The way we look, communicate and behave influences the image we project along with the first impression we make. With the vital role that first impressions play in our social and professional lives, it is no wonder that a good number of people are turning to consultants to help improve their appearance. Improving your appearance will not only boost your self-confidence but also help you achieve your personal and professional goals. Increasing demand for image consulting services has led to the growth of the industry, a factor that has led more people to want to become consulting experts themselves. To benefit from the opportunities that this industry offers, image consultants and their clients should learn more about the basics below.
What is Image Consulting?
Image consulting is a service industry that involves a consultant helping clients improve their appearance for personal or professional reasons. Clients hire an expert to guide, mentor, educate, and train them on how to manage their appearance, body language, and etiquette to create positive first impressions and take advantage of the opportunities available to them. This means that the appearance achieved has to be consistent with the personal, social, and professional goals that individuals wish to convey.
For the expert to help improve the appearance of their clients, they have to start by learning about the individual or group. This information is then used to assist the client in achieving positive change and transformation. The process involves empowering clients to exercise greater control over the kind of perceptions and impressions they make through their grooming, clothing, body language, words, and etiquette. In short, consultants use personal branding to help people achieve their full potential.
Some of the clients that consultants commonly serve include private individuals, corporate executives, business owners, public personalities, and politicians.
What Does an Image Consultant Do?
Image consultants help their clients understand the colors and styles that best suit their personal/professional roles and their goals while also working to build confidence through looking and feeling great. But what exactly does a consultant do? Responsibilities of the job typically include:
- Helping improve physical appearance: One of the most important things that a consultant does is help clients improve their physical appearance. The professional makes sure that clients dress for their body shape, apply the right makeup, understand the best style for them, and buy suitable outfits for their role and the occasion.
- Advising on behavior: consultants also provide advice on how to behave appropriately. The professional can train and guide clients on how to conduct themselves in public spaces or during certain events. Whether you are going to a social gathering, business meeting, or public function, the expert will explain and train on basic etiquette rules.
- Improving communication skills: The importance of clear and effective communication cannot be denied. This is why consultants work on helping people to improve their communication skills. This includes both verbal and non-verbal communication, such as posture, eye contact, and body language
- Boosting confidence: Confidence is crucial in helping people learn how to seize opportunities and achieve their goals. Once they learn about their clients, image consultants help them feel comfortable with who they are so that they can be relaxed about their appearance and the impressions they make.
This list is by no means exhaustive: the role of a consultant can often extend beyond the responsibilities listed above. Generally, you can work with an image professional on just about any aspect of your life, making them a one-size-fits-all kind of consultant when it comes to personal improvement.
Steps to Becoming an Image Consultant
- Research
Just like with any other field, launching a career as a consultant should start with a thorough amount of research. Take time to study the industry and look for active image consultants in your local area. In this way, you can seek out and apply for internship opportunities that will let you gain invaluable advice and experience. - Get Qualified
Becoming a consultant does not require formal training. However, having a background in communications, fashion design, beauty culture, and other related courses will help you earn professional certification (as described below) and give you a solid foundation to build a career off of. - Get Certified
Apart from training, you should strive to get certified. To earn certification, you have to pass a series of exams that test your knowledge of the basic aspects of appearance development. You may also need to attend meetings and workshops that help you meet mentors and gain knowledge. - Set Up Business
Once you are qualified, you can proceed to set up your consulting business. There are various options that you can explore when you reach this stage. While some appearance consultants offer classes on business etiquette, and personal presence to attract clients, others work under established consultants to gather experience. - Advance Your Career
If you are to remain relevant in the consulting business, you should take the necessary steps to advance your career. This means staying updated on the latest trends and styles, carrying on with education programs, and reading relevant publications. You will need to have personal drive, passion, and motivation to take your career to the next level.
Final Thoughts
Over the past 30 years, the image consulting industry has grown in remarkable ways. While in the past, professionals focused mostly on analyzing colors, nowadays they concentrate on shape, style, and a great deal of similarly related concerns as well. To become a successful consultant, you should have a great sense of style, possess impressive verbal communication skills, have a desire to help people, be creative, and have the ability to listen and empathize.
There is no doubt that choosing a good school for image consulting training will help boost your career. When it comes to training, the London Image Institute is one of the most established and respected names in the field. This is a great institution for anyone looking to launch and pursue an exciting career in consulting, with rigorous courses taught by faculty with over 20 years of experience in consulting and other related fields.
The London Image Institute offers students the option of pursuing courses in Atlanta, London, and Goa. The different campuses offer courses at different times of the year to ensure you enjoy convenience and flexibility no matter your schedule. Get in touch with us today for more information on the training institution and the programs offered. You must familiarize yourself with this industry if you want to be an expert yourself or simply seek the services of a professional, and the London Image Institute can help you to make informed decisions and take advantage of the opportunities available.
