Getting Ready for Work

Interested in beauty? Think about these careers as well

If you have a passion for beauty, the world is an exciting canvas full of possibilities. While you might initially think of makeup artistry as the only career option, the beauty industry actually offers a wide range of rewarding and diverse career paths to explore. Whether you’re an aspiring makeup artist or simply someone with an appreciation for beauty, here are some alternative careers that might pique your interest.

Cosmetic Chemist

If you’re intrigued by the science behind skincare products and cosmetics, becoming a cosmetic chemist could be the ideal path for you. Cosmetic chemists play a crucial role in developing and manufacturing beauty products, ensuring they are safe, effective, and aesthetically appealing. This career combines chemistry and creativity, allowing you to innovate and contribute to the beauty industry’s continuous growth.

Aesthetician

As an aesthetician, you would be dedicated to helping people achieve healthy and radiant skin. This profession involves providing personalised skincare treatments, performing facials, and offering beauty advice to clients. Aestheticians work in various settings, such as spas, salons, and dermatology clinics, and have the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s self-esteem and well-being.

Fashion Stylist

Beauty and fashion often go hand in hand. If you have an eye for style and love putting together outfits, becoming a fashion stylist might be a perfect fit. Fashion stylists work with individuals, models, or celebrities, curating stunning looks for photo shoots, events, and more. This career allows you to showcase your creativity and flair for fashion, helping others feel confident and beautiful.

Dermatologist

A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the skin, hair, and nails. If you have a keen interest in both beauty and medicine, becoming a dermatologist could be a fulfilling career choice. Dermatologists not only help patients with medical concerns, but can also assist individuals seeking cosmetic treatments to enhance their appearance and address specific beauty-related issues.

Marketing and Branding

Behind every successful beauty product is a team of marketing and branding professionals. If you have a passion for both beauty and business, a career in marketing and branding within the beauty industry might be a fantastic option. You’ll work on creating campaigns, understanding consumer trends, and developing strategies to promote and elevate brands.

Cosmetic Nurse

As a cosmetic nurse, you would play a vital role in the medical aesthetics field. Working alongside dermatologists and plastic surgeons, you would assist with non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections, dermal fillers, and laser treatments. This career allows you to blend your passion for beauty with medical expertise, helping patients enhance their appearance and boost their confidence.

Retail and Sales

Working in retail can be a rewarding experience for those who love interacting with customers and sharing their knowledge. From working at a makeup counter in a department store to managing a boutique, this path allows you to engage with clients directly, recommend products, and help them find the perfect beauty solutions.

Hear From a Participant in the AgCAREERSTART Program

AgCAREERSTART is a 10–12 month program placing young Australians, aged 17-25, on farms across Australia. It’s a great option if you’re looking for something unique to do for your Gap Year, or want to start your career in the agriculture industry.

If you’re curious to learn more about what’s involved in the program and where it can take you, past participant Benjamin has provided his experience in the AgCAREERSTART program and how it has helped him launch into his dream career. Take a look.

Hear from 2022 participant, Benjamin

Hi, my name is Benjamin and I have been working and living on a dairy farm in Northern Victoria for a year now. It all started when I signed up for the AgCAREERSTART program in 2022. I had always wanted to work on a farm but found it hard to find a job due to my disability. The AgCAREERSTART team were really encouraging, and I was fortunate enough to be matched with a supportive employer who has taken the time to understand me and create a safe and positive workplace. This has allowed me to use my strengths and overcome any obstacles, which has been life-changing for me.

I love working in the dairy industry, so much so that I decided to stay on the farm beyond the end of the program. Over the past year, I have been able to develop a variety of farming skills, from learning how to pull a calf and lift a cow, to managing dairy maintenance and emergency repairs, as well as field work like discing and baling. This is a huge step forward from my first weeks, when I was still learning how to set up a strip fence!

During my year on farm I joined the Young Dairy Network which has allowed me to meet other young farmers and develop connections within this new community. Through social events and study tours, I have formed friendships and developed a work-life balance off the farm. There is nothing like bonding with other farmers over a pub meal, where we can share our joys and complaints about cows and their issues.

With the encouragement and support of my employer, I am currently pursuing a formal traineeship at TAFE this year, working towards my Cert III in Agriculture/Dairy Production. My employer has allowed me to attend classes one day a week, and I am connecting with other young farmers in the class. The TAFE course content is helping me understand the theories behind on-farm work and hone my knowledge and skills.

As a city kid with a disability, I never imagined that I would have the chance to work on a farm. But the beautiful sunsets, connections within the rural community, and the cows grazing in the pasture have made all the hard work and long days worth it. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to start my career in farming through the AgCAREERSTART program, and I am excited to see where this path will take me in the future.

Find out more

With applications opening soon, the best way to prepare yourself is to head to the website for more information or get in touch with the team.

Email: agcareerstart@nff.org.au

Visit: www.agcareerstart.com.au

Average vs Median Salaries – What’s the Difference?

Often when you read about careers, you’ll see an average salary listed somewhere in the information. While that’s not a bad thing in any way, it can often shape your view of what a job is like. You might make assumptions about:

• How hard it is
• What qualifications you’ll need
• How prestigious it is
• If it’s going to make you happy.

And you could be making those assumptions based purely off the figure you see in front of you. It’s not the best way to gauge careers that might suit you down the track, and it might not even be all that accurate. Here’s why…

Let’s look at some examples

In November 2022, the Australian Bureau of Statistics published that the average salary in Australia was $1,807 a week, or $93,964 a year.

Which sounds great, right? But the median salary reported in the same period was $1,250 per week, which is around $65,000 per year.

That’s a massive difference of $28,964 per year.

And the chances are if you asked any adults around you what they are earning, the majority would be clustered nearer to the $65,000 mark – so it’s more realistic too.

When you look at reported weekly earnings by industry from the ATO, there’s a big discrepancy between many of the average and median figures:

Why are the figures so different?

 Basically, it all comes down to maths and the way that the figures are calculated.

The ABC have an easy to understand example:

“Imagine there are 10 people in a room: nine of them earn $10,000 a year, and one of them earns $500,000 a year. What’s the average?

Altogether, they earn $590,000 in a year. So the average income in that room would be $59,000 ($590,000 divided by 10 people).”

In this case, the one lucky person who’s earning $500,000 pushed the average way up, but it’s not really a true reflection of what the “average” person is earning.

The median refers to the exact middle of a set of numbers. The first step to calculate the median would be to list all the salaries to be considered in an increasing order, i.e. starting from the lowest to the highest.

If the number of salaries is odd, then the median would be the salary figure in the middle of the list. If the number of salaries is even, the middle two salary figures are added together, and the sum then divided by two to determine the median salary.

So, in the scenario above the median salary would be $10,000, which is much more reflective of what most people in the room are earning.

What this means for you

It means than when you’re looking at potential careers, it’s best to look at median salaries for a more realistic idea of what you could be earning.

There’s no doubt that salary is going to be an important part of your career, but it’s just one aspect. It’s really important when you’re thinking about future careers and career pathways to focus on what you’re good at and what you’ll enjoy doing.

You can find more resources about the world of work on our website here.