Career Preparation – SS3 Beauty & Cosmetology Lesson Note (Second Term)

Career preparation is the process of getting ready to sell your beauty skills as a professional.

• CV: a clear document that tells an employer why you are the best person for the job.
• Interview: a conversation in which you show your skill and personality.
• Freelancing: working for yourself and managing your own prices, schedule and clients.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. List the essential sections of a beauty-focused CV.
2. State the dos and don’ts of writing a beauty CV.
3. Rewrite a simple experience statement using action words.
4. Describe how to prepare for a beauty interview, including the portfolio and the practical test.
5. Explain how a freelancer sets prices, manages a schedule and grows a client base.

Why is career preparation important?

Career preparation teaches you how to sell your beauty skills, whether you work in a spa or start your own business.

• Earlier lessons: you learnt the “how-to” of beauty, such as applying foundation, mixing a cream or styling a bride.
• This lesson: you learn how to present those skills to employers and clients.
• Reputation: in the beauty industry, your reputation is your most valuable asset, so build it from day one.

What are the three keys to career success?

1. The CV: your professional “story” on paper.
2. The interview: your chance to show your personality and passion.
3. Freelancing: the ability to be your own boss and manage your own time.

What is a CV and how do you write a beauty-focused one?

A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a document that tells an employer: “Here is why I am the best person for this job.”

• It is more than a list of the schools you attended.
• A beauty CV can look slightly more creative than a lawyer’s or banker’s CV.
• It must still be easy to read.

What sections should a CV have?

A beauty CV has five essential sections.

• Contact information: your full name, a professional-sounding email (for example, rukaya.beauty@email.com) and your phone number.
• Professional summary: a short 3-line statement about who you are.
  • Example: “Dedicated Cosmetologist with a passion for organic skincare and bridal makeup. Recently completed SS3 with a focus on professional artistry and client care.”
• Skills: a list of both hard skills and soft skills.
• Experience: school projects, internships, or times you did makeup for family weddings, even if you have not had a “real job”.
• Education: your SSCE details and any specialised beauty certificates you have earned.

Pro-tip: your Instagram or portfolio link is as important as your phone number, so put it at the top of your CV.

What are hard skills and soft skills?

Hard skills are technical abilities you can learn and test. Soft skills are personal qualities that shape how you work with people.

What are the dos and don’ts of writing a beauty CV?

The dos and don’ts keep your CV neat, honest and easy for a busy employer to read.

How do action words improve a CV?

Action words are strong verbs that show what you achieved instead of only what you did.

How do you succeed in a beauty interview?

A beauty interview is a professional conversation in which the employer checks whether you can do the work and whether clients will like you.

• Question one: can you do the work?
• Question two: will my clients like you?

1. What should your look (presentation) be?

In the beauty industry, your appearance is your business card.

• Clothes: they need not be expensive, but they must be neat.
• Hair, nails and makeup: they must be clean and professional.
• Example: a nail technician with chipped nails sends the wrong message.

2. Why should you bring a portfolio?

A portfolio is a collection of photos of your work that shows an employer what you can do.

• Never go to a beauty interview without photos of your work.
• Keep them in a neat folder or a professional-looking album on your tablet or phone.
• Show your work instead of only talking about it.

3. How do you answer common interview questions?

“Tell me about a time a client was unhappy.”

• Wrong answer: “My clients are always happy.”
• Right answer: “I once had a client who did not like her lip colour. I stayed calm, listened to her, and changed it immediately until she walked out smiling.”

“Why should we hire you?”

• Answer: focus on your punctuality, your willingness to keep learning, and your passion for making clients feel good.

4. What is the practical test?

A practical test is a short “demo” in which the employer watches you do a beauty task.

• You may be asked to draw a wing liner or give a quick manicure.
• Carry an “emergency kit” with your favourite brushes or tools, just in case.

How do you start out as a freelancer?

A freelancer is a person who works for themselves and serves many clients instead of having one boss.

• Many makeup artists and stylists start their careers this way.
• You control your prices, your time and your clients.

1. How do you set your prices?

Work out your price from your real costs and do not pick a number because it “sounds good”.

1. Calculate your product cost (how much powder or oil you used).
2. Calculate your transport.
3. Add your service fee (the cost of your time and skill).

• Price: product cost + transport + service fee.
• Practice example (figures for practice only): products ₦1,500 + transport ₦1,000 + service fee ₦5,000 = ₦7,500.

2. How do you manage your schedule?

A good schedule protects your income, because a freelancer who does not work does not earn.

• Diary or phone app: use one to track your appointments.
• No double booking: do not schedule two people at the same time.
• Saying no: it is better to refuse a client than to arrive late and stressed.

3. How does word-of-mouth grow your business?

Word-of-mouth is when satisfied clients recommend you to other people.

• First clients: your friends and family are your first “marketing team”.
• Chain effect: a neighbour you served well tells her sister, who tells her co-worker.
• Value: it is a very effective way to grow a freelance business in Nigeria.

4. What is the “hustle” mindset?

The hustle mindset is the readiness to keep working and improving when business is slow.

• Some weeks you may have five clients and some weeks none.
• Practise: try new styles in quiet weeks.
• Update: refresh your social media pages and portfolio.
• Clean: wash and sort your kit.

Evaluation

1. List the five essential sections of a beauty-focused CV.
2. Give two things you should do and two things you should not do when writing a beauty CV.
3. Rewrite “I did makeup for a play” using an action word.
4. Why should you bring a portfolio and an emergency kit to a beauty interview?
5. Name the three things a freelancer should include when setting a price.

Assignment

Write a 3-line professional summary for your own CV. Then list three hard skills and three soft skills that you can put under the “Skills” section.