Whether you’re new in the spa industry or ready to relocate your career, finding the ideal (or any!) job can be a grueling and frustrating task. Where once spa operators were hat in hand trying to recruit qualified spa personnel, there is now a sea of applicants in many areas vying for the same precious opportunity to do their work. Beauty, massage, and aesthetics schools are minting new therapists faster than spas can be built, and a still down-turned economy has left many spas with more available appointments than customers.
All this has made the spa job search more competitive than ever, and will require the successful candidate to prepare exceptionally well for applying and interviewing. How does one stand out among the many hopeful applicants for those spa or aesthetics positions? It’s easy when you’re equipped with the knowledge of an employer’s most desired qualities in a new hire. That said, here are the keys to your next career!
Your résumé
Keep it simple, to the point, correctly spelled and conservative in style. Avoid cutesy paper and multiple or decorative fonts. Years ago I saw one résumé designed to look like a tri-fold brochure from the self-styled “Marketing Genie.” There on the cover was a photo of the candidate in a genie costume! State your job purpose in clear, concise terms, and leave out the long, cryptic personal philosophies-no one wants to read that. Try to keep it to a single sheet but be sure to include a few CURRENT professional references instead of making one ask for them. I’m always leery of the “references available upon request” clause on a résumé-why do I have to ask for them when a job candidate should proudly offer them up front if they’re worth anything? Never cross out or white out information and write in something else. That will make you look flakey and unstable. Keep your educational history brief (nice that you went to a Montessori school but do I really need to know that?) Elaborate on your professional credentials, but you don’t need to mention every class or seminar you’ve ever attended!
Your cover letter
Again, brief, to the point, flattering but not cloying, well worded, correctly spelled, and personalized toward the business to which you’re applying. Do not use slang, hip abbreviations, or (yes, I have to say this) profanity! Avoid sounding over-confident or desperate. One cover letter we received warned about the dire consequences to our company if we failed to hire the applicant in question; “You will forever drown in a sea of regret,” she predicted. We tossed that fish back with no lasting damage that we could see.
Searching for a job opening
Oh did we hate it when people would call in and ask us if we had any job openings. It’s like saying; “If I wasn’t so lazy I’d actually introduce myself in person.” Even worse is when the annoying caller punctuates the call with the deadly “What do you pay?” question. What do we pay? Why, that’s something only our employees know and you never will. Go to the spa or salon in person and ask to speak with the manager. Don’t ask if there are any job openings but, rather, ask to leave your résumé in case there is an opportunity available now or in the future. And please, please, please dress like a professional even if leaving a résumé is all you’re there to do! When did it become appropriate to show off your ankle strings, booty tattoo, flip flops and tie-dyed tank top in a job search? Maybe it’s fine for distributing phone books, but a day spa position? Think again. One more thing; I am your future employer, not your bar buddy so, whatever you do don’t call me dude. Many thanks!
The job interview
Here’s the moment of truth, so shine in the face of your competition! And it’s easy to do, what with the many amusing ways job candidates find to demolish their chances of getting hired. Please refer to Mr. Preston’s Golden Book of Job Interviewing Etiquette and learn the do’s and don’ts of making a favorable first impression:
Do:
- Show up a little early for the interview, but not more than 10 minutes. Take some time to learn a little about the spa’s environment, energy, menu (you should have picked this up when you first left your résumé), and business activity.
- Dress well but not over the top: not Paris Hilton, Courtney Love or 50-cent. Leave your club and gangsta gear at home. Cover those tattoos you thought were cool when all you wanted to accomplish was in getting some raves from your friends. I realize this sounds a little old school, but those many employers may have not caught on to the sliding standards of professional appearance yet. It would still bother me to see red ink flames licking up the arms of my dentist.
- Turn off your cell phone. No, do not let it vibrate. Turn it off.
- Come to the interview alone! It’s awful to see the boyfriend slumped down on the spa waiting lounge, hat on backwards, fidgeting nervously waiting for you to get the interview over with. Will he be there when you’re working, too? Can you not do things on your own? We wonder about these things.
- Smile and maintain good eye contact with your interviewer. Give a firm-not bone-breaking, but firm-handshake. This demonstrates friendliness, warmth, and personal confidence-always welcome in a job applicant!
- Ask some of the following questions. After all this is a two-way evaluation!
What do your employees enjoy most about working in your spa?
What do your customers like best about their services here?
What are you most proud of about your business?
What qualities do you appreciate most in an employee?
What’s the most challenging part of managing a spa business?
Spa owners and managers like for job candidates to take an interest in the position and business for which they are applying.
- Demonstrate some of the following qualities that spa employers absolutely LOVE:
- You’re interested and skilled in retail sales and service upgrades (magic words to our ears!)
- You know that it may take a long time to build a clientele and you’re prepared for that.
- You don’t have a problem staying at the spa even when your schedule is thinly appointed.
- You desire and appreciate professional training, and don’t expect to be paid to improve on your career development (BIG issue with spa employers these days)
- You’ll gladly pitch in and help maintain the spa between appointments
- You’re flexible on scheduling and rarely ever miss work (okay, be honest about this.)
- You understand that spa management is a difficult job and you’ll do your best to make that task easier for the company.
Spa managers and operators are looking for problem solvers, not problem makers, so liberally show how you’re a member of the solving club!
And don’t (ever):
- Behave negatively in any way at all. Be positive and outgoing.
- Criticize or condemn your former boss, co-worker, or business. Never talk about how disorganized or poorly managed your prior employer was. Never allude to problems, disputes, lawsuits, or the universally dreaded “unfairness” sentiments. Employers will see you as the next source of their management misery and pass on your candidacy.
- Never tell your prospective employer that owning your own business is somewhere in your future, even in your long-distant future! Who wants to help their next competitor build a business?
Promise abilities and performance that you cannot or will not deliver. - Accept a job for which you’ll fail to show up. Yes, we hear about it all of the time!
Today’s spa employers are typically far more interested in your human potential-your personal qualities and values-than your present technical skills. Services can be taught, character cannot. Loyalty, honesty, and a real commitment toward building a solid career are precious and rare qualities that we long to attract and deeply appreciate when we do. Don’t worry that your practical experience isn’t as extensive as you’d like it to be. Just wow your interviewer with passion and integrity, and the job will be yours!
Douglas Preston is among the spa industry’s most influential business leaders. As a former multi-award winning day spa operator Preston’s management systems serve as the “blueprint” for the US-based Preston Inc. Spa Consultants. Preston Private Label Products is a premium producer of more than 125 professional-quality skin and body care spa items. Preston is a frequent lecturer in the spa industry and a popular motivational speaker who’s been featured on CNN and Fine Living channels. Preston is past-president of Aesthetics International Association (AIA). Douglas Preston can be contacted at douglas@prestoninc.net
