India’s beauty sector has witnessed unprecedented growth in recent years. This surge has led to many job opportunities in the beauty industry, ranging from beauty therapists and makeup artists to salon managers and several others. However, despite the abundance of opportunities, there exists a significant lack of efficient recruitment methods.
As per a B&WSSC report, the Indian beauty and wellness industry is forecasted to reach approximately INR 2,40,000 crore by this year’s end. And, it will further expand to over INR 5,00,000 crore by 2030. Presently, the sector employs over 12 million individuals, predominantly women. By the end of this year, it is expected to offer employment to 15.8 million people. The numbers will further reach 20.3 million by 2027 and 26.3 million by 2030. The beauty and salon segment will remain the primary source of employment in times to come. However, the industry still faces a gap in recruitment.
As highlighted by many, the lack of standardisation in certification and training remains a major concern. While several institutes offer courses, quality and curriculum vary. This poses challenges for recruiters to assess and bring in the right skills and fit. Furthermore, many professionals struggle to access these courses due to financial issues, further leading to disparity in the talent pool.
Another issue contributing to the recruitment gap is the heavy reliance on traditional hiring methods in the industry. Major hiring for job opportunities in the beauty industry happens through word-of-mouth referrals or walk-in applications. This overshadows the potential of digital platforms and professional networks. This approach also limits opportunities for individuals from remote areas or marginalised communities to enter the industry.
An approach remains bringing in standardised accreditation and certification programs and making them accessible and affordable for aspiring beauty professionals across socio-economic backgrounds. However, it’s time the industry embraced modern recruitment strategies, including online job portals, social media platforms, and professional networking events.
Academy-driven Placements and Networking
Several academies, like Lakme Academy and Naturals Academy, have now included placements as a part of their course offerings. They put in steadfast efforts to ensure that the students get ample opportunities after completing their courses. Apart from placement drives, curation of industry visits, industry fairs, and networking programs by academies and other organisations is also on the rise. Making robust networks within the industry has proved to be an effective mode of recruitment in the beauty industry, as in any other industry.
Recruitment Platforms
Apart from the aforementioned, we now have functional recruitment platforms that the industry can leverage, such as Kohot by Professional Beauty Group. Meeting the gap between growing demand and slow, unreliable results from traditional methods, Kohot optimises the recruitment process. When it comes to professionals seeking jobs, online platforms save a lot of time, effort, and groundwork, thereby, bringing in the right match with greater ease. The platform allows the parties to build relevant profiles. It then uses AI to match candidate profiles with relevant vacancies by location, flexibility and salary conditions.
Adapting to these changes will not only help tap into a diverse talent pool effectively but will also streamline the efforts by leaps and bounds.