Barbers
People classed as Barbers provide barbering services, such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair; trimming beards; or giving shaves. The skills rated most useful are active listening, speaking, and social perceptiveness. A regular part of the work is to clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments. Its interest code is RCS. Realistic leads at 5.4 out of 7, so expect hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, with Conventional next at 3.9. Getting in usually takes one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree, a level O*NET calls medium preparation. People who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world usually fit better here than those who need research, analysis and working through hard problems.
What they do
Provide barbering services, such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair; trimming beards; or giving shaves.
Main tasks
- Clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments.
- Cut and trim hair according to clients' instructions or current hairstyles, using clippers, combs, hand-held blow driers, and scissors.
- Question patrons regarding desired services and haircut styles.
- Clean work stations and sweep floors.
- Drape and pin protective cloths around customers' shoulders.
- Apply lather and shave beards or neck and temple hair contours, using razors.
Skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You like clear rules and getting the details right.
- You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
- You are comfortable relying on active listening and speaking.
May not suit you if
- You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
- You want to spend most of your time analyzing and researching. Investigative rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
- You need to start within a few months, with no training period.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCS takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.
Preparation
Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.
Also called
- Barber Shop Operator
- Barber Stylist
- Hair Stylist
- Stylist
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.