Congratulations, you’re now a qualified electrolysist! You’re all fired up and ready to start your new career, but where do you begin?

There are a few things you can do before you even take your exams, to prepare for the day you get your diploma:

· Google local salons offering electrolysis, including sole practitioners. Visit their websites to learn about their businesses and whether they employ staff. Make a note of their contact details.

· Find practitioners on social media and follow them to see if they are recruiting staff.

· Join as many online forums as you can. There are several international groups on Facebook, where you can ask questions and read responses from many highly respected practitioners. Some groups are open to the public as well as operators, so be careful when posting content. Never post client photos that can identify them, and always get signed consent beforehand to avoid breaching GDPR. Groups include Hairshoot, Electrology International, Electrolysis Laser Group, Electrolysis Information Worldwide, COPE (Canadian practitioners association), Hairshoot Community Group.

· There are now many videos on YouTube showcasing techniques and case studies that will give you useful information. Be careful: the internet is unregulated, so the information may be incorrect or misleading. Access content from well-known electrolysists such as Josefa Reina and Mike Bono, who are recognised as industry experts. Companies such as Sterex, Instantron and Elite Probes now post content that you can watch and learn from. Same with other media such as TikTok, X and Reddit: fact-check any content from sources before taking on board or reposting elsewhere.

· Go to as many electrolysis-related events as you can, to meet professionals and suppliers and make yourself known to them. Workshops are particularly useful, as you can showcase your skills to others in a practical setting. I only recommend electrolysists to clients if I have personally watched them in action.

· You can email prospective employers in advance, introducing yourself and letting them know that you are training to join the industry. An interested business may keep your details for future reference, or even invite you to see how they work.

· Don’t be afraid to ask for advice on how to get a job. Electrolysists are generally very happy to offer help.

· Start to prepare your CV. It doesn’t matter that you’re new to the industry; everyone has to start somewhere, and if this is a career change, you can demonstrate your ability to work by charting what you did before your training. Reliability, punctuality and dedication are all desirable traits to any employer.

· Join a professional body such as the BIAE. This will provide you with numerous networking opportunities and demonstrate that your work meets a high industry standard.

· Look at some online job sites. Indeed https://uk.indeed.com/ is used by many salons seeking staff across the UK, and you can search by profession and area. Jobs in Beauty https://jobsinbeauty.co.uk/ specifically caters for this particular industry. Reed https://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/beauty-jobs often has vacancies for salons, but may not have many for electrolysis-only positions. Some salons will ask for staff via online professional forums (see previous on FB groups), so well worth visiting regularly.

Some people leap straight into their own business from passing their exams. It is not generally recommended, as practice and experience are invaluable in our industry, and you will be at risk of developing bad habits if working without supervision. You will make mistakes as your skills develop, and having an experienced practitioner in your workplace will help you navigate these and learn from them.

If you are determined to forge ahead alone, continue your education with regular CPD training to keep your standards high and give you regular feedback on your progress.

Learn Your Craft

Passing your exams is very much like learning to drive – getting your license is just the start.

Hone your skills at every opportunity. Keep practising and nail your basic techniques before progressing to other aspects or investing in a top-end machine. If your insertions aren’t spot on, it doesn’t matter what you use; you won’t get the results you’re hoping for. Your treatment settings, recognising skin reaction, good prep and aftercare skills, anatomy and physiology knowledge, etc, must be part of your foundation so that you can build on it with confidence. Every part of your training has relevance to your future career.