60 Second Interview: Beauty Therapist

After dreaming all her life of becoming a beauty therapist, Kaiya is now a year into running her own business at a local beauty salon. In today's interview, she shares the secrets of her success and explains how you can reach for the stars in fashion and beauty through hard work and determination.

Name: Kaiya Swain

Company: Kaiya Rose Beauty

Industry: Fashion & beauty

What is your job? Beauty therapist

How long have you been doing this job? I have been running my own business for just over a year now and am currently working on a self employed basis in a local beauty salon. I have been working as a therapist for 3 years.

Education

University: Lewes Sussex Downs College

Degree subject: VTCT Hair, Beauty & Theatrical Make up

Qualifications: VTCT Level 2 & 3 Beauty Therapy, VTCT Level 2 Hairdressing and VTCT Level 3 Theatrical Make-up.

1. What was your very first job?

Working in a local beauty salon.

2. What did you want to do when you were at school?

Become a beauty therapist.

3. How did you find out about the industry?

I had always been interested in the beauty industry, but I found out more information about it once I attended a taster day at college (Lewes Sussex Downs).

4. How did you get there?

I studied for three years at college to gain the adequate Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT) qualifications, whilst also competing in WorldSkills UK.

5. What is a typical day like?

Running my own business, I am in charge of all aspects, from client communication, delivering high quality treatments, accounts, advertising etc. My day begins with salon and treatment preparation. I will then be delivering treatments throughout the day and will finish with a close down of the salon and sending out appointment reminders for the following day.

6. What’s the best thing about your job?

Helping others that may have low self-esteem due to a number of different reasons from skin conditions, unhealthy nails, abnormal hair growth etc.

7. What is the most challenging thing about your job?

Meeting every client's needs as every client's expectations are entirely different from one another.

8. What advice do you have for people who want to do what you do?

I would recommend getting a Saturday job or volunteering in a local salon, or somewhere that you will have to deal with the public on a regular basis, so you can start to see what a typical day is like and what is involved. It will also start to build your communication skills and confidence which are crucial skills in this industry.

Take full advantage of everything your college and lecturers have to offer. I was informed of a worldwide competition called "WorldSkills". In simple terms, this is like the Olympics but for trade, and it’s sponsored by the Vocational Training Charitable Trust, who I got my qualifications through.

I started this journey by competing in college heats, regionals and national finals which culminated in competing for one of the top two places in the country. I have succeeded in my goal to reach the final two and will continue to work hard to ensure that I will be the one to represent my country for Beauty Therapy at WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017.

This competition has bettered me as a therapist, making me more employable and also setting me a bar above the standard therapist.

Through hard work and determination there is nothing that you can’t achieve in the beauty industry.

9. What things do you wish you’d known before starting your career?

I don’t think there is anything I wish I had known. I didn't realise how hard and intensive the course would be but don’t be put off by that: to succeed you need to challenge yourself. But to anyone that thinks beauty therapy is an easy choice you should think again!

10. Where would you like to be in five years?

In five years I would like to have competed at WorldSkills Abu Dhabi and be a WorldSkills trainer, I would also like to be continuing building my own successful business.

As Kaiya says, hard work and determination can get you anywhere in the fashion industry. If you want to go as far as Kaiya, start planning your career in fashion and beauty today.

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Image credits

Lead image via Pixabay