Contrary to the common trend of careers fading away in this generation, cosmetology careers are growing. The cosmetology industries entail various professionals. All professionals in the industry work toward the main goal which is beautification. Generally, cosmetology professionals deal with the skin, hair, and nails.
In the cosmetology industry, estheticians are becoming more needed for various tasks. An esthetician is a professional trained in skincare and the execution of various skin care routines to beautify the skin.
The increasing need for estheticians has led to more people being drawn toward the career. The draw towards esthetician careers is significantly higher among younger people. This is because the younger generation is more dedicated to skincare routines and improving their skin health.
If you are thinking of choosing to take up being an esthetician as a career, this article is meant for you. Like all other careers, there are some facts that one should be aware of before choosing the career. In this article, we highlight some of the things that one should know before choosing a career as an esthetician.
- Education
You might know a couple of people who refer to themselves as estheticians yet they are not certified. Estheticians are required to undergo professional schooling. The schooling certificates are required to get a legal certification to practice.
A career as an esthetician requires one to be educated. This is due to the complexity of the human body which an esthetician deals with. Institutions that offer courses to become an esthetician focus on anatomical science.
Students are taught about various skin conditions and how to better skin health. However, there is one aspect of aesthetic schooling that most people are unaware of. Estheticians are taught to detect skin conditions that require medical attention. The detection of skin conditions that need medical attention. This helps prevent the progression of skin conditions.
Estheticians are also taught about the various cosmetology products in the market. This helps them know which products are best to use for various skin types of their clients. The learning of various cosmetology products also helps identify compounds in products that a person’s skin reacts to.
Due to the vastness, of course, one needs to ensure that they study well for the tests. For better practice on how to answer the questions, you can use esthetician practice tests. The practice tests are designed by specialists in conjunction with examiners. The practice tests are well set and resemble the structure of the final tests.
When planning to choose your career as an esthetician, you should also establish a fee budget. Tuition fees depend on whether you opt to study at a community college or a private institution. For community colleges, the fee ranges from $4000 to $6000 while the fee ranges from $6000 to $12000 for private institutions. Once you have figured out your education needs for the career, you can now look into the next factor.
- Salary and Career Opportunities
Similar to all other career choices, one has to have some expectations of the future career when starting schooling. The first thing that most people are often curious about is the expected salary when doing the job.
The salaries of estheticians can vary depending on their place of work and type of work. Estheticians who choose to work in medical clinics earn more than their counterparts working at spas and salons.
Estheticians who work at spas or salons have an average annual income of $40300. Estheticians who work in medical clinics have an average annual income of $44000. The discrepancies in salary figures and one’s interest can help one choose the working environment that will suit them best.
Those who study esthetics of their passion for beauty are better working at salons helping clients take care of their skin. Working at salons and beauty parlors is also recommended for those who are not comfortable witnessing or working on medical procedures.
Other than the two mentioned career opportunities, there are more opportunities for estheticians. One can opt to be a traveling esthetician too. Traveling estheticians do not work at fixed establishments but rather across different areas. Traveling estheticians can work on luxury cruise ships, getaway resorts, etc. Working as a traveling esthetician is for those who like traveling.
- Clientele
As an esthetician, your client base is your most important asset. Even for those who work at salons or spas, having a regular client base is an indication of your good work. Your clients also offer organic marketing by referring your services to others.
The easiest way to build a client base as an esthetician is to get employed as a service provider at a salon. This will expose you to new people who will get to know and appreciate your services over time. These clients will therefore turn into loyal clients.
With a loyal client base, you can move from employment and delve into self-employment by opening up your establishment. Though a huge risk, opening your salon, spa, etc., boosts your income.
However, if you are not comfortable with opening up your establishment, you work as an independent contractor. This will require knowing loyal repeat clients who will not fail you. Working as an independent contractor is good for those looking to be traveling estheticians. Independent contractors have clients who call them whenever they need their services.
Conclusion
When choosing your career as an esthetician, you should keep in mind that the institution you attend is vital. Choose a well-known and reputable institution. This will help ensure you are not at a disadvantage once you get to the job market. In esthetics, job market disadvantages can come from either a poorly developed course curriculum or an overall poor institution image.
The poorly developed curriculums in some institutions do not offer the required knowledge for working as an esthetician. In some other cases, hiring managers might have a negative outlook toward students of a particular institution due to the quality of graduates they often produce. You should therefore choose your institution critically.
