Navigating the Job Market: Tips for Landing Your First Cosmetology Job December 20, 2024

“Be fearless. Have the courage to take risks. Go where there are no guarantees.” – Katie Couric

If you’ve been a cosmetology student, you’re familiar with the end of school nerves- passing state boards, finding a new job, building a clientele. It can feel overwhelming to say the least, and we’ve got a fool proof guide to help you through navigating those next steps to get you a jump start into your exciting new career!

Your cosmetology resume should showcase the skills and experience you have. It’s your chance to make an impression before your first impression! Include any relevant job experience, education, volunteer work and any certificates/achievements you earned throughout beauty school. And even if you don’t have a ton of experience, showing the experience you do have goes a long way. There are lots of free resume templates online to use to get started. Start a rough draft, then ask someone you trust to look over it for you. Find a template here https://www.canva.com/resumes/templates/

A picture is worth a thousand words. One of the most popular ways to show off your work & make yourself known is to create a portfolio using Instagram. Ideally, you’ve created this while in school but it’s never too late to start posting! To show your skills, post “before and after” photos of your work, showing different styles that you love to do. People love to see your unique style shine through your work! Show off different techniques that you use. You could post a stylish haircut, a mani/pedi, or a facial. All you need is the camera on your phone to take a great picture. Youtube has some excellent tips and tricks to take your camera skills to the next level. During your next interview, mention that you have an online portfolio that you’d love to share.

Do you want to know the two best ways to feel confident in an interview at a professional hair salon? The saying “dress to impress” is key here. Don’t dress for the job you have- DO dress for the job you want. Show up like the professional you are- pinterest always has great inspo for outfits! Our second tip – do research on questions that might be asked during an interview at a salon. And as cringe-y as it sounds- practice asking & answering these questions in the mirror. Both of these are sure to increase your confidence for any interview!

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen” – Brene Brown said it best. Start making connections while you’re in school! Connect with your cosmetology instructors, your peers and professionals in the beauty industry. Always keep an open mind to see what you can learn from others. Get involved in your community to connect with local people! Have business cards available for potential clientele- introduce yourself and share the journey you’re on. And lastly, participate in beauty shows! There’s unlimited education available at these events and you’ll be able to connect with other professionals who are on the same mission as you. This is how you build your tribe.

Follow what makes your heart happy. Think about what you enjoy doing most, what you’re good at and build on those strengths. Explore different areas you can specialize in & keep an open mind to learning more about a specific skill. Go towards what excites you the most! One of the best things about the beauty industry is that there are unlimited different avenues you can go down. Which brings me to an important point that we’ve already mentioned- never stop learning! Take as many classes as you can that are available to you to stay relevant with new trends.

Aside from calling and stopping into different salons, an easy way to find out who’s hiring is to look online. There are a few websites that are great to use for starting your job search. You’ll find salons post opportunities on sites such as Indeed or LinkedIn. Another well known website is CanvasMe, which is designed specifically for professionals in the beauty industry! You can create your portfolio and resume all in one place and connect with salons near you.

The best way to gain experience is to find a salon that has an internship or assistant program. To truly understand how to run a business behind the chair, learn from someone who is already where you want to be. Someone to teach you the tricks of the trade – from different techniques to customer service – to building your business. As someone who is new to the industry, the fastest way to build a clientele is to work a consistent schedule each week. Show up for your clients by making each person feel like a celebrity when they’re in your chair. Be patient with yourself as you start this exciting journey of your new career!

The most important tip is to always believe in yourself. Believe in your ability to succeed- despite setbacks and failures- get up again and try your best each day. Believing you can do anything will take you so far in your career. Have the courage to get back up after you get knocked down. Don’t be afraid to try new things and go after what you want to achieve. Set those goals, put your best foot forward and conquer any challenges that might come your way. If you’re ready to start your journey in this amazing industry, reach out to our team at The Salon Professional Academy,  we’re more than happy to help you with the next steps to help you get started.

-Sam R.