Careers for the Mind, Body, and Soul

[ Careers in Hair | Careers in Beauty | Careers in Spa | Your Own Business ]

Let’s face it. Almost everyone wishes they were younger. Or at least looked it. Search ‘look younger’ on Google and you will get over 12,900 000 replies. As a society, we wish we could look younger and feel younger, and until someone discovers the fountain of youth, we will increasingly rely on the professionals in hair, aesthetics, and spa treatments to get us there, creating a booming makeover industry.

The demand for noninvasive cosmetic procedures is at an all-time high. The growing and affluent baby boomer generation is also continuously seeking anti-aging, skin rejuvenating procedures and make up tips. Everyone from harried executives to soccer moms are eager to try everything that keeps them looking younger and feeling better. It's no surprise that day spas are one of the hottest service businesses around.

Take a look around your city or town: everywhere it seems there are gyms, spas, nail shops, hair stylists, dermatologists, electrolysis clinics, fitness centers, beauty parlors, personal trainers, make-up studios, diet and weight-loss clinics, and quickie plastic surgeons. You know the personal beauty industry has reached new heights when there are separate men’s and women’s spas and nail shops, clinics offer drive-thru botox, and the ‘ladies that do lunch’ in New York and L.A. are having their toes surgically shortened to fit into Manolo Blahniks (yes, its true).

This isn’t just a passing fad or a quick craze that will burn out faster than a Canada Day sparkler. Our obsession with perfection (or our perception of it) is here to stay, and will only continue to entrench itself in our collective psyche. If you have an interest or aptitude in looking and feeling good, and helping others do the same, there has never been a better time for you to exercise your interests into a rewarding and enjoyable career.

Here is a look at the ‘big 3’:

CAREERS IN HAIR

The hair industry is dynamic, creative, glamorous and fast paced and there are exciting opportunities for job seekers in hairdressing, management, sales, training, fashion and retail.

Luckily, courses and programs in hair styling are available across Canada from Vancouver, BC to Gander, NF at a number of colleges and career colleges. If you are looking to break into the hair industry, or would like to take your expertise to the next level, there are a number of programs available for you to consider. UC411 has created a list of schools offering hair design that you can explore in making your decision. Be sure to contact your school of interest with any questions you may have – they would love to hear from you (and don’t forget to mention you saw them on UC411!)

In particular, the Aveda Institute in Victoria and the Aveda Academy Salon in Toronto, with the reputation of the powerful Aveda brand behind it, is probably the most recognizable name in the hair and esthetics training industry, and as such accepts and rigorously trains serious applicants in a career in hair and cosmetology.

CAREERS IN BEAUTY

The Beauty Industry is constantly evolving and developing and there is a constant flow of new products being introduced into the market place. The excitement in this industry is illustrated by the number of new salons and spas that are opening and as a result the many exciting job opportunities that have become available.

Whether you are a job seeker looking to break into the industry or an ambitious therapist wishing to progress your career, you have a number of options available to you:

• Full time beauty therapy in a salon, health and fitness club, hotel or spa.
  
• Part-time therapist, making it possible to work in the beauty industry in conjunction with another job / studying or parenting.
  
• Self –employed therapist. Allowing you to work from home or rent your own room / premises.
  
• Salon or spa Manager – combining your hands on skills with an ability to manage others and an understanding of profit and loss and sales targets etc
  
• College lecturer – You may feel that your communication skill lead you towards sharing your skills by teaching others.
  
• Field sales representative for a product company – because of the speed with which new products come onto the market many opportunities are available for those with sales ability.
  
• You may even choose a specialist area such as makeup; laser treatment or cosmetology.

A career in beauty offers incredible flexibility of location – you can work virtually anywhere - from home, on a cruise ship, or on a tropical island! The opportunities are exciting and varied and in beauty the world really is your oyster. Check out these top beauty schools for programs in aesthetics and cosmetology – a full list is available from UC411.com here. The number of community colleges in addition to career colleges offering training in aesthetics, cosmetology, and make-up design speaks volumes to the growth and popularity of this discipline, and how it is now taken quite seriously. A career as a make-up artist does not necessarily end in a salon or beauty parlor – some have taken it to amazing heights, winning Oscars for their work in film or ensuring that the president of the United States looks his best in from of the camera! At the Chellsey Institute of Aesthetics, they focus on ‘teaching the science of aesthetics and learning the art of beauty’. Body Pro Beauty & Aesthetics Academy offers courses in entrepreneurship and small business management in conjunction with aesthetics training.

CAREERS IN SPA

The Spa industry offers exciting career opportunities for job seekers looking to break into the industry for the first time, or experienced therapists wanting to extend their abilities and take the next step in their career.

Within the spa world you may start you career as a spa assistant to gain experience in the environment or you may want to gain a first hand introduction to the industry as a spa receptionist which would place you at the ‘front of house’ dealing with the administration / booking systems and providing excellent customer care. Alternatively, you may have or plan to gain beauty therapy or massage qualifications which will allow you to specialize in ‘hands-on’ therapy or as a consultant. Whatever you choose, it will be important that you have excellent people skills, a genuine interest in helping people and the enthusiasm to make a difference.

If you are a therapist looking for the next step in your career, you have a number of options including:

• Management of your own spa
  
• Field sales for a product company
  
• Cosmetics products purchaser
  
• A training capacity either in a college environment or within a product company
  
• Beauty editor
  
• Advertising Sales or Promotions
  
• Consultancy where you advise and assist other spa operators

The opportunities in the Spa industry are really exciting, with new products and services launched daily, baby boomers increasingly interested in looking youthful, and spa consumers getting younger and younger. Don’t waste any more time dreaming about it – get on it! UC411 lists dozens of schools that offer a variety of spa-related training. Visit the link now and make-over your future.

YOUR OWN BUSINESS

Whether your plan is to offer part-time aesthetic services during your free time or operate a chain of busy spas and salons, you will want to learn the basic fundamentals of entrepreneurship and small business management. Some hair and aesthetics training schools provide such a module in their course curriculum, but to increase your chances at success it’s recommended that you invest some time in taking a business program. It will give you a head start and hopefully keep you from learning expensive lessons as you grow your business. UC411 has a huge listing of universities, colleges, and career colleges that offer full and part time programs and that will give you an edge over the competition. No time? No problem! Take a look at our distance and online schools where you can learn on your own time, at your own pace, from your own home.

Whatever direction you choose, you can explore your education and training options conveniently all at one place - UC411.com.