Beauty consultant

Beautician

Beauty consultants sell beauty products and help customers choose which ones to buy.

Salary Range: £14,000 to £25,000

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role

You could study for:

• a Level 2 Certificate in Beauty Consultancy Services
• a Level 2 Diploma in Beauty Therapy
• a general qualification in retail, sales or customer service

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

More information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

You could do an intermediate apprenticeship as a beauty make-up consultant.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You could work in retail sales then apply for a consultant’s position with a beauty concession in a department store.

More information

Further information

You can find out more about careers in beauty consultancy and therapy from the Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority.

You can also find out more about working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

Skills and knowledge

You’ll need:

• customer service skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to work well with others
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• persuading and negotiating skills
• active listening skills
• the ability to sell products and services
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day duties could include:

• recommending products to suit each customer
• meeting sales targets
• keeping up to date with new products
• giving customers a makeover
• monitoring stock levels and re-ordering items
• keeping records
• handling cash and card payments

Working environment

You could work at a store, on a cruise ship, in a beauty clinic or from home.

You may need to wear a uniform.

With experience and further training you could move into management.