Employer Testimony: Great Clips in San Antonio, TX
The partnership between Milan Institute and Great Clips in San Antonio, TX, stands as a shining example of how educational institutions and employers can work together to create successful career pathways for students in the beauty industry.
“Since Rockit Shears dba Great Clips was established in San Antonio in 2019, we began working with Milan Institute closely,” says Natalie Miller, Great Clips franchisee and general manager of Rockit Shears. “As time went on, we felt the best connection to this school, the staff, and the students.”
The connection between the two organizations has grown stronger over time, with Great Clips praising Milan Institute for its clean facilities, welcoming staff, and excited students.
“Frequently we will ask for volunteers to have their haircut in front of their peers as a model and there are always several eager hands. The students stay engaged throughout the presentations and occasionally share a good laugh with the presenters,” Natalie said.
The partnership between Milan Institute and Great Clips offers several benefits for students. Students can apply for paid internship positions at Great Clips before graduation, allowing them to observe professional haircuts, practice on mannequins during downtime, and access Great Clips University, a virtual learning platform.
Aside from virtual learning, the company encourages Milan Institute interns to graduate and pass their state board exams.
Continuing Education with Great Clips and Rockit Shears
Employees at Rockit Shears are encouraged to participate in ongoing education. With Rockit Shears Technical Training, or RTT, new cosmetology and barbering graduates can continue learning new industry techniques and stay up on the latest trends.
“We have created a technical training curriculum and our own training space to offer over 10 different types of classes, multiple times a month,” Natalie said. “This has been a huge success for both us and Milan graduates because they are at ease knowing we are supporting them to reach their full potential in their careers.” Natalie said.
Working with Great Clips as a Milan Alumni
The transition from school to work can be daunting. However, training and relationship building can make the change smoother. By exposing students to guest speakers who work in the field and offering other career services, Milan shows its dedication to its students.
“I have been in this industry 48 years and I have presented at so many schools,” says Alice Wagner. Wagner is the President of Rocket Shears, Inc. “Milan really cares about their students.”
“They are willing to expose them to every avenue of opportunity within the industry so their graduates will thrive,” Alice said.
Great Clips has hired numerous Milan Institute graduates from both the Ingram and South locations. While the majority of hires come from the cosmetology program, Great Clips has also employed graduates from the barber program.
Bright Future Ahead
The partnership between Milan Institute and Great Clips continues to thrive. Great Clips is actively seeking new talent to join their team.
“We anticipate growing our organization with new stylists every day. We are always hiring and looking for eager professionals to join our team!”
Interested in following Great Clips’ journey and potential career opportunities? You can find them on social media platforms Instagram and TikTok.
Ready to become a part of the Milan Institute family? Book a tour of our San Antonio campuses today.
