Cosmetologist

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

• Promote products, services, or programs.
• Sell products or services.
• Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
• Administer therapeutic massages.
• Design costumes or cosmetic effects for characters.
• Demonstrate activity techniques or equipment use.
• Train service staff.
• Clean facilities or work areas.
• Clean tools or equipment.
• Maintain client information or service records.

Typical Working Conditions

• Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Having telephone conversations.
• Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
• The freedom to determine tasks, priorities, and goals.
• Close physical proximity with other people.
• Dealing with external customers.
• High levels of competition.
• Responsibility for others’ health and safety.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Cosmetologists

• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Helping Others—Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Being Aware of Others—Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Learning New Things—Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Teaching—Teaching others how to do something.
• Understanding How People Learn—Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Cosmetologists

• Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Sales and Marketing—Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Clerical—Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
• Chemistry—Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal m
• Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Personnel and Human Resources—Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
• Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Economics and Accounting—Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

• Artistic—Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Enterprising—Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is seeing a decline compared to other careers. There will be a -11.1% growth for Cosmetologists to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This career requires at least an Associates degree. This career does require a license and there are certifications are helpful for growth.

View the local post-secondary education options for this career from MSTATE/Wadena.

Spotlight on MSTATE

• MSTATE’s Cosmetology Program

If you have a physical, mental, developmental, or cognitive condition that requires educational support, learn about support options at MSTATE.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

• Child Development
• Computer Applications
• Cultural/Ethnic Studies
• English Composition
• Health Education
• Personal Finance
• Political Science
• Public Administration
• Public Speaking
• Safety and First Aid
• Sociology
• World Languages

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise