Hairdressing career advice to take your job up a notch

Tired of slogging along in the same old role? Steve Rowbottom, director at Westrow, offers hairdressing career advice to take your job up a notch. 1. Be confident in your ability and decide what will be your forte. You must become a specialist in anything you want to do. 2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask people about their career journey, the pitfalls and what to be aware of. The key to excelling in the industry is to establish good relationships with other staff members, clients and the industry as a whole. This is where social media can be helpful! 3. Display a positive mental attitude at all times. There are so many people in business searching for the reasons as to why something won’t work. Be the one to make it work. 4. The facilities, guidance and support available to students are phenomenal. Take financial advice from banks, attend networking and industry events and talk to as many people in the industry as possible. People are more receptive to listening to your ideas in this day and age. 5. Like all fashion-orientated jobs, hairdressing has two sides: creative and business. Give an equal amount of time to both. 6. Entering industry awards is a fantastic platform to gain recognition. If you are fortunate enough to win, be prepared and have a plan for how it will help to progress your career. 7. For your career to develop it is essential to invest your time in education. Ask to be put forward for the latest courses and return to the salon to share your knowledge and ideas at meetings. Experience is everything and knowledge is king. Without these two things it's virtually impossible to be successful in business. 8. It helps to have a long-term goal. Visualize where you want to be in the future. Do you want to have your own salon, expand to ten salons, or have one amazing flagship? Do you want to win British Hairdresser of the Year or are you happy keeping a low profile? 9. Work your way up slowly and do not expose yourself to vulnerability. If you display confidence (not arrogance), people will believe you are a success. Be nice. Success is dependent upon how you are perceived. This industry is much more open now so get involved and share ideas. Go to events. Make friends. One day you may need each other. 10. There is really only one way to be truly successful in business – hard work. It’s not always a physical process; sometimes the thought process is even harder than the execution. If you don't put in the hours, you won't reap the rewards. Live by the motto ‘you will only get out what you put in.’ Working 9-5 will give you a salary, but certainly not a lifestyle, and the same applies to studying. 11. It is up to you to drive the your career forward. If you take your foot off the accelerator, your progress will suffer. Always keep moving. 12. You will make mistakes along the way. It is important not to dwell on the implications they caused, but to remember not to let them happen again. Looking for your next career move? Take a look at HJi Jobs for all of the latest hair and beauty job opportunities!