Graduate Success: Liz Contello

We asked some of our graduates to share their graduate success stories and here is what Liz Contello, had to say.

There are those people that know exactly what they want to be when they grow up, for me it was a career in the beauty industry. At an early age, I realized how important it was for me to take care of my skin. I started experimenting with different skincare products and techniques to achieve a healthy and youthful appearance.  I also enjoyed the art of makeup application. I started applying makeup on friends and family it allowed me to use my creativity. This led me in the direction to work as a part time makeup artist, which eventually turned into a freelancing position. Skincare and makeup application became my passion. Throughout my early years I worked for several well-known cosmetic companies in a retail sales capacity; I also continued to work as a freelance makeup artist. I jumped on every makeover opportunity offered to me. Without a license, I realized I was very limited to practice in this field, however, I knew my career was going to be in the beauty industry. I put that dream on hold for a while – I got married, raised two children and worked many diversified jobs. After many years and with the support of my husband I choose to take the risk to reinvent myself to follow my longtime dream.

I enrolled in the New York Institute of Beauty, which for me, is the Harvard of Esthetics Schools. The moment I stepped into the school I knew this was where my career as an Esthetician would begin. The faculty and teachers are so professional and experienced. They are knowledgeable and well versed about the industry and therefore able to share real-life situations that you might encounter in the field. NYIB not only prepared me for the New York state boards, they also prepared me for the real world. The Advance Skin Care courses were amazing and helped take my skill to a higher level, which allowed me to become more marketable in this competitive industry. At NYIB I was given the opportunities to get my career started. I joined the NYIB Make-up team and worked on models for NYC Fashion Week. One event I participated in through NYIB was the Lymphoma and Leukemia “girls’ night” where young woman battling these difficult diseases could experience an evening where they would get to feel good and, for a brief time, forget about their challenges. This compelled me to enroll in the Oncology Esthetics course also offered through NYIB. The continuing education and real world experience offered through this school are some of the reasons NYIB graduate stand out among the rest.

Upon graduating from NYIB, I immediately set out to find work and I was hired at a spa franchise where I was employed for a year. Within in that time I built up my confidence and strengthened my customer service skills. It also gave me time to figure out what area within the beauty industry I wanted to pursue. Once I had decided, and had set my goals, I fiercely searched for the right fit that would ultimately help me follow my passion to be my own boss. I worked hard to build a client base and after four years I felt I was finally prepared to open my own skincare and laser hair removal business. Then on September 1, 2016 I opened Purely Skin Care. My dream came true, and NYIB had provided me with all the tools needed to get me where I am now.   

If you are thinking about joining the beauty industry I say hold on and get ready for an exciting journey. Not only do I highly recommend NYIB, but also that you take all the classes that are available and take advantage of all the opportunities you are offered. The beauty industry is exciting, and it can be very lucrative if you set yourself on working towards becoming successful a specific area of this business that you feel most passionate about.

It’s never too late to follow your dreams!