Friday, November 29, 2013

Why is cosmetology career for you?

Have you ever had people ask you what you would like to be when you grow up? Well, I think we all have been asked that question but not a lot of us actually ended up what we told them back then. It happens for a lot of reasons including (but not limited to) things like disapproval of our parents, change of hearts, unavailable to finish training due to constraints (such as course is not offered locally or financial problems) and more reasons. For a lot of us that do not become what we wanted when we were younger, the passion and love for our hopes and dreams is still there. 

A lot of people in their younger years would play and act and would want to be professional hairdressers/stylist or cosmetologists – they’d dream of making it big by being known using clippers, hair blower, curlers, scissors (and other hair dresser tools) and of course their creativity. To those who still have the passion for creativity in the field of beauty and fashion, you still have your chance and we are here to help you realize and reach that dream.  Keep in mind of the following things about this industry: 

It’s never too late – this industry doesn’t really have an age bracket. People wouldn’t train or hire you just because you are younger; they do it because of your passion and your creativity. 

Learning is accessible – compared to before where they maybe only a few cosmetology schools and they are in specific location, there are now hundreds of training centers and courses for this industry are even available online. Learning can also be easy as most of the courses (especially those online) are flexible and self paced. Meaning you can still go to work and only study on your free time. 

Following your dreams can bring you happiness – there maybe days that you get bored or unhappy working in your office but when you start training for a cosmetology career that you have long dreamt of, you will find yourself in a much more fun and happier environment. Being in a place wherein you are able to let your creativity flow can help you be the person you always wanted to be – and if you are successful in getting your cosmetology license, you can get paid to be that person. 

This is a strong industry – it’s one of the industries that has remained strong and continues to grow and improve (read more about the industry here). There are endless opportunities in this field and once you have acquired your license as a cosmetologist, you can take your career wherever you want – you can quit your job (if currently employed) and start out your own salon or business. You can choose to work in a salon as a employee but once you have established yourself, you have the chance to work with professionals (such as celebrities). 

Remember that the biggest blocker you will ever have in trying to reach your goals and dreams is only yourself – the rest will be just excuses you make because if you really want something, you know you’ll work hard to get it. You don’t have to worry or be scared to be in this industry for as long as you work hard and persevere, you will definitely be able to find success. 

If you have questions or anything you need help with, don’t be afraid to contact us or leave us a comment in this blog and we will be more than willing to help you in your journey to cosmetology.

Industry statistic:
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Personal-Care-and-Service/Barbers-hairdressers-and-cosmetologists.htm

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Why you should take advantage of the MYCAA program today

If you are a military spouse (whether a military wife or husband) and you are pondering on whether should you be enrolling in a new training program for a new career but is hesitant because of a lot of factors such as the requirement of having to relocate or move a lot when your partner is reassigned to another place where career opportunities might be different, well, let us show you a couple of factors why you should start your studies today with MYCAA program. 

·         MYCAA provides financial assistance – eligible spouses are provided up to $4,000 worth of educational financing assistance. The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts Program (MYCAA) is sponsored by the Department of Defense to help spouses pursue and achieve training, licenses and certifications necessary for their careers. Spouses of the following are eligible for the program:
§  an active duty Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine service member
§  an activated Reserve member of E1-E5, W1-W2, or O1-O2 pay grades
§  National Guard and/or AGR member who’s on federal Title 10 active duty orders

o   The program can provide you a chance to have a portable career in competitive and high demand industries and you wouldn’t have to pay for it.

·         Stay competitive in your area of interest – MYCAA has partnered with a number of schools/college including www.meditec.com (the license, certificate or diploma can only be obtained via accredited providers) and can assist you to be competitive in a lot of fields that could be in your area of interest. With this program, you can have a career in the medical, legal, business, technology and other industries to help you fulfill your professional desires and even earn extra that can help your family. Keep in mind what MYCAA pays for which are tuition fees for training and examination that can lead to a certification, license or an Associate's degree with a specified major or concentration.
o   Portable careers are really helpful for military families who move around a lot. They wouldn’t have to worry about having to find new jobs (or if their profession is available in the next location) as some portable careers only needs a computer and an internet connection for them to do their jobs (such as medical transcription). 

·         MYCAA provides counseling – assists in career guide, education and training options, job readiness, network and connections. Counselors can help spouses with their options, resumes and provides the best resources in getting the job. If you are unsure in any aspect of your professional career (from deciding which career to take or making your resume), counselors are ready to reach out and help answer all your questions. Getting professional help for your career questions or problems can help you in decision making – not just making the choice but making the right choice. 

You should visit https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa for your eligibility (a real time DEERS - Defense Enrollment and Eligibility Reporting System - will be used to verify) and other information you want to know about the program. You can also check out Meditec, one of the many MYCAA schools offering career training programs for military spouses – you can also take advantage of their free career guide to help you with deciding on which path you should take for your professional venture.

Should I learn cosmetology online?

Continuing education for cosmetology is not just a requirement you have to fulfill to be able to keep your license up to date it is also plays a vital role for the cosmetologist’s success as CE programs brings updates for skills and knowledge in the field including techniques that are no longer used. CE programs are also a great way to practice your skills and learn new trends in the industry – you might lose clients if you don’t know certain styles that are “popular” at the moment.

When you’re getting your cosmetology training, there are a lot of hands-on applications that you have to learn. Sometimes, you can learn part of the training online, but that depends on your state regulations and what types of programs you can find. In order to determine whether you can take online courses or not, you have to consider a few different things. One of the best uses of online courses in this career, of course, is continuing education. Still, there are some things to think about before you dive into online training unprepared.

Online cosmetology training courses will usually cover things like rules and regulations, procedures, minimum codes or guidelines, and things like theory and history of hair styling and cosmetic procedures. When you choose to study these courses online, you will have to find time to take the courses, motivate yourself to complete your education, and be able to identify the best training programs available. Finding the right provider for your online training is critical to your success, and you need to make sure that you do whatever it takes to get the education that you need and deserve.

Are you able to motivate yourself to learn? Sure, it’s helpful that the courses can be taken on your own time and at your own pace. If you’re not willing to complete the training at home, though, you might want to stick with traditional classes. You can save time and money with online cosmetology training, but if you’re not going to be able to complete the courses, you might as well not waste your efforts and stick to a traditional training program or classroom. It’s easy to say that you can do online courses, but they are not going to be as foolproof as you might think.

Most people have no trouble completing cosmetology training online, regardless of how many courses they take or which types of programs they choose. It’s a really flexible and more affordable way to get continuing education and initial training when people can’t afford to put their lives on hold to get career training that they need. As long as you take the time to understand what online courses are about, know what is expected of you and which courses are best for your specific needs, you should have no trouble getting the training that you need with online cosmetology programs. Just make sure that you’re prepared and informed about your training decision.

Resources to read:
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Personal-Care-and-Service/Barbers-hairdressers-and-cosmetologists.htm
http://www.cosmetologycampus.com/blog/

Monday, November 18, 2013

Can I really learn with Online Cosmetology Schools?

The beauty industry requires an extensive hands on training for interested students and in a lot of places in the US, to be able to practice in the cosmetology field, you are required to take specific training courses and pass an exam to be able to obtain a license.

Most aspiring cosmetology professionals looks for training courses from traditional schools and not a lot of them thinks about online training programs – even those taking up cosmetology continuing education programs required in renewing licenses in this field.  However, online courses can be effective in providing the right skills and education students need to be successful in this industry. Newbie’s in the field definitely will need hands on courses but for the most part, they can cover the basics online - but for those with background and/or those only needing continuing education credits, they mostly rely on online training programs. Those using online programs only need to ensure they find reputable programs and approved or certified providers to work with – they need to be careful of scam programs or courses that may not be recognized in their state.

That is why it is important for all cosmetology students to check their local state board requirements for this industry. Every state has different requirements and guidelines, and you should do whatever it takes to make sure that you meet your state demands when getting your education. In some cases, states will only allow online training for continuing education credits. In other cases, they will not allow online training at all, although this is very rare in today’s society. Regardless, you need to figure out what you are allowed to do and which courses you need to take to get your license based on your state of residence.

You can’t learn how to cut and style hair effectively online, but you can learn many other parts of the job like salon operations, regulations and guidelines of the cosmetology industry, theory and history of the industry, and related subjects. If you’re trying to learn more about your career in a faster amount of time, you can easily supplement your training program with online courses to get your certification sooner and spend less time waiting to start your new career.

Make sure that you find online courses that suit your needs. You will need to know whether you are looking for cosmetology school programs or continuing education credits so that you can get the right course program. It is also helpful if you are prepared and informed about your state requirements prior to enrolling, even though most online training programs will only offer you courses that you are able to take based on where you live. All in all, it’s about being prepared and informed. If you plan accordingly and know what you’re getting into, you really can get cosmetology school education, or at least part of it, through online training courses.

One online provider that you can trust is cosmetologycampus.com – they have trained a lot of students that are now successful in the cosmetology industry. They can provide you education and training that you will need in obtaining and updating your license and of course to be successful in the field.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Practical tips to be successful in cosmetology

The cosmetology industry is one of the fields that are still going strong and the opportunities continue to increase. A “recession proof” industry as a lot of people would see it and according to the facts and figures presented by the American Association of Cosmetology Schools, the industry shows steady growth with strong gains. (Click here to read more about cosmetology industry)

Not a lot of professionals who tried to take on this industry are successful. The following tips can help guide cosmetologists in their way to success in this field:

1.    Understand the field – the first thing you should do is to decide whether this industry is the one for you. Take the time to do research about the field and even ask people or cosmetologists about the industry. Learn common problems, responsibilities and other relevant tasks that are important in the field and determine if you can handle all of those challenges.

2.    Get licensed – different states have different requirements for being a cosmetologist. You must fulfill all of all of those requirements and you must be aware of the demands of your local licensing board to ensure you keep your license – renewals are also a part of the requirements (every 2 years for other states).

a.    Finding the right school – the first step in getting licensed is to know your state requirements. Most cosmetology schools (online or classroom) can provide you this detail or you can check with your local regulatory board. You must choose a school that can provide all of these requirements and a school that is accredited/accepted/approved for your state.

b.    Complete all requirements – some state requires credits from specific courses or curriculum before a student can apply for a license. Of course, before a license is provides, some states will require cosmetologists to pass an exam.

3.    Provide the best customer service – after you get licensed and be an expert of this industry, you must now ensure that you provide the best customer service. This means you have to meet all requirements, wants and needs of the customer. You have to show that you are the professional the customer can trust – dress appropriately and professionally. You also have to show the clients that you know what you are doing and what you are working with – take the time to discuss specific products that you are using and their possible effect when used. Of course, nobody would like to be served by a cosmetologist who does not smile so always keep a positive attitude.

a.    This industry relies on referrals too. When you provide the best customer service and your client appreciates it, you can definitely expect referrals from them. An event such as birthdays, weddings, etc. is one of the best places to get referrals – when people see how great of a job you have done with the celebrant or the bride.

4.    Take continuing education credits – aside from they are a requirement in renewing cosmetology licenses, they also can help you advance your career as those courses are designed to provide updates about the industry and lessons for new skills or technology that is being used in the field.

Without passion and hard work, you won’t make it great in this industry so before following this tips, be sure that this is something that you really want and this is a career that you see yourself in the future. You can take advantage of cosmetology schools such as cosmetologycampus.com when you are in need of updates, tips and even continuing education for your career.