When high school guidance counselors want to explore the potential behind a career—including cosmetology—they often turn to the Occupational Outlook Handbook which is produced yearly by the U.S. Department of Labor. This year, they’ll get a much more accurate view of the beauty profession, thanks to industry professional Mary Lee Krantz of Fantastic Sams. When Krantz saw the material as written, she was shocked at how inaccurate and unappealing it was. She contacted the Department of Labor and pleaded her case. As a result of her efforts, she was able to add information that would present cosmetology to guidance counselors in a more positive light. She emphasized the employment opportunities, changed the verbiage from “workers” to beauty “professionals,” and discussed earning potential and the wide array of jobs that are available to licensed professionals. The first bullet of the copy now reads, “job opportunities for cosmetologists should be excellent, with employers reporting difficulties in finding qualified workers as demand for cosmetology service increases,”

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