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About beauty therapy jobs and the job description
Beauty therapy jobs
As the world continues to learn more of the positive effects of beauty therapy treatments, more and more individuals are now seeking information regarding beauty careers in this exciting and hugely rewarding industry. For anyone interested to know just what a beauty therapist does, desired traits and possible career progression opportunities, Salonjobseeker.com spoke to our in house beauty therapy expert to find out just what beauty therapist jobs involve and where they can take you.
Getting into beauty therapy and qualifications
For entry level beauty therapist jobs most employers will expect beauty therapists to be qualified to level three with an amount of hands on beauty therapy experience. Some employers will accept a level two qualification for lower level junior therapist positions but we would advise completing courses to a level three standard. Some of the beauty therapy qualifications available include:
NVQ/SVQ - levels 1, 2, 3 and higher.
BTEC- National diplomas
ITEC qualifications
CIDESCO qualifications
Plus many more
The beauty industry is constantly changing with new treatments and cutting edge techniques being developed and introduced all the time. It's important that beauty therapists have a sound knowledge of all beauty therapy procedures and ensure that they have up to date qualifications and update their beauty skills as necessary.
Desired characteristics in good beauty therapists
Beauty therapists should be self motivated with an eager awareness of the beauty industry and new developments. Therapists work in very close contact with clients and should have a warm personality coupled with high standards of hygiene themselves. An ability to create a calm environment putting clients at ease would also be highly desired.
Whilst skills in areas like sales or administration and time management are undoubtedly valuable for a busy beauty therapist, it is agreed by many that excellent communication skills is the single most important skill for most beauty therapy jobs. Beauty therapist jobs require individuals to have very strong social skills and be excellent listeners, whilst remaining professional at all times.
What duties are involved with beauty therapy jobs?
For most beauty therapists based in salons and spas job duties will involve some front of house duties such as booking appointments and managing phone calls. The ability to up sell beauty products are also an important part of a beauty therapist job as common commission and bonus schemes offer an excellent additional incentive to beauty therapists.
A beauty therapist's main role is carrying out treatments that enhance the appearance and confidence levels of a client as well as improving their general well being and relieving stress levels. New procedures, treatments and areas of specialism surface regularly but the most common areas and tasks involved in beauty therapy jobs include:
Hair removal: Both temporary and permanent forms of hair removal are now common place in most beauty salons, from sugaring and waxing to more advances electrolysis procedures.
Massage: Massage can cover the whole body, head, neck, shoulders or full body. There are also options to specialise in specific types including shiatsu, Thai and holistic or aromatherapy.
Manicures and pedicures: A full range of nail treatments will be carried out. Nail extensions and the application of nail art are very common procedures among beauty therapists.
Tanning treatments: With an increased public awareness of sun damage the method of applying tanning treatments is now also a very common procedure in many beauty salons.
Eye lash and eye brow services: These treatments include tasks such as eye brow tinting, eyebrow shaping, threading and even eyelash perming.
Specialist treatments: Beauty therapists will often require advanced training to carry out specialist treatments but will certainly add a string to your bow. Duties can include electrolysis and laser therapy.
Where can beauty therapy jobs take you and what can you earn?
How much can beauty therapists earn? Well, as with any jobs it can vary from spa to spa and depend on location. In their early stages of their career most can expect to earn around the minimum wage. For more experienced therapists they can expect to see their salary increase to over £15,000 per annum. For therapists with additional responsibilities including training or management duties, earnings can increase significantly to £20,000 or more. It's also worth remembering that beauty therapists can earn significant bonuses and commission on top of their basic salary. However, the salary is only part of what can make beauty therapy jobs so rewarding, take a look at possible career routes.
For dedicated loyal beauty therapist's large beauty salons and spas can offer an opportunity to progress to senior levels and management positions which can result in duties and responsibilities changing.
Beauty salons and spas can be found in countries across the globe and even on ships and planes everywhere between. This means there are countless locations where beauty therapist jobs can be found. Perhaps you feel like taking your beauty therapy to the high seas, aboard a luxury cruise ship sailing around the Med or the Caribbean? Perhaps you would rather stay on firm ground but fancy a warmer climate, Australia? USA? These types of opportunities are all realistic options for talented and ambitious beauty therapists.
Additional management and assessor training and qualifications can lead you into the field of training or teaching beauty therapy. With hair and beauty colleges located in every county of the UK becoming a beauty therapy lecturer or educator offers a great opportunity for beauty therapists interested in sharing their love of the industry with others. Beauty lecturer jobs can be found regularly.
There are also options for beauty therapists with strong sales skills to move into sales whilst still remaining in the beauty industry. With the beauty industry constantly bringing new products to market, there are many great opportunities for individuals with strong sales abilities.
For the experienced beauty therapist looking for further progression, the opportunity to become self employed, running your own beauty room is becoming an increasingly popular choice among senior beauty therapists. Becoming self employed requires a huge amount of dedication, motivation and an impeccable work ethic. If you have these traits, along with a long list of faithful clients then this could also be a route your career takes.
