4 things to know if you want to turn your love of beauty into a career

Have you thought about what you’d truly love to do for the rest of your life? Is the career path you’re on not as rewarding as you would like it to be? The good news is that it’s not too late to change your direction, and choosing a career based on your love of beauty is within reach.

With so many beauty courses available, we spoke to Carmen Perkins, Program Director of Aesthetics at Torrens University Australia about what you should consider when choosing a course in beauty. Here’s what you need to know about starting a career in the beauty industry.

#1 Choose your course wisely

It’s a big decision, so be sure to do proper research on any colleges or universities you’re considering. As a starting point, Carmen recommends that you look at whether they have a good reputation for giving students all the training and experience they need to be successful in finding employment after graduating. “The most important consideration is reputation, employability and industry relevance,” says Carmen. “The beauty and spa industry is fast-growing and highly competitive. When choosing an education provider, emphasis should be placed on not only the quality of training, but also professional development opportunities that lead to securing employment in the industry's top establishments.”

#2 Home in on your strengths and interests

What area of beauty interests you the most? Are you interested in laser therapies? Are you into microdermabrasion and chemical peels? Or do you want to learn more about aesthetic treatments? Carmen suggests determining what area of beauty interests you the most and find a course that’s based on that area. But be prepared for your interests to change as you progress. “Most students begin their studies with a firm idea of the areas in beauty and spa they are most interested in pursuing. It's really common for this to change as they progress through their studies and gain exposure to different modalities,” she says.

#3 Ensure your course offers hands-on training

While much of your knowledge will be developed through learning the theory side of things, it’s vital that the course you choose also involves hands-on training. That way, you’ll be able to enhance your skills through practice. “The Bachelor of Health Science (Aesthetics) at Torrens University Australia offers a lot of hands-on training to ensure students gain the specialised skills needed to use advanced technologies to practice within aesthetics,” Carmen explains.

As for internship opportunities, Torrens University Australia prides itself on being strongly connected with the industry to help support students with internship opportunities. “Torrens has a strong focus on employability, staying connected and supporting students to establish industry networks that will assist them in getting a job.”

#4 Be open about where you end up working

Although you might see yourself becoming a nail technician, while doing your course, be open-minded about your area of interest and don’t limit yourself to one particular field. “Keep an open mind and take advantage of all industry networking opportunities, to further identify where you want to take your career,” Carmen explains. “For students that are interested in working exclusively in the beauty and spa industry, a Diploma of Beauty Therapy is a fantastic option. For those who wish to explore the advanced area of aesthetics and dermal therapies, the Bachelor of Health Science (Aesthetics) at Torrens University Australia will allow them to gain the skills and knowledge required to operate in this exciting industry.”

Torrens University Australia has recognised an increasing demand for aesthetic treatments, and as a result, has developed the Bachelor of Health Science (Aesthetics) degree to give students the opportunity to graduate with high quality specialised training. Unlike other aesthetics courses available, this innovative course has a specific focus on holistic wellbeing.

The course takes three years full-time to complete, or less if you qualify for course credit (for example, by completing a nationally recognised Diploma of Beauty Therapy or a Diploma of Nursing).

So, why study a bachelor's degree in aesthetics as opposed to a diploma of beauty therapy? Carmen explains that it comes down to the quality of the training and the qualification that will help to kick-start your career in beauty. “A Diploma of Beauty Therapy focuses on establishing knowledge and skills through competency-based learning, and delivers training in high demand beauty and spa treatments – it’s an excellent entry point into the industry. [However,] the Bachelor of Health Science (Aesthetics) offers formal education at a bachelor degree level.”

As an overview, some of the subjects on offer for the Bachelor of Health Science (Aesthetics) at Torrens University Australia include:

• Aesthetic Techniques

• Aesthetic Practice with Technology (use of electrical, electromagnetic and phototherapeutic resources)

• Aesthetic Electrotherapy

• Human Nutrition

• Professional Clinic Practice

• Advanced Body Aesthetics Techniques

• Advanced Dermal Aesthetics Practice (laser and IPL)

• Medi-Spa in Aesthetics Practice (microdermabrasion, chemical peels, skin needling etc.)

As a graduate, the career options are vast and you will be qualified to work in the aesthetic, health and wellness, and medi-spa industries. This includes roles such as:

• Aesthetic clinician

• Dermal therapist

• Pre- and post-operative patient care support (wound healing)

• Clinic and/or practice manager

• Paramedical aesthetician

• IPL and laser technician

• Educator and industry trainer

Sound like something you can see in your future? Find out more about the Bachelor of Health Science (Aesthetics) course and enrolment at Torrens University Australia by clicking here.

Are you interested in starting a career in beauty? What area of beauty therapy would you like to study?