Make the most out of your new career as soon as you start school. Here are 5 tips to starting your career the right way BEFORE you even get handed your diploma.
DEVELOP YOUR PROFESSIONAL IMAGE
BE PUNCTUAL.School is practice for the real world. Start your career by being on time and prepared for class.
TAKE INITIATIVE.Take care of clients when you hit the clinic floor. Get them the proper forms to fill out, show them how to properly put on their treatment gown, retail, and reschedule. Take initiative instead of expecting someone else to do it for you.
NO FUNNY BUSINESS. Create a professional work email. While sexypants2016 may be totally fine with your friends, your teachers and future boss won’t think it’s so adorable.
BUILD YOUR RESUME
VOLUNTEER. Even though you may not have work experience in your field, there are always volunteer opportunities available including volunteering at Trade Shows (which NASI students have the opportunity to do every year). Volunteering helps not only to build your resume with relevant experience but it expands your professional network as well.
PICK UP A PART TIME GIG. A lot of times salons and spas are looking for interns or receptionists. While not the grand and glorious position you will seek after graduation, it will get your foot in the door.
START BUILDING YOUR PORTFOLIO
TAKE PICS. Before and after pictures, progress with acne clients, makeup looks-all will be beneficial to showing your future boss what you can really do.
START EARLY and ADD OFTEN. Don’t wait until the day before your first interview and try to compile everything you have achieved. Add as you go to make your life easier and your material as comprehensive as possible.
FIND YOUR NICHE
NARROW IT DOWN. There are so many possibilities for the Beauty, Spa, and Wellness industry that the possibilities are endless. Decide what niche you fit in and work to build up your skill set and portfolio to highlight your skills in that area. Do you see yourself in a medical facility? Working with cancer patients? Owning a mobile business?
CATER TO YOUR CLIENTELE. Once you have established where you want to work and what type of services you will perform, modify your marketing and menu to gain the clientele that you desire.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
DON’T BE SHY. You took the leap to start a new (or another career) so make the most of it and work on as many people as possible. There is literally no bad side to working on as many people as possible. You will gain confidence and experience –maybe even on how to deal with difficult clients, and may even come out with some new clientele.
MIX IT UP. Work on as many different types of clients as possible to expand your horizons.
Make the most of your journey through school by being as engaged as possible and starting on your career now.