It wasn’t until the late 1970’s and early 1980’s that image consulting gained traction in this country. Before then, no one really considered their attire and their public appearance in a formalized way, and these principles were really only treated at finishing schools or fashion schools. The only professionals who really paid attention to their public appearance were models, TV personalities, and politicians, and these individuals occasionally hired a consultant to advise them about their public appearance. All that changed in the early 1980’s when a great many more women joined the workforce, and began competing for the most desirable jobs.
What Is Image Consulting?
Image consulting got a major boost in the 1980’s when a great many more women entered the workforce and they realized that their public appearance could help advance their careers. During the 1990’s, a whole wave of changing attire impacted many high-tech companies when formal dress gave way to business casual clothes at work, and this subsequently deteriorated into relative chaos. In the wake of this development, consultants became necessary so as to impose standards for business attire and to introduce workable dress codes.
Nowadays, a number of new markets have emerged, and job candidates have also seen the value of distinguishing themselves by their appearance. Consultants are needed in virtually every industry to help people look and act their best when they’re trying to secure a desirable job, or to impress a hiring manager when seeking a position.
The image consultant industry has broadened to include all aspects of one’s public persona, for instance, presentation, communication, interview skills, behavior, etiquette, and body language. Today there is also a nonprofit organization which has sprung into existence to recognize and support the industry of consulting.
The Association of Image Consultants International is one of the best resources available for consultants, and for corporations and individual clients to find just the right consultant for their needs. With more than 1,300 members from 40 different countries, this organization has a presence in Europe, Asia, South America, North America, and Australia. In support of the industry, the organization provides ongoing educational programs, regional conferences, and an international conference on alternate years.
What are My Options for Receiving Training?
There are some universities around the world which offer formal programs in image consulting, however, the best place to receive instruction about the whole industry of consulting is at the London Image Institute. This educational institution offers several programs of instruction which are designed to help students in various phases of their overall education.
All these programs are structured so that an individual can make the best use of their own natural talents to help clients transform themselves from the inside out. After completing the most advanced course, a student should have all the skills necessary for starting their own consulting business. The Foundation Course is offered to beginners who are at the very beginning of their training for becoming a professional consultant.
Students will learn all the necessary components through some classroom instruction and a great deal of hands-on exposure. The Advanced Course is a program that allows students to refine their intermediate skills into a professional level degree of expertise. Students taking this course should already have been through the Foundation Course, and should be prepared to take their experience and their knowledge to the next level. Upon graduation from the London Image Institute, any student should have the requisite skills to start their own consulting business, enjoying the fast-paced professional world that awaits them.
What Happens After Training?
After having been trained thoroughly at the London Image Institute, the quickest way to receive professional credibility is to earn your AICI certification. Once you’ve become a certified consultant, you should be able to use your certification as a marketing tool to help earn a number of new clients, and to begin building up your business.
There are a number of certification levels offered by the AICI, and as you complete each level, your confidence will grow, and it’s very likely that your list of clientele will grow right along with it. By continuing to update your professional skills, you will diversify and broaden your knowledge within the field, and become a more sought after consultant. You’ll also appreciate the fact that your potential for earning more income is very likely to rise with each new level of certification you obtain.
