Considering a career in beauty therapy? Here are 5 questions to consider first.

I am one of those people who wants to fit in everything with their life. I hear about people’s jobs, and I think ‘hmm, that sounds interesting, I think I’d like to be that when I grow up’. 

Then I remember I turn 41 in three weeks.

But when I hear people talk with passion about what they do I long to walk in their shoes for a while and give their career a try. 

This happened to me again earlier this week when Mamamia spoke with Donna Chadwick, Senior Beauty Educator at Demi International, Australia's private registered training provider in beauty and massage. 

Donna has been working in the hair and beauty industry for over 40 years and is still completely passionate about her work. Following our conversation, I came away with so many insights on the things to consider or ask yourself if you're contemplating a change or entry to a career path of beauty therapy – covering everything from waxing, nail, lash and brow treatments, specialised facial treatments, advanced skincare, body massage and spa treatments, and makeup design and application.

Demi International offers the highest, nationally-recognised beauty therapy course in Australia, so I absolutely knew Donna Chadwick was the one to ask. 

Here are the 5 key things she recommended to ask yourself first.

1. Will the industry offer you the variety you're looking for?

On average now we will all have 12 careers in our lifetime, obviously though for many of us they will centre around similar fields and interests. 

Donna explains that this is what happened to her own career path. She’s now had a 35+ year career in the beauty industry alone, but with lots of different experiences and roles during this time. Initially, she worked part-time in a salon while she finished school, trained as a beauty therapist, gained her assessor’s qualification, returned to study anatomy and physiology, taught beauty therapy and massage, ran her own salon, before returning to teaching. 

She has had many careers in the one field, and a career in beauty has allowed her to travel, move from the UK to Australia, and to "absolutely never feel bored".

This to me is the ultimate, a career that gives you great work opportunities, but then the opportunity to upskill, change direction, pivot and adapt throughout your career. 

Donna says a perk of Demi International is being able to layer your qualifications. Students can begin by studying beauty therapy, or massage or salon management, all with the option to work while they study. After working in one area and gaining hands-on experience, they have the option to return, upskill and for example, add a hairdressing certificate to their kitbag or nail technology. There's also short courses offered to ensure students can always be trained on the latest in safe, sanitary work practices.

Donna recommends it’s a great way to adapt and change throughout a career, by taking the lattice approach in building your training and qualifications in many related directions.

2. Will your qualification be recognised nationally and internationally?  

There is always the ever-changing job market to consider when headed into (or returning to) study. The supply and demand of jobs in your dream field can be extremely tight, where relevant skills and knowledge are essential to find work. 

Thankfully, beauty therapy services and massage are always in demand. People always need haircuts, relief for sore backs, eyebrow waxes and makeup services for special events. Donna says even when moving countries and shifting her areas of focus within the beauty industry, she has always found opportunities – working in salons, running salons, and teaching up and coming beauticians, hairdressers, and massage therapists.

Donna recommends before proceeding to study, that the qualification and training provider are recognised outside of the state or country you're studying in. This will ensure you have the flexibility of employment if you ever want to be work-ready in multiple locations. 

Donna says that for reference, Demi International's Diploma of Beauty Therapy is the highest national qualification available in Australia, and a globally recognised course, which allows graduates to work nationally and overseas. 

3. Is the career flexible around other life and family commitments? 

For me, I'm currently deep into the juggle of full-time work and parenthood currently, and it can be a real doozy to manage. To have a career that is designed with flexibility and adaptability is the ultimate green flag in attracting newcomers to the field – especially if those newcomers are career-changers with a young family to work around. 

A career in beauty therapy can allow you the freedom to check the boxes that apply to you: setting up a salon at home, be an expert focusing on a specialty area of beauty therapy, go mobile, work only weekends, work only school hours or evenings. As beauty therapists are responding to the needs of people or working parents just like them, they can create their work-life balance that responds to the needs of their clients, which also builds around their own personal commitments. 

4. Would it excite you to meet new and interesting people all day, every day?

I am endlessly fascinated by people’s lives and stories, and working in beauty therapy I'm assured is the field to be in to hear them all. Donna says having run her own salon, and now in her role as an educator, she has met an endless stream of interesting and engaging people and clients from all walks of life.

This means that no two days are ever the same – clients having waxing before the holiday of a lifetime, manicures and pedicures for bridal parties, massages for exhausted pregnant mums-to-be, makeup for school formals. Many of these are key moments in people’s lives, where a beauty therapist is part of their journey of preparation! Donna reflects it can be a real gift to share in those moments with people before their milestone moments of joy, anticipation and excitement. 

5. What parts of the field will you find most rewarding?

Donna Chadwick does not mince her words. She shares with Mamamia that a career in beauty therapy is not an easy one, but one she assures is incredibly rewarding. She explains that you get to learn so many skills, develop a deep knowledge of the body, are able to help and support clients, and create close connections with clients that can span over many years of service. 

For her, Donna says the lasting friendships in beauty therapy has been the most fulfilling aspect of all.

Demi International is a world-class training academy that offers smaller classes, flexible study options and hands-on learning at six locations across Queensland. Explore their courses here.

Feature Image: Getty.