Image Consultants

One way to explore this career is to arrange for a personal visit to an image consultant. The Association of Image Consultants International, for example, offers lists of qualified consultants throughout the world on its Web site, https://www.aici.org/search/custom.asp. Contact a few to see if they will participate in an information interview. Here are some questions to ask:

• What's a day like on the job?
• What are the key personal and professional qualities for image consultants?
• What do you like most and least about your career?
• What can I do now to explore the field?

The AICI also offers a glossary of key industry terms (https://www.aici.org/page/keyterms) and AICI Global magazine, which features articles about image consulting and trends in the field. Free issues are available at https://www.aici.org/page/AICI_Global_Magazine.

Read books on color, fabrics, style, etiquette, and body language. Ask your school librarian to suggest some titles.

Any part-time job working with the public is valuable. You can gain excellent experience from selling clothing or cosmetics in department stores, from working in beauty salons or spas, or from working as a waitperson. Volunteer work that involves working with people will also help you hone your people skills.