I’ve been doing some networking in person in the last month or so. I’m not interviewing for a job, just talking to estheticians and salon and spa owners to get some advice and to see what it’s like to work in this industry. Pretty much the same thing we’re doing with this blog, but I wanted to really get myself out there.
The first person I met with was actually for a school project. I had to interview either an owner of a salon or spa, a spa manager or a head esthetician. The owner I interviewed has five locations in the area, and the one I went to is absolutely beautiful. She took me on a tour, and I was literally speechless as I looked around and took it all in. I loved everything about it.
After asking her the questions I had to for my school project, she asked if I had any other questions for her. I asked her what she thought I could do to make myself stand out as an esthetician. She said to get a dual license in either massage or nails. I told her that it had crossed my mind, and I know I’ve gotten a few comments on the blog about it, too. She also recommended I get treatments done at some of the spas I think I might want to work at so that I could get a feel of how they do things. I thought that was a really good idea, not to mention I would enjoy getting the facials!
The next place I visited is a salon and spa in the downtown area of the town I live in. This one is in an old home, and I loved it! It’s two floors and upstairs, in what would’ve been the master bedroom, is the hair station. There were two other bedrooms, with one being set up as a treatment room and the third for spray-tanning. Downstairs was another smaller room set up as a treatment room, and in what I believe would’ve been the living room were the nail stations. In the back of the house in what I think was probably a sun room was the area for makeup. I had never seen a home turned into a salon and spa before, and I just thought it was completely unique.
After I got a tour, I sat down with the owner and we chatted. She has been in this business for a long time, and she was very open and honest with me. I asked what she thought of me getting a dual license and she was all for it. She said it would make me more marketable. I asked her if she would be willing to let me shadow her and she said yes. Right now I’m in the process of setting that up and I cannot wait! I know I could really learn a lot from her.
Last week, I went to a large chain of salons and spas that’s really well-known around where I live to receive more networking connections and advice. When I contacted the corporate director about talking with her, she told me she would set up a complimentary facial for me with their top esthetician and also time to talk with the spa manager and another esthetician. I thought, Wow, this is so generous!
When I got there, the spa manager took me on a tour of the place. It’s two stories, and it was huge! They have 25 treatment rooms alone! I couldn’t wait for my facial, and I really paid attention to what was going on. The esthetician and I talked, and I asked her some questions. I also paid attention to not only what she was saying to me about my treatment, but how she was saying it. She had a very calm and soothing voice. I also noticed the massage movements she was doing. I really want to get really good at that. My facial was wonderful, and I even got my first alpha hydroxy acid treatment and an eye treatment.
Afterwards, the esthetician walked me back to the waiting room to wait for the other esthetician. She told me to give her a call when I get my license in December and that she did the hiring. I’m glad I didn’t know that going in, because I probably would’ve been more nervous! :) I was really excited that she said that to me though! After that, I met with another esthetician, and we just sat and talked for 15-20 minutes about working there and going to school.
What I got out of all this is that education is very important–if I want to learn nails, I should go for it, because the more I learn, the better it will be for me. I also need to figure out what kind of place I want to work in. Do I want to work in a larger, more corporate spa? Or something a little smaller and probably more flexible? I’m really not sure. All I know is I want to work in a spa where training and education are important. And I want to be comfortable wherever I work.
Everyone I met with was so nice and very willing to talk with me about this industry. They took the time to help out someone they didn’t know, and I was really impressed by that. We get so many great comments on this blog and for people to actually help out in person, I think that really says a lot about the people in this industry. I hope one day when I’m more knowledgeable and experienced, I get the chance to do the same for an esthetic student who’s excited as I am about working in this industry. Thanks everyone!!!