Chapter # 30
Seeking Employment
Chapter Objectives:
Discuss the essentials of becoming test-wise
Explain the steps involved in preparing for
employment
List and describe the various types of salon
businesses
Write and achievement-oriented resume and
prepare an employment portfolio
Explain how to explore the job market and
research potential employers
Be prepared to complete an effective
employment interview
Ch # 30 Key Terms:
Deductive Reasoning – process of reaching logical
conclusions by employing logical reasoning
Employment Portfolio – collection usually bound of
photos and documents that reflect your skills,
accomplishments, and abilities in your chosen career
field
Resume – written summary of a person’s education and
work experience
Test-wise – Having a complete and thorough knowledge
of the subject matter, and understanding the strategies
for taking tests successfully
Transferable skills – skills mastered at other jobs that
can be put to use in a new position
Work Ethic – Taking pride in your work, and committing
yourself to consistently doing a good job for your clients,
employer and salon team
Success
• Once you become successful you owe
your success to no one but yourself
because you created it, people may have
helped you along the way however you
owned it and you alone achieved it.
Cosmetology Industry
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No matter what changes occur in the
economy, there are often more jobs
available for entry-level cosmetology
professionals than there are people to fill
them. This is a tremendous advantage for
you upon completion of this course, your
high school diploma, and passing the state
board testing. Our industry is constantly
evolving providing many areas of specialty
for you.
Preparing for the test
• Factors that affect how well you will perform on
tests are:
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physical and psychological state
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your memory
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time management
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skills in reading, writing, note taking,
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and general learning
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MOST IMPORTANT – mastery of course
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content
Test-Wise
Practicing good study habits and time management
Having a planned realistic study schedule
Reading content carefully and becoming an active
studier
Keeping a well-organized notebook
Developing a detailed vocabulary list
Taking effective notes during class
Organizing and reviewing handouts
Reviewing past quizzes and tests
Listening carefully in class for cues and clues about what
could be expected on the test
Holistic Test-Wise
Develop a positive attitude toward taking
the test
Get plenty of rest the night before the test
Dress comfortably
Anticipate some anxiety
Avoid cramming the night before
On the day of the test
Relax and try to slow down physically
If possible, review the material lightly the day of the exam
Arrive early
Have a self-confident attitude
Be alert, calm, and ready for the challenge
Read all written directions
Listen carefully to all verbal directions before beginning
If there is anything that you do not understand DO NOT HESITATE to ask
Skim the entire test before beginning
Budget your time – do not spend too much time on any one questions
Wear a watch so you can monitor the time
Answer the easiest questions first
Scan all questions first, because it may provide you with a clue for the more difficult questions
Mark the questions you skip so you can find them again later
Read each question carefully to make sure that you know exactly what the question is asking
Answer as many questions as possible
Questions that you are unsure of you should make an educated guess
Review the test when you are done before submitting
Only make changes to answers if there is a good reason to do so
make sure that you completed all basic information such as name and date
Deductive Reasoning
• Is the process of reaching logical
conclusions by employing logical
reasoning
Deductive Reasoning Strategies
Eliminate options known to be incorrect – the more
answers you can eliminate the better your chances of
identifying the correct one
Watch for key words or terms – look for qualifying
conditions such as: usually, commonly, in most
instances, never, or always
Study the stem – (the basic question) look for a match
between the stem and one of the choices
Watch for grammatical clues – if the last word in a stem
is “an” the answer must begin with a vowel rather than a
consonant
Looking at similar or related questions can provide clues
True / False Test Format
Strategies:
Watch for qualifying words: all, most, some,
none, always, usually, sometimes, never, little,
no, equal, less, good, bad
Absolutes: all, none, always, & never are
generally not true
For a statement to be true, the entire statement
must be true
Long statements are more likely to be true than
short statements(It takes more detail to provide
truthful, factual information)
Multiple Choice Strategies:
Read the entire question, including all the choices
Look for the BEST answer, more than one might be true
Eliminate incorrect answers by crossing them out
When two choices are close or similar, one of them is probably right
When two choices are identical both must be wrong
When two choices are opposite one is probably right and one is
probably wrong depending on the number of other choices
“All of the above” types of responses are often the correct response
Pay special attention to words such as not, except, and but
The answer to one question may be in the stem of another
If all else fails at least take a guess, it is better to try
Preparing for employment
What do you really want out of a career in
cosmetology?
What particular areas within the beauty
industry are the most interesting to you?
What are your strongest practical skills,
and in what ways do you wish to use
them?
What personal qualities will help you have
a successful career?
Preparing for employment:
• Ask yourself:
 Do you want to work in a big city or small town?
 Are you compatible with a sophisticated, exclusive salon
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or a trendy salon?
Which clientele are you able to communicate with more
effectively?
Do you want to start out slowly are carefully or do you
want to jump in and throw everything into your career
from the starting gate?
Will you be in this industry throughout your working
career or is this just a stopover?
Will you only work a 30 or 40 hour week or will you go
the extra mile when opportunities are available?
How ambitious are you and how many risks are you
willing to take?
How to get the job you want
• Several key personal characteristics that will not only
help you get the position you want, but will help you keep
it are:
Motivation – having the drive
Integrity – committed to a strong code of moral and
artistic values
Good technical and communication skills – you MUST
develop BOTH to reach the level of success you desire
Strong work ethic – means taking pride in your work, and
committing yourself to consistently doing a good job for
your clients, employer, and salon team
Enthusiasm – your eagerness to learn from and expand
your skills and knowledge
Salon Statistics
• In the US alone there are approx 313
thousand salons and approx 1.6 million
active cosmetology professionals
Types of Salons:
• Small Independent:
 Owned by an individual or two or more partners
 Makes up the majority of professional salons
 The average independent salon has three styling
chairs
 Usually the owners are hair practitioners who
maintain their own clientele while managing the
business
 Their image, décor, services, prices and clientele
all reflect the owner’s experience and taste
Types of Salons:
• Independent Salon Chains:
 Usually chains of five or more salons that are
owned by one individual or two or more partners
 Range from basic hair salons to full-service
salons and day spas
 Some larger salons also employ education
directors and style directors, and practitioners
are often hired to manage particular locations
Types of Salons:
• Large National Salon Chains
 These companies operate salons throughout the country, and even
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internationally.
They can be budget or value priced, haircut only or full service, midprice or high end.
Some salon chains operate within department store chains
Mgmt and marketing professionals at the corporate headquarters
make all the decisions for each salon
Many newly licensed cosmetology professionals seek their first jobs
in national chain salons because of the secure pay and benefits,
additional paid training, mgmt opportunities, and corporate
advertising
Because these chains are widespread, employees have the
opportunity to transfer from one location to another
Types of Salons:
• Franchise Salons:
 Form of chain salon organization
 They have a national name and consistent image and
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business formula throughout the chain
Are owned by individuals who pay a fee to use the name
Owners receive a business plan and can take advantage
of national marketing campaigns
Decisions as size, location, décor, and prices are
determined in advance by the parent company
Generally not owned by practitioners, but by investors
who seek a return on their investment
Types of Salons:
• Basic Value-Prices Operations:
 Located in busy, low rent shopping center strips
that are anchored by a nearby supermarket or
other large business
 These operations depend on a high volume of
walk-in-traffic
 They often hire recent cosmetology graduates
and generally pay them by the hour, sometimes
adding commission style bonuses if individual
sales pass a certain level
 Haircuts are usually reasonable priced and
practitioners are trained to work fast with no frills
Types of Salons:
• Mid-Priced Full Service Salons:
 Offer a complete menu of hair, nail, and skin
services and retail products
 They run strong marketing programs to
encourage client returns and referrals
 These salons train their professional styling
team to be as productive and profitable as
possible
 Here you will have the opportunity to build a
relationship with clients that may extend over
time
Types of Salons:
• High-End “Image” Salons or Day Spas:
 Employs well trained professionals and salon assistants
who offer higher priced services to clients that are filled
with luxurious extras such as a 5 minute head, neck, and
shoulder massage as part of the shampoo and luxurious
spa manicures and pedicures
 Located in trendy, upscale sections of large cities,
elegant mansions, high rent offices and retail towers or
luxury hotels and resorts
 Clients expect a high level of personal service and
technical expertise, as well as personal appearance and
communication skills
Types of Salons:
• Booth Rental:
 Also called chair rental
 Least expensive way of owning one’s own
business
 NOT LEGAL in NJ
Resume Development
Resume – a written summary of your education
and work experience. It tells potential employers
at a glance what your achievements and
accomplishments are.
The average time that a potential employer will
spend scanning your resume is about 20
seconds
Focus on your achievement and
accomplishment statements rather than your
duties and responsibilities
Add numbers or percentages whenever possible
Resume Guidelines
Keep it simple
Print it on good quality white, buff, or gray bond
paper
Include your name, address, phone number, and
email address on both the resume and your
cover letter
List recent, relevant work experience
List relevant education and the name of the
institution from which you graduated, as well as
relevant courses attended
Questions to ponder for resume:
How many regular clients do I serve?
How many clients do I serve weekly?
What was my service ticket average?
What was my client retention rate?
What percentage of my client revenue came from retailing?
What percentage of my client revenue came from color or texture
services?
Did you receive any honors during your course of training?
Were you ever selected “student of the month”?
Did you receive special recognition for your attendance or academic
progress?
Did you win any cosmetology related competitions while in school?
What was your attendance average while in school?
Did you work with the student body to organize any fundraisers?,
what were the results?
Do’s & Don’ts of Resumes
• Do's:
Make it easy to read – use clear concise sentences, avoid
overwriting, choose a basic font
Know your audience – use vocabulary and language that will be
understood by your potential employer
Keep it short – you have 20 seconds or less to impress
Stress accomplishments – emphasize and the skills you used to
achieve them
Focus on career goal – highlight info that is relevant to the position
you are seeking
Emphasize transferable skills – skills that you have already
mastered at another job that you can put to use in a new position
Use action verbs – such as achieved, coordinated, developed,
increased, maintained, and strengthened
Make it neat – poorly structured layout will not reflect well on you
Do’s & Don’ts of Resumes:
• Don’ts:
 Salary references – do not state your salary
history or reason for leaving your former
employment
 Stretch the truth – Misinformation or untruthful
statements usually catch up with you
 Include personal references – employers are
really only interested in references that can
speak about your professional ability
 Expect too much – Don’t have unrealistic
expectations of what your resume can
accomplish
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Stacey Ann Amato
Resume Example
159 Bridge Ave Red Bank NJ 07701
Home: 732-383-5606 Cell: 201-832-9374
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E-Mail: Stamato1@aol.com
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* Objective
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* Experience
To attain a rewarding career with growth potential while having the opportunity to share my knowledge.
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Irvington High School, Irvington, NJ
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09/07 – present
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Prepare students to take and pass the NJ State Board of Cosmetology Exam
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Develop curriculum
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Utilize differentiated instruction methods based upon student needs, abilities, and Individualized Education Plan, where applicable
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Utilize technology in the classroom to enhance student comprehension of curriculum and use authentic assessment activities
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Cosmetology Teacher
Bath & Body Works, Woodbridge, NJ
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09/07 – present
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Analyze business and develop strategies to achieve and exceed sales plan
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Ensure a consistent quality experience for all customers
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Network, recruit, hire, coach, and develop new talent
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Perform all store opening and closing procedures, write schedules, ensure loss prevention measures are followed, maintain visual
standards
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Associate
09/06 – 09/07
Co-Manager
Spilo Worldwide, Los Angeles, California
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01/04 – 09/06
National Director of Education & Trade Shows
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03/98 – 01/04
National Lead Educator – Independent Contractor
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Designed, implemented, and conducted educational programs for product knowledge and techniques for cosmetology schools, distributors, sales reps,
and licensed technicians
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2003 – Present
Collier High School, Wickatunk, New Jersey
Substitute Teacher
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Maintain classroom control, present lessons, administer tests, perform hands-on demonstrations
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Co-chaired Collier’s in-house hair show; arrange for vendor donations of products; train students on all aspects of beauty shows
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3/97 – 1/04
Broadway Attraction Salon, Hillsdale, NJ
Salon Manager / Stylist
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Managed daily operations: opened/closed salon; performed bookkeeping tasks, payroll, and scheduling; controlled inventory; recovered outstanding debt; resolved
customer, vendor, and personnel issues in a timely fashion
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Trained and mentored all new staff and beginning stylists
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Tailored management software to meet salon needs
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Performed all salon services; specialized in corrective color
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Reviewed reports and instituted new policies to maximize
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business’s potential
09/00 – 06/02
Alterna Haircare, Beverly Hills, California
Regional Educational Manager – Independent contractor
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Taught product knowledge classes in salons
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Trained future educators
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Conducted assisted selling days in distributors’ stores
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Oversaw educators’ class schedules and presentation contents
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10/89 – 10/98
Bookkeeper / Customer Service Representative / Cashier
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Inserra Supermarkets, (Emerson, Ramsey, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ)
Handled large sums of cash, checks, and credit cards while
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preparing daily deposits, balanced daily books and records for
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stores
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Handled and resolved customer issues in a timely manner
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Assisted management with daily opening or closing operations
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*Education
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5/97-5/99 Capri Institute, Paramus, NJ/ NJ License #WG34242
Employment Portfolio
A collection, usually bound of photos and
documents that reflect your skills,
accomplishments, and abilities in your
chosen career field
The portfolio like the resume, should be
prepared in a way that projects
professionalism
Nothing should be handwritten
Powerful Portfolios include:
Diplomas
Awards and achievements
Current resume
Letters of reference from former employers
Summary of continuing education
Copies of training certificates
Statement of membership in industry or other professional
organizations
Statement of relevant civic affiliations or community activities
Before and after photos
Brief statement about why you have chosen a career in cosmetology
Targeting the establishment
Accept that you probably will not begin in your
dream job
Do not wait until graduation to begin your search
Locate a salon that serves the type of clients you
with to serve
Make a list area salons or establishments – the
yellow pages or www.anywho.com will be helpful
for this
Follow newspapers, televisions, and radio for
salon advertising
Field Research
A great way to find out about jobs is to actually
get out there and use your eyes, ears, and any
other sense that can help you gather information
Networking allows your to establish contacts that
may eventually lead to a job, and helps you gain
valuable information about the workings of
carious establishments
You might even make contact as a salon
customer yourself
The Salon Visit
When you visit a salon take along a checklist to
ensure that you observe all the key areas that
might ultimately affect your decision making
After your visit always remember to write a brief
note thanking the salon representative for his or
her time, even if you did not like the salon or
would never consider working there, it is
important to send a thank-you note. Never burn
your bridges. Instead build a network of
contacts who have a favorable opinion of you
Interview Preparation
When preparing for an interview make sure that you have all the necessary information and
materials in place
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1.Identification:
a. Social Security number
b. Driver’s license number
c. Names, addresses, & phone numbers of former employers
d. Name and phone number of the nearest relative not living with you
2.Interview Wardrobe: Your appearance is crucial especially since you are applying for a
position in the image and beauty industry
a. Is the outfit appropriate for the position?
b. Is it both fashionable and flattering to your shape and personality?
c. Are your accessories both fashionable and functional? (not too noisy or too large that they
could interfere with the service)
d. Are your nails meticulously groomed and do they say something about your abilities as a
cosmetologist
e. Is your hairstyle current? Does it flatter your face and overall style?
f. Is your makeup current?
g. Is your perfume or cologne subtle?
h. Are you carrying either a handbag or briefcase, but not both?
Interview Preparation
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3. Supporting materials
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a. Resume – take a minimum of 3 copies with you
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b. Facts and figures – have a list of names and dates of former employment, education and references
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c. Employment portfolio
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4. Answers to anticipated questions
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a. What did you like best about your training?
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b. Are you punctual and regular in attendance?
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c. Will your school director or instructor confirm this?
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d. What skill do you feel are your strongest?
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e. What areas do you consider to be less strong?
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f. Are you a team player? (give an example)
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g. Do you consider yourself flexible? Please explain
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h. What are your career goals?
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i. What days and hours are you available for work?
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j. Do you have your own transportation?
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k. Are there any obstacles that would prevent you from keeping your commitment to full-time employment?
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l. What assets do you believe that you would bring to this salon and the position?
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m. If you could have lunch with anyone who would it be and why?
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n. How would you handle a problem client?
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o. How do you feel about retailing?
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p. Would you be willing to attend our company training program?
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q. Describe ways that you provide excellent customer service
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r. Please share and example of consultation questions that you might ask a client
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s. What steps do you take to build your business and ensure that clients return to see you?
Interview Preparation
• 5. Be prepared to perform a service –
some salons require applicants to perform
service in their chosen discipline as part of
the interview. Be sure to confirm if this is a
requirement
The Interview
ALWAYS be on time – better yet – BE EARLY
If you are unsure of the location find it before hand so there will be no reason for delays
Project a warm, friendly smile – smiling is a universal language
Walk, sit and stand with good posture
Be polite and courteous
Do not sit until asked to do so
Never smoke or chew gum – even if it is offered to you
Do not come to an interview with a cup of coffee, snacks, or anything else to eat or drink
Never lean on or tough the interviewer’s desk – some people do not like their personal space
invaded without an invitation
Try to project a positive first impression by appearing as confident and relaxed as you can
Speak clearly and use good grammar
Answer questions honestly. Think about the question, and do not speak before you are ready
Do not speak for more than 2 minutes at a time
Never criticize former employers
Always remember to thank the interviewer at the end of the interview
The Interview
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The second part of the interview is when you are invited to ask questions. You should
think about the questions before hand and prepare a list, doing so will show that you
are organized and prepared
Some questions you might consider:
1. Is there a job description? May I review it?
2. Is there a salon manual?
3. How frequently does the salon advertise?
4. How long do practitioners typically work here?
5. Are employees encouraged to grow in skills and responsibility? How so?
6. Does the salon offer continuing education opportunities?
7. Is there room for advancement? If so, what are the requirements for promotion?
8. What benefits does the salon offer, such as paid vacations, personal days, and
medical insurance?
9. What is the form of compensation?
10. When will the position be filled?
11. Should I follow up on your decision, or will you contact me?
Remember to write a thank you note following your interview and close the note with
a positive statement if you want the job.
Legal Aspects of the Interview
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Over the years a number of issues have arisen about questions that may or may not
be included in an application or interview including:
Race / ethnicity
Religion
Citizenship
National Origin
Disabilities or physical traits
Age / Date of Birth – it is only permissible to ask if the applicant is “18 or older”
Disabilities or physical traits
Drug use or smoking – this question is permissible, in fact the employer may
obtain the applicant’s agreement to be bound by the employer’s drug and smoking
policies and to submit to drug testing
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Not all potential employers will understand that they may be asking improper or illegal
questions. You may choose to answer them or not or you may simply respond that
you believe the question is irrelevant to the position you are seeking
Legal Questions
vs.
Illegal Questions
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Legal Question:
Question:
Illegal
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1.Are you over the age of 18?
2.Are you able to perform this job?
1.How old are you?
2. Please describe
your medical history
3. Are you a US
Citizen?
4. What is your
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3. Are you authorized to work in the US?
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4. In which languages are you fluent?
native?
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tongue?
Review Questions
What is the most important way that a learner can do well on any test?
Explain deductive reasoning
List eight steps that learners should take prior to the examination to improve
results
When considering a statement on a true/false test, why are long statements
more likely to be true than shorter statements?
Name and describe at least five types of salon businesses
List up to eight strategies that you will find helpful when writing your resume
List several items that should be included in your professional portfolio
Briefly summarize the preliminary things that you should consider before
beginning your salon search
In your own words, explain what can be accomplished by visiting a salon
prior to an employment interview
Why are thank-you notes important even if you visit a salon where you do
not wish to become employed
List 12 important interview behaviors that you should practice