Something interesting keeps coming up when I talk to salon owners about hiring. Half of them are telling me the quality of applicants has dropped, people aren't as driven, and it's harder than it's ever been to find great new talent. The other half are saying they can barely keep up with the volume of incredible applicants coming through their doors.

The only conclusion I can draw from hearing both sides of that story is that assistants have gotten pickier about where they'll go. And honestly, good for them! Because if you want to attract the most driven, talented new stylists in your market, your program has to give them a reason to choose you over everyone else.

In this episode, I'm breaking down what a modern, motivating assistant training program actually looks like, what's missing from most of the programs I see salons running today, and how to build something so irresistible that your best people never want to leave.

The first six episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season.

The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/.

Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!

If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this.

Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/