How to Get a Job as a Hairdresser
Buchanan suggests that cosmetologists-to-be align themselves with a good beauty school. "That's going to give you some great foundation," he says. "And I call it 'graduate school' to work in a salon for at least a year after you graduate [from beauty school], because that's when you get to hone your craft." It's also a time when you can learn the most about relating to people, which is important. "You have to have an outgoing personality and be ready to serve the customer," Buchanan says. "The biggest headache is when you find people who are technically great but don't deliver great service."
Interview Questions Submitted by Real Hairdressers
"Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer and how you dealt with it." - American Girl Hair Stylist Candidate (Overland Park, KS)
"Do you have a clientele?" - Regis Corporation Hair Stylist Candidate (Kalamazoo, MI)
What is the Job Like?
Changing your physical appearance can be stressful, to both you and your hairdresser, and there are times when tension runs high in this job, particularly if a patron is displeased with the final results. Conversely, that also means the job has substantial rewards. "When I say to someone, 'let's enhance the shape of your face with this type of hair cut,' and then to watch their face light up and see how grateful they are when they see the outcome—I still get goose bumps," says Buchanan. Happy clients also translate into larger tips and more business referrals, which could eventually lead to a brass ring in a career of a hairdresser: the chance to own their own salon. Full-time hairdressers work a minimum of 40 hours each week, and more often than not have evening and weekend hours to accommodate the schedules of clients.
Real Reviews From Hairdressers
+ "Great to start off if you're a knew stylist to the industry. Good management in each salon, and always room to learn new things when it comes to doing hair." - Supercuts Hair Stylist (Saint Petersburg, FL)
+ "You have opportunity to set your own goals and reach them." - JCPenney Salon & Spa Senior Hair Stylist (Jacksonville, FL)
- "Sometimes I feel that dealing with the public is hard, and the pay should be a little bit higher for everything that you are required to deal with. My manager was always working and I know she deserved higher pay than what she received." - Hair Cuttery Stylist (Tinley Park, IL)
- "Not enough advertising to get the word out about our services." - Allure Salon & Spa Hair Stylist (Location Unknown)
Review information and interview questions supplied by Glassdoor.
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