Esthetician Job Description
The esthetician job description is bundled
by The bureau of labor statistics (BLS)
into a diverse group of job descriptions under one category called
Barbers, Cosmetologists, and Other Personal Appearance Workers. This category
includes beauticians, estheticians, skin care specialists, hairdressers,
manicurists, pedicurists and electrologists. The job descriptions for these
workers share a number of similarities as they are all focused on personal
appearance, grooming and other specialized services.
The BLS lists the Esthetician job
description as a skin care
specialist, I have also found sites that describe it as someone specializing in
hand care such as a manicurist.
In addition to working with clients,
personal appearance workers are expected to maintain clean work areas and
sanitize all their work instruments. They may make appointments and keep records
of hair color and permanent-wave formulas used by their regular clients. A
growing number actively sell hair care products and other cosmetic supplies.
Barbers, cosmetologists, and other personal appearance workers who operate their
own salons have managerial duties that may include hiring, supervising, and
firing workers, as well as keeping business and inventory records, ordering
supplies, and arranging for advertising.
Barbers, cosmetologists, and other personal
appearance workers usually work in clean, pleasant surroundings with good
lighting and ventilation. Good health and stamina are important, because these
workers are on their feet for most of their shift. Prolonged exposure to some
hair and nail chemicals may cause irritation, so protective clothing, such as
plastic gloves or aprons, may be worn.
Most full-time barbers, cosmetologists, and other
personal appearance workers put in a 40-hour week, but longer hours are common,
especially among self-employed workers. Work schedules may include evenings and
weekends, the times when beauty salons and barbershops are busiest. Barbers and
cosmetologists generally work on weekends and during lunch and evening hours; as
a result, they may arrange to take breaks during less busy times. About half of
the people working in this industry work part time.
Training and Qualifications - what
you have to do to be one
Public and private vocational schools offer daytime or
evening classes in barbering and cosmetology. Full-time programs in barbering
and cosmetology usually last 9 to 24 months, but training for manicurists and
pedicurists, skin care specialists, and electrologists requires significantly
less time. An apprenticeship program can last from 1 to 3 years. Shampooers
generally do not need formal training or a license. Formal training programs
include classroom study, demonstrations, and practical work. Students study the
basic services—cutting and styling hair, chemically treating hair, shaving
customers, and giving hair and scalp treatments—and, under supervision, practice
on customers in school “clinics.” Students attend lectures on the use and care
of instruments, sanitation and hygiene, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and the
recognition of simple skin ailments. Instruction also is provided in
communication, sales, and general business practices. Experienced barbers and
cosmetologists may take advanced courses in hairstyling, coloring, the sale and
service of wigs and hairpieces, and sales and marketing.
Licensing and
Credentialing
After graduating from a training program, students can
take a State licensing examination, which consists of a written test and, in
some cases, a practical test of styling skills based on established performance
criteria. A few States include an oral examination in which applicants are asked
to explain the procedures they are following while taking the practical test. In
many States, cosmetology training may be credited toward a barbering license,
and vice versa. A few States combine the two licenses into one hairstyling
license. Many States require separate licensing examinations for manicurists,
pedicurists, and skin care specialists.
All States require barbers, cosmetologists, and most
other personal appearance workers, with the exception of shampooers, to be
licensed; however, qualifications for a license vary by State. Generally, a
person must have graduated from a State-licensed barber or cosmetology school
and be at least 16 years old. A few States require applicants to pass a physical
examination. Some States require graduation from high school, while others
require as little as an eighth-grade education. In a few States, the completion
of an apprenticeship can substitute for graduation from a school, but very few
barbers or cosmetologists learn their skills in this way. Applicants for a
license usually are required to pass a written test and demonstrate an ability
to perform basic barbering or cosmetology services.
Significant Points
Job opportunities generally should be good, but competition is expected for jobs
and clients at higher paying salons; opportunities will be best for those
licensed to provide a broad range of services.
A State license is required for barbers, cosmetologists, and most other personal
appearance workers, with the exception of shampooers; qualifications vary by
State.
About 48 percent of workers are self-employed; many also work flexible
schedules.
Advancement - chances for
promotion
The majority of these workers are engaged
in private practice. Unless they work for a major corporation promotions and
advancement will be limited. Increases in salary will come from raising their
fees and/or passing on rising costs to the consumer. For those who are employed
advancement will vary depending on the size of the organization. A number of
national corporations provide salon services and the opportunity exists for
positions such as regional manager or similar job title.
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Source:Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07
Edition,
Barbers, Cosmetologists, and Other Personal Appearance Workers,
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos169.htm

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