How do I become a beauty consultant?

Oct 15, 2014

Laura P.

Does anybody know of any companies in the UK that will take on people without any beauty experience or qualifications. I'm completing an nvq I. Make up artistry but won't finish that until next year. Unfortunately I don't have any retail experience but I have plenty of customer service experience. My education goes as high as A Levels. I'd love to work in a department store but it's proving very hard to get in!

Oct 15, 2014

Becky J.

I've known makeup counters take on people like you. Boots, Debenhams, House of Fraser, etc... However I don't work in that area myself.

I know this sounds stupid but have you thought about redoing your CV? I find that lets people down sometimes. Granted you don't have any retail experience but talk about your customer service experience and what transferable skills you have.

Have you been getting interviews or rejection without interview? That's another area to consider too. Really think about your interview technique and how you present yourself. Do you fit the image of the brand? Are you coming across as confident? Are you showing you know about the company? Etc... There's a lot of stuff online that had good advice on interview technique,

Oct 15, 2014

Laura P.

Thank you for your advice! I've been looking on debenhams, house of Fraser websites for a while now but near where I live, they don't ever seem to be advertising for beauty or fragrance consultant roles. I spoke to a lady on an Estée Lauder counter and she said she was just lucky because she knew someone who worked in the store.

I've tried offering my cv and expressing my interest but a lot of places ask you to apply online now when relevant vacancies come up. My closest city is Birmingham so I shall keep looking! :)

I do see smaller companies wanting consultants but they always ask for retail experience xx

Oct 15, 2014

Becky J.

My closest city's Birmingham too! I looked at jobs over Christmas last year (when I was still studying) and saw a few crop up for Mac in Selfridges and Benefit so keep looking, a few tend to crop up this time of year. Even if they're only temporary it's a foot in the door and experience. Also Marks and Spencer have a Beauty Hall (Plus a lot of Christmas jobs) which have temp jobs over Christmas so they'd be worth a look at even if it was just to build up some retail experience.

I'd also personally still send my CV to those looking for retail experience with information on your customer service experience and explain about transferable skills. It's always worth a shot.

Oct 15, 2014

Laura P.

Thank you :) x

Oct 15, 2014

Caitlin M.

I don't know how it is in the UK but here in the You.S. most stores/counters don't require that you know anything. They train you on the job or send you to seminars to learn how to do the things they require, like makeup applications, skincare assessments, etc. Usually all they want is retail experience, like running a cash register and being comfortable talking to people and being polite to customers. Everywhere is different but that's how I know it to be overall :)

Oct 15, 2014

Laura P.

Thank you! Tbh it's finding the vacancies that is the hardest thing. Also I find that the hours are short and I'm really looking for full time or weekend hours xx

Oct 16, 2014

Hannah K.

Would there be a chance of you going to an adult learning institute, college or uni to do a course? Or getting an apprenticeship, as they're trained and paid:) but department stores will be good, especially around Christmas:) xx

Oct 16, 2014

Caitlin M.

I'm having the same problem, I am on counter now but it's part time work and I need to be working full time. But I'm hoping things will work out because they have offered me the chance to be a "floating" employee, meaning I will take extra hours at another counter in my store after my scheduled shifts at my priority counter.

Hannah makes a good point about taking classes, I do feel my training did help me land the job but I don't feel it's totally necessary. I'm not sure how it is in the UK (I've heard schooling is generally decently priced or sometimes even free in countries overseas.) but in the You.S. going to any sort of certified program will cost you money. It may vary but if you're looking for work and not currently working it could be hard to swing school at the same time. Also don't know much about apprenticeships over there but I have yet to find any paid internships/apprenticeships for makeup here in my country. I may just not be in the right area but unfortunately it seems like they are not a common thing and students or people new to the industry are almost expected to struggle and work without pay. (this ridiculous thing called "paying your dues." that is another debate entirely though lol) That can work if you have a job already or are just that into it that you can work for free, but again if you need the income I don't know how viable it will be. At least in the You.S. most of the internships I see are unpaid, which is something they are trying to change I believe. Again, it could be completely different in the You.K. I would just be careful and weigh all options. I think with the holidays coming up though you may be able to find more openings :)

Oct 16, 2014

Laura P.

Thanks Caitlin, Well in the UK, apprenticeships pay £2.60 per hour where as minimum wage for 21+ year olds is nearly £7 an hour. It's really difficult because I work full time doing office work but over the last few years I've become really interested in beauty and cosmetics, I'd love to get some experience on a beauty counter or something.

If I was 18 and just starting out, I'd probably go down the retail route.

Hi Hannah, I need to be working full time which is why I haven't considered college or uni, however I am doing a make up course at a private academy. Has cost me a lot of money so instead of doing another course, I just really want experience now. I'd happily work all weekend but like I said it's just finding the vacancies :(


Thank girls for all your help, I'm really going to the and find something over the Xmas months :)