Considering a Career in Cosmetology?
Dear Counselor, I’ve thought about being a cosmetologist but I’m not sure if this is the career for me. What should I do?
Answer:
To get a better feel for cosmetology, you should talk with people who have worked in the field for some time. Shadow them for a day. Consider getting a part-time job in a salon. The more exposure you have (beyond the classroom), the better your understanding will be of it.
You also need to spend some time thinking about what you like and dislike about cosmetology. Take the “likes” and think about what other jobs have those characteristics. What are the negatives and what other jobs share those characteristics? Those are the ones to stay away from.
Keep in mind that at any job, there will be aspects you’re not in love with. You have to determine whether the good outweighs the bad and whether the negative aspects are things that you can live with. For the long term, consider whether cosmetology is something you want to wake up and do every day. If not, what can you picture yourself doing?
Think about the environment you want to work in and the type of people you want to interact with. What sorts of industries interest you? What will interest you to the point of wanting to learn more and improve your skills? If you decide to move on from cosmetology, be sure to really explore the fields you’re interested in. Again, shadow people or interview them – get a feel for the day-to-day life. If you invest the time and energy to really hash out your interests and options, it should pay off in the future.
