Bjorn Burke, Staff Reporter

THE STAR in its weekly quest to lend a hand to employers who seek to fill vacancies with desirable and diligent employees has recently scoped the realm of the beautician.

Having searched The Gleaner Classifieds from end to end for job postings, our news team spoke to 45-year-old Sandra Brown, operator of a Cross Roads, St Andrew, beauty salon, who is in need of a skilled beautician.

A classified advert posted by Brown called for a "nail tech and hairdresser" who "must be able to braid well". Typically, beauticians are licensed professionals that are put to work to improve, and possibly accentuate the client's external appearance by going to work on the customer's nails, hair or skin.

When THE STAR contacted the business operator, she stressed the need for her potential employee to possess certification from a reputable institution in cosmetology, which she says is a good indicator of the candidate's demonstration of knowledge and ability.

"It's a beauty salon and I'm trying to get somebody that can braid very well. The qualifications are that they must be certified. They have to go to school, pass all their subjects and then graduate. After going to beauty school, they must get their certification," she said. "You have to go to a beauty school, and from there, you will be certified. Some are six months, some people say eight months, some are one year (programmes). There are a lot of beauty schools out there."

One interested in becoming a beautician will first have to cross the hurdle of learning the trade by enrolling at a an institution such as the the notable HEART Trust's School of Cosmetology to pursue their dreams. Additionally, upon completion of training, under the revised Public Health (Barbers, and Barbershops) Regulations, and the new Public Health (Hairdressers, Beauty Therapist, Cosmetologist and Beauty Salon) Regulations 2004, all persons are required to be licensed by the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

Brown told THE STAR that she is not particularly picky in selecting her potential employee "as long as they are certified, and they can do the job."

It does appear, however, that being personable goes a far way in the realm.

"You have to smile. It's a smiling job. You are seeking customers. They have to know how to greet patrons when they come in. No matter how bad your day is, you have to leave that at home," Brown stated. "If the customer is talking to them, they can talk. But it's not a case for you to be questioning and questioning the customer. Because you have some people that come in with their paper or their book. Some customers come to just relax with their eyes closed and have the service done to them. So you have to study the client to see what kind of person that person is and you take it from there."

Interested beauticians are invited to call Brown at (876) 490-4711 for further information.

Other Beautician Jobs

Applications are invited for the following posts for September 2015.

Unspecified Salon

Nail technicians

Beauty therapist

Masseuse

Receptionist

Contact (876) 631-3734 or (876) 849-7527 for further information.

Port Henderson Plaza, Portmore-based salon.

Barber

Nail technicians

Hairdresser

Contact (876) 464-4883, (876) 298-8080, or (876)770-8674 for further information.

Boulevard Super Centre and Liguanea Post Mall-based establishments

Barber

Nail technician

Contact (876) 298-8080 or (876) 770-8674.