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Image Consulting Basics
Finding a Personal Image Consultant
Finding an Image Consultant for Your Company
Becoming an Image Consultant
About AICI
Image Consulting Basics
What do I do when I have a closet full of clothes, but I feel like I have nothing to wear?
Organize your closet and coordinate each piece with others. In most cases, clothing is either out of date, doesn’t fit, or doesn’t work with your other pieces. Here’s how:
- Get rid of all items that don’t fit or that you have not worn in the last two years. Make exceptions for formal wear and accessories.
- Make sure all of your clothing is in perfect condition. Toss any stained, torn, or worn items.
- Check that all of your clothing is appropriate for your professional and personal lifestyles.
- Make a list of the items you need to complete your wardrobe.
When you need any help with any of these tasks, hire an image consultant!
I’m job hunting and I need an updated image. How do I start?
First, review the following:
- For women, update your hairstyle, eyewear, and make-up.
- For men, update your hairstyle, facial hair, and eyewear.
- Purchase a new suit or interview outfit.
Get a good understanding of the companies with which you will be interviewing. If possible, visit their offices and see what the employees are wearing. For your interview, dress one step above that of the typical employee. Always wear a jacket, even if the atmosphere is business casual.
Next, decide what kind of impression you wish to make upon your interviewer. Do you want to be approachable or assertive? It takes seven seconds to make a first impression, so rehearse until you can convey the attitude you wish.
Above all, remember that when you look good, you feel good. So be sure to look your best!
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Finding a Personal Image Consultant
What is an image consultant?
A professional who provides services for individuals and corporations through coaching, presentations, seminars, and workshops.
What services do image consultants offer?
Image consultants offer assistance in image enhancement (appearance, body and color analysis, wardrobe development, and management), sound and effective communications, business and social etiquette, branding, and more – all through coaching and training.
Why should I hire an image consultant?
Ultimately, an image consultant can help you to become more successful in your professional and personal life. He can accomplish this through working with you to enhance your interpersonal skills, to improve your appearance, and to increase your confidence.
How can I find an image consultant in my town/city/country?
Visit www.aici.org. Click on “Find an Image Consultant: Membership Directory,” and then search by the criteria that are important to you, such as locale and certification level.
How many image consultants should I interview?
Ideally, you should interview three candidates.
What questions should I ask?
When you are interviewing candidates, you should find out:
- If they are members of AICI
- How long have they been in business
- What services do they offer, and whether they are the services you are seeking. (If not, ask for referrals.)
- Their backgrounds, training and client experiences
- Their references
- Their fee structure
How long will it take before my image starts to improve?
Some changes – such as visual changes – are immediate. The timing of internal changes, such as confidence level and communication skills, depends upon the individual.
If I am happy with my overall image, can an image consultant still help me?
Many people who are happy with their overall image still benefit from the services of an image consultant. Virtually everyone can enhance some aspect of themselves in order to be optimally effective in their personal and professional life.
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Finding an Image Consultant for Your Company
Under what circumstances can an image consultant be helpful for my company?
Ask yourself the following questions. If you can answer “No” to any of the questions, an image consultant can help.
- Do your employees represent your company’s image and brand?
- Are your employees ambassadors of goodwill?
- Do your employees promote and validate your company?
- Do your clients feel comfortable in their interactions with your employees?
- Do your employees interact well with their peers and colleagues?
- Are your employees’ images compatible with your company’s overall standards?
- Does your company have an image of trust and respect?
- Does your company’s image reflect responsible service?
An image consultant can help your employees gain confidence in their appearance and communications skills. With the proper grooming, attire, body language, communications skills, and attitude, you can be confident that your employees will promote and validate your company.
An image consultant can also help you develop standards and best practices to promote accountability, which will help your employees consistently project the image of your company.
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Becoming an Image Consultant
What is an image consultant?
A professional who provides services for individuals and corporations through coaching, presentations, seminars, and workshops.
What services do image consultants offer?
Image consultants offer assistance in image enhancement (appearance, body and color analysis, wardrobe development, and management), sound and effective communications, business and social etiquette, branding, and more – all through coaching and training.
How can I become an image consultant?
Start by visiting the How do I Become an Image Consultant? section.
Where can I receive image education and training?
There are a number of ways to gain expertise in image consulting. You can volunteer at your local charity clothes closet, where you can meet other image consultants and start practicing your skills. Click here for more information on Philanthropic Activities.
To accelerate your career, visit our Image Resource Directory and discover the best training programs in our industry.
Be sure to join AICI and attend our conference, workshops, and teleclasses. It’s easy to Choose the Membership that Fits.
What are the required books, courses, and costs?
The curriculum covered by the AICI certification exams is defined in our Education section. How you master that curriculum is up to you. Some AICI applicants study independently, while others work with a trainer or take a course.
Are preparation guides available?
AICI offers a Study Guide for the first level (AICI FLC) exam. Click to download the AICI FLC Study Guide & Application.
How do I choose an image education or training program?
Visit our Image Resource Directory for a list of image training programs. Before enrolling, you should interview each training program you are considering. During the interview, you should be sure to ask how long they’ve been in business and who their students are. You should then interview some of their students, and call AICI members in the area and ask for feedback about the training program.
How do I get people to pay me for my services?
First, be clear about the services you offer and the related fees. Second, provide printed information in the form of an agreement and proposal. You may wish to offer free initial consultations when starting out in order to build up your clientele. Third, market your expertise and knowledge in any avenue available to you. Promote yourself as an expert in the media, and strive for referrals.
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About AICI
What is AICI?
The Association of Image Consultants International (AICI) is the premier and largest international organization of professionals offering image services.
What benefits does AICI offer an image consultant?
AICI offers image consultants education, support and networking, public visibility, and certification programs.
What is certification and why is it important?
Certification validates you as a professional and lends credibility to your work. It allows you to charge more for your work, ensures a higher ranking on AICI’s membership directory, and ultimately, more exposure to the public.
What are the different levels of certification?
1) AICI Certified Image Master (AICI CIM)
2) AICI Certified Image Professional (AICI CIP)
3) AICI First Level Certification (AICI FLC)
You can recognize a consultant’s certification level by the designation after his or her name.
Madelyn Masters, AICI CIM – (AICI Certified Image Master) This is AICI’s highest level of certification. It identifies exceptional, dedicated consultants, who have a recognized brand in the industry and demonstrate exceptional levels of competence in their own successful image businesses. To earn the AICI CIM certification consultants must maintain AICI CIP certification for five years and have an approved AICI CIM Application and professional portfolio. AICI CIM certification confirms a consultant’s status as an industry leader and respected expert.
Paul Professional, AICI CIP - (AICI Certified Image Professional) This is AICI’s mid-level certification. It identifies experienced, professional image consultants who own established image businesses. To earn AICI CIP certification consultants must pass the AICI FLC test and submit proof of education, experience and ownership of an image business. AICI CIP status recognizes competent consultants with extensive hands on experience.
Carolyn Consultant, AICI FLC - (AICI First Level Certification) This is AICI’s first level certification. It identifies consultants who have passed the AICI FLC entry level written exam which measures core knowledge of personal image consulting. Consultants are encouraged to take this test after they have completed the initial image consulting training. AICI FLC status recognizes consultants who have made a commitment to professional development.
What are CEUs and why are they important?
CEUs are Continuing Education Units. They are required to retain your AICI certification. Visit our Education page to learn about the requirements for each certification level.
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