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Barbering

What is it?

A barber’s day typically revolves around providing hair cutting and styling services to their clients. While the specific routine can vary depending on the barber’s clientele, location, and specialty, here’s a general idea:

Morning Routine:

  • Opening the shop: This involves turning on lights, setting up the workspace, and preparing tools like clippers, scissors, and razors.

  • Greeting clients: As clients arrive, barbers typically offer a warm welcome and engage in friendly conversation to build rapport.

During the Day:

  • Hair Cutting: This is the core of a barber’s job. They use various techniques and tools to cut hair according to the client’s desired style and preferences.

  • Styling: Barbers often also provide styling services like beard trimming, shaping, and detailing.

  • Consulting with clients: They discuss the desired haircut or style, offer suggestions, and ensure the client is satisfied with the results.

  • Maintaining the shop: Throughout the day, barbers keep the shop clean and organized. This involves sweeping, mopping, and sanitizing equipment.

Evening Routine:

  • Closing the shop: This involves turning off lights, securing the premises, and cleaning up any leftover tools or supplies.

  • Scheduling appointments: Barbers might schedule appointments for future days or weeks.

  • Continuing education: Some barbers may spend time learning new techniques or trends to stay updated in their field.

Additional Responsibilities:

  • Inventory management: Barbers may need to order and manage supplies like hair products, towels, and cleaning materials.

  • Customer service: Providing excellent customer service is essential for maintaining a loyal clientele. This includes being friendly, attentive, and accommodating to client requests.

  • Networking: Building relationships with other barbers or industry professionals can be beneficial for sharing knowledge and finding new clients.

Overall, a barber’s day is filled with a mix of technical skills, customer interaction, and maintaining a clean and welcoming environment.

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Length of Training

32 Weeks/8 Months

Type of Training

In Person

* Salary Range

$36,000-$93,000

(entry level – experienced)

A person wearing glasses, a green shirt, striped t-shirt, tan pants, and white sneakers sits smiling on a barber chair in a stylish barbershop, reflecting the friendly atmosphere often found in barbering jobs.

Is it Right For You?

Here are some qualities that make a barber good at their job:

Technical Skills:

  • Precision and Skill: A barber should have a steady hand and be skilled in using various cutting tools, like clippers, scissors, and razors.

  • Attention to Detail: They should be able to create precise lines, angles, and fades, paying close attention to the details of a haircut.

  • Knowledge of Different Styles: A good barber stays updated on current trends and classic styles, offering a variety of options to their clients.

Customer Service:

  • Communication Skills: Barbers should be able to effectively communicate with clients to understand their desired style and provide helpful advice.

  • Patience and Friendliness: A positive and patient demeanor can help clients feel comfortable and relaxed during their appointment.

  • Ability to Build Relationships: Barbers often develop long-term relationships with their clients, so being friendly and personable is important.

Business Skills:

  • Time Management: Efficiently managing appointments and ensuring timely haircuts is crucial in a busy barbershop.

  • People Management: If a barber owns or manages a shop, they should have good people management skills to lead and motivate their team.

  • Financial Management: Understanding basic financial concepts, like pricing, inventory management, and budgeting, is helpful for managing a barbershop.

Creativity and Adaptability:

  • Creativity: A good barber can think creatively to come up with unique and stylish haircuts that suit their clients’ individual features.

  • Adaptability: They should be able to adapt to different hair types, textures, and styles, and be willing to try new techniques.

Overall, a good barber combines technical skills, excellent customer service, and a creative approach to provide a satisfying and enjoyable experience for their clients.

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Stephanie underwood - Chief financial Officer

Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.

Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.

Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.

 

 

 

Adult Learner College Scholarship

The Adult Learner Scholarship application is closed. Please click GET STARTED to be added to communication reminders on when to apply during the next open cycle.

Program offers:

  • Up to $25,000 paid directly to the college over the course of up to six years.
  • Once awarded, the Scholar can enroll full or part-time the fall semester following awarding.
  • Scholarship can be used at any of our college partners. See our current list of partners HERE.
  • Scholarship can be used towards an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or a credit-bearing credential. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Be a high school graduate or GED holder (24 years or older).
  • Live in one of the six eligible counties. (Kansas: Wyandotte, Johnson; Missouri: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte)
  • Be income eligible. (FASFA Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less)
  • Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have not previously been awarded a KC Scholars Scholarship (Traditional or Adult Learner).
  • Is not currently enrolled in a Great Jobs KC Skills Training Program.
  • US Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.

If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE

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Jimmy Swift - Chief Operating Officer

As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships. 

Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.  

Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country.  Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.

Great Jobs KC
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