Employment Opportunities
The field of esthetics has never been better. In the most recent publication from the Bureau of Labor & Statistics (link) it was announced that estheticians & make-up artists will see the largest growth in the cosmetology field, growing over 40% in the next 10 years. Why this big growth? Ask your friends, ask your neighbors, or simply ask the person next to you! Do you care about the appearance of your skin? Most likely the answer is yes! The demand for estheticians is here, in every income level, and in every age group! Be a part of this exciting growth!
Job Outlook | from Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2015
Continued growth in the number full-service spas and nail salons will also generate numerous job openings for manicurists, pedicurists, and skin care specialists. Estheticians and other skin care specialists will see large gains in employment, and are expected to grow almost 38 percent, much faster than average, primarily due to the popularity of skin treatments for relaxation and medical well-being. Manicurists and pedicurists meanwhile will grow by 19 percent, faster than average.
LINKS:
Bureau of Labor & Statistics
Occupational Employment Statistics-Wage Report
Please see Skinworks Department of Education disclosures here
Here are a few examples of career opportunities a license in esthetics could open for you:
- spa employee or owner
- product/equipment educator or sales
- make-up artist
- paramedical esthetician
- physician’s assistant
- instructor/trainer
These employment opportunities exist within: doctor’s offices, resorts, cruise ships, day spas, medical spa, training facilities, salons, and with large corporations.
Spas and Resorts
The Spa & Resort industry continues to grow every year. Approximately 9,600 spas in the United States are generating $10.7 billion in revenue, an increase of 114% between 2000 and 2002. The number of spas has grown at an annual rate of 20% each year for the past 8 years; every 4 years, the number of spas doubles.
Customer Service Bad Example
Customer Service Good Example
Clinical Setting
Over the past few years, the physician skin care community has begun a unique evolution that includes a combination of medical and non-medical therapies geared toward improving the overall appearance of skin. Many skin problems can be treated by a Para-medical Esthetician as an alternative to surgery or drugs. Working in the health care field is extremely rewarding.
Private Practice
As an Esthetician you may have the opportunity to start your own Private Practice where you can work on your own terms.
- Analyze customer’s skin care needs
- Discuss treatments and products with clients.
- Use a magnifying lamp or visor.
- Perform facials to cleanse pores and improve skin tone.
- Apply chemical peels to reduce fine lines and age spots.
- Perform simple extractions to remove blackheads.
- Remove unwanted facial hair using depilatory wax.
- Tint eyebrows.
- Instruct customers on skin care and makeup techniques.
- Sterilize equipment and clean work area.
- Massage the face.
- Select and apply cosmetic products such as creams, lotions, and tonics.
Paramedical Estheticians
work with plastic surgeons and dermatologists in pre-and postoperative skin care. Under the guidance of a licensed health care provider, they provide treatments that prepare the skin for surgery for a more comfortable healing process. They show patients how to conceal redness and bruising with corrective make-up while skin is healing.
What Skills Are Important?
The following skills, knowledge, and abilities are important for Estheticians:
- Service Orientation – Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Speaking – Talking to others to effectively convey information.
- Active Listening – Listening to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate.
- Social Perceptiveness – Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react the way they do.
- Equipment Selection – Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
- Problem Identification – Identifying the nature of problems.
- Time Management – Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
- Arm-Hand Steadiness – Keeping the hand and arm steady while making an arm movement or while holding the arm and hand in one position.
- Knowledge of Disinfection Procedures and Considerations – Recognizing infectious diseases and knowing disinfection and safety procedures for the protection of operators and clients.
- Estheticians also need an awareness of sound business practices since many will eventually be self-employed. They will need to know how to market services, manage inventory, retain clients while attracting new ones, negotiate rental contracts, and build in a stable profit margin.
What Is The Work Environment?
Estheticians work indoors in salons, health and beauty spas, or medical offices. Estheticians may wear lab coats and gloves in their work. They use chemical and herbal preparations and must not be allergic to them. Estheticians must be able to do daily lifting, pushing, and pulling of up to ten pounds. Although Estheticians may sit a good percentage of the time, the job is not sedentary as Estheticians get up, reach, and bend over 80 percent of the day.
Estheticians can also work outside the treatment arena as educators and/or sales representatives for product manufacturers, as teachers, and as makeup artists in television studios, movie sets, fashion shows, and for wedding consultants.