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| SEPTEMBER 2008 | CALIFORNIA STYLIST & SALON
Attract New Talent by Offering
Assistant Training Programs
Beauty
Business Buzz
Shannon Wells
For most cosmetology graduates, getting
through school is often fueled by the thought of
the perfect job waiting at the end of the journey.
Many graduates find it tough to find that
ideal scenario: a glamorous salon or spa, amazing
clientele and all the money they need to
have the life of their dreams.
In reality, a high percentage of new cosmetology
graduates quit the beauty industry within
a year because they think they can’t make the
money they want, doing what they love.
Enter assistant training programs. Such
programs can be the best solution for many
new graduates looking for a great competitive
advantage right out of school. Offering this type
of program in your business can help you attract
and keep the best fresh talent plus benefit both
the newcomer and your bottom line.
Benefits for the New Talent
Earn as they Learn: Most graduates are
surprised to find that graduation from cosmetology
school is just the tip of the iceberg with
regard to what they need to know to succeed in
the beauty industry. There are many non-technical
skills that aren’t covered extensively, which
are essential to make the kind of money desired.
An assistant training program allows time for
the development and learning of those skills.
And instead of paying for that education, the
graduate can earn a salary while they learn.
Immediate Employment at Higher
Profile Salons: The lack of practical experience
frightens off most established and high
profile salon owners when looking to employ
new stylists. If a salon offers an assistant training
program, it’s an opportunity for a “green”
technician to get their foot in the door. It’s likely
they would otherwise have to wait for years of
experience for these types of salons and spas to
hire them (think businesses with great location,
steady clientele, established brand, etc.)
Higher Wages, Faster: While a new
graduate may not start out making the salary
of their dreams, these programs allow graduates
to gain experience, and higher pay, at warp
speed. The opportunity to learn tips and tricks
that demand high paychecks is readily available
to assistants because of their close proximity to
master technicians. Upon completion of the
program, an assistant can make three to four
times the income of a stylist who’s been in the
industry the same amount of time and hasn’t
partaken in an assistant training program. This
is simply because the experience level of the
assistant is so much higher.
Benefits for Your Business
Higher Service for Clients Equals
Retention: While the staff to client ratio can
substantially affect your ability to service your
clients, most businesses can’t afford to hire
additional help. Creating an assistant training
program means more people will be available
to provide world-class customer service to your
clients. With it you will have the extra staff that
will help you cater to your client’s every whim,
from getting drinks to luxurious shampoos, and
your clients will notice the extra hands. Your
clients will take notice and return to your business
for the extra attention they receive.
Your Way is the Right Way: An assistant
training program allows you the unique opportunity
to take fresh new talent and teach them
the ropes of business and your expectations
without the complications of previous experience.
Your new recruits don’t have to unlearn
unproductive practices or techniques. You can
take the best of what you and your business
have to offer and mold the ideal employee.
A Never Ending Pipeline for Open
Positions: A strong program will enable an
owner to manage and plan effectively because
they will not be caught with an open position
in their business. Having assistants means there
are always talented people in the pipeline and
ready (or near ready) to jump in and fill in for
an unexpected departure of an employee.
Creating a partnership with a local cosmetology
school and staying on top of upcoming
graduates will build the system for recruiting
fresh talent into your program, which then fills
the queue with techs in waiting. The unexpected
will happen (moves, divorces, babies, etc.);
always being prepared with a replacement will
help you manage your business with ease.
There are many books and manuals on creating
the perfect assistant training program, but
a few basics are essential to any program:
• There are completion levels or stages that
assistants are required to complete.
• Assistants have ample interaction with clients
(greeting, shampooing, and assisting).
• The program will be completed in a specified
timeframe.
• The assistant learns non-technical skills
such as retail sales and customer service and
retention.
Many recent graduates find the transition
from school to the salon or spa to be challenging.
An assistant training program can not only
ease the transition, but also create a win/win for
both the new technician and your business.
Shannon Wells is the Marketing Manager of Your Beauty Network, a
beauty industry ongoing business support service, offering a membership
based business support resources used by over 700 salon and spa owners.
For more information, visit www.ybn.com, call 866-364-4926 or email
shannon@ybn.com.