be taking a coloring course from a popular company in two months, then you can and will be much more marketable by Living room. You have to be aware of the latest trends and techniques. When the salon sees that you are aware of this and are willing to keep learning, you already have a huge advantage over the competition. In fact, another tip when interviewing is to ask the hiring professional about future educational activities planned for the salon.
4. Be willing to help. Why should he even think about being an assistant when he’s been through his training and is ready to be on his own? If you have your heart set on being in an exclusive salon (which will equate to higher pay, usually with higher cost of services), keep in mind that you most likely won’t be hired fresh out of cosmetology school or barbershop. Salons of this caliber generally want you to try yourself first. No one wants to be an assistant, but you would be under the direct supervision and training of one of the best stylists in the salon and he or she will give you valuable feedback on where your talents lie and how you can improve. This is a great way to get your foot in the door and land a full-time job on your own.
5. Create a portfolio. It doesn’t have to be expensive, nor does it have to be overly fancy. Gather your friends and family and take pictures to show off your work and skills. If you can walk into the interview and have something to show the salon manager that highlights your talents, you’ll also have that extra edge in getting the job.
6. It’s okay to start with a chain. If you’re having trouble finding a job, there’s nothing wrong with working at a fast-paced chain. No, you won’t necessarily have the opportunity to build a clientele or have the creative independence that you would at a larger, higher-end salon, but it will keep you focused, especially on the cutting field. You don’t want to put down those scissors and stop using them. Practice practice practice. It’s what makes you better. If you need it, this is a great first step to get you on the path to the career you want.
