If you’re deep into massage therapy training or esthetics school, you’re probably spending your time reading up on treatments you’ll be using on clients once you enter the field. Although perfecting deep tissue massage techniques or studying how to apply a chemical peel are great ways to spend your time in school, there are certain skills that will help you build a successful career that you should learn while you have the time.
The beauty of school is that you can figure out what type of career you want to have before you’re kicked out of the nest into the real world. You can test out different treatments, explore new technologies and ask your peers for advice and inspiration.
Below we’ve highlighted five skills that any student can perfect to prepare for a future career in the beauty and wellness space.
Social Media
Social media for a business is a whole different story than your personal social media. Although many of us have been snapping selfies and doing it for the gram for years, posting content on behalf of a business is a skillset you need for a future in the beauty and wellness space. While you’re in school, you can practice posting to your social pages and figure out what works best for you.
Take the time to work on your iPhone photography skills or learn how to make graphics so once you’re ready to start taking your own clients, you can focus on growing your social media pages. Don’t get discouraged if your posts don’t get many likes or if you feel like you’re talking to an empty room, you’ll be glad you learned the basics while no one is watching.
Booking Software
This one may not seem like a skill, but it's more important than you may realize. Learning how to use different types of booking software early on will save you a lot of time and headaches. Some of these platforms are intricate and have lots of different settings. Take the time to do some research and figure out how you will book client appointments if you’ll be venturing out on your own. Even if you’re planning on working at an established spa or salon, you’ll be using a scheduling program that the business has chosen.
Basic Accounting and Bookkeeping
For solo estheticians, lash artists, manicurists or other beauty pros, paying taxes and managing your revenue might seem like a daunting task. From the supplies you buy for your business to the rent due each month, all of your expenses will need to be tracked. There are many online options you can use for small business accounting and bookkeeping to make this a little easier. Use your time during school to research what you’ll need to know once you start taking clients and charging for services.
Leadership and Management
An underrated but very important skill to have under your belt is leadership and management. These skills will help you move up in your career if you’re working in a setting with a lot of people. If your school has opportunities to step up into a leadership role, volunteer! Special positions like this look great on a resume and will help you build skills that will come in handy later on in your career.
Customer Service
A core component of the beauty and wellness industry is customer service. You provide clients with all different types of services and it's important to develop skills that will not only help you sell products and services, but also develop a good relationship with your clients. If you have the opportunity to see clients while you’re in school, practice your customer service skills with them. They will understand that as a student you’re still getting the hang of things so, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and develop those strong client relationships that will lead to customer loyalty.
As a student, you’re going to learn many new things about your chosen industry. Preparing for tests and practicing techniques will always be your main priority but don’t forget about your future! Look out for opportunities to learn business and career development skills that will help you after graduation.
Keep coming back to the ICE Tea blog for more career advice and skills development tips and #neverstoplearning
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