Be an Image Consultant
Image consultants work with individuals on their appearance, behavior, and communication. Professional image consultants offer help with wardrobe, makeup, communications, body language and more. Depending upon where you live, you can offer services to executives, politicians, television personalities, job seekers, stay-at-home moms, busy professionals, beauty pageant contestants, or anyone looking for a confidence boost. There is no educational requirement, however a certification as an image consultant is highly recommended. Fashion and image consultants should be entrepreneurs with knowledge about marketing and running their own business. Find out how to be an image consultant.
Steps
- Gain work experience in a corporate, fashion, or entertainment industry. Experience in the following categories is helpful in developing an image consultant career.
- Work in marketing. Image consulting is a type of brand development. Their image reflects the confidence and identity that they would like to develop in a social setting.
- Work in fashion. Part of being an image consultant is being a fashion stylist. Experience as a fashion designer, assistant, blogger or executive will give you the credentials to create a new wardrobe.
- Work in business. Attending business school, running a business or working in the corporate or entertainment world supports your expertise. You should have an extensive and adaptable knowledge of corporate culture.
- Work as a job recruiter or human resources professional. These fields will help you give advice to job seekers.
- Become a member of a professional organization, such as the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI). You will gain access to training, local chapters, conferences and their image consultant database.
- Enroll in a training course. You can begin with online classes provided by image consulting firms and move on to a certification program with AICI or another organization. In an industry without a governing body, certifications can enhance your credentials.
- Find an entry-level job or mentorship. Search listings for image consultants and offer free work to learn the ropes of the business. You may want to go outside of your local area, so that you are not seen as competition to your mentor.
- Decide who your target audience will be and what services you will offer. You will want to choose whether you will work in the entertainment industry, corporations who train their executives or another niche market. Develop your own "recipe for success" in the profession of your choice to help market yourself to the community.
- Create a business plan. Any consultant job should be planned out for at least 5 years, so that you can invest in start-up costs, begin marketing and plan for business growth. File applicable business or consulting documents with your Secretary of State.
- Consider starting part-time. It may require 1 to 5 years to build up a client base for full-time work. You can offer image consulting services after work or on weekends until you have enough clientele.
- Start partnerships with cosmetologists, hair stylists, event planners, real estate firms, businesses, fashion designers and other professionals. Suggest their services to your clients in exchange for their referrals.
- Invest in marketing materials. A professional website, stationary and pricing materials will identify you as an expert. Keep a portfolio of success stories for consultations.
- As your business grows, invest in more equipment, such as video cameras, virtual makeover software and materials that clients can take home and review. If you are catering to a corporate environment, you will want to develop effective presentation skills and materials.
Tips
- AICI suggests that you try out image consulting by volunteering with a local job search organization. Volunteer your time to help job seekers dress properly, gain confidence and interview well.
Things You'll Need
- Certification in image consulting
- Mentor
- Business plan
- Marketing materials
- Equipment
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