Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/762312
56 january/february 2017 BUILD YOUR RESUME—EVEN WITH NO EXPERIENCE You might wonder what you can do to build a resume when you have not even given your fi rst facial. Whether you are in esthetician school pursuing your fi rst career or are launching a second or third career, you can begin to build your resume as a skin care professional from day one by pursuing opportunities to gain related experiences and demonstrating your passion for learning and growing in your new profession. Outside activities will position you as a team player. Keep a record of all the "value- added" activities you participate in, including dates, contact people, and a summary of what you did. These can be a part of your resume and portfolio. Here are a few examples of how to gain related experience. Attend Trade Shows: Many schools make arrangements for students to attend local or regional trade shows. If yours does not, it's easy to research local, regional, state, or national shows. Discounted admission for students is frequently off ered. Using the buddy system and attending with other students can help you save on travel and other costs. Trade shows provide product training classes, opportunities to meet skin care vendors, and educational sessions to learn new skills. A trade show is a great opportunity to practice your "elevator pitch," a friendly and casual greeting where you introduce yourself, share what you do, and what your passion is in just a few sentences. It may go something like this: "Hello, I'm Megan Holmes. I am a student esthetician at the Skin Care Institute. My passion is to help teens understand the importance of good skin care habits that will make them feel and look great." DEVELOP YOUR PROFESSIONAL IMAGE What kind of fi rst impression do you make? Consider not just how you present yourself in person, but also your social media and digital footprint. Review your social media accounts and remove any pictures or posts that don't present you in a professional light. This includes pictures or posts on friends' or group social media accounts. Actively manage your professional image by reviewing these accounts on a regular basis. Drop accounts or contacts that have you tagged in any pictures you would not want a potential employer to see. Create a business-oriented email address for your job search and networking activities. Cute social media addresses or off -color names may not match your intention to obtain employment. Consider creating separate social media accounts with a business focus. You can use these to highlight your work in school and promote your professional aspirations. Mingling your personal accounts with your new professional image is not recommended. Your professional image extends to your personal appearance, too. Lindsey Robinson, head esthetician and spa director at Anjou Spa in Bend, Oregon, says that when interviewing prospective employees, she is impressed most with a candidate who is dressed professionally and arrives on time. Next on her list are a great smile and an overall positive presence. While practicing your smile should be easy, punctuality and appropriate dress are habits to practice while in school. They will pay off when you begin to interview and will be a plus on the job as well. As fashion designer and fi lmmaker Tom Ford says, "Dressing well is a form of good manners." If you want to be successful in getting and keeping a job, this is good advice. Practicing this introduction often will make it sound and feel more natural. In the months ahead, this practice will make it easier for you to introduce yourself to clients and potential employers. See our trade show calendar on page 23 and visit www.ascpskincare.com for show discounts. Do Some Good: Nearly every community has volunteer opportunities that are related to skin health and wellness. One of the most popular is the Look Good Feel Better program (www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org). The program was founded and developed in 1989 by the Personal Care Products Council in cooperation with the American Cancer Society and the Professional Beauty Association. The program targets women undergoing cancer treatment and provides makeup and skin care support. Hello Gorgeous! (www.hellogorgeous.org) provides a similar program in partnership with local spas and salons. Other opportunities may be found with your local Dress for Success chapter (www.dressforsuccess.org), women's shelter, or other women's groups. You'll make important connections with other volunteers, donors, and board members who may become clients or provide referrals or recommendations in the future, all while doing good for others. Seek Part-Time Employment: Even a few hours a week in a spa, salon, skin care studio, or beauty supply store can provide a little extra income and give you an edge when applying for your fi rst job.