Archive for November, 2009

Cosmetology Makes 2009 Best Careers List Of U.S. News World Report

US News and World Report has just released its Best Careers issue and Cosmetology has once again made the newsmagazine’s top 30 careers for 2009 scoring high in job satisfaction and employment outlook. Cosmetology debuted for the first time last year after the magazine opened up the list to careers that do not require a college degree.

In 2008 the magazine recognized that the U.S. job scene has been changing for a long time. Increasingly bachelor’s degree holders have been experiencing increased difficulty finding jobs mainly because companies continue to send business and technical professional jobs “offshore.” Secondly as the majority of high school teachers push students to go to college there’s a decreasing supply of professional services workers skilled in the arts and crafts. Therefore the changing work environment has seen a significant demand for women and men with a careerfocused education whose abilities stand out in the arts and crafts just like Cosmetology and Esthetics.

Continued optimism is pervasive throughout the beauty industry. Below is a reader’s comment to the U.S. News account of the Best Careers in 2009:

“There are so many avenues in this industry one can take. There are no glass ceilings like in corporate America which is why I wake up excited to pursue this my CAREER every morning.”

While most people view being a salon hairstylist as the main career choice many are not aware of the other challenging and lucrative career options that comprise the 56 billion dollar beauty industry.

Entrepreneur Business Owner

A sizeable number of employees 27 percent leave beauty school each year with plans to open their own salon work from their home or rent a booth and become independent contractors. This suggests that the industry provides the option to start one’s own business. Source: NACCAS 2007 Job Demand Survey.

Product Business Marketing Business Operations Finance

Brook Carlson vice president and general manager of RUSK Professional Hair Care has had a distinguished career working for notable beauty companies such as L’Oreal ARTEC and Zotos International. Carlson manages RUSK’s product development marketing financial operations and strategic partnerships.

Sales and Distribution

A beauty distributor is one of the many jobs most people are not aware exists within the beauty industry. Lee Lawson is regional director of sales and development of Neill Corporation. Lawson is the connection between both large and small beauty companies and the many salons spas and retail outlets that sell their products. His position allows him to be an educator salesman manager and strategic marketing specialist every day.

Educator

NeCole Cumberlander is a hairstylist educator and business owner of The Ohio Academy. Says Cumberland “When I began my career I never dreamed that one day I could be both a hairstylist and a teacher. I love that I am able to help inspire and educate others so they may have a rewarding and successful future. There are so many wonderful careers in the professional beauty industry and I am honored to be a part of its continual growth.

Makeup Artist

Janell Geason of Minneapolis decided to pursue a career as a professional makeup artist in 2001 when she realized it would broaden her scope of services and increase her earning potential. Her efforts were well rewarded in 2008 when she was honored at the prestigious NAHA Awards Ceremony as Makeup Artist of the Year North American Hairstyling Awards. “A career in beauty matched who I was as a person when I started my career and continues to keep me motivated and inspired on a daily basis says Geason.

Politics

Sam Leyvas Director of Government Affairs for the Professional Beauty Association PBA never imagined that his passion would be put to use helping salon owners product manufacturers and beauty retailers understand how legislation affects their bottom line.

On a daytoday basis Leyvas interacts with association members across the country concerned with what a specific bill may mean for their business and he helps members of Congress and their staff understand the ramifications of pending legislative matters.

Note: Career backgrounds and quotes from Brook Carlson Lee Lawson NeCole Cumberlander Janell Geason and Sam Leyvas are excerpted from “Directions Your Beauty Career Can Take You” Stylist and Salon Newspapers Northwest edition May 2009.

One reader’s comments to the U.S. News amp; World Report confirms why Cosmetology was chosen again as a Top Career of 2009:

I accidently stumbled into this industry never even dreaming to start a new career. Twentyfive years later I am still a cosmetologist and I have never looked back. It’s true doors do open all around us in this field and they give us opportunities to be creative; to meet the most interesting people; to travel and to grow. My experience started when I had gone to beauty school. After I worked in and managed 3 salons then later taught for many years in the classroom. Another door opened for me to supervise and direct several schools which then gave me the opportunity to develop educational curriculums… and it all started when I took a chance. I’ve been in the cosmetology industry for 10 years and I love every minute.”

Federico Beauty Institute is a thirdgeneration familyowned and operated beauty school www.federico.edu/aboutus that continues its 60year commitment to educating cosmetology and esthetic students. Their mission is to hold the highest standards to produce future leaders of the beauty industry.

Federico’s educator staff is comprised of professional tenured educators who vow to motivate and mentor students to be the best they can be as beauty professionals. They teach methodology as well as handson training and stay on top of industry trends and changes through constant continuing education.

About the writer:  Jeff Mictabor is an enthusiast on the topic of student loan issues in the news. He has been writing for the past 10 years for a variety of education publications. He now offers his writing services on a freelance basis.

Collegium Scholarships For Women

About 30 years ago a lot has been talk about of female male inadequacy as it occupy itself in a lot of male govern areas.

Over the last 20 years many women have wanted to put in place a area for them in these economic times running into a shortage of equality economically as often professionally. Normally the roles that women go into were in areas as medical teaching the interior design arts assistants and clerks. Times has truly changed. Women today are just as equal as many males in academics and moving forward. Women are having no other reasons to keep going.

The Top Scholarships:

Most women pupils out smart males in a classroom environment. On the other hand for women examples have been set; in respect to areas which females have mostly been missing: law and a profession.

Search For What You Are Looking For At Your Local University:

Some awards can be search for on the college campus. Search the admissions department at the college in which youre interested in going to enquire about present scholarships. You can find many scholarships for women and minorities online. Look also for free scholarships also.

Professional Organizations:

If you have in mind what area of study you are going to attain then begin to enquire about awards which targets your gifts: search for the top women social and memberships that fits you. One organization that is a very good example is the American Association of University Women the other that comes to mind is the Society of Women Engineers.

Visit the association women student website look at the various types of scholarship awards that are offered also check into what kind of degrees and educational options are listed. To have the advantage join an association. Decide to be actively involved in your organization. This is what helps positions you for a chance to win awards.

The Minority International and Foreign Women:

To put it simply there’s a large number of awards available for just about every female/women. Nevertheless the most valuable persons are the many females who are therefore lacking education because they have a minority rank. Black Native and Hispanic women will get a multitude source of financial aid some at colleges and from many sectors both private and public.

Returning To College Or University/Career Advancement:

Women that posses an collegium degree will sometimes choose to begin a family and have children. So many realize later that they want to go back full time to college to either acquire a more accelerated degree or maybe to get an advantage with fresh knowledge.

Listed below are scholarships that you may be eligible to receive:

Talbots Womens Scholarships:

These awards are for the women that have a diploma from high school but who didn’t go to a undergraduate institution. Women that want to take advantage of this scholarship have to be out of school more than TEN years pass high school. 55 scholarship awards are giving out yearly. Talbot’s is giving 510000 scholarships and 501000 scholarships for women students.

The AARP Foundation Womens Scholarship Program:

This program was created to give to the award needs of so many women who are over forty40 who wants to go to college for get a degree to develop in the workforce or get additional skills. This is not easy to accomplish but it is not impossible.

Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship:

This scholarship is available to women who wants an college undergraduate business degree and who demonstrates leadership in their field can win a 5000 scholarship for a university. You must submit a essay with a minimum of 500 words or less detailing the woman goals and there must be at least two letters of recommendation.

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scholarships for women
and minority scholarships today.

College Visit Checklist

Visiting the colleges that you are considering is an absolute must. You need to experience the general atmosphere as well as the tangibles i.e. the faculty curriculum class sizes etc.. Here are some things to keep in mind when you visit a college campus.

Plan ahead
If you want to get a focused tour with premium access then you need to schedule your visit well in advance. Make sure to visit the campus when classes are in session so you can experience the full effect of daytoday campus living. If you are a senior in high school consider planning your visit during the fall or winter quarter of your final year. If youre a junior then think about visiting colleges in the Spring of your junior year. This way you are in a position to shop around before you start applying in the fall. Whenever you decide to visit the campus youre considering just make sure you have enough time to explore.

Talk to students and find out what the situation on the ground is
If you are visiting a campus with your parents make sure to schedule some time for individual exploration. Look for friendly faces and ask specific questions. The information that youll get from random students on campus is not the same info youll see on the college brochures. Be sure to seek out multiple opinions from your future fellow students so that you can formulate a wellrounded opinion of your own.

Chat with faculty members
Find out what courses are offered that interest you. Research your prospective major in the universitys course catalog. Open a schedule of classes to see whos teaching what course and where. Sit in on some classes if you like. Communicate with professors. Ask them questions and ask for syllabi reading lists and other material so that you can get an idea of how a particular course or major is structured.

Meet with a counselor or academic advisor
After youve reviewed some of the requirements for your prospective major meet with a counselor or academic advisor. Get answers to questions about major requirements and time frames. Make sure that you understand the specific quirks surrounding your projected path of study.

Visit the financial aid office
Stop by the financial aid office to make sure that youve secured all the funding that youre eligible for. Ask questions about grants and scholarships and be certain that you understand the terms of any loans that you accept. If there are additional campusspecific funding opportunities then collect all the applications that you will need fill them out properly and turn them in promptly.

Explore housing and dining options
If you plan to live or eat on campus then you need to go to the housing office to make sure that youll be all set. Find out what the living situation is and consider different options i.e. on vs. off campus. Explore different meal plans and choose the plan thats right for you.

Scope out the town and experience the nightlife
Make sure you use your college visit as an opportunity to scope out the college town that youll be spending four years living in. Is it easy to get around? Is there public transportation or parking concerns? Whats the area like? Is it safe? Is it clean? Are there things do at night? Do yourself a favor and experience a slice of the nightlife before you commit to a particular college town. If you want good times dont commit to a school that cant accommodate a basic enjoyable night on the town.

Choosing a college is an intensely personal decision. You are the deciding factor so when you visit the campus make sure that you ask the questions that matter most to you. The more you can identify what it is you are looking for the easier it will be to find the college thats right for you.

About the writer:  Review more industry related articles by Chris Stout at CareersandEducation.com. Chris Stout is a feature writer and often covers topics related to Campus degree programs and Career Advice.